How can I learn idioms in English?

The most effective way is spaced repetition: practice this deck of 101 flashcards using the Flashcards, Learn, Write, and Match modes. The system shows you each word right before you're about to forget it, so you retain it long-term instead of just memorizing it for a test.

How many words are in the idioms deck?

This deck has 101 cards at level B2, each with pronunciation audio and an example sentence.

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No. You can practice for free without creating an account. If you sign in, your progress is saved automatically and you can keep studying from any device.

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Idioms

Learn common English idioms that are still used today in everyday conversation, from "piece of cake" to "hit the ground running".

B2101 cards

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Match

Match the words against the clock. A fun, low-pressure way to review.

Terms in this deck

break the ice
to make people feel more comfortable in a social situation
piece of cake
something very easy to do
under the weather
feeling slightly sick
cost an arm and a leg
to be very expensive
once in a blue moon
something that happens very rarely
hang in there
used to encourage someone during a hard time
speak of the devil
said when someone you were just talking about appears
call it a day
to stop working on something for the day
on the same page
having the same understanding or opinion as someone
get out of hand
to become difficult to control
miss the boat
to miss a chance to do something
hit the nail on the head
to describe exactly what is causing a situation
let the cat out of the bag
to accidentally reveal a secret
beat around the bush
to avoid saying something directly
bite the bullet
to force yourself to do something unpleasant
break a leg
said to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance
get cold feet
to suddenly become too nervous to do something you planned
hit the sack
to go to bed
it's not rocket science
used to say something isn't complicated
kill two birds with one stone
to accomplish two things with a single action
on thin ice
in a risky situation where you could easily get in trouble
pull yourself together
to calm down and behave normally after being upset
see eye to eye
to agree with someone
sit on the fence
to avoid making a decision or choosing a side
speak your mind
to say what you honestly think
the ball is in your court
it's now your responsibility to act or decide
throw in the towel
to give up trying to do something
under the table
done secretly or illegally, especially payments
up in the air
not yet decided
a blessing in disguise
something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good
actions speak louder than words
what you do matters more than what you say
barking up the wrong tree
to have the wrong idea about how to get or achieve something
best of both worlds
a situation where you can enjoy the advantages of two different things
burn the midnight oil
to work or study late into the night
by the skin of your teeth
to just barely succeed at something
cut corners
to do something in the cheapest or easiest way, often badly
down to earth
practical and honest, not pretentious
get your act together
to start behaving in a more organized or effective way
give someone the benefit of the doubt
to trust what someone says even if you're not fully sure
go the extra mile
to make a special effort to achieve something
hit the ground running
to start something with a lot of energy right away
in the same boat
in the same difficult situation as someone else
jump on the bandwagon
to start doing something because it has become popular
keep your fingers crossed
to hope that something will happen the way you want
let sleeping dogs lie
to avoid bringing up a problem that could cause trouble
long story short
to tell something briefly instead of in detail
no pain, no gain
you have to work hard to achieve something good
off the top of my head
said or estimated without checking facts
out of the blue
happening suddenly and unexpectedly
pull someone's leg
to joke with someone by telling them something untrue
put all your eggs in one basket
to risk everything on a single plan
rain check
a promise to accept an offer at a later time
read between the lines
to understand a hidden meaning
ring a bell
to sound familiar
rule of thumb
a general principle based on experience
save for a rainy day
to save money for a time when you might need it
sit tight
to wait patiently without doing anything
sleep on it
to wait until the next day to make a decision
take it with a grain of salt
to not completely believe something
the last straw
the final problem in a series that makes you lose patience
think outside the box
to think creatively, in a new way
time flies
time passes very quickly
turn a blind eye
to deliberately ignore something wrong
water under the bridge
a problem from the past that is no longer important
when pigs fly
used to say something will never happen
wrap your head around something
to fully understand something difficult
you can't judge a book by its cover
you shouldn't judge someone or something based only on appearance
back to square one
back to the beginning after failing
bend over backwards
to try very hard to help someone
blow off steam
to release stress or anger, often through exercise or activity
break the bank
to cost too much money
cut to the chase
to get to the point without wasting time
every cloud has a silver lining
even bad situations have a positive side
give it a shot
to try something
go with the flow
to relax and accept things as they happen
hit the road
to leave, especially to start a trip
it takes two to tango
both people involved share responsibility for a situation
keep your chin up
stay positive during a difficult time
touch base
to briefly communicate with someone
make ends meet
to have just enough money for what you need
no strings attached
without any conditions or obligations
on a roll
having a lot of success in a row
out of the woods
past the most difficult or dangerous part of a situation
play devil's advocate
to argue the opposite side just to encourage debate
pull the plug
to stop or cancel something
put your foot in your mouth
to say something embarrassing or awkward
raise the bar
to set a higher standard
get the ball rolling
to start something moving forward
in the loop
kept informed about something
on the ball
alert and efficient
state of the art
the most modern and advanced
steal someone's thunder
to take credit or attention away from someone else's achievement
the elephant in the room
an obvious problem that no one wants to talk about
up to speed
having the latest information about something
weather the storm
to survive a difficult period
a dime a dozen
very common and not special or valuable
ahead of the curve
more advanced or informed than others
back on track
returning to a correct or successful path
caught red-handed
caught in the act of doing something wrong
comfort zone
a situation where you feel safe and relaxed
jinx
to bring bad luck by mentioning something too soon, or a person/thing believed to cause bad luck

How to study this deck

Idioms cannot be translated literally: "It's raining cats and dogs" has nothing to do with animals. Learn each expression with its real meaning and a situation where you would use it. Pick three per week and actually use them in a conversation; they stick far better than just reading them.

The trickiest words

break the ice: it means to start a conversation with strangers, easing tension.
piece of cake: it means something very easy: "The exam was a piece of cake".
under the weather: it means feeling ill. It has nothing to do with weather.

Examples in context

He told a joke to break the ice.
She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
I've done my part, the ball is in your court now.
You need to get your act together before the exam.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
That argument is water under the bridge now.
It's getting late, we should hit the road.
Please keep me in the loop about the changes.

Mini dialogue

A: How was your exam?
B: It was a piece of cake. I studied a lot.
A: I feel under the weather today.
B: Hang in there. Let's call it a day and rest.