English Idioms for You
@englishidioms4u.bsky.social
We post an English idiom with an example every day!
UNDER THE WEATHER: not feeling well. Sorry that today's idiom is late. I've been under the weather.
October 4, 2025 at 4:27 AM
UNDER THE WEATHER: not feeling well. Sorry that today's idiom is late. I've been under the weather.
HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO: enjoy two things that can't be combined. Often used in the negative. If you spend money on the car, you won't have enough to pay tuition next fall. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
October 1, 2025 at 12:41 AM
HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO: enjoy two things that can't be combined. Often used in the negative. If you spend money on the car, you won't have enough to pay tuition next fall. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
OLD WIVES' TALE: a superstition passed down by women, particularly about health. My mom used to tell me if I swallowed chewing gum, it would stay in my stomach for a year. But that's just an old wives' tale.
September 30, 2025 at 3:02 AM
OLD WIVES' TALE: a superstition passed down by women, particularly about health. My mom used to tell me if I swallowed chewing gum, it would stay in my stomach for a year. But that's just an old wives' tale.
CARROT AND STICK: a combination of inducements and force. Jakarta Post: <<The President may be using many carrots, but the one big stick, the use of the military, is the single biggest factor that is preventing university students from taking to the streets in big cities ...>>
September 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
CARROT AND STICK: a combination of inducements and force. Jakarta Post: <<The President may be using many carrots, but the one big stick, the use of the military, is the single biggest factor that is preventing university students from taking to the streets in big cities ...>>
WIT'S END, AT YOUR WIT'S END: at a point where you don't know what to do anymore. I'm at my wit's end with my daughter. She's giving me trouble every day.
September 28, 2025 at 12:43 AM
WIT'S END, AT YOUR WIT'S END: at a point where you don't know what to do anymore. I'm at my wit's end with my daughter. She's giving me trouble every day.
THE BUCK STOPS HERE (U.S.): The final responsibility is mine. I try to hear a variety of perspectives about business issues, but the buck stops here. You can also say PASS THE BUCK, meaning transfer responsibility to someone else.
September 27, 2025 at 2:09 AM
THE BUCK STOPS HERE (U.S.): The final responsibility is mine. I try to hear a variety of perspectives about business issues, but the buck stops here. You can also say PASS THE BUCK, meaning transfer responsibility to someone else.
STRAIGHT DOPE (U.S.): accurate information. You can always count on Dave for the straight dope about restaurants in town. He goes out to eat almost every night.
September 26, 2025 at 2:45 AM
STRAIGHT DOPE (U.S.): accurate information. You can always count on Dave for the straight dope about restaurants in town. He goes out to eat almost every night.
FALL INTO YOUR LAP: come your way without any effort on your part. I wish a new car would fall into my lap. The one I have now needs a lot of repairs.
September 25, 2025 at 12:42 AM
FALL INTO YOUR LAP: come your way without any effort on your part. I wish a new car would fall into my lap. The one I have now needs a lot of repairs.
HAVE A FIELD DAY: do something highly enjoyable. My mother had a field day visiting all the antique shops in the area.
September 24, 2025 at 12:13 AM
HAVE A FIELD DAY: do something highly enjoyable. My mother had a field day visiting all the antique shops in the area.
HERE'S THE THING: Here is what's most important about this situation. Yes, you could try to get an MBA. But here's the thing. It's going to be expensive, and that degree isn't worth as much as it used to be.
September 23, 2025 at 12:53 AM
HERE'S THE THING: Here is what's most important about this situation. Yes, you could try to get an MBA. But here's the thing. It's going to be expensive, and that degree isn't worth as much as it used to be.
THIRD SPACE: a place where people gather regularly that is neither a home nor a workplace. This is a fairly new idiom. Jakarta Post: <<But the connection between wellness and coffee seems to run deep, with neighborhood coffee shops functioning like “third spaces”; not quite home, not quite work ...>
September 22, 2025 at 12:13 AM
THIRD SPACE: a place where people gather regularly that is neither a home nor a workplace. This is a fairly new idiom. Jakarta Post: <<But the connection between wellness and coffee seems to run deep, with neighborhood coffee shops functioning like “third spaces”; not quite home, not quite work ...>
GET CRACKING: begin immediately. We'd better get cracking, or we're going to miss our appointment.
September 21, 2025 at 12:35 AM
GET CRACKING: begin immediately. We'd better get cracking, or we're going to miss our appointment.
THAT'LL BE THE DAY: This is very unlikely to happen. My brother says he's going to be a millionaire. That'll be the day!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdH9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdH9...
That'll Be the Day - Buddy Holly (lyrics)
YouTube video by Ted's English Phrases
www.youtube.com
September 20, 2025 at 12:23 AM
THAT'LL BE THE DAY: This is very unlikely to happen. My brother says he's going to be a millionaire. That'll be the day!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdH9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdH9...
LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: try to consider the positive aspects of the situation. So it's raining. Look on the bright side—you don't have to water the garden!
September 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: try to consider the positive aspects of the situation. So it's raining. Look on the bright side—you don't have to water the garden!
POP THE CORKS: It's time to celebrate. Pop the corks. The new sales figures came in, and they're showing a 30 percent increase. From the sound a champagne cork makes when you remove it.
September 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
POP THE CORKS: It's time to celebrate. Pop the corks. The new sales figures came in, and they're showing a 30 percent increase. From the sound a champagne cork makes when you remove it.
BEEN AROUND THE TRACK (or BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK): to have a lot of experience, especially in life in general. I don't like to disregard Tom's advice. He's been around the track a few times.
September 17, 2025 at 12:03 AM
BEEN AROUND THE TRACK (or BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK): to have a lot of experience, especially in life in general. I don't like to disregard Tom's advice. He's been around the track a few times.
TIME WILL TELL: The future will make the results clear. ESPN: <<In terms of the Dallas fans, all I can say to them is, again, time will tell whether it was a smart trade, but I think they should believe in their organization.>>
September 15, 2025 at 10:36 PM
TIME WILL TELL: The future will make the results clear. ESPN: <<In terms of the Dallas fans, all I can say to them is, again, time will tell whether it was a smart trade, but I think they should believe in their organization.>>
GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD (more common U.S.): begin something. OK, the audience is all here, and the doors are closed. Let's get this show on the road.
September 15, 2025 at 12:17 AM
GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD (more common U.S.): begin something. OK, the audience is all here, and the doors are closed. Let's get this show on the road.
GO DOWN THE TUBES: fail completely. If you keep drinking like that, your health is going to go down the tubes. Of British origin, but also now used in the U.S.
September 13, 2025 at 11:38 PM
GO DOWN THE TUBES: fail completely. If you keep drinking like that, your health is going to go down the tubes. Of British origin, but also now used in the U.S.
RENAISSANCE MAN: someone with varied talents, a versatile person. Joe is really a Renaissance man. He's into paintball, he's an excellent pianist, and he does higher mathematics for fun.
September 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
RENAISSANCE MAN: someone with varied talents, a versatile person. Joe is really a Renaissance man. He's into paintball, he's an excellent pianist, and he does higher mathematics for fun.
TO SAY THE LEAST: The situation is actually worse than what I'm saying. The project is way too expensive, to say the least.
September 12, 2025 at 12:26 AM
TO SAY THE LEAST: The situation is actually worse than what I'm saying. The project is way too expensive, to say the least.
NO END, TO NO END: greatly. Amber always leaves food in the work refrigerator and then forgets about it. It annoys me to no end.
September 11, 2025 at 1:29 AM
NO END, TO NO END: greatly. Amber always leaves food in the work refrigerator and then forgets about it. It annoys me to no end.
THINK TWICE: give additional thought to something, reconsider something. WXYZ television, Detroit: <<As prices at fast food and fast casual restaurants continue to climb, customers are starting to think twice when they're looking for a quick bite.>> A "quick bite" is a fast meal.
September 9, 2025 at 11:46 PM
THINK TWICE: give additional thought to something, reconsider something. WXYZ television, Detroit: <<As prices at fast food and fast casual restaurants continue to climb, customers are starting to think twice when they're looking for a quick bite.>> A "quick bite" is a fast meal.
Have trouble remembering the parts of speech?
September 9, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Have trouble remembering the parts of speech?
BAKER'S DOZEN: 13. Have some donuts. I brought home a baker's dozen.
September 9, 2025 at 12:18 AM
BAKER'S DOZEN: 13. Have some donuts. I brought home a baker's dozen.