Mastering idioms and expressions: Learn English Idioms

August 17, 2023

Mastering English idioms and expressions: Learn English Idioms

Learning idioms and expressions is very common in the spoken English Language. They're also arguably the most fun part of the language! In this article, we'll learn some common English idioms and expressions that you'll hear every day. You can use these phrases to make yourself sound more natural when speaking with native English speakers or to simply have a laugh with your friends. For example:

1. Play it by ear

Play it by ear means doing something without a plan. It's used when you don't know how something will turn out, or when you want to be spontaneous and not plan ahead. For example: "I'm going out tonight, but I don't know what we're doing yet--we'll just play it by ear."It can also be used as an answer when someone asks you a question and expects an exact answer (like "What time is your flight?"). If you're not sure of the answer, then just say "Play it by ear!"

2. Piece of cake


A piece of cake is something that is easy to do, not difficult and not very hard. You can do it without much effort.Example: "This exam was a piece of cake!"Example: "The math test was a piece of cake!"

3. Keep your chin up


Keep your chin up! This idiom is often used to encourage someone who is feeling down or discouraged. It means "don't lose hope," and it can be used in many situations where you need some encouragement. For example: When your friend fails an exam, you could say "Don't let it get you down; there will be other exams."If someone makes fun of you for being bad at sports, tell them "I know I'm not very good at soccer (or whatever sport), but I'm going to keep practicing until I'm better."

4. Under the weather


Under the weather:This idiom is used to describe someone who is feeling unwell, sick or generally not in good health. It can be used to describe any number of illnesses such as colds, flu and stomach bugs. For example: "I'm feeling under the weather today so I think I might stay home from work."Feelings can also be expressed using this expression such as if you have a headache or sore throat etc., which would make it more natural in conversation than just saying "I have a headache."

5. Split hairs


Split hair is a phrase that means to be overly concerned with minor details or correctness. It can also mean being overly concerned with precision, accuracy and detail.For example: "This report is full of split hairs."

6. That rings a bell


This expression means that something sounds familiar to you. It can be used as a way of expressing doubt about something, or it may be used when you have heard a similar story before.In the positive"That rings a bell.""It rings true with me." (means that the speaker thinks something is believable)

7. Hit the nail on the head


Hit the nail on the head. This idiom means "to say or do something exactly right." It's used when someone has expressed an idea or opinion in a way that is accurate and precise. For example: You hit the nail on the head when you said that I need to be more patient with my kids. That's a good question. You hit the nail on its head!

8. Jump the gun


Jump the gun. Jumping the gun means doing something too soon. It's often used in sports, but it can also be used in other situations where someone is too eager or anxious to act:"Don't jump the gun--we still have time before we need to start."The phrase comes from a sport called skeet shooting, where a shooter fires clay discs at targets that fly through the air at high speeds. If you're not careful, you might accidentally hit one of those flying discs with your own shot before it has reached its intended target!

9. In my book/viewpoint/opinion


In my opinion, he's not the right person for the job.In my book, it's a good idea to talk about your problems with your friends and family members.In my view, you should always do what makes YOU happy and not worry about what other people think of you!

10. By any chance/chance in a million/odds against it - It's highly unlikely that something will happen, but there is an extremely small possibility that it will happen anyway


When you say that something is by any chance or odds against it, you are saying that the chances of something happening are very small.This expression can be used when you want to know if someone has done something or not. For example: "Did she come back with your book?" "By any chance?"Another way to use this expression is when you want to ask someone if they knew something before they told you about it, because if they did know already then they would have said so earlier on in the conversation. For example: "Didn't I tell you the other day? By any chance?"

Conclusion

In the end, language is all about communication. And idioms and phrases are no exception! They are an essential part of our everyday speech, so it's important that we know how to use them correctly in order to communicate effectively with others.