Language/English/Vocabulary/Funny-English-Idioms

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Exploring the Quirkiest and Most Amusing English Idioms

To truly grasp the intricacies of conversational English, getting acquainted with idioms is a must. These quirky phrases are an essential part of the English language, often adding color, nuance, and a dash of humor to everyday conversations.

Idioms are not just linguistic decorations; they serve as cultural signposts and can often reveal insights into a society's values, beliefs, and collective sense of humor. Using idioms appropriately can also make your language more vibrant and relatable, so don't shy away from incorporating them into your vocabulary.

PS: After diving into the world of funny English idioms with this lesson, consider broadening your language skills further with these related topics:

These additional lessons will not only enhance your vocabulary but also provide you with a more comprehensive understanding of the English language and its idiosyncrasies.

Hold Your Horses

Meaning: used to tell someone to stop and consider carefully their decision or opinion about something.
Example: Just hold your horses, Bill! Let’s think about this for a moment.

As Cool As a Cucumber

Meaning: very calm or very calmly, especially when this is surprising.
Example: She walked in as cool as a cucumber, as if nothing had happened.

Kick the Bucket

Meaning: a euphemistic, informal, or slang term meaning ‘to die’.
Example: Charlie finally kicked the bucket. He had cancer, you know.

Blue in the Face

Meaning: weakened or tired after trying many times.
Example: You can tell her to clean her room until you are blue in the face, but she won’t do it.

Storm in a Teacup

Meaning: a lot of unnecessary anger and worry about a matter that is not important.
Example: My brother and sister had a big argument about the television yesterday, but it was just a storm in a teacup.

Bob’s Your Uncle

Meaning: used to mean that something will happen very quickly and simply.
Example: Just tell them you’re a friend of mine and, Bob’s your uncle, you’ll get the job.

Head In The Clouds

Meaning: living in a fantasy. To be separate from reality, to dream.
Example: He’s not right for this role, he has his head in the clouds.

Dead As A Doornail

Meaning: completely dead.
Example: The fox in the road was as dead as a doornail.

A Piece Of Cake

Meaning: something very easy to do.
Example: The test was a piece of cake.

Heart In Your Mouth

Meaning: feeling nervous or scared.
Example: My heart’s in my mouth ever time it rings.

Walking On Air

Meaning: To feel very good or confident about something
Example: After completing the examination she felt like she was walking on air.

Live Hand To Mouth

Meaning: Because of economic constraints to be forced to live in a very frugal manner
Example: After he lost his job Steve was forced to live hand to mouth.

To Need Something Like You Need A Hole In The Head

Meaning: Said when one receives, experiences, and/or desires to acquire something that is utterly unwanted, unnecessary, or otherwise detrimental.
Example: Said to a woman who owns 10 cats: "You need another cat like you need a hole in the head."

Have One's Ducks In A Row

Meaning: To have things well organized; have things pertaining to a task, an event, etc., in order
Example: You had best have your ducks in a row in time for today's presentation to the Board of Trustees!

Be A Stone's Throw Away

Meaning: To be in near or very near proximity to a different place.
Example: You live in Los Angeles? Why then you're just a stone's throw away from Santa Monica!

A few screws loose

Meaning: Crazy/mentally unstable.
Example: "That fella has a few screws loose, we ought to throw him into a mental institution"

Half baked

Meaning: Poorly planned out/Stupid idea.
Example: "What a half-baked plan."

Shake a leg!

Meaning: Hurry up!

It's not Rocket Science

Meaning: It's easy.
Example: "Clean it when you're done using it! It's not rocket science!"

Hit the sack

Meaning: Go to sleep.
Example: "I'm so tired... time to hit the sack"

Stepping on eggshells

Meaning: Be overly cautious so as to not cause trouble.
Example: "You're very volatile. I'm constantly stepping on eggshells around you."

[Skating] on thin ice

Meaning: To be very close to causing trouble.
Example: "Don't try my patience! You're skating on thin ice!"

Have a cow

Meaning: Overreact/become enraged/panic.
Example: "Don't have a cow! I'm only joking."

Burning daylight

Meaning: Wasting time/Running out of time.
Example: "Shake a leg! We're burning daylight!"

Thick as a plank

Meaning: Simple minded/Stupid.
Example: "You're as thick as a plank!"

Head in the sand

Meaning: Willfully ignorant of imminent danger.
Example: "Those politicians have their heads in the sand!"

Rubbing two brain cells together

Meaning: Exerting your tiny brain to think about something simple.
Example: "He couldn't rub two brain cells together."

Connect the dots

Meaning: Come to a logical conclusion using pieces of evidence.
Example: "By connecting the dots, we found who the real murderer was."

Read between the lines

Meaning: Become aware of obscure information being implied by other pieces of information.
Example: "She said nothing was wrong, but in an moody tone. I read between the lines that she was upset with me."

Pardon my French

Meaning: Please pardon my use of crude or foul words.
Example: "Pardon my French, but we're %&!@ed"

Don't make mountains out of molehills

Meaning: Don't overreact to something minor.
Example: "It was just a joke! Don't make mountains out of molehills"

Can of worms

Meaning: A burden that you could have easily avoided.
Example: "I opened up a can of worms when I said she was fat. She was upset with me for a week!"

Cat's out of the bag

Meaning: Hidden information has been revealed.
Example: "He knows our little secret.. cat's out of the bag"

The jig is up

Meaning: A scheme has been foiled.
Example: "POLICE! The jig is up! Everybody Run!"

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Meaning: Don't use all of your assets for one thing because you might accidentally waste/lose it all.
Example: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket, save up your money!"

Bite the bullet

Meaning: To do something right now because it is inevitable.
Example: "Just bite the bullet and rip that band aid off"

Are you pulling my leg?

Meaning: are you messing with me at my expense?

Be A Monkey's Uncle

Meaning: To be very surprised by something/experience an unexpected phenomenon.
Example: "Why I'll be a monkey's uncle! That parrot knows the words to a song by The Beatles!"

Liked to die

Meaning: Be surprised by something/someone.
Example: "When she showed up at that party I liked to die -- she was the last person I expected to see."

Hell's Bells

Meaning: Not likey.
Example: "Hell's bells we're letting you stay out past 10:00pm!"

The Rabbit Done Died

Meaning: To test positive for pregnancy.
Example: "Mary told me she saw the doctor today and learned that the rabbit done died."

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Meaning: Pursuing a mistaken or misguided line of thought or course of action.
Example: If you think I stole your lunch, you’re barking up the wrong tree—I was out all day.

Spill the Beans

Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: Alright, spill the beans—who told you about the surprise party?

When Pigs Fly

Meaning: Something that will never happen.
Example: He'll clean his room when pigs fly.

Cry Over Spilt Milk

Meaning: Complaining about a loss or failure from the past.
Example: There’s no use crying over spilt milk—it’s already done.

Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Meaning: To take on a task that is way too big.
Example: I bit off more than I could chew when I agreed to complete this project in only two weeks.

Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret.
Example: I let the cat out of the bag about their surprise party.

Not My Cup of Tea

Meaning: Not something one enjoys or prefers.
Example: Skydiving is not my cup of tea.

The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Meaning: A very good invention or innovation; a good idea or plan.
Example: Smartphones are the best thing since sliced bread.

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Meaning: Being inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
Example: Don’t ask about his divorce—curiosity killed the cat!

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Meaning: Working late into the night and starting early the next day.
Example: She’s been burning the candle at both ends preparing for the meeting.

Sources

Comments on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/comments/agj9zm/what_are_the_funniest_english_idioms/

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