150 Common Idioms in English

English idioms, love them or hate them they are  a necessary part of the language and so today I'm  

going to cover over 150 of the most common English  idioms with their meanings and an example sentence  

so you can learn them in context. And to make  your life really easy I've put together a free  

super pdf so that you have all the idioms I  cover and their meanings and examples as well.  

All you have to do to download your pdf is click  on the link provided, add your name and your email  

address to sign up to my ESL mailing list and I'll  send the pdf to you. An idiom is a common phrase  

which is used colloquially but the meaning is not  immediately obvious, for example, bite the bullet.

It means just do it, go for it. I'm  going to share 10 common idioms with you  

now. Number one, under the weather,  this means to be feeling ill.

I'm not coming to work today I'm feeling a  little under the weather. Number two, the  

ball is in your court, this means the next action  is with you. I've already given a counter offer  

the ball's in your court now. Number three,  spill the beans, this means to share a secret.  

Come on sally spill the beans, did you two kiss  or what? Number four, you're pulling my leg,  

this means to play a joke on someone or to  suggest someone is playing a joke on you. No  

there's no way I've won the lottery you're pulling  my leg. Number five, take it with a pinch of salt,  

this means to not believe it fully. I'd take  those numbers with a pinch of salt though,  

you know polls are not always accurate. Number  six, you can say that again, this means to agree  

on the trueness of something. Usually we only  hear this, we wouldn't write this. We need this  

launch to work or the business will fail. You  can say that again. Number seven, see eye to eye,  

this means to agree. James and Stuart are always  arguing, they never see eye to eye on anything.  

Number eight to beat around the bush this means to  not get to the point, you're just talking around  

it. Oh Juan doesn't half beat around the bush,  he never just makes a quick point. Number nine to  

miss the boat. To miss the boat means to miss an  opportunity. I always wanted to go to the concert  

but I missed the boat and now the tickets are  sold out. Number 10, by the skin of your teeth,  

this means you've only just achieved something. Oh  the team won that game by the skin of their teeth  

my heart. Oh have you got a few minutes of  free time? Rather than killing time playing  

games let's have a whale of a time learning  30 time related idioms. These are phrases  

that are used in everyday situations formal and  informal so it's good to be familiar with them.  

Number one, it's high time this phrase can be  used to say that it's time to do something that  

should have happened a long time ago. You've  been struggling with your maths homework for  

months it's high time we got you a  tutor. Number two, against the clock,  

if you're doing something against the  clock then you're doing it as quickly  

as possible in order to meet a deadline. All  the party guests will arrive at 6 p.m so we're  

working against the clock to get everything  ready in time quick. Number three, the 11th  

hour. If something happens at the 11th hour that  means it happens at the last possible moment.  

I found that question really difficult  but I remembered the answer at the 11th  

hour just before the exam finished phew.  Number four, to make up for lost time,  

to do something faster or more often in order  to compensate for not having done it quickly  

enough or often enough is known as making up for  lost time. Many of us, because of the pandemic,  

are now making up for lost time because of all  the things we've missed we didn't get to see our  

family much last year, so this year I hope to make  up for lost time and spend lots of time with them.  

Number five, in the nick of time, to do  something in the nick of time means to do it  

just in time we almost missed the train but we got  here just in the nick of time, oh that was close.  

Number six, the ship has sailed, we use this  phrase informally to discuss an opportunity which  

has passed or a situation which can no longer  be changed. I thought about running the marathon  

this year but I haven't done any training so that  ship has sailed. Number seven, around the clock,  

if something is done around the clock then it's  done all day and all night without stopping.  

Oh yes we have around the clock security  nobody's getting into this place.  

Number eight, to call it a day, this  means to decide to stop doing something  

either permanently or for a while depending on  the context. I'm too tired to finish my homework  

I'm gonna call it a day and I'll finish it  tomorrow. Number nine, in the blink of an  

eye. If something happens in the blink of an eye  then it happens very quickly just like a blink.

A calculator can solve a maths  problem in the blink of an eye.

Number 10, to kill time this phrase is used  informally and it means to spend time doing  

something unimportant particularly  when waiting for something else  

yes we'll go shopping at the airport  to kill time before the flight.  

Number 11, like clockwork. If something happens  like clockwork then it happens very smoothly  

and easily. Ah the presentation ran like clockwork  everyone was very happy number 12 on the dot this  

is an informal phrase which means exactly on time  she starts work at 9 00 am on the dot not 903.  

Number 13, to do time or to serve time. This is  a colloquial term meaning to be in prison. He's  

doing time for money laundering. Number  14, to turn back time. To turn back time  

means to recreate, remember or imagine things  as they were before. Oh I like to reminisce  

while looking through all photographs but  I do wish I could just turn back time.  

Number 15, to have a whale of a time. This means  to have a brilliant time to really enjoy oneself.  

Ah I had a whale of a time learning  to ski until I broke my leg.

Number 16 to lose track of time. To  lose track of time means to be unaware  

of how much time has passed or to not be sure of  what time it is. Oh iIm sorry I'm late I totally  

lost track of the time, sorry. Number 17, free  time. Free time refers to time available for  

hobbies and activities you enjoy in my free time.  I like to play football what do you like to do?  

Number 18, spur of the moment. Something done  in the spur of the moment is done impulsively  

without planning in advance. Uh we aren't going to  Argentina now instead we're going to Switzerland,  

don't ask me why. It was a  spur of the moment decision.  

Number 19, behind the times. If something  is behind the times then it's not using the  

latest technology ideas or techniques. It could  also be referred to as out of date. This library  

is so behind the times they don't even have a  computer. Number 20, to hit the big time. This  

is an idiomatic phrase which means to become very  successful or famous. She hit the big time and got  

a part in a very successful film after years of  hard work. Number 21, hour of need. An hour of  

need is the time when most help is needed. Thank  you so much for helping us in our hour of need.  

Number 22, a laugh a minute. You could  use this phrase to describe someone who is  

very funny oh John's great he's a laugh a minute  so funny. Number 23, like there's no tomorrow.  

To do something like there's no  tomorrow means to do it in a quick  

or careless way without considering the future.  He is spending money like there's no tomorrow.  

Number 24, long time no see. This is  informally used as a greeting to mean  

it's been a long time since we last  met. Hey Christopher long time no see.  

Number 25, a mile a minute. If something is  happening a mile a minute then it's happening  

at a very fast pace. I can barely understand  Connor because he talks a mile a minute.  

Number 26, now and then. If something  happens now and then then it happens  

occasionally. I don't see her much  but we go out for coffee now and then.  

Number 27, the moment of truth. This is  a time when a person or a thing is tested  

a decision has to be made or a crisis has to  be faced this is a moment of truth. Grace has  

spent hours baking the perfect cake and now  it is the moment of truth time to taste it.  

Number 28, to have too much time on one's hands.  To have too much time on your hands means to have  

a lot of extra time, we often use this phrase  to describe someone who is engaged in unhelpful  

or useless activities. She is such a gossip she  obviously has far too much time on her hands.  

Number 29, once in a blue moon. This means  it rarely happens. I don't speak to my old  

uni mates these days I mean Fernando will  call me for a catch-up once in a blue moon  

but apart from that we've all lost touch. And  number 30, donkey's years. Donkey's years is  

an informal way of saying a long time Adam  and I have been friends for donkey's years.

It is getting hot in here.

The temperature in London is soaring so i thought  this was the perfect opportunity for me to teach  

you five very hot english phrases plus an extra  tasty little treat at the very end if you stay all  

the way through. Here's the first one, hot off the  press. If something is hot off the press then it  

means it's news just in, it's just happened, you  need to hear it because no one else is talking  

about it. It's hot off the press. The second  super hot phrase is to blow hot and cold, this  

means to alternate between two different states.  For example somebody might be very happy friendly  

warm and welcoming one moment and then completely  the opposite the other they might be distant maybe  

a little angry they might seem like they don't  like you at all the next. They are blowing hot and  

cold, and it's very hard to know where you stand  with someone who blows hot and cold. For example  

imagine we have just started working together and  on the first day I come to you and say hi I'm so  

happy that you're working here we're going to be  best friends why don't you take the space next to  

me, sit with me we'll work together. Oh and we  should have lunch together today, see you soon.  

And the next day it's more like oh you're sitting  next to me are you, I think you should move to  

the other side of the office and I can't do  lunch with you today, no I'm really busy.

I'm blowing hot and cold. Super hot phrase  number three, strike while the iron is  

hot. To strike while the iron is hot means to act  when the conditions are most favourable so take  

the opportunity when you have the chance. For  example let's imagine you want to buy a house  

and suddenly there's a big change in the  economy and the housing market crashes  

and houses are suddenly very very cheap and even  though you've not been sure if you want to commit  

to buying a house, now is a good time to act  so you should strike while the iron is hot.  

Super hot phrase number four, to get  into hot water or to be in hot water.  

If you're in hot water then I'm afraid tot this  means you are in trouble. So imagine you've been  

married for 10 years and you forget it's your  wedding anniversary and you decide to go out for  

some drinks after work with your work friends and  forget all about your lovely partner sat at home.  

You can guarantee that by the time you get back  you are going to be in very hot water. Oh call  

the fire brigade it is getting far too hot with  super hot phrase number five, I have had more  

something replace that with whatever you like  then you've had hot dinners. To have something  

more than you've had hot dinners means that your  experience is greater than the other person so in  

this case I'm saying my experience in something is  greater than yours. Let's imagine my sentence is  

I've had more internet stalkers than you've had  hot dinners, which let's face it is probably true,  

that means I've had more internet stalkers  than you have. What would your sentence be?  

What have you had more than I've had hot  dinners? Put it down in the comments box below.  

And finally, before I spontaneously combust  that means burst into flames because I'm so hot,  

let's do the final one. Super hot phrase  number six and she's forgotten it, is  

to be hot under the collar. If you are getting  hot under the collar it means that you're becoming  

emotional usually it means you're becoming  embarrassed or angry. Oh I'm getting a little  

hot under the collar or oh I'm getting a little  hot under the collar. Okay so there you go six  

super hot phrases for you to use this summer while  the temperatures soar and I did promise a bonus.  

I have the hots for you. What does that mean?  It means that I fancy you, I'm attracted to you.  

So tell me in the comments box below who do you  have the hots for? Do you dare share that secret. 

Idioms we have countless idioms in the english  language so once again I've broken it down by  

category and today we're going to be learning 20  of the most commonly used weather related idioms.  

These are phrases that most native speakers will  use often and without much thought but really  

they're not that self-explanatory, so they take  a little bit of explaining and that's what we're  

going to learn about today. The first idiom is to  brighten up. To brighten up means to become more  

cheerful now brighten up is a separable phrasal  verb which means that you can put the object in  

the middle of those two words, the object that's  being brightened up, for example, let's brighten  

this room up. The second idiom is to take a shine  to, to take a shine to something means to develop  

a liking for it. Philip has taken a shine to  Yorkshire tea over Tetley tea. The third idiom is  

to chase rainbows. To chase rainbows means  to pursue something that is impossible  

or very unlikely. Georgia wants to be a famous  singer but with that voice she's chasing rainbows.  

The fourth idiom is to save it for  a rainy day. To save something for  

a rainy day means to keep it aside for a  time when it might be needed in the future.  

I won some money on the lottery so  I'm going to save it for a rainy day.

The fifth idiom is right as rain, if someone  is right as rain that means they are well  

fit and healthy. Yesterday I was unwell but today  I feel right as rain. The sixth idiom is to take  

a rain check. To take a rain check is more of  an American phrase which we're beginning to see  

more and more of in British english and it means  to cancel or refuse something with an intention of  

doing it another time. Hey are we still going  for coffee later? Oh let's take a rain check,  

maybe next week? The seventh idiom is to weather  the storm. To weather the storm means to survive  

through difficulties. I had a really difficult  month but I told myself to weather the storm  

and everything is finally back to normal. The  eighth idiom is to rain on someone's parade.  

To rain on someone's parade means to stop them  from enjoying themselves or to ruin their plans.  

I don't want to rain on your parade but you're  being so loud please could you be quieter.  

The ninth idiom is to shoot the breeze. To shoot  the breeze, it means to have an informal chat.  

Hey do you want to go for a walk and shoot  the breeze. The 10th idiom is to catch wind  

of something, to catch wind of something means  to hear a rumour about it. Now the 11th idiom  

is to throw caution to the wind. To throw  caution to the wind means to take a risk.  

I need to just throw caution to  the wind and tell him how I feel.

The 12th idiom is storm on the horizon.  

If there is a storm on the horizon that  means that there is a problem approaching.  

Francis keeps getting into trouble at school so  I think there might be a storm on the horizon.  

The 13th idiom is every cloud has a silver  lining. This is a phrase we use to express  

that there is something good that comes  out of every bad or difficult situation.  

Lockdown has been really stressful for everyone  but I have had a chance to spend lots more time  

with my family so I guess every cloud  has a silver lining. The 14th idiom is  

on cloud nine. If someone is on cloud nine then  they are in a state of overwhelming happiness.  

I got the job, I feel so lucky I'm on cloud  nine. The fifteenth idiom is to have your head  

in the clouds, now if someone has their head  in the clouds that means that they're being  

unrealistic or impractical, a bit of a dreamer  and not very down to earth. Oh Grace is a lovely  

girl but she does have her head in the clouds.  The 16th idiom is to not have the foggiest,  

this means that you're not sure about something  you don't have an idea or a clue about it. You  

might say I don't have the foggiest or I haven't  the foggiest or I haven't got the foggiest.  

Could you help me with directions please,  I haven't the foggiest where I am?

The 17th idiom is under the weather,  

if you're under the weather that  means you're feeling unwell.

I'm going to stay at home today as I'm a bit  under the weather. The 18th idiom is the calm  

before the storm, this means a moment of quiet  or stability before difficult or busy times.  

Those moments before the shop opened  were the calm before the storm.

The 19th idiom is to break the ice. To break  the ice means to do or say something to relieve  

tension or to break a silence. Ah  it was really awkward when we first  

met that it didn't take long to break  the ice. And finally the 20th idiom is  

face like thunder if someone has a face  like thunder it means that their face  

looks very unhappy or very angry this is not very  polite so only use it in informal situations.  

I knew she was very annoyed with me  because she had a face like thunder.

To catch someone red-handed is to discover  someone in the act of doing something wrong  

for example if the police found a robber still  holding the bag that he has stolen you could say  

they caught him red-handed or if a mother  walked into the kitchen at night to find her son  

with chocolate cake all over his face  you might say I've caught you red-handed.

Grey area a grey area is an ill-defined  

unclear situation which does not have an obvious  answer or outcome, it's not black or white,  

that's another idiom meaning it's not clear  it's a grey area, for example, if I use a clip  

from a movie in this video to illustrate an  educational point is that copyright infringement?  

It's not clear, it's a bit of a grey area. To give  the green light, this means to give permission  

for someone to do something or for something  to happen, for example, a parent could give  

the green light for their child to start a new  club or to go on a school trip, go on sonny. 

In the red, if a person or a company is in the  red that means they've spent more money than they  

have, and now they owe money to the bank. I can't  sleep at night, not now that we're in the red. 

Once in a blue moon, if something happens  once in a blue moon it happens very rarely  

for example, we go on holiday once in a blue moon  it doesn't mean never it just means not often.

Out of the blue. If something happens out of the  blue then it is completely unexpected for example,  

my brother arrived out of the blue so  his brother was completely unexpected.

Red tape. Red tape refers to rules or  boundaries that prevent or slow down  

something you're trying to achieve. For example,  it took me ages to get a working visa because of  

all the red tape. Rose tinted glasses. To look  at something through rose tinted glasses means  

to think of it with a positive bias perhaps only  seeing or paying attention to the good things,  

for example, ah I have lots of fond memories of  school I can't remember the bad parts I suppose  

I look back at it through rose tinted glasses.  To show one's true colours. To show one's true  

colours means to reveal the kind of person you  really are. This could be used in a positive way,  

for example, Nicole was so patient with the  children she really showed her true colours. Or  

in a negative way, for example, I  can't believe Nicole betrayed you  

she has really shown her true colours. Golden  opportunity, this is an excellent chance to  

do something that is likely to be successful or  rewarding. For example, going to Oxford university  

is a golden opportunity or being invited to  go to a place you've always wanted to go to  

is a golden opportunity. White lie. A white  lie is a lie about a small or unimportant  

matter that someone tells to avoid hurting another  person, for example, it was a bit of a white lie,  

I told her I couldn't go to her party but really  I just didn't want to. To pass with flying  

colours.To pass something with flying colours  means to do it very successfully, for example,  

if you get top marks in an exam you could say  you've passed with flying colours. See red. To  

see red means to become very angry, for example,  when I realised he'd been lying I saw red.  

Blue collar, this phrase refers to the colour  on a labourer's uniform and is typically used  

to refer to people who work in manual labor, such  as agriculture, manufacturing, and construction.  

In context you could say, he's got a  new blue collar job as an electrician. 

White collar this refers to an office worker or  someone whose profession does not require manual  

labour. In context you could say, he's got a  new white collar job as a lawyer. A red flag.  

A red flag is a sign of a problem which  requires attention. For example, the fact  

that no one seemed to enjoy working there was a  red flag. This means that it's a sign that should  

be paid attention to, you probably won't enjoy  working somewhere if everyone who works there  

doesn't enjoy their job. Red letter day. A red  letter day is a special or memorable occasion,  

for example when Francesca returns from  her two-year trip it'll be a red letter  

day. Although I will just add that red letter  day is probably now falling out of fashion as  

we don't really send letters anymore. Next,  to paint the town red, this means to party or  

celebrate in a rowdy or wild manner particularly  in a public place such as a nightclub or bar.  

You could say for my birthday we'll paint  the town red, which just means we'll party.  

Next, to roll out the red carpet, this means  to welcome someone with special treatment,  

for example, oh when she gets home from  the hospital we'll roll out the red carpet,  

meaning we'll take extra good care of her. This  refers to the red carpet that celebrities and vips  

walk on to get to award ceremonies or premieres,  it indicates a mark of respect and good care,  

bringing me on to my next one. Red carpet  treatment, along the same lines of the last one,  

but it's not about only welcoming someone when  they first arrive somewhere, to give someone the  

red carpet treatment is to treat them as if  they are special and important. For example,  

at this hotel we give all of our guests the  red carpet treatment now let's get to work.

To get back to or put your nose to the grindstone  the grindstone this means to return to or start  

a hard tedious task.

Right that's my break over I  better get back to the grindstone.

To be on a roll this means experiencing a period  of success or good luck. Yeah we signed up two new  

clients last week and four new clients this week  with three more in the pipeline we are on a roll.

Be snowed under to be snowed under means to be  overwhelmed with a very large quantity of work  

or commitments. Oh I am so sorry I missed the  teachers meeting today with the exams around the  

corner and several members of staff self-isolating  I'm completely snowed under at the moment.

To bend over backwards this means to work extra  hard to help someone or to make them happy. I  

don't understand why he continues to bend over  backwards for Julia she doesn't appreciate it.

Blood sweat and tears if something needs  blood sweat and tears then it's a hard  

thing to do or requires a lot of effort. We spent  

15 years building this business it took blood  sweat and tears to make it what it is today.

Burning a candle at both ends this means  to work too hard as well as trying to do  

other things. My boss had a  nervous breakdown last month  

it's not surprising he was burning the  candle at both ends for many months.

Get cracking this means to get  started on a project or task.  

Right do we all know what we're supposed  to be doing great then let's get cracking.

Give it 110 this means to try really hard to  achieve something. I know you are all tired  

it's really hot outside and you would rather  be relaxing in the shade eating ice cream, but  

today is a very important day for our school  so I want you to get out there and give it 110.

To go the extra mile this means to  do more than what is expected to  

make something happen or help someone. We  have decided to promote nick he went the  

extra mile for us during the pandemic  and really showed us his commitment.

Hang in there, this means don't give  up keep going through the hard times.  

The next few months will be hard for all of  us just hang in there, things will improve.

Jump through hoops this means  to go through an elaborate or  

complicated procedure in  order to achieve an objective.  

We are in the process of applying for a mortgage  but we have to jump through so many hoops.

To knuckle down or buckle down this means to  focus and work diligently on a task or problem,  

if you all knuckle down and do your revision  between now and the exams then you will pass  

with flying colours.

To make up for lost time this means to  do something as much as possible because  

you were not able to do it before like to  catch up. I haven't seen my family for over  

two years so we're going to go on holiday  together we really need to make up for lost time.

To move mountains, this means to make every  possible effort doing the impossible if needed.  

Trust me I will move mountains to make sure  that you are satisfied with your new branding.

No pain no gain this means suffering is  necessary in order to achieve something.  

The athletes are complaining about having  to train on a Sunday but no pain no gain.

To pull one's own weight this means to do your  fair share of work that a group of people are  

doing together James you have taken a lot  of time off this month and when you have  

been in you haven't done very much work. We  are all working hard to reach our deadline  

so we need you to start pulling your own  weight otherwise we will have to let you go.

To raise the bar this means to raise the  standards which need to be met in order to  

qualify for something. Oh Apple have really  raised the bar with their latest iPhone.

To stay ahead of the game, this means to  react quickly and gain or keep an advantage.  

Okay, we're changing our marketing  strategy advertising will now include  

tick tock we must stay ahead of the game.

To stay the course this means to keep going  strongly to the end of a race or contest or  

task we've been working with this  client for 12 months on this project  

we plan to stay the course and get the job done.

To take the bull by the horns, this means to  deal decisively with a difficult or dangerous  

situation. I've asked him several times but  he just ignores me, I must take the bull by  

the horns and just tell my landlord that I'm  moving out unless he fixes the central heating. 

We use so many idioms in our day-to-day  life and many of them are animal related  

so we're going to focus on idioms which are animal  based today the first idiom is fly on the wall. To  

be a fly on the wall means to be unnoticed while  watching or listening to something. Oh they're  

discussing the argument now, I'd love to be a fly  on the wall so I could hear what they're saying.  

The second idiom is bee's knees, if something  is the bee's knees that means it is excellent  

and of the highest quality. You could  also say someone is the bee's knees.

This chocolate cake is the bee's knees you have  to try it. The third idiom is to make a beeline  

for something. To make a beeline for something  means to move towards it quickly and with purpose.

I've wanted to meet Harry for ages so as  soon as I saw him I made a beeline for him.  

The fourth idiom is to kill two birds with one  stone. To kill two birds with one stone means  

to accomplish two tasks or objectives at once. I  wanted to try out the new restaurant and I haven't  

seen Justine in ages so I've booked a table for  us both and it'll kill two birds with one stone.  

The fifth idiom is sitting duck. A sitting duck  is an easy target, something or someone which  

is vulnerable to attack. If we leave the shop  doors unlocked it'll be a sitting duck. The sixth  

idiom sixth idiom is to chicken out. To chicken  out of something means to back out of it because  

you're feeling scared or worried about it. James was going to go on the roller coaster but  

he chickened out at the last minute because he was  just so scared. Number seven on our list is a wild  

goose chase. A wild goose chase is a pointless  task particularly one that involves travel.  

She sent me to the supermarket to buy  socks but they don't even sell socks so  

it was simply a wild goose chase.  The eighth idiom is to take a bull  

by its horns this means to face a problem  directly you take the bull by the horns  

sometimes you might hear someone say to grab a  ball by its horns which means the same thing.  

I hate confrontation but I'm so angry I'm gonna  have to take the bull by its horns and tell her.  

The ninth idiom is to horse around.

To horse around means to act in a way that  is silly and playful and sometimes noisy  

will you please stop horsing  around I'm trying to concentrate.

The tenth idiom is until the cows come home. Until  the cows come home means for a long possibly even  

never-ending length of time, it's usually  used when talking about something that you  

could do for a long time because you enjoy it.  

Ah I could sit here and read until the cows  come home but unfortunately I've got work to do.

The 11th idiom is a dark horse a dark horse is  somebody who is surprisingly good at something  

that you might not expect them to be. This could  be used to describe someone in a competition  

who places much higher than expected or  someone who surprises you with their skill  

that you didn't know they had. Wow Beth you're a  dark horse, I didn't know you could bake so well.  

The 12th idiom is hold your horses,  to hold your horses means wait.

Hello brilliant you're home  I've been wanting to talk to you  

about your .... Hold your horses  I've only been here for two seconds.

The 13th idiom is straight from the horse's mouth.  

If you hear something straight  from the horse's mouth,  

that means you're hearing it from the source, from  somebody who has direct or personal experience.  

I don't usually pay attention to gossip but  I heard it straight from the horse's mouth.  

The 14th idiom is in two shakes of a lamb's tail.  I love this one, in two shakes of lamb's tail  

means in a very short amount of time. I'll be back  with a cup of tea in two shakes of lamb's tail.

The 15th idiom is to go the whole  hog. To go the whole hog means  

to really commit to something and to take it  as far as possible. I mean most people in the  

office don't celebrate halloween but Anna goes the  whole hog every year. The 16th idiom is the cat's  

pyjamas, similar to the bee's knees if something  or someone is the cat's pyjamas that means they're  

the best. My last teacher wasn't very good but  my new one is great she's the cat's pyjamas.

The 17th idiom to let the cat out of  the bag. To let the cat out of the bag  

means to reveal a secret. This could be  accidentally or it could be on purpose.  

Right I think it's time to let the  cat out of the bag. I'm pregnant!

The 18th idiom is cat's got your tongue.  

This is a question normally that you might ask  someone who is unusually quiet, what's the matter  

cat got your tongue? The 19th idiom is raining  cats and dogs. I think most people know this one,  

if someone says it's raining cats and dogs  that means it's raining very heavily outside.

I wanted to go for a run this afternoon but it's  raining cats and dogs outside. I think I'll have  

to go tomorrow instead. The 20th idiom is to let  sleeping dogs lie. To let sleeping dogs lie means  

to leave a situation alone, to not interfere so  that you don't cause any unnecessary trouble.

I am so angry I'm gonna just call her  right now and and argue with her. Wait  

a minute don't you think it might be  better just to let sleeping dogs lie?

Number 21 is in the doghouse. To be in the  doghouse means to be in trouble or disgraced  

usually because you've upset or angered  somebody with something you've done  

or not done. He forgot his girlfriend's  birthday so he's in the doghouse.  

Number 22 is dog eat dog. Dog eat dog is a phrase  that we use to describe an environment which is  

very competitive to an extent where people are  prepared to harm one another not physically  

but um you know metaphorically maybe in a business  sense they're willing to harm one another to win.  

Yeah I hate working in that office because  it's dog-eat-dog in there, everybody tries  

to make each other look bad, to make themselves  look better. Number 23 is ants in your pants.  

If you have ants in your pants that means you are  restless and moving around a lot usually because  

you're nervous or excited or you just can't sit  still because you're bored and you want to get  

doing things. As a child I was often told I had  ants in my pants because I couldn't sit still.

Wow you've got ants in your pants today. Yeah  I'm just so nervous about this job interview  

I just can't sit still. Number 24 to smell a rat.  Ooh to smell a rat means to be suspicious of a lie  

or something underhanded going on. She  said she couldn't come to my birthday  

party because she had other plans but I smell a  rat. Number 25 is simply fishy or you could say  

something fishy is going on. If something  is fishy then that means it's suspicious.

There's something fishy going on in that office,  something's not quite right with their numbers.  

The 26th idiom is to have bigger fish  to fry. If you have bigger fish to  

fry then that means you have more  important or better things to do.  

Don't worry about the invitations you have  bigger fish to fry, you need to find a venue.  

The 27th idiom is another kettle of fish.  If something is another kettle of fish or  

a whole other kettle of fish then that  means it is something entirely different  

to what's being discussed. Look I'm just  so stressed because we're moving house and  

it's all changing so quickly and how's your  mum. Oh that's a whole other kettle of fish.

The 28th idiom is crocodile tears. Crocodile  tears are fake tears for example if someone is  

pretending to cry or has forced themselves to cry  to gain something like sympathy. I know they're  

just crocodile tears he doesn't actually care  about me. The 29th idiom is elephant in the room,  

an elephant in the room is something obvious  and uncomfortable which has not been discussed,  

it's like everyone's ignoring this huge problem,  the elephant in the room. Obviously I know that  

he said horrible things about me but I didn't  mention it so there's this elephant in the room.  

And finally the 30th idiom is to have the lion's  share, to have or to get the lion's share of  

something means to have the largest amount of  something. As the main character in Harry Potter  

Daniel Radcliffe definitely gets the lion's  share of praise but I think all the other  

actors are just as good. Right 20 money idioms  coming up, there are many more which are not on  

the list so if you can think of one that I don't  mention please leave it in the comments and we can  

all learn together. Let's get started. A penny  for your thoughts I love this phrase this is a  

question which means what are you thinking about  if someone looks confused you might ask them,  

a penny for your thoughts. Number two to cost a  pretty penny. If something costs a pretty penny  

and that means it's very expensive, so if you  say I love your dress I might say yeah but it  

costs a pretty penny, and you know I've spent  a lot of money on it. The next is a quick buck,  

a quick buck, money which is easy to make  is basically the meaning. So if something  

is a very easy way to make money then you say oh  it's a quick buck, another example is if you sell  

something you own it's really easy to sell and you  can say oh that was a quick buck or I just made a  

quick buck. The next phrase is daylight robbery.  Daylight robbery, this describes an obviously  

unfair overcharging so a good example would be a  cinema selling a can of lemonade for three pounds  

when you could buy it for 70p from the corner  shop you could consider that daylight robbery.

Number five, from rags to riches. From rags  to riches, this means from poverty to wealth  

from poverty to wealth we hear this saying about  celebrities who come from a poverty-stricken  

background but now have lots of money, they  are now wealthy, they went from rags to riches.  

Number six, I don't have  two pennies to rub together.  

This is a colloquial phrase which means I'm very  poor, I don't have much money at all, I don't even  

have two pennies to rub together. Number seven,  if I had a penny for every time this happened  

I'd be rich now. This phrase can be used to  describe something that happens a lot for example  

you could say if I had a penny for every time you  were late I'd be rich. You can adjust this phrase  

to be a pound, if I had a pound for every time  I stubbed my toe on the door I'd be very rich.  

It just means, oh this happens a lot. Okay,  number eight, money doesn't grow on trees,  

this is a saying that means  money is not easy to acquire,  

it doesn't grow on trees, you have to earn it. You  often hear parents saying this to their children  

when their children ask for something, or want  to waste their money, and come to mum and dad  

saying "I need more money to waste on something"  and they say "look money doesn't grow on trees.  

I can't give you this money you  have to earn it". Number nine,  

to be on the money. Now this means to be correct  about something or someone, for example, you could  

say I had an instinct that we should hire her  and I was on the money, meaning that she was a  

good choice to hire. For example, you could say  I had an instinct that we should hire her, and I  

was on the money, meaning that you made the right  choice, this person was the right person to hire  

you were on the money. Number ten, two sides  of the same coin, this means two people  

with a shared goal but opposing views, so for  example, you could say I thought we should buy mum  

flowers but my sister said we should buy her  chocolates so we're on two sides of the same coin,  

we both want to buy mum something but we want  to do in different ways. Number 11, strapped  

for cash. Strapped for cash, to be strapped for  cash means to be short of money, for example that  

restaurant looks lovely but I'm a bit strapped  for cash at the moment, could we go somewhere  

cheaper. Number 12, 10 a penny. 10 a penny, if  something is 10 a penny it means it's very common  

the americanised version of this phrase would  be a dime a dozen. A dime a dozen and that's in  

American English. Number 13 to cut one's losses,  if you cut your losses it means that you abandon  

a plan or a project which is clearly going to be  unsuccessful before the situation becomes worse.  

For example, it started raining as soon as we  went outside for the barbecue so we decided to  

cut our losses and have a takeaway instead.  Number 14 to earn a living. To earn a living  

this basically means to make enough money to  live comfortably, for example, he earns a living  

by selling his art. How do you earn your living?  Sometimes you might hear make a living as well,  

to make a living, I need to make a living,  we all need to make a living. Number 15  

to feel the pinch, to feel the pinch,  this is to experience financial hardship.  

So for example Christmas is expensive so it is  common to feel the pinch in January. Number 16 to  

foot the bill. To foot the bill, this means to pay  for everyone, to pay the entire bill. For example,  

it's johnny's birthday so I'll foot the bill,  my treat. Number 17, to give someone a run  

for their money, this means to be a challenging  competitor. For example, Florence is a good baker  

but Joe could give her a run for her money. Joe is  just as good and actually he might be better. Okay  

number 18, to have the penny drop. So you'd say  oh the pennies just dropped, or the penny dropped,  

this means to finally realise or understand  something. For example, I used to find playing  

guitar really difficult but now the penny has  dropped now I've got it, it's much easier to  

learn. Continuing with pennies, we might want  to spend a penny. To spend a penny, this is an  

interesting one because it means something  very different to what you would expect,  

to spend a penny means to go to the toilet.  It's very British, a polite way of saying it,  

excuse me I'm just going to spend a penny. Some  people might consider this old-fashioned but it's  

widely known and in some cases still  used so it's good to be aware of.  

The next one is your two cents, two cents this  is your opinion so you could give your two cents  

or put your two cents in and that means  just to give your opinion about something.  

So imagine you're sat in a meeting and  they're discussing something that you  

have an idea about you might say Oh can  I just put my two cents in I think this.