Scribd
Upload
33 views3 pages

Most Common English Idioms

The document provides a list of 23 common English idioms along with their meanings and translations into Spanish. Some examples of idioms included are "under the weather" meaning to feel ill, "spill the beans" meaning to reveal a secret, "break a leg" meaning to wish someone good luck, and "pull someone's leg" meaning to play a practical joke on someone.

Uploaded by

JAVI BEA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
33 views3 pages

Most Common English Idioms

The document provides a list of 23 common English idioms along with their meanings and translations into Spanish. Some examples of idioms included are "under the weather" meaning to feel ill, "spill the beans" meaning to reveal a secret, "break a leg" meaning to wish someone good luck, and "pull someone's leg" meaning to play a practical joke on someone.

Uploaded by

JAVI BEA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

MOST COMMON ENGLISH IDIOMS

Native English speakers love using them in conversation, and you’ll often find them popping up in
books, TV shows and movies too. To perfect your English, you really need to become confident in
using idioms and knowing the difference between breaking a leg and pulling someone’s leg.

1. Under the weather: To feel ill. In England we love to talk about the weather and will do so
often, but don’t be fooled by this common phrase. If someone says they’re feeling under
the weather, your response should be ‘I hope you feel better!’, not ‘Would you like to
borrow my umbrella?’

2. The ball is in your court: It’s up to you. It’s your move now, but this idiom refers to life
rather than a sport. If you’ve got the ‘ball,’ the decision is yours and someone is waiting for
your decision.

3. Spill the beans: To give away a secret. If you told someone about their own surprise party,
you’d have ‘spilled the beans’ or even ‘let the cat out of the bag’. The secret is out.

4. Break a leg: To wish someone luck. This idiom is not at all threatening. Often accompanied
by a thumbs up, ‘Break a leg! ’is an encouraging cheer of good luck. It originates from when
successful theater performers would to bow so many times after a show that they would
break a leg.

5. Pull someone’s leg: To play a practical joke. This is the perfect phrase to learn if you’re a
fan of practical jokes. ‘Pull their leg’ is similar to ‘wind someone up’. Use it in context:
‘Relax, I’m just pulling your leg!’ or ‘Wait, are you pulling my leg?’.

6. Once in a blue moon: Rarely. This charming phrase is used to describe something that
doesn’t happen often. Example: ‘I remember to call my parents from my study abroad trip
once in a blue moon.’

7. It’s the best thing since sliced bread: It’s really, really good. Sliced bread must have
revolutionised life in England because it’s since been used as the ultimate benchmark for
things that are great. We love it almost as much as tea.

8. Take it with a pinch of salt: Don’t take it too seriously. ‘I heard that elephants can fly now,
but Sam often makes up stories so I take everything he says with a pinch of salt.’

9. Go down in flames: To fail spectacularly. This phrase is fairly obvious. ‘That exam went
down in flames, I should have learned my English idioms.’
10. See eye to eye: To agree completely. We’re not suggesting a staring contest – to see eye to
eye with someone is to agree with the point they’re making.

11. Beat around the bush: Avoid saying something. Beating around the bush is when you speak
nonsense, avoiding a question because you don’t want to express your opinion or answer
truthfully.

12. Hit the sack: Go to bed. This idiom is super easy to learn to use. ‘I’m exhausted, it’s time for
me to hit the sack!’

13. Miss the boat: It’s too late. Use this when you let an opportunity or deadline pass by. ‘I
forgot to apply for that study abroad program, now I’ve missed the boat.’

14. By the skin of your teeth: Just barely. ‘Phew, I passed that exam by the skin of my teeth!’
Hopefully you’ll ace your exams, but if you only just pass you can whip out this idiom.

15. When pigs fly: something that will never happen. “When pigs fly she’ll tidy up her room.”

16. To cost an arm and a leg: something is very expensive. “Fuel these days costs and arm and
a leg.”

17. A piece of cake: something is very easy. “The English test was a piece of cake.”

18. Let the cat out of the bag: to accidentally reveal a secret. “I let the cat out of the bag about
their wedding plans.”

19. To kill two birds with one stone: to solve two problems at once. “By taking my dad on
holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to go away but also spend time with him.”

20. You can’t judge a book by its cover : to not judge someone or something based solely on
appearance. “I thought this no-brand bread would be horrible; turns out you can’t judge a
book by its cover.”

21. Break a leg: good luck (often said to actors before they go on stage). “Break a leg Sam, I’m
sure your performance will be great.”

22. No pain no gain: You have to work hard for something you want.
23. Getting a taste of your own medicine: Being treated the same unpleasant way you have
treated others.

TRANSLATIONS:

1. Estar como el tiempo.


2. El balón esta en tu tejado.
3. Descubrir el pastel.
4. Rómpete una pierna.
5. Tomar el pelo.
6. De vez en cuando. De pascuas a ramos.
7. Es lo mejor.
8. No creérselo a pies juntillas.
9. Mal resultado.
10. Estar de acuerdo.
11. Irse por las ramas
12. Meterse al saco/cama.
13. Perder el tren.
14. Por los pelos.
15. Cuando las ranas canten.
16. Costar un riñón/ojo de la cara.
17. Estar chupado.
18. Irse de la lengua.
19. Matar dos pájaros de un tiro.
20. No juzgar por las apariencias.
21. Romperse una pierna.
22. Sin dolor.
23. Tomar de tu propia medicina.

You might also like