20 English idioms, which everyone should know

Often, in the English language can be heard phrases or expressions, confusing any foreigner for whom English is not their native language. This - the idiom or idioms that are for English-speaking people are an integral part of daily communication. And if you decide to pull up your knowledge of English, pay attention to the 20 idioms which occur in English speech often. Some of them are forced to smile.

20 common idioms

A Chip on Your Shoulder

No, this does not mean that your shoulders fell a fragment of something. «To have a chip on one's shoulder» is resentment over past failures, like going through the destroyed building, a piece of him was with a man for years to come.

Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

This idiom means something akin to when you bite off a huge chunk of the sandwich and as a result can not move the jaws to chew on it. That is, you take on more than you can cope with anything successfully. For example, you agree to create 10 sites per week, whereas normally you can only do 5.

You Can not Take It With You

The meaning of this idiom is that you can not take with him anything when you die, so do not deny yourself constantly throughout, hoarding moneyOr take care of things for a special occasion. You Can not Take It With You encourages living now, because eventually your items you will survive.

Everything But the Kitchen Sink

This expression means that almost everything was packed / taken / stolen. For example, if someone says, "The thieves stole everything but the kitchen sink!", This means that thieves stole everything they could carry with them. In fact, it is very difficult to pick up and carry away the shell.

Over My Dead Body

This phrase most of us realize. Idiom, which has the same meaning as the Russian expression "Over my dead body."

Tie the Knot

Meaning - married. The phrase has remained the tradition of tying the hands of the newlyweds ribbon that their lives have been stitched together for many years.

Do not Judge a Book By Its Cover

Literally, this phrase can be translated as "do not judge a book by its cover." It is used in cases when they want to explain that things are not always as they seem at first glance, and even if the first impression was not positive, sometimes it should be given another chance.

When Pigs Fly

Akin to our phrase "when the cancer at Mount whistle", but with a different character. Idiom meaning "never."

A Leopard Can not Change His Spots

The meaning of the phrase: "you is what it is." A person can not change what he is really in my heart, so as the leopard can not change the pattern on the skin.

Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve

That is, to express their emotions freely, so as if your heart is outside the body.

Bite Your Tongue!

Another great phrase - "Bite your tongue" (mild expression). It used when a person is recommended calm down. It goes with the following idiom.

Put a Sock In It

This expression is more dramatic - means "shut up." The message is clear - if you stick yourself a sock in his mouth, people will not be able to speak. Probably, it is used when the previous idiom did not work.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

The idea is that if a few dogs after a fight peacefully sleep, better to leave them alone. The idea - do not stir up old controversies / controversial subjects, since they can deploy a quarrel again.

Foam at the Mouth

Describes the state when a man hissing and growling, foaming at the mouth like a mad dog. Our analogue - "to be in a rage."

A Slap on the Wrist

It means very lenient punishment. A slap on the wrist will not cause a lot of pain, but it will be a good deterrent to behave correctly again.

You Are What You Eat

Idiom, the literal translation of which is firmly entrenched in our language. "You are what you eat".

It's a Piece of Cake!

Means that it is incredibly easy. What could be easier than to eat a piece of cake?

It Takes Two to Tango

The idea is that one person can not dance tango. So, if something happened in the case, which takes 2 people involved and responsible for the results of the two.

Head Over Heels

Idiom means "to be incredibly happy and in the mood to swipe, especially in love (close value -"fall in love on the ears "). How to go down the hill on wheels, flying upside down.

An Arm and a Leg

Great phrase, which means too high a price for anything. When the price is so high that you have to sell part of his body to afford it.

Do you love idioms?

Personally, I love idioms, because with them it is possible to "dig" in the language and to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the people who came up with these strange expressions. I often draw a picture in my head of what it means this or that idiom, and next - a literal translation of the picture. Also often results raise the mood, this method also helps to visually memorize new words and then use them in speech.

There is something to be supplemented? Send us your favorite (or not) in the comments idioms.