English idioms are the spice of language, offering a unique flavor to everyday communication. These common idioms serve as gems, each carrying a distinctive meaning beyond their literal interpretation. Let’s explore the fascinating world of idioms with an idiom example. Consider the phrase “burning the midnight oil,” depicting intense effort or working late into the night. In this idiom sample, the image of a lamp burning late symbolizes diligence and commitment. Understanding idioms with meaning is like deciphering a secret code, unlocking a deeper layer of expression. So, whether you’re “walking on eggshells” or “seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” incorporating these idiomatic expressions into your language repertoire adds flair and nuance, transforming ordinary conversations into rich tapestries of communication.
cut a dash | If a person cuts a dash, they make a striking impression by their appearance and attractive clothes. | Wearing his uniform, my grandfather cut a dash on his wedding day. |
deck out | If you deck out someone or something, you dress or decorate them in a special way. | Paul decked out his car for the occasion. |
dressed to kill | When someone, especially a woman, is dressed to kill, they are wearing very fashionable or glamorous clothes intended to attract attention. | She arrived at the reception dressed to kill. |
dressed up to the nines | Someone who is dressed up to the nines is wearing very smart or glamorous clothes. | Caroline must be going to a party – she’s dressed up to the nines. |
down at heel | A person who is down-at-heel is someone whose appearance is untidy or neglected because of lack of money. | The down-at-heel student I first met became a successful writer. |
face like a bulldog chewing a wasp | To say that someone has a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp means that you find them very unattractive because they have a screwed-up ugly expression on their face. | Not only was he rude but he had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp! |
face only a mother could love | This is a humoristic way of saying that someone is ugly or unattractive. | The poor guy has a face only a mother could love. |
face that would stop a clock | This is a humoristic way of saying that someone is ugly or unattractive. | You’ll recognize him – he’s tall and thin, with a face that would stop a clock! |
five o’clock shadow | This expression refers to a patch of stubble on the face of a man who hasn’t shaved for at least a day. | He looked tired and had a five o’clock shadow. |
not a hair out of place | To say that someone does not have a hair out of place means that their appearance is perfect. | Angela is always impeccably dressed – never a hair out of place! |
like something the cat dragged in | If you compare a person or thing to something the cat dragged in, you think they they look dirty, untidy or generally unappealing. | My teenage son often looks like something the cat dragged in. |
look a sight | If a person looks a sight, their appearance is awful, unsuitable or very untidy. | She looks a sight in that dress! |
look like a million dollars | If you look like a million dollars, you look extremely good. | With a tan and a new hairstyle she looked like a million dollars! |
mutton dressed as lamb | This expression refers to a middle-aged woman who tries to look younger by dressing in clothes designed for younger people. | The style doesn’t suit her – it has a mutton-dressed-as-lamb effect on her! |
pretty as a picture | Someone who is (as) pretty as a picture is very attractive or appealing in appearance. | The young bride looked (as) pretty as a picture in her beautiful dress. |
(all) skin and bone | If someone is all skin and bone, they are very thin or too thin. | After trekking in the Himalayas, he was all skin and bone. |
thin on the top | If someone, usually a man, is thin on the top, they are losing their hair or going bald. | Dad’s gone a bit thin on the top in the last few years. |
(as) ugly as sin | The expression as ugly as sin is used to refer to people or things that are considered to be very unattractive. | Have you seen the new neighbour’s dog? It’s as ugly as sin! |
vertically challenged | This term is a humoristic way of referring to someone who is not very tall. | High shelves are difficult for vertically challenged shoppers. |
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The Most Helpful Idioms With Meaning and Examples. Topic – Consequences – Effects
English idioms are the spice of language, offering a unique flavor to everyday communication. These common idioms serve as gems, each carrying a distinctive meaning
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The Most Helpful Idioms With Meaning and Examples. Topic – Age
English idioms are the spice of language, offering a unique flavor to everyday communication. These common idioms serve as gems, each carrying a distinctive meaning
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The Most Helpful Idioms With Meaning and Examples. Topic – Comparisons – Similarity
English idioms are the spice of language, offering a unique flavor to everyday communication. These common idioms serve as gems, each carrying a distinctive meaning
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The Most Helpful Idioms With Meaning and Examples. Topic – Communication
English idioms are the spice of language, offering a unique flavor to everyday communication. These common idioms serve as gems, each carrying a distinctive meaning
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The Most Helpful Idioms With Meaning and Examples. Topic – Colours
English idioms are the spice of language, offering a unique flavor to everyday communication. These common idioms serve as gems, each carrying a distinctive meaning
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The Most Helpful Idioms With Meaning and Examples. Topic – Clothes
English idioms are the spice of language, offering a unique flavor to everyday communication. These common idioms serve as gems, each carrying a distinctive meaning
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What are idioms? Idioms are expressions or phrases that hold a figurative meaning beyond their literal interpretation. They add color and depth to language.
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Why are idioms important in English? Idioms help convey complex ideas succinctly and vividly, enhancing communication and offering cultural insights.
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Can you provide some examples of idioms? Certainly! Examples include “raining cats and dogs” (heavy rain), “kick the bucket” (pass away), and “bite the bullet” (face a difficult situation).
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How do I understand the meaning of idioms? Understanding idioms often requires context and cultural familiarity. Exploring their origins and usage in sentences helps grasp their meanings.
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Are all idioms universal or do they vary by region? Idioms can vary across regions and cultures. While some idioms are universal, many are culturally specific.
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Are there common idioms used in everyday conversation? Yes, several idioms, like “break a leg” (good luck) or “piece of cake” (easy task), are frequently used in daily conversations.
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Do idioms have fixed meanings? Generally, yes. However, some idioms might have slight variations in meaning or usage based on context or region.
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How can I incorporate idioms into my writing or speech? Using idioms contextually and accurately can add richness to your language. Start by understanding their meanings and then applying them naturally.
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Are idioms only found in English? No, idioms exist in many languages. Each language has its own set of colorful expressions and phrases.
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Where can I learn more idioms and their meanings? Online resources, books on idioms, and even language learning platforms offer extensive lists of idioms with explanations of their meanings and origins.