💬 Common English expressions with their meaning in English

English expressions, also known as idioms, are fixed phrases whose meanings can't always be guessed word by word. They add color and fluency to your English. On this page, you’ll find a selection of the most commonly used English expressions, along with their meaning in English to help you understand and use them naturally in your conversations.

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Expression in English	Meaning in English
a fault confessed is half redressed	admitting a fault is already making amends
a dog's life	a miserable or difficult life
a dream life	a perfect or ideal life
that's it	it's done / that's all
get your hands off me	don't touch me
let go off me	release me / let me go
cut me through	let me through / move aside
well done everyone	congratulations everyone!
to take the shot	to shoot / to take aim
to run something down	to catch up with something
that ought to do	that should be enough
that ought to be very enjoyable	that should be very pleasant
to fall in love at first sight	to fall instantly in love
to have a soft spot for someone	to have a crush on someone
to be scared to death	to be extremely frightened
it's a cock-and-bull story	it's a ridiculous or unbelievable story
to go straight to the point	to be direct
to have the gift of the gab	to be talkative or persuasive
to give the game away	to reveal a secret
to keep a secret	to hold one's tongue
to be in hung over	to have a hangover
a new broom sweeps clean	new people bring change
a red letter day	a memorable or special day
as the crow flies	in a straight line
beware of the dog !	watch out for the dog!
by leaps and bounds	very rapidly
by the skin of teeth	just barely
cheer up !	stay strong / don't be sad
get off my back !	leave me alone!
hand in hand	side by side
heads or tails ?	flip a coin
he's a good egg	he's a good guy
he's a bad egg	he's a bad guy
he's a queer fish	he's a strange guy
it's a funny bird	he's a strange person
he wouldn't say boo to a goose	he's very shy
I could do it standing on my head	it's very easy
it is as easy as falling off a log	it's extremely easy
I'm asleep on my feet	I'm extremely tired
I got it straight from the horse's mouth	I heard it from a reliable source
it doesn't grow on trees	it's not easy to find / it's rare
it's crystal clear	it's perfectly clear
it's all Greek to me	I don't understand any of it
it's a piece of cake	it's very easy
it's a small world	we meet again unexpectedly
it's dog eat dog in this world	it's a cruel and competitive world
it's in the bag	it's guaranteed
it's just tit for tat	it's payback / revenge
it's not worth a bean	it's worthless
it's no picnic	it's not easy
it's not my pigeon	it's not my business
it's not that difficult	it's not that hard
it's not worth it	it's not worth the effort
it's the icing on the cake	it's the final touch / bonus
it's raining cats and dog	it's pouring rain
it makes no odds to me	I don't care / it doesn't matter to me
it went down smoothly	it went very well
it worked like a dream	it worked perfectly
let's call a spade a spade	let's speak frankly
let's get down to business	let's focus on the important stuff
let's not beat about the bush	let's be direct
my foot !	nonsense!
no sooner said than done	as soon as said, it's done
not to do anything by halves	to do things thoroughly
not to let the grass grow under one's feet	to act quickly
it's no big deal	it's not a big problem
to make off	to run away quickly
to clear off	to leave suddenly
to pack one's bags and go	to leave abruptly
to give someone a hand	to help someone
to lend a hand	to help with something
to be a sensation	to be a big success
to be a bad way	to be in poor condition
to fall through	to fail or collapse
to be chalk and cheese	to be completely different
he's not all there	he's mentally unstable
to go round the bend	to go crazy
to make one's flesh creep	to give someone goosebumps
to blow one's top	to lose one's temper
to flare up very easily	to get angry quickly
to spill the beans	to reveal a secret
old hat	outdated or old-fashioned
once again	one more time
once and for all, goodbye !	final goodbye
say « cheese »	smile for the camera
slow but sure	steady and reliable
such is life !	that's how life is
that's a different kettle of fish	that's a completely different matter
that's a horse of different color	that's a completely different issue
that rings a bell	that sounds familiar
the die is cast	the decision is made
the sooner, better	the earlier, the better
the weather is lousy	the weather is terrible
There's nothing I can do about it	it's out of my hands
Things might have been so different	it could have turned out differently
think you're the bee's knees	to think you're amazing
think you're the cat's whiskers	to be full of yourself
to ask for the moon	to ask for something impossible
to be a chatterbox	to talk a lot
to be chicken	to be a coward
to be a pain in the neck	to be very annoying
to be an early bedder	to go to bed early
to be as blind as a bat	to have poor eyesight
to be as busy as a bee	to be very busy
to be as cool as a cucumber	to stay calm under pressure
to be as happy as a clam at high tide	to be extremely happy
to be as miserable as a sin	to be very unhappy
to be as snug as a bug in a rug	to feel cozy and comfortable
to be as sound as a bell	to be in perfect health
to be as thick as a brick	to be very stupid
to be at a low ebb	to be feeling down
to be blue	to feel sad
to be clean as a whistle	to be completely innocent
to be fed up	to be sick of it
to be full of beans	to be energetic
to be hand in glove	to be very close or in partnership
to be homesick	to miss home
to be in a fix	to be in trouble
to be in the soup	to be in trouble
to be in hot water	to be in serious trouble
to be in dire straits	to be in trouble
to be in dire straits	to be desperate
to be like a cat on hot bricks	to be very nervous
to be up to one's eyeballs	to be overwhelmed with work
to work one's finger to the bone	to work extremely hard
to put out feelers	to test the waters
to have one ear to the ground	to stay informed
to know something like the back of one's hand	to know something very well
to know one's onions	to be knowledgeable
to have been in hell and back	to go through a very tough time
to be in the picture	to be informed
to paint oneself into a corner	to create a difficult situation for oneself
to shoot oneself in the foot	to sabotage oneself
to pull the rug from under someone's feet	to undermine someone's plans
to blow one's own trumpet	to boast
to pull one's weight	to do one's fair share
to be like two peas in a pod	to look or act the same
to be on cloud nine	to be extremely happy
to be one's own self again	to recover fully
to be out of the wood	to be out of danger
to be over the moon	to be very pleased
to be soaked to the skin	to be completely wet
to be top dog	to be in charge
to be trying to cloud the issue	to avoid the point
to be workshy	to avoid working
to be up in the clouds	to be daydreaming
to be in cloud-cuckoo-land	to be unrealistic
to be very slapdash with one's work	to work carelessly
to bite off more than you can chew	to take on too much
to bring home the bacon	to earn a living
to buy this for next to nothing	to buy this very cheaply
to catch somebody red handed	to catch someone in the act
to catch someone with their trousers down	to catch someone off guard
to chase rainbows	to pursue unrealistic goals
to live in a fool's paradise	to live under an illusion
to chicken out	to back out due to fear
to cook someone's goose	to ruin someone's chances
to cost a pretty penny	to be very expensive
to cost an arm and a leg	to be very expensive
to cut the ground from under somebody's feet	to undermine someone
to pull the rug under somebody's feet	to destabilize someone
to take the wind out of one's sails	to deflate someone's enthusiasm
to drag one's heels	to delay intentionally
to hear a pin drop	to experience complete silence
to eat like a horse	to eat a lot
to face the music	to accept the consequences
to feed the fishes	to drown
to fight hand to hand	to fight in close combat
to have a frog in your throat	to have a hoarse voice
to have bats in the belfry	to be eccentric
to have a bee in one's bonnet	to have a fixed idea
to have a close shave	to have a narrow escape
to make mincemeat of someone	to destroy someone
to pull the wool over someone's eye	to deceive someone
to stick to one's gun	to stand firm
to get someone off the hook	to get someone out of trouble
to hit rock bottom	to reach the lowest point
to be down in the mouth	to be gloomy
the cut someone down to size	to put someone in their place
to pick holes in something	to find faults in something
to have someone's guts for garters	to destroy someone
to get cold feet	to lose courage
to have a finger in every pie	to be involved in everything
to have an egg on one's face	to look ridiculous
to end up with egg on one's face	to look ridiculous
to have butterflies in the stomach	to feel nervous
to have got a lot on my plate	to be very busy
to have a sudden urge to go to the toilet	to urgently need the toilet
to be taken short	to urgently need the toilet
to have gooseflesh	to get goosebumps
to have goose pimples	to get goosebumps
to have got ants in pants	to be unable to stay still
to have more than one trick up one's sleeve	to have more than one solution
to have other fish to fry	to have other matters to deal with
to have plenty of money	to be very wealthy
to be rolling in money	to be very rich
to have pins and needles	to feel tingling or numbness
to have the blues	to feel depressed
to have the nose to the grindstone	to work hard continuously
to go the whole hog	to do something thoroughly
to lake to one's heels	to run away quickly
to laugh your head off	to laugh very loudly
to lead somebody down the garden path	to mislead someone
to let the cat out of the bag	to reveal a secret
to look like nothing on earth	to look terrible
to make heavy weather of everything	to make a fuss over everything
to make a mountain out of a molehill	to exaggerate a problem
to move heaven and earth	to try everything possible
to move mountains	to achieve the impossible
to pull someone's leg	to tease someone
to pull your socks up	to make an effort
to put a bug in the ear	to plant a suggestion
to put in someone's shoes	to put yourself in someone’s place
to put your shoulder to the wheel	to get to work
to rise with the lark	to get up very early
to get up with the lark	to rise early in the morning
to run a wild goose chase	to pursue something pointless
to run like a bat out of hell	to run extremely fast
to save one's bacon	to escape danger
to see stars	to feel dizzy from a blow
to separate the sheep from the goat	to distinguish between the worthy and the unworthy
to set the cat among the pigeons	to cause trouble or controversy
to shoot for the moon	to aim for something very ambitious
you're in the apple of my eyes	you are very precious to me
to sweep someone off off his/her feet	to make someone fall in love quickly
to get on like a house on fire	to get along extremely well
to sit on the fence	to remain neutral or undecided
to skate on thin ice	to be in a risky or dangerous situation
to sleep as a log	to sleep very deeply
to smell a rat at once	to immediately sense something is wrong
to stir up a hornet's nest	to provoke trouble or controversy
to sweep under the carpet	to hide or ignore a problem
to take French leave	to leave without saying goodbye
to take a shit	to defecate
to take the bull by the horns	to confront a problem head-on
to talk turkey	to speak frankly and directly
to tell a cock and bull story	to tell an unbelievable story
to twist someone's arm	to pressure someone into doing something
to twist somebody around your (little) finger	to easily manipulate someone
to wait to see which way the cat jumps	to wait and see how things turn out
what's biting you ?	what's bothering you?
without the Church there is no salvation	outside the Church there is no salvation
fools rush in	acting without thinking is reckless
to live in a fool's paradise	to have false hopes or illusions
I paid / gave good money for it	I spent a lot of money on it
I am earning good money	I am earning a decent income
I am earning big money	I am making a lot of money
that's big money	that's a large sum of money
I made his money by dealing in coffee	I got rich dealing in coffee
I am made of money	I have a lot of money
I am rolling in money	I am very rich
I have pots of money	I have a lot of money
I got money to burn	I have more money than I need
a little bird told me	I heard it from a secret source
I go home to bed	I’m going home to sleep
poverty is a great leveller	in poverty, all are equal
every man for himself	everyone for themselves
save yourself	every man for himself
I've got what it takes !	I am up to the task!
I've got what it takes to do the job	I have all the required qualities for this job.
if needs must	if absolutely necessary.
I must needs eat now	I absolutely need to eat now.
I am young at heart	I am young in spirit.
There is no big deal	there is no problem.
Right place, right time	at the right place, at the right time.
It's a setup	it's a frame-up.
May I help you ?	may I assist you?
Can I help you ?	can I assist you?
Would you like something ?	do you want anything?
May I / can I borrow your book ?	may I borrow your book?
What's wrong ?	what's the matter?
What's going on ?	what's happening?
What's the matter ?	what's the issue?
What's happening ?	what is going on?
What's happening in America ?	what is going on in America?
I'm right	I am correct.
I'm wrong	I am mistaken.
I'm sure	I am certain.
It's very kind of you	that's very kind of you.
I am much obliged to you	I am very grateful to you.
Car hire	car rental.
Car wash	vehicle cleaning.
Currency exchange office	foreign exchange bureau.
Let's give this a shot !	let's try this!
I am having a shot at understanding English	I am trying to understand English.
She gives her best shot	she does her best.
Have a shot it !	give it a try!
You're welcome	you’re welcome.
No smoking	smoking is prohibited.
Entrance ticket	admission ticket.
Good work !	well done!
I am at work at the moment	I am currently working.
I am out of work	I am unemployed.
Office work	clerical work.
Accident at work	workplace accident.
my sister has a regular work	my sister has a steady job.
A day off work	a day off.
The works of God	the deeds of God.
My life's work	the work of my life.
Hard feelings	resentment.
No hard feelings	no resentment.
She has a hard heart	she is cold-hearted.
I am hard by you	I am very close to you.
hard ass	tough person.
hard bitten	tough and experienced.
hard disc	hard drive.
I am married	I am married.
I am divorced	I am divorced.
I am engaged	I am engaged.
The engaged couple	the couple who are engaged.
I am faithful	I am loyal.
I am unfaithful	I am disloyal.
I am unmarried	I am not married.
I am single	I am single.
I am bachelor	I am a bachelor.
The life of the bachelor	bachelor life.
The life of a single woman	life of a single woman.
Single man / single woman	unmarried person.
I am widow	I am a widow.
I am widower	I am a widower.
I am a student	I am a student.
I am a trader	I am a merchant.
I am a businessman	I am a businessman.
That's great !	that's awesome!
It's all right	everything is fine.
There is no problem	there is no issue.
I am in the spare-room	I am in the guest room.
I need some spare time	I need some free time.
I buy a spare wheel for my car	I buy a spare tire for my car.
The drink is on me	I am paying for the drink.
The drink is on the house	the drink is free.
Wait for a moment, please !	please wait a moment!
Wait for a second, please !	please wait a second!
Just a moment !	one moment!
Just a second !	one second!
Wait and see !	just wait and see!
I'm sorry	I am sorry.
I'm so sorry	I am really sorry.
I'm terribly sorry	I am terribly sorry.
I'm very sorry	I am very sorry.
I'm sorry for disturbing you	Sorry to disturb you.
I apologize for what I did	I apologize for what I did.
For a pity's sake	for pity's sake.
I have pity on you	I feel pity for you.
What a pity !	what a shame!
It's a great pity	it's a great shame.
It's just awful	it's really awful.
Mind what you are doing !	watch what you are doing!
Mind you don't make a mistake !	be careful not to make a mistake!
Mind your language !	watch your language!
Mind your manners !	watch your manners!
Mind out !	watch out!
Watch out !	watch out!
Don't mind me	don't mind me.
I'm a mind reader	I can read people's minds.
Do you mind coming with me ?	Do you mind coming with me?
Do you mind if I ask you something ?	Do you mind if I ask you something?
I don't mind what people think	I don't care what people think.
I don't care what people think	I don't care what people think.
I don't mind	I don't mind / I don't care / it doesn't matter to me.
I don't care	I don't mind / I don't care / it doesn't matter to me.
Mind-set	mentality.
Foster care	foster family care.
Foster home	foster family.
Foster mother	adoptive mother.
I'm in foster care	I am placed in foster care.
I'm put in foster care	I am placed in foster care.
Care assistant	care assistant.
Care attendant	home care assistant.
Medical care / clinical care	medical care.
Nursing care	care for the sick.