25 More English Idioms
for ESL Students
Improve Your Vocabulary Quickly!
Increase your vocabulary by studying the idioms and expressions below !hese are some of the most
common expressions in English !he example sentences show how idioms are used in context when you
spea" English #ave fun!
2$ all of a sudden means "unexpectedly", used to describe something that happens very quickly
Example% He had just gone to bed when all of a sudden the phone rang.
2& be all ears means "eager and ready to listen"
Example% Go ahead and speak. Im all ears!
2' be fed up with means "to hate something now, even though I may have liked it be!ore"
Example% Im fed up with my job" I think I should start looking !or a new one.
2( to bug means "to bother someone". #$merican %nglish&
Example% Hey, stop tapping your !ingers. Its really bugging me!
)* a cinch means something that is very easy to do
Example% I didnt think I could run !ive kilometers, but with the right preparation, it was a cinch
)+ cost an arm and a leg means "very expensive"
Example% Id really like a new car, but they all cost an arm and a leg
)2 to cram means "to study hard a !ew days be!ore a test"
Example% I! you had studied hard !or the past !our months, you wouldnt have to cram so much this weekend.
)) fresh out of something means "to have no more o! something"
Example% I have to go buy some more milk. It seems were fresh out now.
), to get it #o!ten negative& means "to understand"
Example% 'hat did the teacher say( I didnt get it )id you(
)5 got a minute- means ")o you have time right now("
Example% Hey, *oe, got a minute- I have something to show you.
)$ give someone a hand means "help someone"
Example% +ould you give me a hand moving this table( Its quite heavy.
)& grab a bite to eat means "quickly go get something to eat"
Example% Im going to go grab a bite. Ill be back in a !ew minutes.
)' drive someone up a wall #or "drive someone cra,y"& means "to make someone very angry"
Example% -y neighbor practices the piano every night, but hes terrible. Its driving me up the wall!
)( to hang on means "to wait"
Example% #ang on a !ew minutes. I have to make a phone call and then Ill be able to join you !or lunch.
,* hard headed means "stubborn" or "unwilling to change an opinion or idea
Example% I cant work with *oe any more. Hes so hard headed!
,+ have a change of heart means "change a previous decision"
Example% I thought I would change jobs, but now that my boss is treating me with more respect, Ive had a
change of heart.
,2 have mixed feelings about something means "to be uncertain"
Example% I have mixed feelings about *oe. Hes a very good teacher, but he has a very strange sense o! humor"
,) head out for means "to start on a long trip" #but it could be within a big city&
Example% 'ere heading out for the countryside to pick some apples. 'ould you like to join us(
,, #ow come- means "'hy("
Example% #ow come we dont go to the movies any more( I guess were too busy to enjoy ourselves these days.
,5 "eep in touch #or "stay in touch"& means "do not stop communicating . send letters or call sometimes"
Example% )ont !orget to "eep in touch. I want to know how youre doing while youre away.
,$ be "idding means "to joke or tease someone in a play!ul way"
Example% /o, I dont really have three wives . I was just "idding"
,& loo" down on means "think somone or something is not good enough"
Example% 'e shouldnt loo" down on people just because they dont have as much money as we do.
,' ma"e ends meet #o!ten used negatively& means "to have enough money to buy everything we need"
Example% %ven though I make more money than last year, we just cant seem to ma"e ends meet.
,( miss the boat means "to miss an opportunity"
Example% 0he sale ends today at noon. I! we dont hurry, were going to miss the boat"
5* next to nothing means "to cost very little"
Example% I went to the new discount store and bought these new shoes !or only !ive dollars. 0hats next to
nothing"
