Do you know what English idioms are all about? Don’t worry. I’m going to tell you and explain each and everything for you which will leave no any doubt in your mind ever from now about English idioms and you will have no fear of using it as many times as you want while speaking and writing the English language. Idioms are basically those groups of words that are in a fixed order with a particular meaning different from the meaning of individual words in the given groups.
For example, the expression “raining cats and dogs” doesn’t mean that cats and dogs are raining, but it simply means “raining heavily. If I say it’s raining cats and dogs, it means that it’s raining heavily. This is called the idiomatic way of saying “raining heavily.” Learning idioms is not a difficult task, but it’s just about more practice and careful usage of the expressions to make them perfect, especially while speaking if you want to become a great communicator of the English language.
Let’s know 10 English idioms and their usages in example sentences to have an even deeper comprehension of English idioms.
1. Break even: To neither gain nor lose money.
For example: In business, there is very less chance to break even because we either gain or lose money.
2. Go Dutch: To pay for one’s own food and bills
For example: Ramesh and Suresh went Dutch after eating at a restaurant because Ramesh paid for his coffee and Suresh paid for his tea.
3. Go a bundle on: To be extremely fond of (used mostly in negative)
For example: I don’t usually go a bundle on books of fiction.
4. Out of the woods: Out of danger
For example: His health condition was very bad, but now he is out of the woods after the surgery.
5. Bend over backwards: To make a great effort
For example: They bent over backwards to score 90% in the exams.
6. Make no bones about: To say, or do something clearly and openly, even if it may be unpleasant for others
For example: They made no bones about criticizing the government because of its inability to give employment to the citizens.
7. On cloud nine: Very happy
For example: All the students were on cloud nine after receiving graduation degree from their university.
8. Stick to one’s guns: To maintain one’s opinion or position even after opposition
For example: His parents didn’t want him to be a dancer, but he stuck to his guns.
9. Hit the ground running: To begin an activity instantaneously and with great commitment.
For example: All the companies want to hire those types of candidates who hit the ground running.
10. Hit the books: To study
For example: It’s exam time, so all the students must hit the books.
Also Read – Phrasal Verbs With Meaning And Examples
I’m Mohammad Zahid Hussain, a Content Writer, Spoken English, IELTS and PTE Trainer. I’m also a Professional English-Hindi and Hindi-English Translator, Editor and Proofreader. I’m a graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia University, and I’m here to share my articles on a wide range of topics to help you enhance your insights into various things to provide you with factual information and creative analysis.