English Idioms with Examples

English Idioms with Examples

An idiom is a phrase that has a meaning which is different from the meanings of each individual word in it. For example, if someone says to you “I’m pulling your leg”, you might think it is strange because you would definitely be able to feel if someone was holding your leg and pulling it! This idiom actually means that they are teasing you or playing a joke on you. There are hundreds of common English idioms in the English language which we use every day. In fact, most English people do not even realise they are using them! As the meanings are usually completely different to the meanings of the actual words, it can be very difficult to learn them – you need to learn them in the same way you learn new vocabulary. One of the most difficult aspects of learning English – or any foreign language for that matter – is how to learn idioms. Idioms are words or phrases whose meaning can’t be worked out from literally translating the words themselves. Therefore, learning idioms can be really quite difficult, as there are no shortcuts or patterns you can use to help you remember them. Of course, you could always decide that you don’t need to worry about idioms – after all, it’s possible to get your point across in English without using idiomatic expressions. However, failing to learn idioms will mean that you don’t always understand everything you hear or read. It will also mean you miss out on the true ‘colour’ and personality of the English language and British culture. If you can master a range of English idioms, you’ll become a more comfortable and natural English speaker, who is able to chew the fat with native English speakers that you meet.
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