90 Idioms for ESL Students PDF With Meanings and Examples
Learning English idioms can make everyday conversations easier to understand. Idioms are expressions whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the individual words. For ESL students, they can be challenging at first because translating each word separately often does not reveal the intended meaning.
This list of 90 idioms for ESL students provides simple meanings and natural example sentences. The expressions focus on common English used in everyday conversation, school, work, and social situations. Similar ESL resources commonly teach idioms through definitions and examples because context helps learners understand how an expression works in real communication.
Poem With Idioms:https://learnidioms.com/poem-with-idioms/
What Are Idioms?
An idiom is a fixed expression with a figurative meaning that cannot always be understood by translating each word literally. For example, piece of cake does not mean an actual dessert when someone says, “The test was a piece of cake.” It means the test was very easy.
Idioms appear in conversations, books, movies, classroom discussions, and workplace communication. Learning them can help ESL students understand native English speakers and communicate more naturally.
90 Idioms for ESL Students With Meanings and Examples
1. A Piece of Cake
Meaning: Something very easy to do.
Example: The homework was a piece of cake.
2. Break the Ice
Meaning: To make people feel more comfortable when they first meet.
Example: The teacher told a joke to break the ice.
3. Hit the Books
Meaning: To study seriously.
Example: I need to hit the books before my English exam.
4. Under the Weather
Meaning: Feeling slightly sick or unwell.
Example: I am feeling under the weather today.
5. Cost an Arm and a Leg
Meaning: To be very expensive.
Example: That new laptop costs an arm and a leg.
6. Once in a Blue Moon
Meaning: Very rarely.
Example: We eat at that restaurant once in a blue moon.
7. Spill the Beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: Sarah spilled the beans about the surprise party.
8. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.
Example: Tom let the cat out of the bag about the gift.
9. Bite the Bullet
Meaning: To face something difficult or unpleasant with courage.
Example: I decided to bite the bullet and take the difficult exam.
10. Break a Leg
Meaning: A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Example: Break a leg at your school play tonight!
11. Call It a Day
Meaning: To stop working for the day.
Example: We have finished the main tasks, so let’s call it a day.
12. Hang in There
Meaning: Keep going despite difficulties.
Example: Hang in there. You are getting better at English.
13. Keep an Eye On
Meaning: To watch or monitor something.
Example: Please keep an eye on my bag.
14. Get the Ball Rolling
Meaning: To start something.
Example: Let’s get the ball rolling on our group project.
15. On the Same Page
Meaning: To have the same understanding or agreement.
Example: Before we begin, let’s make sure everyone is on the same page.
16. In Hot Water
Meaning: In trouble.
Example: He is in hot water because he missed the deadline.
17. Go the Extra Mile
Meaning: To make an additional effort.
Example: Our teacher always goes the extra mile to help students.
18. Pull Someone’s Leg
Meaning: To joke with someone by pretending something is true.
Example: Relax, I was only pulling your leg.
19. Hit the Nail on the Head
Meaning: To describe something exactly or identify the main point.
Example: You hit the nail on the head when you said practice was the key.
20. Beat Around the Bush
Meaning: To avoid talking about the main subject.
Example: Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
21. Speak of the Devil
Meaning: Said when someone being discussed appears unexpectedly.
Example: Speak of the devil. We were just talking about you.
22. Better Late Than Never
Meaning: Doing something late is better than not doing it.
Example: I finally started learning English. Better late than never.
23. Practice Makes Perfect
Meaning: Repeated practice improves your ability.
Example: Keep speaking English because practice makes perfect.
24. Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Meaning: What someone does can be more meaningful than what they say.
Example: He promised to help, but actions speak louder than words.
25. Time Flies
Meaning: Time seems to pass quickly.
Example: Time flies when I am studying with my friends.
26. A Blessing in Disguise
Meaning: Something that seems bad at first but has a positive result.
Example: Missing that bus was a blessing in disguise because I met my old teacher.
27. Add Fuel to the Fire
Meaning: To make a bad situation worse.
Example: His angry comment added fuel to the fire.
28. Burn the Midnight Oil
Meaning: To work or study late at night.
Example: Maria burned the midnight oil before her final exam.
29. Learn the Ropes
Meaning: To learn how to do a new job or activity.
Example: It took me a few weeks to learn the ropes at my new job.
30. Know the Ropes
Meaning: To know how something works because of experience.
Example: Ask James for help because he knows the ropes.
31. Get Cold Feet
Meaning: To become nervous about doing something you planned to do.
Example: She got cold feet before giving her presentation.
32. Face the Music
Meaning: To accept the consequences of your actions.
Example: He made a mistake and now he has to face the music.
33. Go With the Flow
Meaning: To accept a situation instead of trying to control everything.
Example: We do not have a fixed plan, so let’s go with the flow.
34. Keep Your Chin Up
Meaning: Stay positive during a difficult time.
Example: Keep your chin up. You will have another chance.
35. See Eye to Eye
Meaning: To agree completely.
Example: My brother and I do not always see eye to eye.
36. Give It a Shot
Meaning: To try something.
Example: I have never spoken in public, but I will give it a shot.
37. Take It Easy
Meaning: Relax or avoid working too hard.
Example: You have been studying all day, so take it easy tonight.
38. Hang Out
Meaning: To spend relaxed or informal time with someone.
Example: We like to hang out at the park after class.
39. Catch Up
Meaning: To reach the same level or talk to someone after time apart.
Example: I missed two classes, so I need to catch up.
40. Show Up
Meaning: To arrive or appear.
Example: She showed up ten minutes before the meeting.
41. Find Out
Meaning: To learn or discover information.
Example: I found out that the class starts at nine.
42. Figure Out
Meaning: To understand or solve something.
Example: I finally figured out how to use the new software.
43. Run Out of
Meaning: To have no more of something.
Example: We ran out of milk this morning.
44. Give Up
Meaning: To stop trying.
Example: Do not give up when English grammar becomes difficult.
45. Work Out
Meaning: To succeed or find a solution.
Example: Everything worked out in the end.
46. Make Up Your Mind
Meaning: To make a decision.
Example: I cannot make up my mind about which course to take.
47. Change Your Mind
Meaning: To decide differently from an earlier decision.
Example: I changed my mind and decided to study tonight.
48. In a Nutshell
Meaning: In a very brief form.
Example: In a nutshell, the lesson teaches three important grammar rules.
49. By the Book
Meaning: According to the rules.
Example: Our teacher wants us to do the assignment by the book.
50. A Rule of Thumb
Meaning: A practical general guideline.
Example: As a rule of thumb, review new vocabulary several times.
51. On the Ball
Meaning: Alert, capable, and quick to understand or act.
Example: Our new classmate is really on the ball.
52. Miss the Boat
Meaning: To miss an opportunity.
Example: If you do not apply today, you may miss the boat.
53. Get Out of Hand
Meaning: To become difficult to control.
Example: The classroom became noisy and quickly got out of hand.
54. Out of the Blue
Meaning: Unexpectedly.
Example: My old friend called me out of the blue.
55. In the Long Run
Meaning: Over a long period of time.
Example: Studying vocabulary every day will help in the long run.
56. At the Drop of a Hat
Meaning: Immediately or without much planning.
Example: She is ready to travel at the drop of a hat.
57. The Last Straw
Meaning: The final problem that makes a situation unacceptable.
Example: Being late again was the last straw for her manager.
58. A Tough Nut to Crack
Meaning: A person or problem that is difficult to understand or solve.
Example: This grammar question is a tough nut to crack.
59. Go Back to the Drawing Board
Meaning: Start planning again after an unsuccessful attempt.
Example: Our first project failed, so we went back to the drawing board.
60. Put Your Thinking Cap On
Meaning: Think carefully about a problem.
Example: Put your thinking cap on and try the question again.
61. Read Between the Lines
Meaning: Look for a hidden or implied meaning.
Example: You need to read between the lines to understand the message.
62. Get the Hang of It
Meaning: Begin to understand how to do something.
Example: After a few lessons, I got the hang of speaking English.
63. Not My Cup of Tea
Meaning: Something that is not to your liking.
Example: Horror movies are not my cup of tea.
64. Have a Change of Heart
Meaning: To change your feelings or decision.
Example: She had a change of heart and decided to join the class.
65. Keep Something in Mind
Meaning: Remember or consider something.
Example: Keep the deadline in mind while working on your essay.
66. Make Ends Meet
Meaning: Have enough money to pay for basic needs.
Example: Many families work hard to make ends meet.
67. Break the Bank
Meaning: Cost more money than someone can reasonably afford.
Example: You can learn English without breaking the bank.
68. Bring Home the Bacon
Meaning: Earn money to support a household.
Example: Both parents work hard to bring home the bacon.
69. Go Dutch
Meaning: Each person pays for their own share of a meal or activity.
Example: We decided to go Dutch after dinner.
70. Pay Through the Nose
Meaning: Pay an excessively high price.
Example: We paid through the nose for tickets at the last minute.
71. Feel Blue
Meaning: Feel sad or unhappy.
Example: I felt blue after my friend moved away.
72. Green With Envy
Meaning: Very jealous.
Example: He was green with envy when he saw his friend’s new car.
73. See Red
Meaning: Become very angry.
Example: My father saw red when he heard about the broken window.
74. In High Spirits
Meaning: Very happy and cheerful.
Example: The students were in high spirits after the exam.
75. Over the Moon
Meaning: Extremely happy.
Example: She was over the moon when she passed the test.
76. On Cloud Nine
Meaning: Extremely happy.
Example: He was on cloud nine after receiving the scholarship.
77. Have Butterflies in Your Stomach
Meaning: Feel nervous or excited.
Example: I had butterflies in my stomach before my speech.
78. Blow Off Steam
Meaning: Release stress or anger through activity or conversation.
Example: I went for a walk to blow off steam.
79. Keep Your Cool
Meaning: Stay calm in a difficult situation.
Example: Try to keep your cool during the interview.
80. Lose Your Temper
Meaning: Become very angry.
Example: He lost his temper during the argument.
81. A Storm in a Teacup
Meaning: A lot of anger or worry about a small problem.
Example: Their disagreement was just a storm in a teacup.
82. The Best of Both Worlds
Meaning: A situation where you enjoy the advantages of two different options.
Example: Online classes give me the best of both worlds because I can study from home and interact with classmates.
83. Two Heads Are Better Than One
Meaning: Two people working together can solve a problem more effectively.
Example: Let’s work together because two heads are better than one.
84. Many Hands Make Light Work
Meaning: A task becomes easier when several people help.
Example: We finished cleaning quickly because many hands make light work.
85. Team Up
Meaning: Work together with another person or group.
Example: We teamed up to complete the English assignment.
86. Lend a Hand
Meaning: Help someone.
Example: Could you lend me a hand with this project?
87. Give Someone a Hand
Meaning: Help someone or applaud someone, depending on context.
Example: Can you give me a hand with these books?
88. Put Two and Two Together
Meaning: Understand something by combining different pieces of information.
Example: I put two and two together and realized why she was late.
89. It Rings a Bell
Meaning: Something seems familiar or reminds you of something.
Example: That name rings a bell, but I cannot remember where I heard it.
90. When Push Comes to Shove
Meaning: When a situation becomes serious and action is necessary.
Example: When push comes to shove, she always helps her friends.
Idioms for School and Studying
ESL students often encounter idioms while studying, especially in classroom conversations and informal American English. Expressions such as hit the books, burn the midnight oil, get the hang of it, put your thinking cap on, and piece of cake are useful because they describe common experiences with learning.
For example, a student might say, “I need to hit the books tonight because I have an exam tomorrow.” Another student might say, “The first lesson was difficult, but I am starting to get the hang of it.”
Learning idioms in context is more useful than memorizing isolated definitions. ESL teaching resources frequently use example sentences and activities to help learners connect an idiom with its practical meaning.
Idioms for Everyday Conversation
Many English idioms are informal and appear frequently in casual conversation. Hang out, take it easy, give it a shot, go with the flow, catch up, and show up are useful examples.
However, ESL students should also pay attention to formality. An idiom that sounds natural with friends may not be the best choice in a formal academic paper or business report. Learning where an expression is appropriate is just as important as learning its definition.
Idioms for Feelings and Situations
English speakers use many idioms to describe emotions and difficult situations. Someone can be under the weather, feel blue, see red, be over the moon, or have butterflies in their stomach.
These expressions allow speakers to describe feelings in a concise and familiar way. Context is important because the intended meaning comes from the expression as a whole rather than the literal meaning of each word.
How to Learn English Idioms Effectively
Start with a small group of idioms rather than trying to memorize all 90 at once. Five to ten expressions at a time is easier to review and practice.
Write each idiom with its meaning and an original sentence. Then say the sentence aloud. Speaking the expression helps you become familiar with its rhythm and natural use.
It is also helpful to organize idioms by topic. For example, study hit the books, burn the midnight oil, and get the hang of it together because they relate naturally to studying and learning.
Finally, pay attention when you hear idioms in real conversations, videos, books, and other English materials. When you notice an expression, identify the situation and ask what the speaker actually means. This approach helps connect the idiom with its practical use.
Can ESL Students Use Idioms in Formal English?
Yes, but not every idiom belongs in every formal situation. Common expressions can sound natural in conversation, personal writing, interviews, and informal workplace communication. Academic and highly formal writing generally benefits from precise, direct language unless an idiom is appropriate for the context.
The goal is not to use an idiom in every sentence. The goal is to understand common expressions and know when they sound natural.
Are These Idioms American English?
Many of the idioms in this list are widely understood in American English and are also familiar to English speakers in other varieties of English. Some expressions can have different levels of popularity depending on region, age, and context.
For ESL students in the United States, it is useful to focus first on expressions that commonly occur in everyday American conversations, classroom settings, media, and informal communication.
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Conclusion
These 90 idioms for ESL students provide a practical starting point for learning figurative English. Each expression has a meaning that may differ from its literal words, so examples and context are important.
Do not try to memorize all 90 expressions in one sitting. Study a few at a time, write your own examples, listen for them in real English, and practice using the expressions in appropriate situations. With regular exposure, familiar idioms become easier to recognize and understand.
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