By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 9, 2024
If you’ve spoken the English language, you’ve probably heard these common idioms and cliches. But, because they’re not meant to be taken literally, they can sometimes be confusing when you think about the meaning of each. Do you know even the more difficult ones and their meanings?
We’ve chosen examples that will really test your knowledge of the English language and common idioms that you may hear in a regular conversation with your boss, coworkers, family, and friends. We know the English language can be tricky, so good luck!
Throw caution to the wind, and get started on this exciting English language quiz!
Common Idioms
An idiom is a phrase that is commonly used among a population and has a non-literal meaning. (In fact, when taken literally, an idiom can make a sentence into utter nonsense.) Common English idioms can be downright confusing, especially if you're learning the language for the first time, or a very literal person. You've probably heard these common English idioms in everyday conversation, from "fish out of water" to "call it a day."
Common Idioms: Do You Know What They Mean?
Idioms are the salsa of the English language, adding a dash of zest to our conversations. We toss them around in chats like confetti without a second thought, assuming everyone knows what we're cooking with our words. These colorful expressions paint pictures with phrases, making language more vivid and often, more confusing.
Now, you might be thinking you’ve got a handle on these quirky phrases, but do we really know the full story behind "a piece of cake" or why we spill "the beans"? It's time to put our heads together and take a stroll down Expression Lane. Let's face it, navigating the wild world of idioms can be as tricky as herding cats, but fear not! Gather 'round as we unravel the mysteries and origins of these common idioms, ensuring nobody's left scratching their heads. And hey, once we're through, you'll be throwing idioms with the best of 'em. Let’s get cracking and find out if you're an idiom wizard or if it's all Greek to you!
Deciphering Idioms: Unraveling Meanings and Origins
Alright folks, fasten your mental seatbelts because we're about to dive into the fantastically wacky world of idioms—where words mean more than what meets the eye!
Cracking the Literal and Figurative Nuts
Ever encountered a phrase that made zero sense at first glance? That's probably because it was an idiom—a common idiom, to be specific. These figurative firecrackers have nothing to do with their literal meaning. Take "a piece of cake," for example. Unless you're attending a birthday party, when someone says, "This is a piece of cake," they're likely not talking about dessert but about something super easy to do!
When Idioms Ruled the Roost: A Historical Peek
Now let's get historical! Many idioms have origins as old as the hills—or at least as old as language itself. Some come from ancient proverbs or maritime phrases like the ever-mystifying "rule of thumb." But beware! While the exact origin is often as clear as mud, it's thrilling to peek into how expressions like "raining cats and dogs" might have connected to heavy downpours of the past.
Crossing Borders: Idioms in American English
American English has borrowed, twisted, and turned idioms from all over the globe, making them as American as apple pie. However, "to kick the bucket" isn't something Woody from Toy Story might do casually—it means someone's punched their one-way ticket to the big rodeo in the sky. It's phrases like these that can make English seem as tricky as nailing jelly to a wall for non-natives. But fear not! We're here to guide you through this maze of metaphorical magic.
So, are you ready to become an idiom whiz? Who knows—after hanging with us, you might just find that understanding these phrases is... well, you guessed it... a piece of cake!
Idioms in Action: Usage in Everyday Life
Before we dive into the quirky world of idioms, let's remember: idioms spice up our language and are essential for sounding like a native speaker. Whether you're nailing an expression in a tense boardroom meeting or dropping a witty phrase at a party, knowing your idioms can be the difference between a blank stare and an appreciative chuckle.
From Awkward Moments to Euphoric Wins
Ever been caught "not quite on the ball" in a social situation? Trust us, we've all been there. Imagine you're at a friend's game night, someone pulls out a victory at the last second and you exclaim, "You hit the nail on the head!". You just turned an awkward silence into a euphoric win with that idiom!
Or picture this: you’re sharing an anecdote about narrowly missing a downpour and you quip, "I came in just before it started raining cats and dogs." Everyone's been through weather woes, but with that phrase, you've turned a soggy event into a tale of epic proportions.
Idiomatic Expressions in Professional Settings
In the business arena, idioms can serve as a secret handshake that says "I belong here". When the boss rounds on a colleague during a tough negotiation and they admit a mistake without flinching, they're said to "face the music," illustrating integrity without missing a beat.
Then there's the sage advice of not putting all your eggs in one basket, which translates to spreading out risks in business investments. Knowing when to use such expressions can make a novice seem like an experienced insider, someone who’s not cutting corners but is taking their career seriously enough to learn the lingo.
Language Learning: Studying Idioms for Fluency
In our language learning quests, we may come across phrases that sound like a jigsaw puzzle. Phrases like "once in a blue moon" or feeling "under the weather" might stump us initially. But as we put our learning caps on and embrace these common English idioms, we get a step closer to fluency.
From chatting with a study buddy about how "I'll be all ears at the lecture" to joking "Let's hit the sack" after a late-night vocab cram session, idioms paint our conversations with color. Our language becomes vibrant, an art form where every expression is a brushstroke.
