Common English Idioms, Idiomatic Expressions, and Slang

An idiom is a phrase, expression, or group of words in which the meaning can not be derived from the component words. An idiom or idiomatic expression can also mean a form of speech in a specific region or dialect. An idiom or idiomatic phrase or expression can also be referred to a conversational manner of speaking for natural speakers of the language. Idioms also sometimes are considered slang language or slang phrases and expressions.

Getting familiar with these English Idioms below can very helpful for English learners, non-english speakers, or immigrants. Once you know these basic idiomatic expressions and phrases, it will be helpful for you when watching English movies, English programs and shows in your TV channels, and listening to radio stations. It will also be important when you apply for work, job interviews, communication skills, common conversations to natural english speakers, co-workers, and many more helpful applications for your benefit.

These common English Idioms below are typical in places and situations like MUSEUM, RESTAURANT, BAR, CLUB, MUSIC CONCERTS, PERFORMANCES AND SHOWS, THEATRE, LOVE PROBLEMS, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, DATING, FAMILY TIME, RELATIONSHIP WITH A BOSS, CONVERSATIONS IN SCHOOL AND LIBRARY, PARTY AND FUN ACTIVITIES, CARS AND DRIVING, SHOPPING MALLS, DEPARTMENT STORES, SUPERMARKETS, HOSPITALS AND HEALTH PROBLEMS, EXERCISES AND HEALTH PROGRAMS, BUYING HOMES, HOUSES AND CONDOS, VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP, and so much more...

Common English Idioms, Idiomatic Expressions, and Slang:

• A

• a bomb = bad production
• a dive = inferior restaurant/coffe shop
• a piece = a gun
• a trip = rather strange
• anybody's guess = uncertain

• B

• beats me = I don't know; no idea;
• big house = jail
• blimp = fat person
• blow lines = make mistakes
• body that won't quit = fantastic figure
• bombed = depressed
• booze = alcohol; liquor
• break the ice = start communicating
• build bridges = establish relationship
• burn rubber = drive fast
• busted = arrested
• but in = interfere
• butterflies in stomach = nervous
• buzz = talk with excitement; rumour

• C

• catch red handed = catch doing wrong
• cheezy = cheap and bad looking
• chicken out = scared; afraid
• chopped liver = unimportant; insignificant
• clam up = keep quiet
• cock and bull story = unbelievable tale
• cold day in hell = never
• cold fish = unfriendly
• come on to = flirt with
• come up = happen; occur;
• cool dude = nice man
• cost an arm and a leg = very expensive
• crazed = confused; agitated
• crib = house
• crook = dishonest
• cut it = capable; successful
• cut to the chase = get to the most important things

• D

• dead = very; extremely; absolutely
• dead wrong = absolutely wrong
• dirt = inside info
• drag = bore; boring
• draw a blank = forget something suddenly
• drive nuts = annoy; make nervous; make crazy
• drop in on = visit
• dump = terrible house/apartment

• E

• eighty six = not available; to throw away
• eleven = extreme, exceeding; so many problems
• every cloud has a silver lining = there's hope even in difficult times
• everything but the kitchen sink = almost everything
• excuse my French = forgive me for cursing

• F

• face = name
• fall for = tricked into believing
• fat chance = no chance
• flat broke = absolutely no money
• for Pete's sake = for God's sake
• freak out = shock; surprised; nervous

• G

• get a load of = observe; look
• get away with = escape responsibility; succeed in doing something dishonest
• get real = be rational
• get some shut eye = sleep
• get through = survive
• give me a break = it can't be so
• give to me straight = tell me the truth
• go easy on = tolerant of
• go over the top = over react
• goodie too shoes = very righteous person
• grab a bite = to get something to eat quickly
• grab a chance = take advantage
• grub = food

• H

• hang in there = don't give up
• have a one track mind = to think most of the time; think same subject
• have one's name = perfectly suited
• have the hots = interested; attracted
• health freak = too concerned about one's health
• heck of = great; significant
• heist = robbery; burglary
• history = over
• hit the nail on the head = absolutely right
• hit the sack = go to bed
• holdup = armed robbery
• holy cow = wow
• hooked on = like a lot
• hot = sexy
• hurl = throw up; vomit

• I

• it was a riot = it was great
• it's on me = I'm paying

• J

• joint = bar, restaurant, dance place
• just joshing = just joking, kidding, tricking around

• K

• keep = prevent from coming on time; late
• kick the bucket = die
• killer test = extremely difficult test
• kissup = person trying to please others (to get something)
• knock it off = stop it
• knock off = steal; rob
• knock out = gorgeous; very attractive
• knucklehead = dumb

• L

• lift the spirits = cheer up
• lives depended on it = life or death situation
• load off the mind = relief
• look down = look upset; lonely

• M

• make no bones about = to mention a fact very clearly
• mumbo jumbo = nonsense
• mum's the word = keep quiet
• my gut tells me = my instincts tell me

• N

• nope = no
• not a picnic = not easy
• not the sharpest knife in the drawer = not to be very bright

• O

• old man = father
• on the loose, at large = not yet caught
• out of it = dazed; confused

• P

• pact heat = carry a gun; arm with a weapon
• pan = criticize
• pig out = eat a lot
• pissed off = angry
• pop in on = visit without notice
• pull a job = commit a crime
• pull it together = get organized
• pull off = succeed
• put down = criticize
• put finger on = discover the truth
• put it to sleep = stop it
• put on ice = shot; kill

• R

• right behind you = join in a minute
• ripoff = unreasonably expensive
• ritzy = expensive; fancy
• rock with = dance with
• rocks = great
• rub elbows with = socialize

• S

• scout's honor = believe me; I swear
• scumbag = bad person
• size up = evaluate
• slammer = prison
• smacker = dollar
• smartie pants = intellectual
• smash hit = huge success
• spaced out = dazed; confused; terrible; strange
• spike the punch = put alcohol in the drinks
• spill your guts = tell what's bothering
• spit it out = tell me about it
• stiff a waiter = not to give a tip
• stink = extremely unsatisfactory
• stud = successful with women

• T

• take a chill pill; chill out = calm down
• take bs = take nonsense
• take it from me = believe me
• take the roof off the house = big success
• the low down = whole story; about it
• third degree = interrogate
• ticked off = angry
• to be decked out = to be decorated
• to do the trick = succeed
• to flip the bird = fuck/middle finger sign
• to get a kick = to enjoy very much
• to have a ball = enjoy very much; have a good time
• to pull one's string = to be kidding; to be in control of
• total babe = hot and sexy girl
• trash a car = destroy a car

• W

• what's cooking = what's going on
• what's eating you = what's the matter with you; what's bothering you
• what's the deal = tell me about it
• what's the scoop = what's the matter
• when hell freezes over = never
• when pigs fly = never
• wiped out = exhausted
• wouldn't be caught dead wearing = wouldn't be seen wearing

• Y

• yep/yup = yes
• you bet = of course; sure
• you can say that again = that's very true
• you said it = I agree