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class="container"><main class="blocks main-block"><article class="article"><h1 id="title" class="page-heading">Idioms</h1><p>An idiom is a group of words, a saying, or a phrase with a symbolic rather than literal meaning that is accepted in common usage. It is a form of artistic expression characteristic of a movement, period, individual, medium, or instrument.</p><p>Its symbolic sense differs from the definition or literal meaning of the words that make it. Idioms convey a figurative meaning that is difficult to understand solely by interpreting the words literally. For instance, “<a title="beyond the pale" href="https://www.theidioms.com/beyond-the-pale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beyond the pale</a>” means something is “over the line” or improper. You can only know that by being able to infer the phrase’s meaning based on context or if someone explains it to you.</p><p>Many different idioms exist, and people use them commonly in all languages. Translating them into other languages can be challenging because some meanings may be lost. Still, equivalents that fill in the gaps between languages exist. The English language has an unlimited number of idiomatic expressions.</p><p>Idiomatic expressions are the building blocks of civilization and language. They make the language evolve. The great intensity of idioms makes a language dynamic and interesting. Phrases bring a remarkable illustration to daily speech and offer compelling insights into the use of languages, words, and the speaker’s thought process. There is a sense of fun and mystery about idioms.</p><p><strong>So why are idiomatic expressions difficult?</strong><br>They are difficult because their meanings are not always easy to understand. This is particularly the case for non-native speakers of the language in question, since their intentions are typically symbolic. Due to this characteristic, English learners find them strange and hard to understand.</p><h2 class="new">Top 10 Common Idioms</h2><div class="idiom"><p>This is a list of the top ten most common English phrases and idioms used globally. We have provided their meaning and examples for teachers and students. Students also explain the meaning of idiomatic expressions in competitive exams. The popularity of an idiom can vary from region to region. However, this list is generally popular worldwide.</p></div><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/hot-potato/">a hot potato</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> a controversial issue or situation that is awkward to deal with.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Addressing the issue of bullying in our school has become a hot potato. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/hot-potato/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/piece-of-cake/">piece of cake</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> something that is easy to do</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Learning English is a piece of cake as long as you do it with our website. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/piece-of-cake/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/once-in-a-blue-moon/">once in a blue moon</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> very rarely</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> I go to visit my grandfather only once in a blue moon; he lives in a remote farm house. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/once-in-a-blue-moon/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/bed-of-roses/">a bed of roses</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> easy option</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Taking care of my younger sister is no bed of roses; she is very silly. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/bed-of-roses/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/rain-cats-and-dogs/">raining cats and dogs</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> raining very heavily</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> I wanted to go to play outside, but it was raining cats and dogs yesterday. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/rain-cats-and-dogs/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/when-pigs-fly/">when pigs fly</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> something that will never happen or is impossible.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> William will keep quiet only when pigs fly. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/pigs-fly/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/devils-advocate/">devil's advocate</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> one who presents a counter argument</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Hey Jack! You're always playing devil's advocate! Give it a rest and mind your own business. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/devils-advocate/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/miss-the-boat/">miss the boat</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> miss the chance.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Peter wanted to enter the drawing competition, but he was too late to enter, and he missed the boat. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/miss-the-boat/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/apple-of-eye/">apple of eye</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> someone very precious or dear</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Every kid in the world is the apple of their parents' eye(s). <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/apple-of-eye/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/zip-your-lip/">zip your lip</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> to stop talking</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> I don't want to hear another sound out of you. Now do as you're told and zip your lip. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/zip-your-lip/">Read more ➺</a></p></div><div class="idiom"><p><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/pdf/top-10-most-common-english-idioms-list.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="alignnone" style="margin-bottom: -9px;" src="https://www.theidioms.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/download-pdf-icon.png" alt="Free download idioms list PDF" width="32" height="32">Download as PDF file</a></p></div><hr><h2 class="new">Latest Idioms</h2><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/ante-up/">ante up</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> Increase the stakes, risk, or effort in a situation.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> If we want this project to succeed, we'll need to <strong>ante up</strong> more resources. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/ante-up/" title="ante up">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/cant-hold-a-candle-to/">can’t hold a candle to</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> shows inferiority by comparison; used when one thing is considered much less impressive or competent than another.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Sarah is an excellent chef, but her cooking <strong>can't hold a candle to</strong> her mother's. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/cant-hold-a-candle-to/" title="can’t hold a candle to">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/kickback/">kickback</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> <strong>Bribery Payment:</strong> An illicit payment, often disguised as a reward, given to someone in return for facilitating a transaction, especially to influence an outcome favorably.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> The contractor offered a <strong>kickback</strong> to secure the building project. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/kickback/" title="kickback">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/let-the-dust-settle/">let the dust settle</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> waiting until a situation becomes clear or stable after a period of confusion or turmoil.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> After the argument, they decided to <strong>let the dust settle</strong> before talking again. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/let-the-dust-settle/" title="let the dust settle">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/god-forbid/">God forbid</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> used to express a strong wish that something undesirable or bad does not happen.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> <strong>God forbid</strong> that we lose the match after working so hard all season. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/god-forbid/" title="God forbid">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/under-the-sun/">under the sun</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> <strong>Everything in existence or possible:</strong> Refers to anything and everything that exists in the world or universe. It is often used to convey a broad scope of possibilities or matters.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> He tried every solution <strong>under the sun</strong> to fix the broken machine. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/under-the-sun/" title="under the sun">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/as-clear-as-mud/">as clear as mud</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> extremely unclear or confusing.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> The instructions for setting up the Wi-Fi were <strong>as clear as mud</strong>. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/as-clear-as-mud/" title="as clear as mud">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/make-waves/">make waves</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> create a disturbance or controversy, often by challenging the <a title="status quo" href="https://www.theidioms.com/status-quo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">status quo</a>.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> She didn't want to <strong>make waves</strong> at the meeting, so she kept her opinion to herself. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/make-waves/" title="make waves">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/bad-apple/">bad apple</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> a person who negatively influences or corrupts others within a group.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> One <strong>bad apple</strong> in the team can disrupt the whole project. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/bad-apple/" title="bad apple">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/smart-cookie/">smart cookie</a></strong></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> a person who is clever, intelligent, or sharp in thinking and problem-solving.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Jane is a <strong>smart cookie</strong>; she solved the puzzle in minutes. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/smart-cookie/" title="smart cookie">Read more ➺</a></p></div><hr><div class="idiom"><p class="idt"><strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/list/">View all idioms</a></strong></p><p>View the complete list of all idioms we have on our website. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/list/">Read more ➺</a></p></div></article></main><aside class="blocks left-block"><div class="lb"><h2 class="lbh">Idiom of the Day</h2><div class="daily"><p id="iod"><em><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/a-quick-buck/"><strong>a quick buck</strong></a></em></p><p><strong>Meaning:</strong> to make <a href="https://www.theidioms.com/money/">money</a> quickly.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> He decided to make <strong><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/a-quick-buck/">a quick buck</a></strong> by selling his CD collection. <a class="rm" href="https://www.theidioms.com/a-quick-buck/" title="a quick buck">Read more ➺</a></p></div></div><div class="lb daily"><h2 class="lbh">About</h2><p>The Idioms Dictionary explains common English idioms that are popular worldwide, especially in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand.</p></div></aside><aside class="blocks right-block"><div class="note"><h3 class="rbh">Cool Idioms</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/ups-and-downs/">ups and downs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/take-over/">take over</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/cut-the-crap/">cut the crap</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/brown-study/">brown study</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/come-over/">come over</a></li></ul></div><div class="note"><h3 class="rbh">English Grammar</h3><div class="textwidget"><ul><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/adjectives/">Adjectives</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/nouns/">Nouns</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/pronouns/">Pronouns</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/verbs/">Verbs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/adverbs/">Adverbs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/prepositions/">Prepositions</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/punctuation/">Punctuation</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/sentences/">Sentences</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/figure-of-speech/">Figure of Speech</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/opposite-words/">Opposite Words</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/interjection/">Interjection</a></li></ul></div></div></aside></div><footer id="ftr" class="container"><div class="grid"><div class="fb1"><h3 class="fth">Reader Opinions</h3><ul><li><span class="cau">Anonymous</span> ➜ <a href="https://www.theidioms.com/on-the-other-hand/#comment-2425">on the other hand</a></li> <li><span class="cau">Chris</span> ➜ <a href="https://www.theidioms.com/touch-off/#comment-2424">touch off</a></li> <li><span class="cau">Chris</span> ➜ <a href="https://www.theidioms.com/turn-over-a-new-leaf/#comment-2423">turn over a new leaf</a></li> <li><span class="cau">Chris</span> ➜ <a href="https://www.theidioms.com/scapegoat/#comment-2418">scapegoat</a></li> <li><span class="cau">Chris</span> ➜ <a href="https://www.theidioms.com/son-of-a-gun/#comment-2417">son of a gun</a></li> <li><span class="cau">Daud</span> ➜ <a href="https://www.theidioms.com/within-earshot/#comment-2402">within earshot</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/opinions/">View all opinions</a></li></ul></div><div class="fb2"><h3 class="fth">Popular Idioms</h3><ol class="mpi"><li title="63 Thoughts on the devil is beating his wife"><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/the-devil-is-beating-his-wife/">the devil is beating his wife</a> <span class="icn">(63)</span></li><li title="20 Thoughts on raining cats and dogs"><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/rain-cats-and-dogs/">raining cats and dogs</a> <span class="icn">(20)</span></li><li title="18 Thoughts on break a leg"><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/break-a-leg/">break a leg</a> <span class="icn">(18)</span></li><li title="16 Thoughts on catch-22"><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/catch-22/">catch-22</a> <span class="icn">(16)</span></li><li title="13 Thoughts on a bed of roses"><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/bed-of-roses/">a bed of roses</a> <span class="icn">(13)</span></li><li title="12 Thoughts on apple of discord"><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/apple-of-discord/">apple of discord</a> <span class="icn">(12)</span></li><li title="12 Thoughts on home is where the heart is"><a href="https://www.theidioms.com/home-is-where-the-heart-is/">home is where the heart is</a> <span class="icn">(12)</span></li></ol></div></div><div class="grid"><div class="fb3"><h3 class="fth">More on The Idioms</h3><ul><li><a 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