Idiomatic expressions are expressions that mean something other than their literal explanation. They are common in English, but can be challenging for English language learners to understand. When writing, consider whether your audience will understand the idioms you are using, and, if necessary, reword your thoughts to be less idiomatic. The following are some common idioms in American English and their explanations:
- cost an arm and a leg = to cost a grant deal; very expensive
- crocodile tears = to cry make- believe tears; fake grief
- bark up the wrong tree = look for something in the wrong place
- break the ice = to dissolve reserve among people
- bring down the house = to applaud wildly
- bring home the bacon = to be the financial support of a family
- climb on the bandwagon = join a popular cause
- face the music = confront something difficult or unpleasant
- feeling under the weather = not feeling well; slightly ill
- fly off the handle = to suddenly loose self-control; sudden anger
- go off half-cocked = to speak or do something hastily/unprepared
- jump the gun = to start before something is ready; false start
- kick the bucket = to die
- know the ropes = to know all the details
- left holding the bag = to be blamed for something other were also involved in
- let the cat of the bag = to give away a secret, usually without meaning to
- once in a blue moon = extremely rare; almost never
- paint the town red = celebrate; go out on the town
- pulling one’s leg = to joke with someone
- put the cart before the horse = to get the order of things reversed
- rain cats and dogs = to rain hard, usually with thunder and lightening
- rake over the coals = to scold severely
- rub the wrong way = to annoy
- rule the roost = to be in charge
- sour grapes = the idea that when something desired is unattainable, we comfort ourselves that we wouldn’t have liked it anyway
- spill the beans = tell something prematurely
- split hairs = to argue over trivial differences
- stab in the back = to deliver a cowardly blow against a person’s character by one who was thought to be a friend
- stick one’s neck out = to risk being hurt, or to volunteer for something that might have a bad ending
- straight from the horse’s mouth = to hear something directly from the authority
- take the bull by the horn = to face an unpleasant, difficult , or dangerous situation with as much courage as possible
- the sky’s the limit = there is no limit
- upset the apple cart = to ruin one’s carefully laid plans
- wild goose chase = a vain and meaningless pursuit
- with a grain of salt = to be taken with skepticism or doubt