25 Common English Idioms

25 Common English Idioms


The idioms and expressions below are some of the most common in English. The example sentences show how idioms are used in context. Have fun!

1. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!


2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.


3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.


4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage" Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.


5. broke means "to have no money"
Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.


6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.


7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!


8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.


9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.


10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.


11. in ages means "for a very long time"
Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.


12. give someone a hand means "help"
Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?


13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")
Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.


14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"
Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.


15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"
Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.


16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"
Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!


17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"
Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.


18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"
Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand


19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.


20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"
Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!


21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.


22. take it easy means "relax"
Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.


23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"
Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.


24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"
Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.


25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"
Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!

Asking And Answering Question

Asking and Answering Questions:The First Key to Using English Grammar


There are two question types you must master before you can speak English well:


Wh- Questions

1) Yes/No Questions - Listen carefully to these questions, then use the same question words when you answer.

1. Do or Did

Do you like pizza? Yes I do.

2. Can
Can you play the piano? No I can't.

3. Be(Is/Are/Was/Were)
Are you from Singapore?Were you at home last night?

4. Will
Will you come here tomorrow?

5. Have + past participle
Have you seen any good movies lately?



2) Wh- Questions - use a Wh- question word with a Yes/No question word.


1. Who
Who is your favorite singer?

2. What
What kind of music do you like?

3. When
When will you finish your work?

4. Where
Where can I buy a good suit?

5. Why + past participle
Why didn't you call me last week?

6. How + past participle

How can we get to the supermarket from here? How long does it take to get there? How far is it from here?

Public Speaking - How to Give a Great Speech

Public Speaking - How to Give a Great Speech


Most successful people in the world all are very good at "public speaking". They know how to get up in front of a crowd and give a "formal speech".

They know how to move people, how to get them to take action. It's not easy to do, but you can learn the basics of public speaking in this article.

To speak well, you need to start with two things. First, you must have a clear goal. You must be very sure about what you want to communicate.

Second, you must know who your audience is. When you know who your audience is, you can then find a good way to communicate your message to them.

You should not speak to a group of businessman the same way you would speak to a group of students.

Public Speaking - How to Give a Great Speech

Public Speaking - How to Give a Great Speech


Most successful people in the world all are very good at "public speaking". They know how to get up in front of a crowd and give a "formal speech".

They know how to move people, how to get them to take action. It's not easy to do, but you can learn the basics of public speaking in this article.

To speak well, you need to start with two things. First, you must have a clear goal. You must be very sure about what you want to communicate.

Second, you must know who your audience is. When you know who your audience is, you can then find a good way to communicate your message to them.

You should not speak to a group of businessman the same way you would speak to a group of students.

Control Conversation

How to Control a Conversation

The key to controlling a conversation is using questions well. Good students know how to ask the right question at the right time. After reading this article, you will be able to start conversations easily and keep the conversation going smoothly even when you don't understand everything.

The best way to begin a conversation is by using "yes / no" questions. The goal is to find some common topics of interest, so that your conversation is enjoyable for both partners.

Think about a topic that interests you, and which you think might interest your conversation partner.

Use "yes / no" questions to find out if your new friend is interested in the same thing.

For example, if you like a particular kind of music, you could ask questions such as these:

Do you like blues music?

Have you ever listened to B.B. King?

Do you know where I can listen to live music?

Are you interested in jazz?

Any question starting with "Do", "Did", "Are", "Is", "Can", "Will", or "Have" can be a good start to a converstaion. However, such questions are just the beginning.

You must listen for your partner's answer, then "follow-up" with a more specific question, usually using "what", "when", "where", "who" or "why".

So, if your partner says that he or she does like the blues, you can then ask, "Whose music do you like?".

If your partner does NOT like blues, then you might ask something like, "What kind of music do you like?".

You must always have a "follow-up" question ready. If not, the conversation could come to a quick end.

Now, as the conversation moves along, you might have some communication problems. What should you do then? Again, asking the right question is very important.

Here are some key questions that you MUST use whenever you have trouble:

Could you repeat that please?

More informally, we can ask, "What did you say?".

Often with friends we might only say "What?".

Even if you use informal language, you can make it polite by starting with "Excuse me" or "Pardon me".
Could you speak more slowly please?

This is obviously a good question, but don't use it too often. If you really have trouble understanding somebody, you might think about buying some good cassettes and working to improve your listening comprehension skills.

DVDs and VCDs are also good practice for advanced students.

How do you spell blah blah blah?

Maybe you know the word, but you've only seen it in writing. If you hear the spelling, you might understand.

What does blah blah blah mean?

If you can't catch the word exactly, you can say "that" instead of the word. (Don't really say "blah blah blah"! That's just a "filler"!)

Do you mean to say blah blah blah?

If you think you understand, but you're not sure, you can repeat your partner's idea in different words. Then you will know from his or her response whether you were right or not.

If instead you just say, "I don't think I understand", then the conversation will come to a stop