Idioms are very useful when speaking English. Idioms help you express yourself in new ways, they add emotion to your speech, and they help English speakers connect with you on a deeper level. Many English speakers hear these idioms from their parents and teachers while growing up, so they are very familiar with these idioms and connect emotionally to them.
Are you ready to level up your English and use English like a first language speaker? We hope so! Let’s learn 10 new English idioms that you can use in your daily life…
Let’s begin learning some useful idioms!
| On cloud nine | I am very happy |
| Once bitten, twice shy | You’re more cautious about doing or saying something when you’ve been hurt before |
| Out of the frying pan and into the fire | Things are going from bad to worse |
| Run like the wind | To run quickly; also used in the past tense, e.g. “I ran like the wind!” |
| Shape up or ship out | You need to improve your performance, or you will be asked to leave the group/business |
| Snowed under | To have many tasks to do |
| That ship has sailed | The opportunity is lost |
| The pot calling the kettle black | When a guilty person is accusing someone else of the same crime, e.g. a known liar accusing another person of being a liar |
| There are clouds on the horizon | Used when you expect a problem to be coming soon |
| Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones | People who are unethical should not be accusing or outing other unethical people; you are vulnerable to the same accusations! |
There you have it! Time to put your idioms to use and impress your friends, teachers or colleagues!
If you already know these phrases and would like some more help, we recommend looking through other phrases articles, mixing-and-matching phrases, and working together with private tutors.
[Need some extra help with this or want to practise your new idioms with a teacher? Check out a service called EnglishScore Tutors, British Council’s online English tutoring service. We highly recommend them for quality and comfort. Sign up today using our link and get your first session for $1]
