Free English Idioms, with their meanings and examples

Hundreds of Free English Idioms, Idiomatic Expressions, Proverbs & Sayings

What are Idioms? What is an Idiom? How Idioms are used in everyday language?

What are Idioms?

Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that are either grammatically unusual, as in, "Long time, no see!", or their meaning cannot be taken literally, as in, "It's raining cats and dogs!" This expression does not mean that cats and dogs are falling from the sky, but it is a metaphorical expression (word picture) that means that it is raining very heavily.

Definition of Idioms

Idioms are expressions that cannot be translated word for word into another language. The word idiom comes from the Greek root "idio" which means unique signature.

Idioms do not make sense if you translate each word individually. The words in an idiom must be understood as a whole. Because you cannot understand idioms by translating each word, they do not translate well from language to language. Many idioms come from slang that has, through repeated use over time, become acceptable to use.

Learning English language idioms is important. It improves reading comprehension, and the use of idioms in English writing helps make the writing more interesting and descriptive. The English idioms featured on EnglishLanguage101.com are some of the most common idioms used by English speaking people.

• After John had broken the window, he decided to face the music and tell his mother.
Meaning: 'to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions'

• Mary had to learn a very long poem by heart.
Meaning: 'to rote-learn something'

• When John asked Mary out, she showed him the cold shoulder.
Meaning: 'to show deliberate coldness or disregard'

• Chinese: (bi gng shé y ng)
Literal translation: to see the reflection of a bow in a cup and think it's a snake
Meaning in English: to worry about things that aren't there

• Korean: (dang-geun i-ji)
Literal translation: It's a carrot!
Expression in English: That's obvious!

• Russian: (Vesat' lapsu na usy)
Literal translation: to hang noodles on one's ears
Meaning in English: to tell lies / talk nonsense

• Spanish: Me estoy comiendo el coco.
Literal translation: I'm eating the coconut.
Meaning in English: I'm trying to think.

What you will find at EnglishLanguage101.com?

You will find about idioms: idioms definitions, idioms exercises and answers.

WHY SHOULD YOU LEARN ENGLISH IDIOMS?

Idioms are an important part of every language. Therefore, as a language learner, knowing idioms is useful in at least two ways:

1) The more idioms you know, the more native-like your language will sound;
2) By learning idioms, you learn a lot about the culture of the community speaking the language you are learning.

Ideas for Teaching Idioms

Arrange situations to permit social interaction so children can learn from each other. Learning through activity and direct experience is essential for children.

Idiom of the Day

Select and use an idiom at the start of the day. Encourage students to use it at least once during the day. Give extra points or marks to students who use the idiom during class.

Written assignments

Give students extra credit for using idioms in a written assignment.

Stories

Read a story filled with idioms to the class . Ask students to write down as many idioms as they can identify.

Index Cards

Write idioms on index cards and then have students draw a literal illustration of the idiom on another card. Group these pairs in sets of two. Mix up the pairs and have students match the pairs.

Pair and Share

Pair two students together. Have one student read an idiom and have the other student explain what it means. Have students reverse their roles.

Idiom Group Themes

Divide the students in the class into four groups. Assign each group an idiom theme; for example, animal, money, food and colours. Have each group write down as many idioms as they can. At the end of the session, each group presents their idioms to the class. The group that comes up with the most idioms receives extra points.

Name-sake Idioms

Give each student a piece of paper and have the student write his or her name on the paper. Then have each student write a sentence on the same piece of paper describing themselves using an idiom. If they wish, students can also draw a picture of themselves. Have class members share their sentences and pictures. Once shared, display the papers on a bulletin board titled "Did You Know".

Story Scroll

Select a theme for a story, for example, an animal. Have each student write a sentence or two about the adventures of the animal on a story scroll (9 or 12 inch roll of paper). Each day one person in the class writes his or her sentence about the animal, which must include an idiom. As the animal's adventures add up, the story scroll gets longer and longer.

Idioms Outside the Classroom

Stress to students that idioms learned inside the class can be used outside the class with friends and family members. Encourage students to use idioms outside the class when they are speaking English. Ask students to keep a record for two or three days of how many idioms they used in conversation or writing outside the class.