Phrases and Idioms - 3 | Course for UPPSC Preparation - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

If you are a person who loves to watch English movies and series, or if you have the habit of reading books and newspapers, you would have surely come across a number of idioms. There might have been situations where you felt you did not really understand what the characters were saying. Learn what idioms mean and how they are used. Once you do that, try rewatching or re-reading the parts you did not understand initially. You will surely have a good laugh.
Language learning need not always be a compulsive task. What if you can have fun with language? Would you try learning the language? Well, if your answer is yes, then the English language is one such language that lets you have a lot of fun while learning it. In this article, you will get to learn the meaning of idioms, their definition, how to use them, the most common idioms and their meanings. You can also take a look at the examples of idioms taken from movies, TV series and literature for a better understanding.

What Is an Idiom? – Meaning and Definition

An idiom is a group of words, or in other words, a phrase that has a meaning different from the literal meaning of the words in it. According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, an idiom is defined as “a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words”, and according to the Cambridge Dictionary, an idiom is defined as “a group of words in a fixed order that has a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own”.
The Collins Dictionary defines an idiom as “a group of words which have a different meaning when used together from the one they would have if you took the meaning of each word separately.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides a more elaborate definition. According to them, an idiom is “an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for “undecided”) or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way).”

Why Use Idioms in Sentences?

Idioms can be a powerful linguistic tool only when they are used in the right way in the right places. The only thing that makes learning idioms a time-consuming process is the fact that one cannot depend merely on the meaning of individual words to understand what the entire phrase means.
Idioms are not meant to be used in academic or professional writing. In a lighter context, the use of idioms can make your piece of writing or speech unique. Idioms can also be used to indicate pun or even sarcasm. Like any other components of a language, you have to be careful with the use of idioms as well. The only problem is that it would make no sense or effect to a group of people who do not know the meaning of the idiom you are using. So, always make sure you are using idioms with an audience who would be able to comprehend the meaning.

List of 100+ Common Idioms, Their Meanings and Examples of Their Usage in Sentences

To make your learning process a lot easier, here is a table with the most common idioms in the English language along with their meanings for your reference.

Examples of Idioms
Now, take a look at some of the most common and funniest examples from various movies, TV series and books.

Idiom Examples from Movies

• I could dance with you until the cows come home. – Duck Soup
• Speak of the devil – Fast and Furious
• This is the man with no name. Danger fits him like a glove. – A Fistful of Dollars
• Look at this place! It looks wonderful. All spick-and-span. – Mrs. Doubtfire
• I’ve got three items in the docket: First, we need to acknowledge the elephant in the room. – Zootopia

Idiom Examples from TV Series

• Um, well, break a leg tonight. – This is Us
• Not to burst your bubble but it’s not rocket science. – Manifest
• Oh, perhaps I am a little under the weather. – The Big Bang Theory
• The wedding is about to start when Monica gets cold feet. – F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
• Stalin. Do I know that name? That sounds familiar. Well, it does not ring a bell with me. – F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Idiom Examples from Books

• “Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I am done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five.” – Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
• Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge’s name was good upon ‘Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a doornail.” – A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• “But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at. I am not what I am.” – Othello by William Shakespeare
• “I’ve got my hands full,” I said. “I’m much obliged but I couldn’t take on any more work.” – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” – Hamlet by William Shakespeare.