List of Some Idioms

Idiom Meaning Example Sentence

a) He's so old; he might kick the

bucket soon.
1. Kick the
To die
bucket
b) I hope to accomplish all my dreams
and goals before I kick the bucket.

a) Her explanation hit the nail on the

head.
2. Hit the nail Accurately describe or
on the head identify something
b) She hit the nail on the head with
her idea for a science exhibition.

a) The party started off as a small

gathering, but it quickly got out of
hand with more and more people
3. Get out of Not in one's control
arriving.
hand anymore
b) The argument between the two
friends got out of hand.

a) She had to burn the midnight

oil to finish her project.
4. To burn the To work late into the
midnight oil night
b) Kerry had to burn the midnight
oil to prepare for her entrance.

a) Me and my best friend are like two

peas in a pod.
5. Like two
Be together always
peas in a pod b) The twins, Mark and Mike, look so
much alike that they are like two peas
in a pod.

a) She always knows which way the

wind blows when it comes to fun
6. Know which activities.
To understand what is
way the wind
happening
blows b) The experienced coach always
knows which way the wind
blows with his team's performance.

7. Catch more Getting what you want a) He decided to be polite and friendly,
 like this, she can catch more flies
with honey than you can with
vinegar.
flies with
honey than
by being nice b) Being kind and with an approachable
you can with
tone, the boss gives feedback to his
vinegar
team members and catches more
flies with honey than can with
vinegar.

a) Charlie forgot to do his homework,

but the teacher let her off the
hook when he explained that his dog
8. Let had chewed up her assignment.
Releasing someone or
someone off
letting someone go
the hook b) Tiger was supposed to clean the
garage, but his parents let him off
the hook because he had a lot of
studying to do for his upcoming exams.

a) Learning to swim was challenging at

first, but once I got the hang of it, it
was like riding a bicycle.
9. Like riding a A skill that you learn
bicycle and will never forget b) I sat down at the piano, it was
like riding a bicycle – my fingers
remembered the keys and I played a
beautiful tune.

a) Luke didn't do well on his art project

and tried to blame his tool.
10. Blame Blaming something on
one's tools someone else b) During the soccer game, Tony
missed a crucial shot and blamed it
on his tool.

a) Winny, don't worry! Solving this

math problem is not rocket science.
11. It's not Not that difficult to
rocket science comprehend b) Mark, take your time and follow the
instructions step by step.
Remember, it's not rocket science.

12. Spill the Reveal a secret a) Ketty accidentally spilt the

beans beans about the surprise party.

b) The detective tried to get the

 witness to spill the beans about what
he saw at the crime scene.

a) After spending hours preparing for

the event, it's time to get the show
on the road and start welcoming the
13. Get the
Start something or guests.
show on the
begin an enterprise
road
b) We've discussed the plan long
enough, now let's get the show on
the road and start implementing it.

a) I had been late to school multiple

times and when he missed an
important exam, it was like he pulled
The final point in a
the last straw for his teacher.
series of unfortunate
14. Pull the
events when you feel
last straw b) Selena's constant complaining about
you cannot take it
her job was already annoying her
anymore
coworkers, but when she blamed them
for her mistakes, that was the last
straw she pulled.

a) Shelly wanted to apply for that

scholarship, but she missed her chance
and now she realizes that the ship
has sailed.
15. That ship It is too late to do
has sailed something b) John regretted not investing in that
company when it was just starting.
Now it's a huge success, and he
knows that the ship has sailed on
that opportunity.

a) Do not be worried about your career;

it is always the darkest before
dawn.
16. It is always
the darkest Things will get better
b) Her coach reminded the team that
before dawn
it's always the darkest before
dawn and they should keep playing
with determination.

17. Have one's To have no a) Elizabeth always has her head in

head in the concentration at all the clouds during math classes.
clouds
 b) Instead of focusing on his
responsibilities, Jack often has
his head in the clouds, lost in
thoughts.

a) After forgetting to do his homework

for the third time, Tim was really on
Refers to a sensitive thin ice with his teacher.
18. On thin ice scenario or a person
who is in trouble b) Daisy knew she was on thin
ice with her boss because of her
frequent tardiness.

a) When Phillip tried to apologize for his

mistake, his friend gave him a cold
shoulder and didn't speak to him for
days.
19. Give a cold
Act rudely to someone
shoulder b) During the school project
presentation, John felt nervous
and gave a cold shoulder to the
audience by avoiding eye contact and
speaking softly.

a) When you want to improve your

grades, you'll have to study, you can't
20. Cannot make an omelette without
make an breaking some eggs.
omelette Everything has a cost to
without pay b) To become a skilled painter, you'll
breaking some have to practice a lot and make some
eggs mistakes along the way. You can't
make an omelette without
breaking some eggs!