English Idioms

01Break a legGood luckB1 02Bite the bulletEndure a painful or difficult situationB2 03Spill the beansReveal a secretB1 04Burn the midnight oilWork late into the nightB2 05Cost an arm and a legBe very expensiveB1 06Once in a blue moonVery rarelyB1 07Under the weatherFeeling ill or unwellB1 08Bite off more than you can chewTake on more than you can handleB2 09Kill two birds with one stoneAchieve two things with a single actionB1 10Hit the sackGo to bedB1 11The best of both worldsEnjoy two advantages at the same timeB2 12Speak of the devilSaid when someone you were just talking about appearsB1 13See eye to eyeAgree with someoneB2 14Beat around the bushAvoid the main topic or pointB2 15The ball is in your courtIt is your decision or responsibility nowB2 16Miss the boatMiss an opportunityB1 17Add fuel to the fireMake a bad situation worseB2 18Sit on the fenceAvoid committing to one sideB2 19On the ballAlert, efficient, and quick to reactB2 20Go back to the drawing boardStart over from the beginningB2 21Pull somebody's legJoke or tease someoneB1 22The last strawThe final problem that causes a reactionB2 23Bark up the wrong treePursue a wrong or mistaken course of actionB2 24Take with a grain of saltBe sceptical about somethingC1 25Bite the dustFail or dieB2 26Give the benefit of the doubtTrust someone despite uncertaintyC1 27In the same boatIn the same difficult situationB1 28Pull yourself togetherCalm down and behave rationallyB2 29The tip of the icebergA small visible part of a much larger problemB2 30Actions speak louder than wordsWhat you do matters more than what you sayB1 31All in the same boatIn the same difficult situation as othersB1 32Bite the hand that feeds youHarm or criticise someone who helps youB2 33Blessing in disguiseSomething that seems bad at first but turns out to be goodB1 34Break the iceReduce tension in an awkward social situationB1 35Burn your bridgesDestroy your relationship or opportunities permanentlyB2 36Cry wolfGive a false alarm; raise unnecessary concernB1 37Cut cornersDo something the easy but poor-quality wayB2 38Every cloud has a silver liningEvery negative situation has a positive sideB1 39Face the musicAccept the consequences of your actionsB2 40Get out of handBecome uncontrolled or unmanageableB1 41Hit the nail on the headDescribe something exactly correctlyB1 42Jump on the bandwagonJoin a popular trend or activityB2 43Kick the bucketDie (informal, humorous)B1 44Let the cat out of the bagAccidentally reveal a secretB1 45No pain, no gainYou must work hard to achieve something worthwhileB1 46Once bitten, twice shyA bad experience makes you cautious in futureB2 47Piece of cakeSomething very easy to doB1 48The elephant in the roomAn obvious problem everyone avoids discussingB2 49Hit the Ground RunningStart something quickly and with full energyB2 50Keep an Eye on SomethingWatch or monitor something carefullyB1 51Lose Track of TimeFail to notice how much time has passedB1 52Make Ends MeetEarn just enough money to live onB2 53On the Tip of Your TongueAlmost remembered but not quite recalledB1 54Over the MoonExtremely happy or delightedB1 55Put Your Foot in Your MouthSay something tactless or embarrassing by mistakeB2 56Take the Bull by the HornsDeal with a difficult situation decisivelyB2 57Two Peas in a PodTwo people who are very similar to each otherB1 58Wear Your Heart on Your SleeveShow your emotions openly and honestlyB2 59Get Cold FeetBecome nervous and reluctant before doing somethingB1 60The Writing Is on the WallThere are clear signs that something bad will happenC1 61Jump the GunAct too soon before the right momentB2 62Let Sleeping Dogs LieAvoid bringing up old problems or conflictsB2 63Make a Long Story ShortGet to the point by leaving out detailsB1 64Not My Cup of TeaNot something you like or enjoyB1 65Wrap Your Head AroundUnderstand something complex or difficultB2 66You Reap What You SowYour actions and efforts determine your resultsB2 67Down-to-EarthPractical, sensible, and unpretentiousB1 68A Dime a DozenVery common and not special or rareB2 69Read between the linesFind the hidden meaning in somethingB2 70Cut to the chaseGet to the most important point without delayB2 71Rock the boatUpset a stable situation or cause troubleB2 72Rule of thumbA practical general principle based on experienceB2 73By the skin of your teethJust barely manage to do or escape somethingC1 74Get the ball rollingStart an activity or processB1 75Turn a blind eyeDeliberately ignore something you know is wrongB2 76In hot waterIn trouble or in a difficult situationB1 77Straight from the horse's mouthDirectly from the original or most reliable sourceC1 78Back to square oneHaving to start all over again from the beginningB1 79Add Insult to InjuryMake a bad situation worseB2 80Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceForced to choose between two equally bad optionsB2 81Close but No CigarNearly succeed but ultimately failB2 82Cool as a CucumberVery calm and composed under pressureB1 83Hit the JackpotWin big or achieve unexpected successB1 84In the Heat of the MomentActing emotionally without stopping to thinkB2 85On Thin IceIn a risky or precarious situationB2 86Pull Out All the StopsUse every possible effort to achieve somethingC1 87Rain on Someone's ParadeSpoil someone's happiness or plansB2 88Water Under the BridgePast events that are best forgotten or no longer relevantB2 89Set the Record StraightCorrect a misunderstanding or false informationB2 90Throw in the TowelGive up or admit defeatB2 91Step Up to the PlateTake responsibility and do what is neededB2 92Let the Dust SettleWait for a situation to calm down before actingB2 93Apple of my eyeSomeone you cherish and love above all othersB1 94Out of the blueSuddenly and unexpectedly, without warningB1 95Drawing a blankBe unable to remember or think of somethingB2 96Go the extra mileMake more effort than is required or expectedB2 97Hit the roadLeave or begin a journeyB1 98In a nutshellIn the briefest possible way; to summariseB1 99Keep your fingers crossedHope that things will go well; wish for good luckB1 100Leave no stone unturnedTry every possible option to achieve a goalC1 101See the lightFinally understand or accept something after a long timeB2 102Turn over a new leafChange your behaviour or habits for the betterB2 103Raining cats and dogsRaining very heavilyB1 104On cloud nineExtremely happy or elatedB1 105Caught red-handedCaught in the act of doing something wrongB2 106The whole nine yardsEverything; the full extent of somethingB2 107In the nick of timeAt the last possible momentB1 108Tie the knotTo get marriedB1 109Play devil's advocateArgue an opposing view to test an argumentB2 110Burn the candle at both endsExhaust yourself doing too muchB2 111Throw caution to the windAct recklessly, ignoring riskB2 112When pigs flySomething that will never happenB1 113Bend over backwardsTry very hard to help or please someoneB2 114Bite your tongueStop yourself from saying somethingB1 115Call it a dayStop working on something for nowB1 116Cut someone some slackBe less harsh; give someone leewayB2 117Hit the booksStudy hardB1 118Keep your chin upStay positive in a difficult situationB1 119Let bygones be bygonesForgive and forget past quarrelsB2 120Pull the wool over someone's eyesDeceive someoneB2 121Under the radarWithout attracting attentionB2 122Up in the airUncertain, not yet decidedB1 123Cut the mustardReach the required standardB2 124Jump through hoopsDo many difficult things to achieve somethingB2 125The bottom lineThe most important fact; the final totalB2 126Par for the courseWhat you would normally expect to happenB2 127A storm in a teacupA lot of fuss about something trivialB2 128Cost a pretty pennyBe very expensiveB1 129Bury the hatchetMake peace; end a quarrelB2 130The icing on the cakeAn extra good thing on top of something goodB1 131A bitter pill to swallowAn unpleasant fact you must acceptB2 132Throw someone under the busBetray someone for your own benefitB2 133The Calm Before the StormA quiet period before trouble or chaosB2 134A Taste of Your Own MedicineThe same bad treatment you give to othersB2 135Cross That Bridge When You Come to ItDeal with a problem only when it happensB2 136Don't Count Your ChickensDo not rely on something before it happensB1 137The Early Bird Catches the WormThose who act early gain an advantageB1 138Every Dog Has Its DayEveryone gets a chance to succeed eventuallyB2 139A Penny for Your ThoughtsAsking what someone is thinking aboutB2 140The Grass Is Always GreenerOther situations seem better than your ownB2 141Don't Put All Your Eggs in One BasketDo not risk everything on a single thingB1 142A Leopard Can't Change Its SpotsPeople cannot change their basic natureB2 143A piece of the pieA share of something valuableB2 144Cry over spilt milkBe upset about something that cannot be changedB1 145A chip on your shoulderA lasting feeling of resentment or bitternessB2 146The tables have turnedThe situation has reversedB2 147A drop in the oceanA tiny, insignificant amountB1 148A frog in your throatA temporary difficulty speaking clearlyB1 149The cream of the cropThe very best of a groupB2 150A wolf in sheep's clothingSomeone hiding a harmful natureB2 151A slap on the wristA very mild punishment or warningB2 152Bend the rulesApply rules loosely or flexiblyB1 153A breath of fresh airSomeone or something refreshingly newB1 154Jump out of your skinBe suddenly startled or frightenedB1 155The best thing since sliced breadAn excellent new idea, product, or inventionB2 156A house of cardsA fragile plan that can easily collapseB2