Notable English Idioms: Part 01

Hit The Nail On The Head  -
1. To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem;
2. To do exactly the right thing;
3.To do something in the most effective and efficient way;
4. To say exactly the right thing or to find the exact answer;
5.To be accurate or correct about something.

Wild goose chase - A frustrating or lengthy undertaking that accomplishes little.

Ace in the hole -  A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage.


Piece of cake  - A job, task or other activity that is pleasant – or, by extension, easy or simple.

Couch potato - A lazy person.

Achilles' heel - A metaphor for a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength.

Cat nap - A nap.

It takes two to tango  - A particular action or communication requires more than one person.

Grass is always greener on the other side - A phrase implying that a person is never satisfied with their current situation; they think others have it better.

Don't give up your day job  - A phrase implying that one is not proficient at performing a particular task and that they should not try to perform the task professionally

Break a leg - A saying from the theatre that means "good luck".

A bitter pill - A situation or information that is unpleasant but must be accepted.

Best of both worlds - A situation wherein someone has the privilege of enjoying two different opportunities.

For a song - Almost free. Very cheap.

Chink in one's armor - An area of vulnerability

Elephant in the room - An obvious, pressing issue left unaddressed due to its sensitive nature.

Apple of discord - Anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy.

A dime a dozen - Anything that is common, inexpensive, and easy to get or available any where.

Every cloud has a silver lining - Be optimistic; every bad situation has some good aspect to it.

All thumbs - Clumsy, awkward.

From A to Z - Covering a complete range; comprehensively.

Off one's trolley or
Off one's rocker - Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile.

Method to my madness  - Despite someone's random approach, there is actually some structure to it.

Don't count chickens before they hatch  - Don't make plans for something that may not happen; alternatively, don't make an assumption about something that does not have a definitively predetermined outcome.

Don't have a cow  - Don't overreact.

Bed of roses - Easy and comfortable.

You bet - Equivalent of saying "that's for sure" or "of course". May also be used sarcastically.

Bite the dust - Euphemism for dying or death.

Kick the bucket - Euphemism for dying or death.

Pop one's clogs (UK) - Euphemism for dying or death.

Pushing up daisies - Euphemism for dying or death.

Sleep with the fishes - Euphemism for dying or death.

The whole nine yards - Everything. All of it.

Spin one's wheels - Expel much effort for little or no gain.

Crocodile tears - Fake tears or drama tears.(fake cry)

Under the weather - Feel sick or poorly

Shooting fish in a barrel - Frivolously performing a simple task.

Balls to the wall! - Full throttle; at maximum speed.

Through thick and thin - In both good and bad times.

➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary . You might also like ⏬

➤ Book of Idioms

➤ Idioms about Animals

➤ Idioms of Expression

➤ Idioms on Food

➤ Idiomatic Expressions

➤ Origin of Idioms

➤ Proverbs

➤ Idioms on Situation

➤ Idioms on Temperature