Idiom Examples

Every language has idioms. They are phrases or words that must not be taken in the literal sense. For instance, saying someone has "cold feet" does not imply that their feet are genuinely cold. Rather, it indicates that they are concerned about something.

Idioms cannot be determined only from the words of a phrase. If we take this idiom in a real sense, somebody with cold feet may have cold feet. However, after residing with a certain set of individuals for a while, you will start to understand a certain set of expressions. Let us explore a few idiom examples in everyday conversation.

When you hear someone saying, "It's raining cats and dogs!" It is very obvious that it is not about literally cats or dogs falling, but it means or implies to the heavy rain. The instances below show how difficult it is to know the meaning of these statements if you don't know what they signify.

Here are few idiom examples and their meanings

1. Being fired or dismissed from the office proved to be a blessing in disguise. - It means getting fired (which is generally a bad thing) ended up being a good thing.
2. These blue flowers are a dime a dozen. -So, these blue flowers are widely distributed.
3. Don't beat around the bush. - Simply state your true feelings.
4. He opted to bite the bullet after some thought. - After considerable thought, he resolved to perform the unfavorable thing he had been avoiding.
5. He is going to call it a night. - He is going to sleep or going to bed.
6. She carries a chip on his shoulder. - She's harboring a grudge or resentment that makes her angry or insensitive.
7. Can you cut us some slack? - Please do not be so tough on us.
8. Don't cut any corners. - (Do not take any short - cuts) and start producing substandard work.
9. She let things get out of hand. - It implies she allows things to run out of one's control.
10. I am going back to the drawing board. - I am going to begin again.
11. Hang in there. It implies staying with it.
12. Don't jump the gun. - Do not do anything before the time limit.
13. She made the decision to let him off the hook. - He decided to relieve her of her responsibilities.
14. She missed the boat. - She overlooked a chance.
15. They go for dinners once in a blue moon. - They go for dinners only on rare occasions.
16. Pull yourself together, dude! - Just simply take a deep breath, relax and calm down, dude.
17. She really rubbed me the wrong way. - I had no feelings for him/her. In fact, I didn't like her.
18. Speak about the devil; there she is. - He's right there; we were just thinking about him.
19. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. - My tolerance has finally worn thin.
20. So she has the best of both worlds. - She gains from both her existing circumstance and choices.
21. Why are you so bent out of shape? - Why are you so sad ?
22. I'm feeling a little under the temperature. - I'm feeling unwell.
23. While we're there, we will cross the bridge. - We will look into that issue when the time arrives.
24. I sincerely apologize, but I really can't seem to wrap my head around it. - I'm sad, but I just don't get it.
25. Wow, you can repeat that. - I completely agree.
26. Their battle was a storm in a teacup. They made a big deal out of a trivial affair.

Idiom Examples from Around the World

English speakers are not the only ones who utilize idioms. There is metaphorical language everywhere there is language. That is, people will make up new expressions and toy with words wherever they go. Let's explore some idiom examples from our worldwide neighbors:

1. "Stop ironing my board" means "Stop disturbing me.": In the Armenian language.
2. "When chickens have teeth" suggests that something will never occur.
3. "I have other cats to whip" is an idiom in the French language which means "I have other projects/ assignments to complete".
4. To "tie a bear to somebody" in German is to deceive them.
5. In German, "making an elephant out of a fly" means making a huge fuss out of nothing.
6. "Not all doughnuts come with a hole," in Italian, indicates you may not get what you desire.
7. In the Italian language, the idiom "to treat somebody with a fish in their face" indicates being disrespectful.
8. "My cheeks are falling off" suggests the dish is extremely good in Japanese.
9. In Poland, they say "Mustard after lunch" suggests it's too late to accomplish anything.
10. To "be stuffed with hay" also signifies being asked to leave in Polish.
11. In Portuguese, they say, "He who does not have a dog hunts with cats," as the saying goes, it means you can create the best of what you have.
12. In Portuguese, "move your little horse away from the rain" suggests that something will never happen.
13. The phrase "a cat in gloves catches no mice" suggests that good people/ individuals always finish last.
14. "A lot of noise and no walnuts" also implies "all talk and no action" in Spanish.

It is extremely vital to be knowledgeable in the idioms of each culture. The language used in one nation can be totally or completely different in meaning from the other. In Finnish, for instance, the idiom "with long teeth" suggests you are doing something you do not desire. In French, however, "having long teeth" denotes a high level of ambition. Isn't that interesting?

Idiom Examples in Arts

Smaller groups of individuals, like different civilizations, acquire their own collection of idioms. Artists, painters, performers, and authors frequently employ their own idioms, which verge on slang, to support one another and create a distinct sense of community. Below are some of the most frequently used idiom examples in the arts:

1. "Break a leg" denotes good fortune.
2. Whenever you tell somebody to "break a leg," you may also urge them to "knock 'em dead" or to do an excellent job.
3. Just before a stage show, telling a buddy to "sing their heart out" encourages them to provide it their all and have a great time.
4. "Get the hook" indicates that it is time to remove a performer from the stage since he is doing poorly.
5. If you really need to "get the hook," the actor probably "bombed," which means he was bad.
6. If one performer "bombed," another performer who did better is likely to "upstage" them.
7. If you're eager to "sink your teeth" into a new novel, it suggests you're eager to get started.
8. When an artist "breaks new ground," it indicates that his artwork is significant and original.

Remember that a bunch of individuals with common interests will have their own jargon. They will be easier to comprehend if you listen to context hints and pose questions when in doubt, just like anything else in life.

Idiom Examples with Sentences

Idioms are employed in a variety of contexts in everyday life. They can, for instance, describe how someone feels. They can communicate how a person feels about something. These can even be utilized to define weather conditions. Idiom examples with sentences are provided below.

Now let us explore some of the idiom examples and see how these may be employed in different situations.

Idiom Examples of Emotions

1. I was tickled pink when I received the news. (In other terms, he was overjoyed. )
2. Helen was on cloud nine after getting a pretty substantial pay rise. (Another way of saying "I'm happy." )
3. Since I'm feeling under the weather, I'm going to remain in bed. (A person who is either depressed or ill. )

What Is the Ease or Difficulty of Something? (Idiom examples)

1. Repairing a motorcycle is not really rocket science. (To put it differently, repairing a bike is straightforward. )
2. I'm looking for the remote, but it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. (In other words, it's extremely difficult to find it. )
3. It is warm outside, so remaining inside this afternoon was a no-brainer for me. (This suggests the decision was simple. )

Some more idiom examples

1. The flight attendant welcomed the travelers with a sunny smile. (means welcomes happily )
2. They were at each other's throats and began speaking incoherently. (They were fighting and arguing )
3. In the evenings, he commented about the entire game and blew smoke like a cricketer. (He exaggerated as if he is very experienced in it )
4. Her bread and butter are training young boys and girls in basketball and baseball. (It means it is his livelihood )
5. I believe it is appropriate to call a spade a spade after hours of debate and meetings. (to be candid and talk directly )
6. Ramesh spilled the beans about my surprise birthday lunch. (Implies he revealed the secret )
7. The sound of the motor in the next hallway set my teeth on edge. (I became unpleasant and angry as a result of this )

These are just some of the idiom examples and their usage for expression and communication.

Idioms and Language

Thus, after having a look at above mentioned idiom examples, it is clear that when analyzing an idiom, you just cannot be literal or true to the meaning of words. Idioms vary not only by area but also by people's hobbies and social organizations. They make learning modern language more challenging, yet they are also employed in dialects all across the world. The best approach to knowing the meaning of various idioms is to converse with natives and ask for an explanation if any of their idioms perplex you. Also, you may even explore and discover the distinction between literally and metaphorically to help you understand these idiom examples, words and expressions.