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English idioms are fixed phrases that convey specific meanings not obvious from their literal words. Common in literature, daily speech, and exams like IELTS, idioms add vividness and natural flow to English communication.

1. What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a set expression with a figurative meaning derived from usage. These phrases often use metaphor, simile, or other literary devices to reflect native-speaker culture and thought patterns.

Example: To be a couch potato → Not literally a potato on a couch, but someone lazy who spends time watching TV.

2. 500 Common English Idioms

Idiom

a bear with a sore head

a bit of a dark horse

a bitter pill to swallow

a different kettle of fish

a dog's life

a fish out of water

a long shot

a memory like a sieve

a night owl

a pain in the neck

a piece of cake

a red rag to a bull

a red-letter day

a sitting duck

a storm in a teacup

a wild-goose chase

above board

Achilles heel

against all odds

agree to disagree

all along

all but

all in

all in all

all the same

all told

an old wives' tale

an unknown quantity

as a last resort

as the crow flies

at close quarters

at large

at the cutting edge

bark up the wrong tree

be ahead of one's time

be all at sea

be all fingers and thumbs

be all very well

be as busy as a bee

be as thick as a brick

be beside oneself with anger

be born yesterday

be broke

be caught red-handed

be dying for sth

be fit for

be for the high jump

be full of beans

be green

be in a quandary

be in sb's black books

be in sb's shoes

be in the dark about sth

be in the doghouse

be in the know

be in the same boat

be in two minds about sth

be on the cards

be on the defensive

be on the up and up

be out of practice

be over the moon

be second to none

be sound asleep

be the apple of sb's eye

be the perfect image of sb

be the splitting image of sb

be thrown off balance

be tickled pink

be up and about

be up in arms

be worn out

be/get soaked to the skin

be/have a close shave

bear fruit

beat about/around the bush

beat sb black and blue

before one can say Jack Robinson

beg the question

behind bars

behind the scenes

below the belt

bide one's time

big cheese

big-headed

bite off more than sb can chew

black and blue all over

black tie

blaze a trail

blessing in disguise

blow a fuse

blue-eyed boy

bolt from the blue

brainwave

break even

break the ice

bring sth home to sb

bring to one's knees

browned off

bury one's head in the sand

butter sb up

by and large

by definition

by force of habit

by trial and error

call it quits

call sb names

cast aspersions

catch sb red-handed

chair a meeting

chip off the old block

chop and change

claim to fame

clear the air

come clean

come out of one's shell

come to a head

come to a standstill

come to terms with

come to the fore

come to the point

cook one's goose

cost a bomb

cost an arm and a leg

cramp one's style

crocodile tears

cross one's mind

cry over spilt milk

cut corners

cut sb dead

cut sb to the quick

cut to the bone

deal a blow to

every nook and cranny

face the music

fair and square

fall head over heels

fall into place

feel down in the mouth

feel in one's bones

feel one's ears burning

few and far between

fight like cat and dog

fine kettle of fish

flat broke

flog a dead horse

fly off the handle

fly on the wall

for all

for all I care

for all I know

for donkey's years

for the time being

frosty welcome

gatecrasher

get a bit hot under the collar

get a move on

get a problem off one's chest

get cold feet

get cold feet

get nowhere fast

get off on the wrong foot

get on one's nerves

get out of bed on the wrong side

get out of hand

get rid of sth

get the hang of it

get the sack

get the wrong end of the stick

get wind of

get your own back

give and take

give chapter and verse

give sb the cold shoulder

give sb the slip

give the green light to sth

give vent to

give way to

go back on one's word

go by the board

go for a song

go to any lengths

go to one's head

go to the dogs

go without saying

golden opportunity

grease sb's palm

green belt

green with envy

grey matter

grow out of sth

hand in glove with sb

have a bee in one's bonnet

have a frog in one's throat

have a job to do sth

have a sharp tongue

have a yellow streak

have an early night

have an eye for

have an eye for

have at one's fingertips

have butterflies in one's stomach

have kittens

have many irons in the fire

have no fixed abode

have no option but

have one's heart in one's mouth

have sb's hands full

have the cheek

have the gift of the gab

have time on one's hands

have words with sb

hear it through the grapevine

hit the nail on the head

hit the roof

hit the sack

hold one's horses

ill at ease

in a flash

in a nutshell

in a rut

in a tick

in abeyance

in arrears

in black and white

in broad daylight

in clover

in deep water

in full flow

in public

in the abstract

in the act of

in the air

in the balance

in the black

in the flesh

in the long run

in the nick of time

in the offing

in the red

it stands to reason

it's all Greek to me

jack of all trades

keep a straight face

keep an eye on sth

keep in check

keep one's chin up

keep one's fingers crossed

keep one's wits about one

keep oneself to oneself

keep sth quiet

keep sth under one's hat

keep up with the Joneses

kick the bucket

kill time

kill two birds with one stone

know the ropes

lay bare

lay the table

lend an ear

lend sb a hand

let sleeping dogs lie

no wonder

not all it's cracked up to be

not be one's cup of tea

not count one's chickens before they're hatched

not have it both ways

not have the foggiest idea

not hold water

not lose any sleep over sth

null and void

no pain no gain

of all people

of its own accord

of no consequence

off colour

off the cuff

off the point

off the record

on a shoe string

on account of

on edge

on no account

on second thoughts

on the air

on the alert

on the ball

on the blink

on the dole

on the dot

on the face of it

on the level

on the quiet

on the spur of the moment

on this/that account

once and for all

once in a blue moon

one's flesh and blood

open to debate

out and about

out in the open

out of bounds

out of print

out of the blue

out of the frying pan into the fire

out of the question

out of turn

out-and-out

paint the town red

part and parcel of

part company with

pay sb's way

pick someone's brains

pitch black

play cat and mouse with sb

play it by ear

play one's cards right

play truant

plenty more fish in the sea

point the finger of suspicion

pop the question

pull a few strings

pull one's leg

pull one's socks up

put a damper on

put down roots

put on a brave face

put one's foot down

put one's foot in it

put one's heart and soul into sth

put sb's name forward

put the cat among the pigeons

put two and two together

put words into one's mouth

rack sb's brains

rain cats and dogs

red herring

red tape

ring a bell

rise to the challenge

see eye to eye with sb

see fit

see red

see the back of

set in one's ways

shed light upon

short and sweet

show one's true colours

sleep like a dog

sleep on it

slip one's mind

slow on the uptake

smell a rat

sour grapes

speak volumes

spill the beans

stand in sb's way

status symbol

stay clear of

stew in one's own juice

sth comes in handy

straight from the horse's mouth

strike a chord

strike gold

sweet tooth

swim like a fish

take it easy

take one's time

take sb for granted

take sth into account

take sth on the chin

take sth to heart

take sth with a pinch of salt

take the bull by the horns

take things to pieces

take to one's heels

talk the hind legs off a donkey

the black sheep of the family

the ins and outs

the last straw

the life and soul of sth

the lion's share

the pot calling the kettle black

the rat race

the tip of the iceberg

the year dot

thick-skinned

through thick and thin

throw a party

to no effect

tongue in cheek

tooth and nail

touch and go

turn a blind eye to sth

turn over a new leaf

under the weather

until one is blue in the face

until the cows come home

up and coming

up in the air

ups and downs

wash sb's hands of sb

wet behind the ears

wet blanket

whet sb's appetite

white elephant

white-collar job

with a view to doing sth

with flying colours

without fail

work a miracle

work to rule

3. Using Idioms in IELTS

Speaking

Use idioms naturally and in moderation. They can boost your score for fluency and lexical resource, but must fit the context.

Example: “Global warming efforts have been a mixed bag. Governments have stepped up to the plate with emission cuts, but they need to act at the drop of a hat when extreme weather hits.”

Writing

In academic IELTS essays, use idioms sparingly and ensure they are appropriate. They can add flair but should not overpower formal tone.

4. Idioms Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with a suitable idiom:

  1. Winning that scholarship was a real ___ for her.

  2. He felt ___ after finally landing his dream job.

  3. The news made him ___—he could not stop smiling.

  4. Getting a day off turned out to be ___ when deadlines changed.

  5. We are all ___ for the presentation and will perform well.

Suggested answers:

  1. feather in the cap

  2. on top of the world

  3. over the moon

  4. blessing in disguise

  5. on the same page

Why Learn These Idioms?

Mastering idioms helps you speak like a native, communicate ideas concisely, and boost your IELTS Speaking and Writing scores. With this collection of 500 idioms, you’ll have a rich resource to enhance your fluency and natural expression.

For more practice and exam strategies, explore IDP’s free study materials. Choose between IELTS Academic and General tests on computer or paper. You can also register for an IELTS mock test to simulate real exam conditions.

Take IELTS with IDP - Confident and comfortable, achieve your goal!

About this Article

Published on 31 March, 2025

About this Author

One Skill Retake - IELTS Australia
Quynh Khanh

Tôi là Quỳnh Khanh - Content Writer có hơn 5 năm kinh nghiệm về lĩnh vực giáo dục