20 English Expressions and What They Really Mean
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Nobody is actually breaking ice or growing cold feet — yet native speakers use these phrases every day. Here are 20 of the most common English expressions, with plain-English explanations of what each one really means and when to use it.
20 English Expressions and What They Really Mean
English is full of phrases that make no literal sense at all. Nobody is actually breaking ice or growing cold feet, yet native speakers reach for these expressions every single day. That gap between the words and the meaning is exactly what makes idioms so tricky — and so satisfying once they finally click.
Here are 20 of the most common English expressions, with plain-English explanations of what each one really means and when you would actually use it. Learn a handful of these and your English will start to sound a lot more natural.
Expressions about feelings and people
1. Break the ice (idiom) — To ease the tension when you first meet people or start a conversation, often with a light joke or question.
2. Cold feet (idiom) — A sudden loss of nerve or a wave of doubt right before you commit to something big.
3. Eager beaver (idiom) — Someone bursting with enthusiasm and always keen to get to work — sometimes a little too keen.
4. Wet blanket (idiom) — A person who drains the fun out of a situation for everyone around them.
5. In seventh heaven (idiom) — A state of pure, overwhelming happiness — about as good as you can possibly feel.
6. Play it by ear (idiom) — To improvise and decide what to do as the situation unfolds, rather than following a fixed plan.
7. Hear it through the grapevine (idiom) — To learn news informally, passed along from one person to another rather than from an official source.
Expressions about work and getting things done
8. Keep your nose to the grindstone (idiom) — To knuckle down and work hard, steadily, without letting yourself get distracted.
9. Get the ball rolling (idiom) — To start something and build up momentum so it keeps moving.
10. Down to the wire (idiom) — Right up to the very last moment, with the outcome uncertain until the end.
11. Leave no stone unturned (idiom) — To try or search absolutely everything in pursuit of a result.
12. Move mountains (idiom) — To achieve something that seems impossible through sheer effort or will.
13. Cut the mustard (idiom) — To meet the expected standard or perform well enough for the job.
14. Drop the ball (idiom) — To make a careless mistake or fail to handle a responsibility you were trusted with.
Expressions about truth, conflict, and everyday life
15. Beat around the bush (idiom) — To avoid getting to the point and talk around a subject instead of addressing it directly.
16. Read between the lines (idiom) — To understand the real meaning hidden beneath what is actually being said.
17. Turn a blind eye (idiom) — To deliberately ignore something you know is wrong or unpleasant.
18. Pull the wool over someone's eyes (idiom) — To deceive or trick someone into believing something that isn't true.
19. Water under the bridge (idiom) — A past problem or disagreement that no longer matters and is best left behind.
20. Let sleeping dogs lie (idiom) — To leave an old conflict alone rather than stirring it up again.
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