500 List of Idioms with Meanings (Download PDF)

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Are you curious about the quirky phrases we use every day without a second thought? Ever wondered what “spill the beans” or “break the ice” actually means? In our latest post, we unravel the mysteries behind 500 common idioms A-Z. We’re offering a handy PDF guide, too! Get ready to understand these expressions and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge. It’s not just learning; it’s a fun journey through the fascinating world of language!

500 Idioms With Their Meanings (A to Z)

Here, is the list of over 500 most common idioms used in daily conversation with a complete pdf at the end of this lesson. These idioms help to improve our conversation and writing.

Idioms That Start with A

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: It’s better to have something guaranteed than to risk losing it for something uncertain.
A camel through the eye of a needle: An impossible task.
A candle in the wind: A fragile or precarious situation.
A chip on your shoulder: Holding a grudge or harboring resentment.
A diamond in the rough: A person with hidden potential
A dime a dozen: Very common and not valuable.
A duck to water: Quickly and naturally adapting to a new situation.
A face only a mother could love: Someone’s appearance is unattractive
A feather in one’s cap: An achievement or accomplishment
A fish out of water: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place in a new environment.
A fish rots from the head down: Problems start at the top
A frog in one’s throat: Hoarseness or difficulty speaking due to irritation.
A leopard cannot change its spots: One’s nature is unlikely to change
A light at the end of the tunnel: Hope for better things in the future.
A penny for your thoughts: Asking someone what they’re thinking.
A penny saved is a penny earned: Saving money is as valuable as earning it
A picture is worth a thousand words: Visuals convey more than words
A piece of the action: A share in an activity or venture
A piece of the pie: A share or portion of something.
A red herring: A misleading clue or distraction.
A rolling stone gathers no moss: Constantly moving forward prevents stagnation.
A shot in the arm: A boost or revitalization.
A snake in the grass: A deceitful or treacherous person.
A stitch in time saves nine: Preventing a small problem now can avoid a larger problem later.
A taste of your own medicine: Experiencing the same treatment you’ve given to others.
A watched kettle never boils: Impatiently waiting for something makes it seem slower.
A watched pot never boils: Time seems to pass slowly when you’re eagerly waiting for something.
Actions speak louder than words: What you do matters more than what you say
Adding insult to injury: Making a bad situation worse
All bets are off: No clear predictions or rules
All dressed up and nowhere to go: Prepared but with no opportunity to use it
All ears: Listening attentively.
All hat and no cattle: Appear impressive but lack substance.
All is fair in love and war: Extreme situations justify extreme actions.
All that glitters is not gold: Not everything that appears valuable is truly so.
All that jazz: Miscellaneous things or details.
All thumbs: Clumsy or lacking dexterity.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy: Focusing only on work leads to a boring life.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away: Eating healthy can prevent illness.
An arm and a leg: Extremely expensive
An axe to grind: A hidden agenda or personal vendetta.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: It’s better to prevent a problem than to fix it
As cool as a cucumber: Stay calm and composed under pressure.
As easy as pie: Very easy and simple
As mad as a hatter: Completely crazy or eccentric.
As old as the hills: Extremely old or ancient
As stubborn as a mule: Extremely obstinate
At the drop of a hat: Without hesitation or immediately
At the end of your rope: At the limit of one’s patience or resources.

Idioms That Start with B

Back to square one: Start over from the beginning
Back to the drawing board: Start over because the previous plan or attempt failed.
Back to the grindstone: Returning to hard work or routine
Barking up the wrong tree: Pursuing the wrong course or person
Beat a dead horse: Persistently discussing a hopeless topic
Beat around the bush: Avoid getting to the point
Beating a dead horse: Repeating a point or effort that is futile.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: Perceptions of beauty are subjective.
Better late than never: It’s better to do something late than not at all
Between a rock and a hard place: In a difficult and no-win situation.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea: In a difficult and no-win situation
Beyond the pale: Unacceptable or outside the bounds of proper behavior.
Birds of a feather flock together: People with similar interests gather together
Bite the bullet: Face a difficult or unpleasant task with courage.
Bite the hand that feeds you: Harm someone who helps you
Biting off more than you can chew: Taking on more responsibilities than one can handle.
Biting the hand that feeds you: Hurting those who support you
Blood is thicker than water: Family bonds are strong
Break a leg: An expression of good luck, often said before a performance.
Break the ice: Start a conversation or ease tension in a group
Break your heart: Cause extreme sadness or disappointment
Burn the candle at both ends: Overwork or exhaust oneself
Burn the midnight oil: Work late into the night.
Bury the hatchet: Resolve a conflict and make peace.
Butter someone up: Flatter or praise someone excessively to gain favor.
Butterflies in your stomach: Feeling nervous or anxious.
Buy a lemon: Purchase something defective or worthless.
By hook or by crook: Using any means necessary, legal or not.
By the book: Strictly following the rules or guidelines.
By the skin of your teeth: Just barely, narrowly avoiding something.

Idioms That Start with C

Call it a day: Decide to stop working or end an activity.
Can’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree: Evaluating someone based on the wrong criteria.
Can’t see the forest for the trees: Focused on small details and missing the big picture
Cast in stone: Permanently fixed or unchangeable.
Cat got your tongue?: Why aren’t you speaking?
Catch someone red-handed: Catch someone in the act of wrongdoing
Caught between a rock and a hard place: In a dilemma with no good options.
Caught red-handed: Caught in the act of wrongdoing
Caught with your hand in the cookie jar: Caught in the act of wrongdoing.
Change your tune: Alter your attitude or opinion.
Chasing your tail: Engaging in futile or unproductive efforts.
Chew the fat: Have a leisurely conversation.
Close but no cigar: Almost successful, but not quite.
Close, but no cigar: Almost successful, but not quite.
Cold turkey: Abruptly quitting a habit or addiction
Come hell or high water: Determined to overcome any obstacle.
Cost an arm and a leg: Very expensive
Cry over spilled milk: Regret something that can’t be undone.
Cry over spilt milk: Regretting something that can’t be changed
Cry wolf: Raise a false alarm or make a fake emergency claim.
Crying over spilled milk: Regretting something that can’t be changed
Curiosity killed the cat: Being too inquisitive can have negative consequences.
Cut the mustard: Meet the required standards
Cut to the chase: Get to the point without unnecessary delay.
Cutting corners: Taking shortcuts that may compromise quality.

Idioms That Start with D

Dead as a dodo: Completely extinct or obsolete
Dead as a doornail: Completely lifeless or unresponsive
Devil in the details: Important information lies in the specifics
Devil’s advocate: Arguing the opposing viewpoint for the sake of debate
Don’t bite off more than you can chew: Don’t take on more than you can handle.
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you: Don’t harm or criticize those who help or support you.
Don’t cast pearls before swine: Don’t offer something valuable to those who won’t appreciate it.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch: Don’t assume success before it’s certain
Don’t cry over spilled milk: Don’t fret over past mistakes
Don’t cry wolf: Don’t make false alarms or exaggerated claims.
Don’t give up your day job: Not skilled enough for a particular task
Don’t judge a book by its cover: Don’t judge someone by appearance
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth: Don’t be critical of something received as a gift.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: Diversify your investments or options.
Don’t put the cart before the horse: Don’t do things in the wrong order.
Don’t shoot the messenger: Don’t blame the person delivering bad news.
Don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house: Don’t criticize others for faults you have
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater: Don’t discard the valuable along with the useless.
Don’t upset the apple cart: Avoid causing disruption or trouble.
Don’t walk on eggshells: Speak or act without fear of causing offense.
Down in the dumps: Feeling sad or depressed
Down the rabbit hole: Entering a confusing or surreal situation
Dressed to the nines: Wearing formal or elegant clothing
Drink like a fish: Consume a large amount of alcohol.
Drive someone up the wall: Annoy or irritate someone greatly.
Driving a hard bargain: Negotiating firmly and demanding favorable terms
Drop in the bucket: A small or insignificant amount in comparison.
Drowning in a sea of paperwork: Overwhelmed with excessive paperwork

Idioms That Start with E

Eagle eye: Keen observation
Easier said than done: Simple in theory, difficult in practice
Elbow grease: Hard physical work or effort.
Elephant in the room: An obvious but unaddressed issue
Even a broken clock is right twice a day: Occasionally, even someone unreliable is correct
Every cloud has a silver lining: There’s a positive side to every negative situation.
Every dog has its day: Everyone gets a chance to succeed.
Every man for himself: Everyone is looking out for their own interests.
Everything but the kitchen sink: Including everything imaginable

Idioms That Start with F

Face the music: Accept the consequences of one’s actions.
Fall head over heels: Be deeply in love or infatuated.
Fall on deaf ears: Ignored or not heeded
Falling off the wagon: Relapsing into a bad habit
Fanning the flames: Provoking or exacerbating a situation.
Feast your eyes on something: Enjoy looking at something visually appealing.
Feather in your cap: An achievement or accomplishment to be proud of.
Feather your own nest: Act in your self-interest
Fifth wheel: An unnecessary or unwanted person
Fighting fire with fire: Using the same tactics against an opponent
Fish out of water: Feel out of place or uncomfortable in a new environment.
Fit as a fiddle: In excellent physical health
Fit the bill: Meet the requirements or be suitable for a particular purpose.
Flash in the pan: Something that initially appears promising but quickly fades.
Flat as a pancake: Completely flat or level.
Flip the script: Change the expected course of events
Flogging a dead horse: Wasting time on a futile effort
Fly off the handle: Lose temper quickly
Fools rush in: Impulsive actions often lead to mistakes.
For the birds: Worthless or unimportant.
From the horse’s mouth: Information from a reliable source

Idioms That Start with G

Get a kick out of something: Find something amusing or enjoyable.
Get a taste of your own medicine: Experience the same treatment you’ve given others.
Get down and dirty: Be involved in difficult or unpleasant work.
Get down to brass tacks: Focus on essential details or facts
Get your act together: Organize and improve your behavior or performance.
Get your ducks in a row: Organize or prepare things systematically.
Give it the green light: Approve or allow something to proceed.
Give the benefit of the doubt: Believe someone’s innocence without proof
Go against the grain: Oppose the normal or conventional way of doing things.
Go all out: Make a maximum effort.
Go down in flames: Fail spectacularly or disastrously.
Go for broke: Risk everything in pursuit of a goal.
Go out on a limb: Take a risk or put oneself in a vulnerable position
Go out on the town: Enjoy a night of entertainment and socializing.
Go the extra mile: Make extra effort or do more than expected
Go with the flow: Adapt to the current circumstances
Grease someone’s palm: Offer a bribe or pay someone off.
Green around the gills: Looking pale or sickly.
Green with envy: Jealous or envious of someone’s success.
Green-eyed monster: Jealousy or envy

Idioms That Start with H

Hair of the dog: Drinking alcohol to cure a hangover.
Hammer it home: Repeatedly emphasize or make a point
Happy as a clam: Extremely content and joyful
Have a chip on your shoulder: Be easily offended or resentful
Have a finger in every pie: Be involved in many different activities or affairs.
Have a frog in your throat: Difficulty speaking due to hoarseness
Have a heart of gold: Be exceptionally kind and compassionate.
Have a lot on your plate: Overwhelmed with tasks or responsibilities
Have your cake and eat it too: Wanting everything at once
Head in the clouds: Daydreaming or not paying attention to reality.
Head over heels in love: Deeply infatuated or in love
High and dry: Left in a difficult or helpless situation.
High as a kite: Under the influence of drugs or extremely euphoric.
Hit the books: Study or read intensively.
Hit the bullseye: Achieve a perfect or precise result.
Hit the ground running: Start quickly and energetically.
Hit the hay: Go to bed
Hit the jackpot: Achieve a great success or win a substantial prize.
Hit the road: Begin a journey or leave
Hit the roof: Become extremely angry or upset
Hit the sack: Go to bed or sleep.
Hitting the hay: Going to bed or sleeping.
Hitting the nail on the head: Describe something accurately or precisely.
Hold a candle to someone: Compare favorably with someone.
Hold your horses: Wait and be patient.
Hold your tongue: Keep silent or refrain from speaking
Horsing around: Playing or goofing off.

Idioms That Start with I

Ignorance is bliss: Not knowing can be comforting
In a jiffy: Very quickly
In a nutshell: Concisely summarized
In a pickle: In a difficult or tricky situation.
In a tight spot: In a difficult or challenging situation.
In hot pursuit: Actively chasing or following someone or something.
In hot water: In trouble or facing difficulties.
In the bag: Certain or guaranteed.
In the blink of an eye: Very quickly or suddenly
In the doghouse: In disfavor or trouble
In the nick of time: Just in time, at the last possible moment.
It takes two to tango: Both parties are responsible
It’s a no-brainer: An obvious and simple decision
It’s a piece of cake: It’s very easy.
It’s a piece of pie: It’s very easy
It’s a small world: Surprisingly interconnected society
It’s not rocket science: It’s not overly complicated or difficult.
It’s raining cats and dogs: Heavy rain.

Idioms That Start with J

Jump for joy: Express extreme happiness or excitement.
Jump off the deep end: Act impulsively or recklessly.
Jump on the bandwagon: Join a popular trend or activity.
Jumping on the bandwagon: Joining a popular trend or activity.

Idioms That Start with K

Keep a stiff upper lip: Remain brave and composed in tough situations
Keep an eye on: Watch or monitor closely.
Keep an eye on the ball: Stay focused on the main objective.
Keep it under wraps: Keep something secret or hidden
Keep it under your hat: Keep something secret or confidential.
Keep something at bay: Prevent or delay something unpleasant.
Keep your chin up: Stay positive and optimistic.
Keep your fingers crossed: Hope for a positive outcome.
Keep your hair on: Stay calm and composed
Keep your nose to the grindstone: Work diligently and persistently
Keep your powder dry: Be prepared and ready for action
Kick the bucket: Euphemism for dying.
Kick the habit: Quit a recurring behavior or addiction.
Kick the tires: Examine or inspect something thoroughly.
Kick up your heels: Celebrate or have a good time.
Kill time: Pass time without purpose
Kill two birds with one stone: Achieve two goals with a single action.
Kiss and make up: Reconcile after a disagreement
Knock it out of the park: Perform exceptionally well
Knock someone’s socks off: Impress or astonish someone
Know the ropes: Be knowledgeable about a situation or task

Idioms That Start with L

Land on your feet: Successfully recover from a difficult situation.
Lay all your cards on the table: Be open and honest about your intentions or information.
Lay your cards on the table: Be honest and transparent about your intentions.
Let sleeping dogs lie: Avoid stirring up old conflicts or problems
Let the cat out of the bag: Reveal a secret or confidential information.
Let the chips fall where they may: Accept the outcome, whatever it may be
Let your hair down: Relax and behave informally.
Like a bat out of hell: Extremely fast or with great urgency.
Like a bull at a gate: Very aggressive or impatient
Like a bull in a china shop: Being clumsy or careless in a delicate situation.
Like a chicken with its head cut off: In a state of panic or chaos
Like a fish out of water: Feeling out of place or uncomfortable in a situation.
Like a lamb to the slaughter: Unaware and unsuspecting in a dangerous situation
Like a moth to a flame: Attracted to something dangerous or destructive.
Like a ton of bricks: With great force or impact.
Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing: Deceptive or disguised intentions
Like chalk and cheese: Very different or incompatible
Like father, like son: Children often resemble their parents in behavior or appearance.
Like shooting fish in a barrel: Extremely easy task
Like the cat that got the cream: Very pleased with oneself
Like trying to find a needle in a haystack: A very difficult or nearly impossible task.
Live from hand to mouth: Barely getting by or surviving with limited resources.
Living on borrowed time: Continuing to exist despite expecting imminent trouble.
Look before you leap: Think and consider the consequences before taking action.
Lose your marbles: Become mentally unstable or lose one’s composure.

Idioms That Start with M

Make a beeline for something: Move directly toward a goal
Make a clean breast of something: Confess to something openly
Make a clean sweep: Completely clear or thorough action
Make a long story short: Summarize a lengthy narrative quickly.
Make a mountain out of a molehill: Exaggerate a small problem
Make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear: Turn something of low quality into something valuable
Make a virtue out of necessity: Turn a difficult situation into an opportunity for positive action.
Make ends meet: Sustain a basic standard of living
Make hay while the sun shines: Take advantage of favorable conditions.
Make light work of: Complete a task easily or quickly.
Make up for lost time: Compensate for time wasted or lost.
Make waves: Cause significant change or disruption
Make your blood boil: Make someone very angry.
Measure twice, cut once: Be cautious and double-check before taking action.
Miss the boat: Miss an opportunity
Money burns a hole in your pocket: Impulsive spending
Money talks: Wealth has influence and power.
More holes than Swiss cheese: Full of flaws or problems

Idioms That Start with N

Nip it in the bud: Stop a problem before it gets worse.
No dice: No success or agreement.
No guts, no glory: Taking risks leads to success
No man is an island: We all depend on others for support and connection.
No pain, no gain: Effort and discomfort are necessary for success.
No use crying over spilled milk: Don’t lament what’s already done.
Not a snowball’s chance in hell: Absolutely no chance of success
Not playing with a full deck: Not mentally sound or rational

Idioms That Start with O

Off the beaten track: In a remote or less-traveled location.
Off the cuff: Spoken or done without preparation.
Off the hook: No longer in trouble or responsible
Off the top of my head: Recalling something without prior research or thought.
On a wild goose chase: Pursuing something unlikely or futile.
On a wing and a prayer: In a risky or uncertain situation
On cloud nine: Feeling extremely happy
On pins and needles: Anxious or excited about something.
On the back burner: Delayed or not a top priority.
On the ball: Alert and efficient
On the brink: Very close to a significant event or outcome.
On the brink of disaster: Very close to a disastrous situation.
On the edge of your seat: Excited and anxious
On the fence: Undecided or impartial.
On the rocks: In a troubled or failing state.
On the same page: In agreement or understanding
On the same wavelength: Thinking or understanding alike
On the tip of your tongue: Almost remembered but not quite
Once bitten, twice shy: Being cautious after a negative experience.
Once in a blue moon: Very rarely
One fell swoop: In a single, swift action
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure: Different people have different tastes
One trick pony: Skilled in only one area or having only one talent.
Out of left field: Unexpected or surprising.
Out of sight, out of mind: Forgotten when not present
Out of the blue: Unexpectedly
Out of the frying pan into the fire: Escaping one problem only to encounter a worse one.
Over a barrel: In a helpless or disadvantaged position
Over my dead body: Refusing something firmly
Over the hill: Past one’s prime or no longer youthful.
Over the moon: Extremely happy or excited

Idioms That Start with P

Paddle your own canoe: Be self-reliant and independent
Paint yourself into a corner: Put yourself in a difficult or limiting situation.
Pass the buck: Shift responsibility or blame to someone else.
Pay the piper: Face the consequences of your actions.
Pay through the nose: Pay a high price for something.
Penny for your thoughts: Asking someone what they’re thinking.
Penny pincher: Someone who is excessively frugal
Penny wise, pound foolish: Careful with small expenses but wasteful with larger ones
Picture is worth a thousand words: Visuals convey more information
Piece of cake: Easy task
Piece of the action: A share or involvement in an activity.
Pig in a poke: Buying something without inspecting it first.
Play hard to get: Pretend to be less interested to attract someone
Play it by ear: Decide or act spontaneously without a plan.
Play your cards right: Make wise decisions to achieve a desired outcome.
Playing with fire: Taking unnecessary risks
Pull someone’s leg: Tease or joke with someone
Pull the wool over someone’s eyes: Deceive or trick someone.
Pull yourself together: Regain composure and control
Pulling your leg: Teasing or joking with someone
Put all your eggs in one basket: Relying on a single source or strategy, which is risky.
Put in your two cents: Share your opinion or input
Put it on the back burner: Delay or postpone something.
Put lipstick on a pig: Trying to make something look better than it is
Put on a brave face: Appear confident or composed in a difficult situation.
Put on your thinking cap: Get ready to brainstorm or solve a problem.
Put the cart before the horse: Doing things in the wrong order
Put your best foot forward: Make a good impression by doing your best
Put your foot in your mouth: Say something embarrassing or inappropriate.
Put your money where your mouth is: Act on your words or beliefs

Idioms That Start with R

Rain on someone’s parade: Spoil someone’s plans or celebration.
Raining cats and dogs: Heavy rainfall
Read between the lines: Understand a hidden or implied meaning
Read someone like a book: Easily understand someone’s thoughts or intentions.
Red-handed: Caught in the act of doing something wrong.
Rest on your laurels: Rely on past achievements
Ride shotgun: Sit in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
Ride the wave: Take advantage of favorable circumstances.
Ring a bell: Sound familiar or remind of something.
Rock the boat: Cause disruption or instability
Roll with the punches: Adapt and cope with difficulties or setbacks.
Rub someone the wrong way: Irritate or annoy someone.
Rule of thumb: General guideline or principle
Rule the roost: Be in charge or dominate
Run a tight ship: Maintain strict control and order
Run in the family: A trait or characteristic shared by family members.
Run out of steam: Lose energy or enthusiasm.
Running on empty: Exhausted or depleted

Idioms That Start with S

Save it for a rainy day: Save something for future needs or emergencies
See eye to eye: Agree completely.
See the light at the end of the tunnel: Have hope for a positive outcome
Shake a leg: Move quickly or start doing something
Sharp as a tack: Extremely intelligent or quick-witted.
Shiver me timbers: Express surprise or astonishment, often humorously.
Shoot for the moon: Set ambitious goals.
Shot in the dark: A guess or attempt with little chance of success.
Sick as a dog: Very ill or unwell
Sink or swim: Face a challenge with no alternative.
Sit on the fence: Be undecided or impartial.
Skating on thin ice: In a risky or precarious situation.
Sleep like a log: Sleep deeply and soundly
Sleeping like a log: Sleeping soundly and deeply
Slip through the cracks: Be overlooked or go unnoticed.
Smell a rat: Suspect something is wrong or deceitful.
Smooth as silk: Very smooth or effortless.
So far, so good: Things are progressing well until now
Speak of the devil: Mention someone just as they appear
Spill the beans: Reveal a secret
Stealing someone’s thunder: Taking credit for someone else’s achievements or ideas.
Stick to your guns: Maintain your position or beliefs firmly.

Idioms That Start with T

Take a rain check: Postpone an invitation or offer
Take it with a grain of salt: Be skeptical or not fully believe something.
Taste of your own medicine: Facing consequences of one’s actions
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree: Children resemble their parents
The apple of my eye: A cherished person or thing
The ball is in your court: It’s your responsibility or decision to make.
The best of both worlds: Benefiting from two favorable situations
The best thing since sliced bread: An excellent innovation or idea
The devil is in the details: The important or problematic aspects are hidden in the finer points.
The early bird catches the worm: Being proactive leads to success
The elephant in the room: A glaring issue or problem everyone avoids discussing.
The last straw: The final problem or annoyance that makes a situation unbearable.
The pot calling the kettle black: Accusing someone of a fault you also have
The proof is in the pudding: Results speak for themselves
The whole nine yards: The complete or full extent of something.
There’s no smoke without fire: There’s usually some truth to rumors
Through thick and thin: Loyalty and support in all circumstances
Throw in the towel: Give up or quit
Time flies when you’re having fun: Time seems to pass quickly when enjoying oneself
To each his own: Different preferences for everyone
Toot your own horn: Brag about your accomplishments.
Turn a blind eye: Ignore or pretend not to notice something.
Twist of fate: An unexpected turn of events
Two peas in a pod: Very similar or close friends.

Idioms That Start with U

Under the weather: Feeling unwell or not in good health.
Up in the air: Uncertain or unresolved
Up to your neck in it: Deeply involved or overwhelmed by a situation.

Idioms That Start with W

Walking on eggshells: Being cautious or sensitive in a situation.
Watch your step: Be cautious and careful in your actions.
When pigs fly: Something highly unlikely to happen

Idioms That Start with Y

You can’t have your cake and eat it too: You can’t have everything your way.
You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs: Achieving something requires sacrifices
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks: It’s difficult to change old habits
Your guess is as good as mine: Both of us have no idea
You’re pulling my leg: Teasing or joking with someone