100 Essential English Idioms with Examples You Must Know

Have you ever heard a colleague say, "Let's touch base later," or "We need to cut corners to meet the deadline"? If you took these phrases literally, you might be confused about touching bases or cutting physical corners. These are idioms—phrases where the meaning is not deducible from the individual words.

For non-native speakers, idioms are often the final frontier of fluency. They add color, emotion, and precision to your language. In the fast-paced business world, using the right idiom can make you sound more relatable, professional, and "native-like." This guide compiles 100 essential English idioms, categorized for easy learning, with examples relevant to modern life and work.

Section 1: Business & Work (The Corporate Jungle)

These are crucial for meetings, emails, and office survival.

1. Get the ball rolling: To start something.
   • Example: "Let's get the ball rolling on this project by scheduling a kickoff meeting."
2. Think outside the box: To think creatively.
   • Example: "To solve this issue, we need to think outside the box."
3. On the same page: To agree or have the same understanding.
   • Example: "Let's have a quick huddle to ensure we are all on the same page."
4. Touch base: To contact someone briefly.
   • Example: "I'll touch base with you next week regarding the proposal."
5. Keep me in the loop: To keep someone informed.
   • Example: "Please keep me in the loop on any client feedback."
6. Cut corners: To do something cheaply or quickly, often sacrificing quality.
   • Example: "We cannot afford to cut corners on safety regulations."
7. Back to the drawing board: To start over because a previous attempt failed.
   • Example: " The client rejected the design, so it's back to the drawing board."
8. Call it a day: To stop working for the day.
   • Example: "It's 8 PM. Let's call it a day and continue tomorrow."
9. Get up to speed: To learn the latest information.
   • Example: "I'll send you the report to help you get up to speed."
10. Learning curve: The rate of a person's progress in gaining experience.
    • Example: "There is a steep learning curve with this new software."
11. By the book: Strictly according to the rules.
    • Example: "Our auditor ensures everything is done by the book."
12. The bottom line: The final profit/loss; or the most important point.
    • Example: "The bottom line is that we need to increase sales."
13. In the red: Losing money (negative balance).
    • Example: "The company has been in the red for two quarters."
14. In the black: Making money (positive balance).
    • Example: "Ideally, we want to be back in the black by year-end."
15. Elephant in the room: An obvious problem that no one wants to discuss.
    • Example: "We need to address the elephant in the room: the budget cuts."
16. Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night.
    • Example: "I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report."
17. Slack off: To be lazy or work less hard.
    • Example: "He started to slack off after his probation period."
18. Hands are tied: Unable to act due to rules.
    • Example: "I'd love to give you a discount, but my hands are tied."
19. Go the extra mile: To make more effort than is expected.
    • Example: "She always goes the extra mile for her customers."
20. Win-win situation: Good for everyone involved.
    • Example: "This partnership is a win-win situation."

Section 2: Communication & Understanding

21. Beat around the bush: To avoid the main topic.
    • Example: "Stop beating around the bush and tell me the price."
22. Straight from the horse's mouth: Directly from the source.
    • Example: "I heard the news straight from the horse's mouth; the CEO told me."
23. Take it with a grain of salt: To be skeptical; not believe completely.
    • Example: "Read the online reviews with a grain of salt."
24. Spill the beans: To reveal a secret.
    • Example: "Don't spill the beans about the surprise party!"
25. Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret accidentally.
    • Example: "I let the cat out of the bag about the merger."
26. Hit the nail on the head: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
    • Example: "You hit the nail on the head with that analysis."
27. Barking up the wrong tree: Accusing the wrong person or pursuing the wrong course.
    • Example: "If you think I took your file, you're barking up the wrong tree."
28. Playing devil's advocate: Arguing the opposite point to test an idea.
    • Example: "I agree with you, but let me play devil's advocate for a moment."
29. Speak of the devil: When the person you are talking about appears.
    • Example: "Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you, John."
30. See eye to eye: To agree fully.
    • Example: "My boss and I don't always see eye to eye on strategy."

Section 3: Difficult Situations & Emotions

31. Bite the bullet: To endure a painful situation courageously.
    • Example: "I have to bite the bullet and tell him the bad news."
32. Under the weather: Feeling sick.
    • Example: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather today."
33. Add insult to injury: To make a bad situation worse.
    • Example: "To add insult to injury, after crashing my car, I got a parking ticket."
34. Last straw: The final problem that makes someone lose patience.
    • Example: "When he arrived late again, it was the last straw. I fired him."
35. Keep your chin up: Stay positive.
    • Example: "Keep your chin up; things will get better."
36. Get cold feet: To become nervous and back out.
    • Example: "He got cold feet right before the wedding."
37. Burn bridges: To destroy relationships so you can't return.
    • Example: "Don't burn bridges when you leave a job; you might need a reference."
38. Sitting on the fence: Undecided.
    • Example: "He's still sitting on the fence about which car to buy."
39. Miss the boat: To miss an opportunity.
    • Example: "I wanted to buy Bitcoin, but I think I missed the boat."
40. Pull yourself together: To calm down.
    • Example: "Stop crying and pull yourself together."

Section 4: Effort, Success & Failure

41. Piece of cake: Very easy.
    • Example: "The exam was a piece of cake."
42. Break a leg: Good luck (usually for performances).
    • Example: "Break a leg on your presentation!"
43. Hit the books: To study hard.
    • Example: "I have finals next week, so I need to hit the books."
44. No pain, no gain: You must work hard to succeed.
    • Example: "The workout is tough, but no pain, no gain."
45. Cut to the chase: Get to the point.
    • Example: "Let's cut to the chase—how much will this cost?"
46. Ball is in your court: It is your turn to act.
    • Example: "I've sent the offer. The ball is in your court now."
47. Jump on the bandwagon: To join a popular trend.
    • Example: "Everyone is jumping on the AI bandwagon."
48. Throw in the towel: To quit or surrender.
    • Example: "After three hours of trying to fix it, I threw in the towel."
49. Blessing in disguise: Something that seemed bad but turned out good.
    • Example: "Losing that job was a blessing in disguise because I found a better one."
50. Costs an arm and a leg: Very expensive.
    • Example: "That designer bag costs an arm and a leg."

Section 5: Daily Life & General

51. Once in a blue moon: Very rarely.
    • Example: "I go to the gym once in a blue moon."
52. When pigs fly: Never.
    • Example: "I'll clean my room when pigs fly."
53. Kill two birds with one stone: Achieve two things at once.
    • Example: "I can kill two birds with one stone by dropping the kids off on my way to work."
54. Let sleeping dogs lie: Do not disturb a situation that is currently quiet.
    • Example: "Don't bring up the argument again; let sleeping dogs lie."
55. Make a long story short: To summarize.
    • Example: "To make a long story short, we missed the flight."
56. Action speaks louder than words: What you do matters more than what you say.
    • Example: "He promised to change, but action speaks louder than words."
57. Better late than never: Better to do it late than not at all.
    • Example: "You finally arrived! Well, better late than never."
58. Break the ice: To start a conversation in a social setting.
    • Example: "He told a joke to break the ice."
59. Cry over spilt milk: To be upset about something that cannot be changed.
    • Example: "It's done now. No use crying over spilt milk."
60. Curiosity killed the cat: Being too curious can be dangerous.
    • Example: "Don't ask too many questions. Curiosity killed the cat."

Section 6-10: Rapid Fire Essential Idioms

61. Devil's in the details: The small details are difficult/important.
62. Don't put all your eggs in one basket: Don't risk everything on one plan.
63. Every cloud has a silver lining: Good comes from bad.
64. Give the benefit of the doubt: Believe someone despite uncertainty.
65. Go down in flames: Fail spectacularly.
66. Hear it on the grapevine: Hear a rumor.
67. Hit the sack: Go to sleep.
68. It takes two to tango: Both parties are responsible.
69. Judge a book by its cover: Judge by appearance.
70. Keep something at bay: Keep something away.
71. Kill time: Waste time while waiting.
72. Leave no stone unturned: Look everywhere/try everything.
73. Let off steam: Release energy/anger.
74. Make ends meet: Earn just enough money to live.
75. Method to my madness: A purpose behind strange behavior.
76. Not my cup of tea: Not something I like.
77. Off the hook: No longer in trouble.
78. On the ball: Alert and efficient.
79. Out of the blue: Unexpectedly.
80. Over the moon: Extremely happy.
81. Penny for your thoughts: What are you thinking?
82. Play it by ear: Decide as you go along (no plan).
83. Pull someone's leg: Joke/trick someone.
84. Rain on someone's parade: Spoil someone's plans.
85. Rock the boat: Cause trouble/disrupt status quo.
86. Rule of thumb: A general practical rule.
87. Save for a rainy day: Save money for emergencies.
88. See the light: Finally understand.
89. Shoot yourself in the foot: Cause your own failure.
90. Sit tight: Wait patiently.
91. Steal someone's thunder: Take credit/attention from someone.
92. Take a rain check: Postpone an invitation.
93. The whole nine yards: Everything/all of it.
94. Through thick and thin: Under all circumstances (good and bad).
95. Throw caution to the wind: Take a risk.
96. Time flies: Time passes quickly.
97. Twist someone's arm: Persuade someone forcefully.
98. Under the table: Secretly/illegally (money).
99. Up in the air: Undecided.
100. Wrap your head around: Understand something complex.

Singapore Context: Idioms vs. Singlish

In Singapore, you will hear a mix of Western idioms and local expressions.

• "Blur like sotong": (Singlish) Meaning confused/clueless.
  • English Equivalent: "Head in the clouds" or "Out to lunch."
• "Kiasu": (Singlish) Fear of losing out.
  • English Equivalent: "FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)" or "Dog in the manger" (loosely).
• "Kantang": (Singlish) Westernized Singaporean.
  • English Equivalent: "Westernized."

Tip: In a formal business email, stick to the English idioms ("Let's touch base"). In a casual lunch with colleagues, "Blur like sotong" helps build rapport.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I use idioms in formal writing?

A: Use them sparingly. Some, like "touch base" or "on the same page," are acceptable in business. Others, like "kick the bucket," are too informal.

Q: How do I memorize these?

A: Don't try to learn all 100 at once. Pick 3 per week. Use them in sentences. Write them on sticky notes.

Q: Are these idioms used in the UK and USA?

A: Yes, these 100 are "trans-Atlantic," meaning they are understood in the US, UK, Australia, and Singapore.

Conclusion

Idioms are the spice of the English language. They transform boring sentences into vivid images. By mastering these 100 essential idioms, you elevate your English from "functional" to "fluent." You will understand movies better, catch the nuances in business meetings, and express yourself with greater sophistication.

Start practicing today. Before you know it, speaking naturally will be a piece of cake!