100 phrases in English (explained)

Idioms are very common in all regions of the world, so it is not unusual to find aphorisms and idioms in English, one of the most widely spoken languages ​​on the planet.

These kinds of phrases arise from past cultural dynamics reproduced by the ancestors of English speakers, who shared their popular wisdom in this way, drawing on lessons learned through their experiences throughout the weather.

If you want to know more about these expressions, keep reading; in this article you will find a selection of phrases made in English, with its meaning.

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Very common phrases in English (with their meaning)

This is a compilation with the best phrases in English that show us a certain way of understanding reality.

1. Cross your fingers.

It means 'fingers crossed', and is used to wish that something goes well.

2. washing my hair

It is an excuse not to attend a meeting or party. It translates as 'washing my hair'.

3. The last straw.

Its equivalent would be 'the straw that breaks the camel's back', when you lose patience with someone.

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4. To make ends meet.

'get to the end of the month', something with which we identify ourselves worldwide.

5. In for a penny in for a pound.

It is used a lot in the UK and is used to express that someone will finish what they started, even if it is difficult or costly.

6. Is giving him hell.

It is said when something is giving a person a lot of trouble.

7. Out of sight, out of mind.

'out of sight, out of mind' would be the equivalent of 'out of sight, out of mind'.

8. It costs an arm and a leg.

"It cost me an arm and a leg." When something is very expensive.

9. To be a piece of cake.

'It's a piece of cake', is used when something is very easy.

10. To miss the boat.

'Lose the pot', that is, lose an opportunity.

11. Knowledge is no burden.

'Knowledge is not a burden'. It never hurts to learn something new.

12. A stitch in time saves nine.

Its meaning would be that, you have to solve a problem immediately, before it grows more.

13. Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt.

'Bob is your uncle and Fanny is your aunt', an expression to denote a result obtained.

14. go bananas!

'Come on bananas!' is used when someone is acting crazy.

15. Hit the roof.

Hitting the ceiling is when someone gets very angry.

16. To feel blue.

'Feeling blue' is feeling sad or melancholic.

17. To make a living.

It's usually to say how hard it is to make a living.

18. It gives me the goosebumps.

'It gives me the creeps', when something doesn't give you a good feeling.

19. It's bullshit.

'It's bullshit or garbage,' refers to someone when they tell a lie or excuse.

20. Where there's smoke there's fire.

It is the equivalent of, 'Where there was fire, ashes remain'.

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21. Better late than never.

It translates as: 'Better late than never'.

22. To save for a rainy day.

'Save for a rainy day', save money for any emergency.

23. The elephant in the room.

'The elephant in the room' is said when there is tension in a place.

24. Every law has its loophole.

'Made the law, made the trap', the law is not always fair.

25. Birds of a feather flock together.

It would be the equivalent of the Spanish saying: 'God creates them and the devil brings them together'.

26. A chip off the old block.

It is said when someone has a similar character to their parents or they act like parents.

27. To make someone's day.

'Make someone's day', have a nice gesture with a person.

28. Like father, like son.

It is the equivalent of, 'Like a stick, like a chip'

29. Over-the-moon.

'To be on the moon', is when someone is ecstatic and happy.

30. It's finger licking good.

'It's finger licking good', when a meal is delicious.

31. To take (something) with a pinch of salt.

'Grab something with tweezers', take carefully something that you have been told..

32. It's in the lap of the Gods.

It would translate as 'it is in the hands of God', when we cannot control a situation.

33. He let the cat out of the bag.

'Get the cat out of the bag', refers to someone who talks about a secret.

34. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

When you do something, you can no longer turn back.

35. Once in a blue moon.

'Once in a blue moon', something that does not happen often.

36. To (not) be rocket science.

It is said when something is not so difficult to do or understand.

37. You've got another thing coming.

'You have them clear', that someone must wait for the consequences of their actions.

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38. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

It's the equivalent of, 'Don't count the chickens before they hatch.

39. A hot potato.

When no one wants to take care of something that is annoying.

40. Kill two birds with one stone.

It means, 'Kill two birds with one stone'.

41. A stone's throw away.

'A stone's throw' is when something hits very close.

42. To each their own.

It is to refer to the fact that each person has their own tastes.

43. The early bird catches the worm.

'The quick bird catches the worm', who is agile, can take advantage of opportunities.

44. To be the bee's knees.

It translates as 'to be the bee's knees', it is used when something is exquisite.

45. To have sticky fingers.

It is a way of telling someone that you like to take other people's things.

46. Barking dogs never bite.

It is similar to 'dog that barks does not bite'.

47. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

'Better old acquaintance than new to know', when the skills of a novice are not trusted.

48. I've enough on my plate

'I have too much on my plate', that is, you can't handle more things.

49. Keep an eye on.

It is said to watch something or someone who looks suspicious.

50. Break a leg!

'Break a leg', is used to wish good luck.

51. He who laughs last, laughs best.

It's the same as, 'he who laughs last, laughs best'.

52. Kiss and make up.

It is the equivalent of 'clean slate'.

53. Like water off duck's back.

It is the English form of: 'to foolish words, deaf ears'.

54. Every cloud has a silver lining.

It is used to mean that, no matter the problem, there can always be a solution.

55. God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

It is similar to the saying: 'God squeezes but does not hang'.

56. Turn a blind eye.

It would be, 'turning a blind eye', that is, ignoring something that happens.

57. To be music to someone's ears.

'It's music to my ears', when someone gives you good news.

58. Easy eat, easy go.

It is the same as the phrase, 'easy comes, easy goes'.

59. Make up your mind.

It is deciding to do or want something.

60. Be in the doghouse.

It's when someone is mad at you.

61. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

"Don't put your eggs in one basket." Don't pin all your hopes on one thing.

62. What can't be cured must be hardened.

It is the equivalent of, 'what does not kill you, makes you strong'.

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63. To catch someone red-handed.

It's the same as saying you caught someone red-handed.

64. To be in the red.

'Being in the red or in the red' is having a lot of debt.

65. Don't bite off more than you can chew.

'Bite off more than you can chew', trying to do more things than you really can.

66. You snooze, you lose.

'You sleep, you lose', is for people who are not proactive and miss opportunities.

67. Make yourself at home.

It is an expression of courtesy, to make someone feel at home.

68. Not be someone's cup of tea.

It is said when you are not interested in something the other person is saying.

69. Easy peasy.

It is a way of saying that something is very easy.

70. Where there's a will there's a way.

It is similar to 'Who wants, can'.

71. Keep me in the loop.

It's a way of saying: 'keep me up to date'.

72. Like mother, like daughter.

It is the feminine equivalent of 'like father, like son'.

73. Feeling a bit under the weather.

It is used when someone has an illness or is sick.

74. The shoemaker's are always going barefoot.

It would be equal to 'at the blacksmith's house, a wooden knife'.

75. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth', an oath of revenge.

76. A penny for your thoughts!

'A penny for your thoughts', is said when you want to know what the other is thinking.

77. Speak of the devil!

'Talking about the devil. When a person she was talking about arrives.

78. She hit the nail on the head.

It is knowing and describing the reason that is causing a problem.

79. To murder something.

An informal way to say that you want to eat or drink something.

80. It sounds Greek to me.

'Sounds Greek to me.' It is when something is very difficult to understand.

81. It gives me creep.

It is said when something gives you a very bad vibe.

82. To be on the ball.

It is the way to react or understand something quickly.

83. To go pear-shaped.

Said when things don't go as planned.

84. It's water under the bridge.

"It's water under the bridge." It is used to say that something is not a problem, because it has been left in the past.

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85. What a mess!

It is to say that something is a disaster.

86. When pigs fly.

'When pigs fly' is denoted in case something is impossible or will never happen.

87. Put the icing on the cake.

It is the equivalent of saying: 'place the cherry on the cake'.

88. Easier said that done a stretch.

It means: 'Easier said than done'.

89. A word is enough to the wise.

"A word is enough for the wise." We don't need to give so many explanations about something.

90. To give someone the cold shoulder.

It is the act of deliberately ignoring someone.

91. He's walking on thin ice.

'Walking on ice', that is to say dealing with a sensitive issue or doing something that annoys another.

92. Its raining cats and dogs.

'It's raining dogs and cats', they say when it's raining very hard.

93. Nothing last forever.

It translates as: 'Nothing lasts forever'.

94. It is cutting edge.

It is said when someone or something gives an advantage to one person over another.

95. Keep your hair on!

It is a way of telling someone to calm down.

96. In for a tell me in for a dollar.

It's the American version of 'In for a penny in for a pound'.

97. Off the top of my head.

It means 'to be upside down' or to have a lot on your mind.

98. Off the beaten track.

It refers to a very distant place to which very little goes.

99. It's a rip off.

It is a colloquial way of saying that something is a scam.

100. Better safe than sorry.

It is a warning to be careful and to be cautious.