A to Z Idioms and Their Meanings in English

Idioms are a vital part of the English language, adding depth and expression to everyday conversations. Understanding common idioms helps learners sound more natural and fluent. From “A” to “Z,” each idiom has a unique meaning that often differs from its literal words, making them challenging for non-native speakers. In this blog post, we’ll cover essential idioms, their meanings, and how they enhance communication skills. Mastering idioms will improve your English proficiency and make conversations more engaging. Ready to expand your vocabulary? Check out our vocabulary category for more!

Table of Contents

What Is An Idiom?

An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of its individual words. Idioms often have cultural or historical significance and cannot usually be understood just by knowing the meanings of the words in them. They add color and expressiveness to language.

A to Z Idioms and Their Meanings

A bad debt – A debt unlikely to be recovered.
Example: It is a bad debt; you will never get back your money.
A bed of roses – A comfortable situation.
Example: Life is not a bed of roses.
A bird’s eye view – A general view from a high point.
Example: We had a bird’s eye view of the whole city.
A black sheep – A disreputable or outcast member of a group.
Example: He has been the black sheep of the family due to his criminal past.
A blind alley – A situation with no prospects of progress.
Example: This job is a blind alley; you will never advance.
A blue stocking – A woman with literary or intellectual interests.
Example: A blue stocking does not always make a good housewife.
A bone of contention – A cause of dispute.
Example: The issue of Kashmir is a bone of contention between Pakistan and India.
A bosom friend – A very close friend.
Example: They have been bosom friends since childhood.
A bottleneck – Something that slows down progress.
Example: The workers’ strike has created a bottleneck in production.
A broken reed – An unreliable or weak person.
Example: Do not depend on him; he is a broken reed.
A burning question – A very important or urgent issue.
Example: Mass unemployment is the burning question of our time.
A cock-and-bull story – An absurd or unbelievable tale.
Example: Nobody will believe your cock-and-bull story.
A cry in the wilderness – An unheeded or unavailing protest.
Example: We hope our warning will not be just a cry in the wilderness.
A dark horse – A person whose abilities or intentions are unknown.
Example: He turned out to be a dark horse when he won the contest.
A dead loss – Something completely useless.
Example: As a businessman, he is a dead loss.
A drawn match – A match where neither side wins.
Example: The game ended in a drawn match.
A fair-weather friend – A friend who is only loyal in good times.
Example: When he lost his wealth, all his fair-weather friends disappeared.
A far cry from – Something quite different.
Example: This city is a far cry from my hometown.
A fish out of water – Feeling uncomfortable in a situation.
Example: She felt like a fish out of water at the formal dinner.
A fool’s errand – A useless or hopeless journey.
Example: Looking for him at this hour is a fool’s errand.
A fool’s paradise – A state of mistaken happiness.
Example: You are living in a fool’s paradise if you think luck alone will make you rich.
A gentleman at large – A man without responsibilities.
Example: He resigned from his job and is now a gentleman at large.
A hard nut to crack – A difficult problem or person.
Example: Solving this mystery is a hard nut to crack.
A laughing stock – Someone who is ridiculed.
Example: His silly mistake made him the laughing stock of the office.
A left-handed compliment – A remark that sounds like a compliment but is actually an insult.
Example: Telling me I look better than before is a left-handed compliment.
A maiden speech – A first speech by a new member of a parliament.
Example: His maiden speech in the Assembly was impressive.
A man of letters – A literary person.
Example: Dr. Iqbal was a true man of letters.
A man of straw – A man of no substance or influence.
Example: The company refused to do business with a man of straw.
A mare’s nest – A discovery that proves to be false.
Example: Their claim of success turned out to be a mare’s nest.
A red-letter day – A day of great importance or celebration.
Example: The day I graduated was a red-letter day in my life.
A round peg in a square hole – A person unsuited for a particular role.
Example: He is a round peg in a square hole in this job.
A sixth sense – An intuitive ability beyond the five senses.
Example: She has a sixth sense for detecting lies.
A square deal – A fair or honest agreement.
Example: You will always get a square deal at this store.
A square meal – A full and satisfying meal.
Example: He looks like he hasn’t had a square meal in days.
A storm in a teacup – A lot of fuss over something trivial.
Example: Their argument was just a storm in a teacup.
A walkover – An easy victory.
Example: The opposing team didn’t show up, so we had a walkover.
A wet blanket – Someone who spoils others’ enjoyment.
Example: Don’t invite him—he’s such a wet blanket.
A white elephant – Something costly but useless.
Example: That old mansion has become a white elephant for the owner.
A white lie – A small, harmless lie.
Example: I told a white lie to avoid hurting her feelings.
A wild goose chase – A futile or hopeless pursuit.
Example: The detective was sent on a wild goose chase.

Apple of discord – A cause of dispute or quarrel.
Example: The inheritance became an apple of discord among the siblings.
Apple of one’s eye – Someone very dear or precious.
Example: His little daughter is the apple of his eye.
At a loss – Unable to decide or understand.
Example: She was at a loss for words when she won the award.
At arm’s length – To keep someone at a distance.
Example: I keep dishonest people at arm’s length.
At daggers drawn – In open hostility.
Example: The two politicians are at daggers drawn over the new policy.
At death’s door – Very near to death.
Example: He was at death’s door after the accident.
At sixes and sevens – In disorder or confusion.
Example: The house was at sixes and sevens after the party.
At one’s wit’s end – In a state of worry or confusion.
Example: The mother was at her wit’s end when her child went missing.
At the eleventh hour – At the last possible moment.
Example: He submitted his assignment at the eleventh hour.
Ax to grind – Having a personal interest in something.
Example: He is supporting the policy because he has an ax to grind.

Catch red-handed – To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong.
Example: The thief was caught red-handed.
Chip on one’s shoulder – Holding a grudge or feeling resentful.
Example: He always has a chip on his shoulder about his past failures.
Cry over spilled milk – To regret something that cannot be changed.
Example: There’s no use crying over spilled milk; move on.
Cut and dried – Settled or decided.
Example: The matter is cut and dried; there’s no debate.

Dark horse – Someone who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.
Example: The young candidate was a dark horse in the election.
Devil’s advocate – A person who argues against something to test its validity.
Example: He played devil’s advocate to challenge the new proposal.
Donkey’s years – A very long time.
Example: We haven’t met in donkey’s years.
Down in the dumps – Feeling very sad.
Example: She’s been down in the dumps since she lost her job.

Eagle eye – Sharp observation skills.
Example: The teacher has an eagle eye for spotting mistakes.
Elbow room – Enough space to move freely.
Example: This small office doesn’t give us enough elbow room.

Face the music – Accept the consequences of one’s actions.
Example: He had to face the music after being caught cheating.
Feather in one’s cap – An achievement to be proud of.
Example: Winning the competition was a feather in his cap.
Fit as a fiddle – In very good health.
Example: Even at 70, he is fit as a fiddle.
Full of beans – Very energetic.
Example: The kids were full of beans at the party.

Give someone the cold shoulder – To ignore someone.
Example: She gave him the cold shoulder after their argument.
Go the extra mile – To make an additional effort.
Example: He always goes the extra mile to help his friends.
Green with envy – Extremely jealous.
Example: She was green with envy when she saw my new car.

Hit the nail on the head – To say exactly the right thing.
Example: His analysis of the problem hit the nail on the head.
Herculean task – A very difficult task.
Example: Completing this project in one day is a Herculean task.

In hot water – In trouble.
Example: He landed in hot water after missing the deadline.
In the nick of time – Just in time.
Example: The firefighters arrived in the nick of time.

Jump on the bandwagon – To follow a trend.
Example: Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon of AI technology.

Keep one’s chin up – To remain optimistic.
Example: Keep your chin up; things will get better.

Laugh up one’s sleeve – To secretly laugh at someone.
Example: He was laughing up his sleeve at their mistake.
Look before you leap – Think before acting.
Example: Always look before you leap into a new business venture.

Make a mountain out of a molehill – To exaggerate a small problem.
Example: Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill; it’s not a big issue.
Make ends meet – To manage expenses.
Example: He struggles to make ends meet on his small salary.

Nest egg – Savings for the future.
Example: He has built a nice nest egg for his retirement.
No stone unturned – To try every possible option.
Example: The police left no stone unturned in their investigation.

Once in a blue moon – Very rarely.
Example: We meet only once in a blue moon.
Out of the blue – Unexpectedly.
Example: He called me out of the blue after years.

Play with fire – To take dangerous risks.
Example: You’re playing with fire by ignoring the warnings.
Pull someone’s leg – To joke with someone.
Example: Stop pulling my leg; I know you’re kidding.

Quick on the draw – Reacting quickly.
Example: He is quick on the draw when it comes to answering questions.

Raining cats and dogs – Raining heavily.
Example: It’s raining cats and dogs outside.

Spill the beans – To reveal a secret.
Example: She spilled the beans about the surprise party.

Turn a blind eye – To ignore something.
Example: The teacher turned a blind eye to their mischief.

Under the weather – Feeling unwell.
Example: I’m feeling under the weather today.

Vanish into thin air – To disappear suddenly.
Example: The thief vanished into thin air.

Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve – To show emotions openly.
Example: She wears her heart on her sleeve.

X marks the spot: The exact location.
- Example: “The treasure is buried here—X marks the spot.”

Yellow-bellied: Cowardly.
- Example: “He didn’t stand up for his friend; he’s yellow-bellied.”
You can say that again: I agree completely.
- Example: “This weather is terrible.” “You can say that again.”
You can’t judge a book by its cover: Appearances can be deceiving.
- Example: “He seems unfriendly, but you can’t judge a book by its cover.”
Your guess is as good as mine: I don’t know either.
- Example: “When will they arrive?” “Your guess is as good as mine.”

Example: “The rabbit zigzagged to escape the predator.”

Zero in on: Focus closely.

Example: “Let’s zero in on the main issue.”

Zip your lip: Stay silent.

Example: “The secret is out because he didn’t zip his lip.”

Zigzag: To move in a pattern of sharp turns.

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