This is a list of idioms in the English language

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

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An idiom is a word or phrase, common in everyday conversation and understood within the culture, having a meaning completely different than the meaning of it's words. In the example "Kick the Bucket" the listener understands the meaning is "to die" which is completely different than actually kicking a bucket. An idiom is not be confused with other Figures of speech

Figures of Speech

Figures of Speech is a hip hop group consisting of MCs Eve and Jyant. They performed at the Good Life Cafe in the early 1990s and were featured on the Project Blowed compilation....

 such as a Metaphor

Metaphor

A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...

 - like "the man of steel" which invokes an image, or a Simile

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by employing the words "like", "as". Even though both similes and metaphors are forms of comparison, similes indirectly compare the two ideas and allow them to remain distinct in spite of their similarities, whereas...

 - like "Faster than a speeding bullet" which compares two things, or Hyperbole

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally....

 - like "missed by a mile" which creates a strong impression but is not meant to be taken literally.

A

• A bitter pill [to swallow] – A situation or information that is difficult to accept.
• Ace – To perform to a state of perfection.
• [A] piece of cake – An action that is considered very easy to accomplish.
• A sore spot – A topic which is painful or uncomfortable.
• Any port in a storm – This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.
• [As] easy as pie – An action that is considered very easy to accomplish.
• [As] fit as a fiddle – In good physical health.
• [As] right as rain – In good (often physical health).
• [As] nutty as a fruitcake – Insane, strange, different, weird, crazy.
• Apple doesn't fall far from the tree [, The] – For a child to be similar to his/her parent(s).
• Ants in the pants – Indicates restlessness.

B

• Be a basket case – To be crazy, jittery, or nervous.
• Beating around the bush – To hint or discuss obliquely.
• Beat one's brains out – To expend undue effort, often for an unlikely success.
• [Be] off one's rocker – To be crazy.
• Be off one's trolley – To be crazy.
• Bent out of shape [, Don't get all] – To be crazy, jittery, or nervous, esp. for little reason.
• Bend over backwards – Make a great effort.
• Bite it – A crude rejection of another's point.
• Bite me – A crude rejection of another's point.
• Bite off more than you can chew – To expend undue effort, often for an unlikely success.
• Bite the dust – To die.
• Bite the bullet – Undertake or accept a very difficult experience or task.
• Bite this – A crude rejection of another's point.
• Blow up in your face – To have something fail, often in spectacular fashion.
• Break a leg – An ironic
  Irony
  Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
  
   synonym for "good luck" or "do your best," typically with regard to an artistic performance.
• Bug – To irritate, pester or bother.
• Burning the midnight oil – Working very late.
• Busting your chops – To tease someone or to give them a hard time about something, often in a joking manner.
• By the skin of his/her teeth – To narrowly avoid.

C

• Call it a day – To declare the end of a task.
• Caught his/her eye – To become aware of.
• Cat among the pigeons -- Predator.
• [A] cinch – Easy.
• Cloud Nine -- Heavenly.
• [The] cold shoulder – To pay no attention to or to disrespect.
• Come hell or high water – In spite of whatever happens.
• Cut it out! – A command to stop.

D

• Damned if you do, damned if you don't -- No win situation. No matter what you do there is a bad consequence.
• Don't count your chickens before they hatch – A warning not to be overly optimistic.
• Don't hold your breath – A warning not to expect a certain result. Certainly not quickly.
• Down in the doldrums – To be depressed, sad or lacking energy.
• Dig your own grave -- Do our say something that gets you in trouble.
• Drag your feet – To delay.

E

• Elevator doesn't reach the top floor -- Said of someone lacking intelligence.

• Every dog has his day -- Everyone succeeds sometimes.

• Every rose has its thorns -- Every great situation has it's down points. An admonition not to complain when things are good.

• Even a blind hog occasionally finds an acorn -- Everyone succeeds sometimes.

• Even a broken clock is right twice a day -- Everyone succeeds sometimes.

• Early bird gets the worm -- Admonition to rise early to succeed.

F

• Fall off one's perch – to be humbled or shamed.
• Fall off the wagon – a slip in sobriety and return to alcoholism.
• Feel under the weather -- Feel sick or poorly
• Feel off-color -- Feel sick or poorly.
• Fell off the back of a truck -- Indicates stolen goods.
• Flying high -- Things are going great.

G

• Get off one's high horse -- Admonition not to be arrogant or display moral superiority over others.
• Give someone a taste/dose of their own medicine -- To return a disfavour to another.
• Give someone the runaround – To be unhelpful by creating excuses, shifting blame or sending them on a fruitless task.
• Give up the ghost -- To die, or finally reveal something (as a secret).
• God's blood
• Got him by the short hairs – To have another at a disadvantage.

H

• Hanged for a sheep as a lamb -- Thrown in too early.
• Have itchy feet -- Want to move location or employment or change relationship.
• Have cold feet – To have fear or anxiety.
• Hold your horses -- Stop or slow down.
• Horse of a different color – Special, different; a different situation.
• Hang a loose -- Chill, or relax.
• Hit it out of the park – A big accomplishment or success.

I

• [It's] no use crying over spilt milk -- What's done is done. Don't dwell on failures.
• [It's] up and at 'em -- Get going.
• It is what it is -- Admonition not to over analyse a situation but to just accept it for what it is.
• It isn't over until the fat lady sings -- There is more yet to happen.
• If you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- Admonition to stop being different and start doing what works instead.

J

• Jump all over someone -- Verbally harrass someone.
• Jump the gun – To start too soon.

K

• Kettle of fish -- Type of thing. Situation.
• Kill joy -- Someone who prevents others having fun.
• Kick the bucket – To die.
• Kick the can -- To die.
• Knock your block off -- To physically fight with someone.

L

• Lay one's cards on the table – To reveal previously unknown intentions, or to reveal a secret.
• Leave no stone unturned -- To try all possibilities
• Lick one's wounds – To sulk after being defeated.
• Like a maggot in a meat barrel -- An unwanted thing in the midst of otherwise pristine surroundings.

M

• Make a mountain out of a mole hill – To consider overly important.
• [Can't] make heads or tails of – Not able to understand.
• More than one way to skin a cat -- Admonition to look beyond the obvious solution to a problem.

N

• No room to swing a cat -- A small space.
• No room at the inn -- All spaces, seats, positions are taken.
• Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier – Lacking in intelligence.
• Not the sharpest tool in the shed – Lacking in intelligence.
• Never say die -- Admonition not to give up.
• Never say never -- Admonition not to give up.
• No guts, no glory – If you don't risk anything you will never accomplish much. AKA
  Aka
  A.K.A., AKA, a.k.a., aka, or a/k/a may refer to:*"Also known as", used to introduce pseudonyms, aliases, nicknames, working names, legalized names, pen names, maiden names, etc.-Media:*AKA , a 2002 film...
  
  No risk, no reward

O

• On the road to recovery -- On the way to being healthy again. Healing has commenced.
• On the fence -- Undecided.
• On the ball -- Organised and progressing matters well.
• Over the hill -- Older than middle aged.
• On pins and needles -- In a state of extreme anticipation.
• Over the moon -- Exceedingly happy.
• One bad apple spoils the whole bunch – A single disruptive or ill-behaving person has a negative influence on all the others around them, typically inciting them to or leading them in some bad behavior.

P

• Pop one's clogs – To die.
• Pot calling the kettle black, The -- Acting superior to another, when the reality is you're both the same.
• Pretty Boy Nothin' upstairs -- Handsome but dim.
• Pulling your leg – Making a joke at your expense.
• Put one's foot in one's mouth – To say something embarrassing.
• Pushing up daisies – The state of being dead.

R

• Recharge one's batteries -- Recuperate. Do something to energize yourself after tiring expereince.
• Right as rain -- Good. Trusted.
• Rock your socks off -- Awe you.

S

• Smoke and mirrors Not the real deal. An illusion.
• Spill the beans – To reveal secret or private information.
• Stem the tide Stop or slow an large number of things. Trying to stop something unpleasant from getting worse
• Straighten up and fly right Admonition to change life for better.
• Sugar the pill Make a negative thing less so.
• Sweep you off your feet Impress someone often to romatically impress someone.
• Swing for the fence – To make an extreme effort to get something done in one stroke or attempt.

T

• The lights are on, but nobody's home -- Indicates someone lacks intelligence
• Tighter than a [animal]'s ass in fly time -- Tight.
• Time is money -- Admonition to speed up in work or indication that conversation is ending.
• Tip of the iceberg -- Indication that what we see / know in this case is very little.
• Takes the biscuit -- A surpurlative event. Unusual occassion.

U

• Under the weather Feel sick or poorly
• Until the cows come home A long time. Until late.

V

• Vent your spleen Explain your anger or strong emotion (usually negative emotion)
• Vertically challenged short
• Vicious circle A serries of events which each triggers the other with increasngly negative results.
• [A] voice in the wilderness Solitary voice(s) expounding a truth. Different opinion than most people.
• Vote with your feet To leave a situation as you do not agree with it.

W

• Walking on egg shells -- To feel that anything you say or do will upset someone.
• Walking on thin ice -- To be in a dangerous situation.
• Wolf in sheep's clothing – A person who appears good, but is actually evil.
• When in Rome...[do as the Romans do] – To follow the local customs or pattern of behavior; don't stand out or be different.

Y

• Yanking your chain – To tease someone playfully.
• You've got to be kidding! – To express disbelief.