50 Common English Idioms

As easy as pie

very easy, "piece of cake

be sick and tired of

I hate" (also "can't stand")

Bend over backwards

try very hard to please someone

Bite off more than one can chew

To try to do or eat more than you can manage.

Broke

to have no money

Change one's mind

decide to do something different from what had been
decided earlier

Cut it out

stop doing something bad

Drop someone a line

to mail a letter to someone or give them a call

Figure something out

come to understand a problem

Fill in for someone

do their works while they are away

In ages

for a very long time

Give someone a hand

helps

Hit the hay

go to bed or go to sleep

In the black

the business is making money, it is profitable

In the red

the business is losing money, it is unprofitable

In the nick of time

not too late, but very close!

Keep one's chin up

remain brave and keep on trying

Know something like the back of your hand

know something very, very
well

Once in a while

sometimes, not very often

Sharp

exactly at a that time

sleep on it

think about something before making a decision

take it easy

relax

to get the ball rolling

start something, especially something big

up to the minute

the most recent information

twenty-four/seven

every minute of every day, all the time

All of a sudden

unexpectedly

all ears

eager and ready to listen

Be fed up with

to hate something now, even though I may have liked it
before

to bug

to bother someone

a cinch

something that is very easy to do

Cost an arm and a leg

very expensive

To cram

to study hard a few days before a test

Fresh out of something

to have no more of something

To get it

to understand

Got a minute?

Do you have time right now?

Give someone a hand

help someone

Grab a bite to eat

quickly go get something to eat

Drive someone up a wall

drive someone crazy

To hang on

to wait

Hard headed

stubborn" or "unwilling to change an opinion or idea

Have a change of heart

change a previous decision

Have mixed feelings about something

to be uncertain

Head out for

to start on a long trip" (but it could be within a big city)

How come?

Why

keep in touch

(or "stay in touch") means "do not stop communicating - send letters or call sometimes

Be kidding

to joke or tease someone in a playful way

Look down on

think someone or something is not good enough

Make ends meet

(often used negatively) means "to have enough money to buy
everything we need

Miss the boat

to miss an opportunity

next to nothing

to cost very little