English Idioms ( 成语 )

Idioms “tie the knot” ex) Michael Chang ( 張德培 ) and Amber Liu tied the knot in 2008.

Idioms “piece of cake” ex) This job is a piece of cake. ex) The exam is a piece of cake. “in the nick of time” ex) He came to class in the nick of time. ex) The police arrived in the nick of time

Idioms “give someone a hand” ex) I want to move the TV to the bedroom. Can you give me a hand? “hit the sack” ex) I'm tired. I need to hit the sack.

Idioms “take it easy” ex) My vacation starts next week. I will take it easy. “sleep on it” ex) I need to sleep on it before I make a decision.

Idioms “24/7” ex) The restaurant is open 24/7.

Idioms “sick and tired” ex) He is sick and tired of his job. “up to the minute” “up-to-the-minute” ex) A newspaper gives yesterday's news, but the internet gives up to the minute news.

Idioms “blood is thicker than water” ex) I helped my brother instead of my friend because blood is thicker than water. “call it a day” ex) At 5:50 we can call it a day. ex) I'm tired. Let's call it a day.

Idioms “get the ball rolling” ex) The project is due tomorrow. We need to get the ball rolling. “bend over backwards” ex) I will bend over backwards to please my boss.

Idioms “keep your chin up” ex) I lost my job but I will keep my chin up. “fill in for someone” ex) The teacher is sick today so John will fill in for him.

Idioms “drop someone a line” ex) It was nice to see you again. Drop me a line when you have time. “cut it out” ex) Smoking is bad for you. You should cut it out.

Idioms “knows it inside out” ex) He is an expert. He knows it inside out. “bite off more than one can chew” ex) He has two jobs and takes three classes. He bit off more than he can chew.

Idioms “a blessing in disguise” ex) I got fired but it was a blessing in disguise because I have a better job now. “kill two birds with one stone” ex) I killed two birds with one stone when I studied in China. I saved money and I learned how to speak Chinese.

Idioms “down in the dumps” ex) This man is down in the dumps.

Idioms “down and out” ex) This woman is down and out.

Idioms “cost an arm and a leg”

Idioms “deep pockets” ex) That businessman has deep pockets. “drag your feet” ex) Are you dragging your feet in preparing for the oral exam?

Idioms “get something off your chest” ex) I have to get something off my chest. I was the one who broke the statue. “put your foot in your mouth” ex) She put her foot in her mouth when she said that.

Idioms “head over feet/heels” ex) Alanis met a nice guy and is head over feet.

Idioms “play it by ear” ex) I'm not sure where I'll eat lunch. I'll just play it by ear. “point the finger” ex) When the mother wanted to know who broke the window, Jane pointed the finger at her sister.

Idioms “butterflies in my stomach” ex) He has butterflies in his stomach before every performance. “a short fuse” ex) The teacher has a short fuse; he often yells at his students.

Idioms “every cloud has a silver lining” ex) I failed the exam, but I believe every cloud has a silver lining.

Idioms “pick up the tab” ex) Waiter, I'd like to pick up the tab for that table. “easier said than done” ex) Learning English is easier said than done.

Idioms “money does not grow on trees” ex) That was an expensive lunch. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.

Idioms “No pain, no gain” ex) If you want to succeed, you need to practice more. No pain, no gain. “barking up the wrong tree” ex) The police are barking up the wrong tree if they arrest him.

Idioms “a taste of your own medicine” ex) The thief got a taste of his own medicine when his car was stolen. “in the fast lane” ex) He wants to live in the fast lane so he quit his job and traveled around the world.

Idioms “a slap on the wrist” ex) The judge gave him a slap on the wrist; he was sentenced to only 30 days in jail. “under the table” ex) If you give me 200 Yuan under the table, I will give you an “A” for this class.

Idioms “above the law” ex) A rich and powerful politician can be above the law.

Idioms “the jury is still out” ex) The jury is still out in the trial. “cook the books” ex) Enron and Worldcom got caught cooking the books.

Idioms “take someone for a ride” ex) The driver took me for a ride from the airport. “rip someone off” ex) I was ripped off at the store.

Idioms “throw in the towel” ex) He didn't throw in the towel because he's not a quitter. “have the guts” ex) Do you have the guts to go on a rollercoaster?

Idioms “rain or shine” ex) We are playing soccer today rain or shine. “sooner or later” ex) I'll do it sooner or later.

Idioms “to buy/sell a lemon” ex) The car salesman is trying to sell me a lemon.

Idioms “put all your eggs in one basket” ex) He put all his eggs in one basket when he bought that house. “shop around” ex) Let's shop around before we buy.

Idioms “pull the plug” ex) The TV station pulled the plug on the show. “drop like flies” ex) The attendance in this class is dropping like flies.

Idioms “have a ball” ex) I am having a ball at the party. “hit the books” ex) You should hit the books tonight.

Idioms “the ship has sailed” ex) It's too late to change your mind because the ship has already sailed. “make a killing” ex) Bill Gates made a killing on Microsoft.

Idioms “mint condition” ex) This car is in mint condition. “keep your nose clean” ex) If you are on parole, you need to keep your nose clean.

Idioms