40 Idioms Used In Conversational English

Idioms are expressions or phrases that have a figurative meaning different from their literal meaning. They are commonly used in conversational English (everyday language) and add colour and depth to our conversations. Idioms can be a challenge for non-native speakers to understand because the meaning is not always clear based on the individual words used.

Learning idioms can be fun and can help you become more fluent in a language. They often reflect the cultural values and experiences of a community, and using them appropriately can help you sound more natural and native-like in your conversations. Moreover, idioms can vary across different cultures and languages, so it's important to familiarise yourself with the idioms commonly used in a particular language or region to better understand and communicate with native speakers. 

Let’s look at some commonly used idioms in conversational English and their meanings.

1. "Break a leg" - Good luck
2. "Bite the bullet" - Face a difficult situation courageously
3. "Cut to the chase" - Get to the point
4. "Hit the nail on the head" - Be exactly right
5. "Cost an arm and a leg" - Be very expensive
6. "Piece of cake" - Something that is easy to do
7. "A dime a dozen" - Very common or easy to find
8. "Spill the beans" - Reveal a secret
9. "Let the cat out of the bag" - Reveal a secret
10. "On the same page" - In agreement or understanding
11. "Beat around the bush" - Avoid getting to the point
12. "Actions speak louder than words" - What someone does is more important than what they say
13. "Give someone the cold shoulder" - Ignore or be unfriendly to someone
14. "Kick the bucket" - Die
15. "A taste of your own medicine" - Experience what you have done to others
16. "Break the ice" - Make a conversation or situation less awkward
17. "To kill two birds with one stone" - Accomplish two things at once
18. "The ball is in your court" - It is your turn to take action or make a decision
19. "Keep your eyes peeled" - Be watchful or alert
20. "The early bird catches the worm" - Being early or prompt gives you an advantage
21. "Beat a dead horse" - Waste time on a futile effort
22. "Let sleeping dogs lie" - Avoid stirring up trouble
23. "Fit as a fiddle" - In good health
24. "All ears" - Paying full attention
25. "In a nutshell" - Summing up something briefly
26. "The apple of my eye" - Someone or something cherished
27. "Caught red-handed" - Caught in the act of doing something wrong
28. "The straw that broke the camel's back" - The final event that causes a situation to become unbearable
29. "Out of the blue" - Unexpectedly or without warning
30. "Turn a blind eye" - Choose to ignore something
31. "Go the extra mile" - Put in extra effort or go beyond what is expected
32. "Raining cats and dogs" - Raining heavily
33. "A penny for your thoughts" - Asking someone to share their thoughts or opinions
34. "The pot calling the kettle black" - Hypocritical behaviour
35. "Like a fish out of water" - Feeling uncomfortable or out of place in a situation
36. "Every cloud has a silver lining" - There is something positive in every negative situation
37. "Pull someone's leg" - Playfully tease or joke with someone
38. "Put all your eggs in one basket" - Relying on a single plan or option
39. "A blessing in disguise" - Something that initially seems bad but turns out to be good

40. "Keep your fingers crossed" - Hoping for a positive outcome