Common English idioms

What an idiom is, and why they matter

An idiom is a fixed expression with a meaning of its own. You cannot translate it word by word, and you usually cannot change the words inside it: it is 'a piece of cake', never 'a slice of cake', when you mean something easy.

They matter because native speakers use them constantly without noticing. A host family saying 'I'm just popping out' or a teacher saying 'let's crack on' is using everyday idiom, not slang. Understanding them comes first; using them yourself can wait.

Idioms you will hear in everyday British conversation

Start here. These come up in host families, in shops and in the staffroom.

Idioms about time and plans

These appear often in class, at work and in exam speaking tasks.

Idioms about people and feelings

These are useful for describing others, which is a common speaking exam task, and for understanding gossip in the common room.

Idioms about learning and difficulty

Useful when you talk about studying English itself.

How to learn idioms without sounding strange

The danger with idioms is overuse. A student who drops four into one paragraph sounds like a phrasebook, and examiners notice. One well-placed idiom is worth ten forced ones.

Learn them the way you met them: with the situation attached. Write the whole sentence you heard, who said it and where. That context is what tells you later whether it is right for a job interview or only for friends.

• Learn to understand first, and to use second. Passive knowledge is where the value is.
• Note the register. 'Shattered' is fine with friends; 'very tired' is safer in a formal email.
• Do not change the words. Idioms are fixed — 'spill the beans', never 'spill the peas'.
• Check whether it is current. Some textbook idioms, like 'it's raining cats and dogs', are rarely said by British people today.
• Aim for one or two per conversation, not one per sentence.