20 Common Idiomatic Expressions & Their Meanings1. She was tickled pink b the good news.made !er happ2. "o# were hands down the best plaer on the team.There was no competition$. I%!e been &eeling prett down in the d#mps latel.Sad or depressed'. I%m &eeling sick as a dog()er sick*. I%!e been &eeling #nder the weather.+ot well,. -ise and shine(.ake #p and be happ(/. Close0 b#t no cigar."o# were !er close0 b#t o# did not make it.1. I co#ld pla o#tside till the cows come home.2or a !er long time3. .ow( It%s raining cats and dogs o#t there()er hard rain10. That so#nd is dri!ing me #p the wall(Making me !er annoed11. This assignment is a piece o& cake.)er eas12. 4ltho#gh he broke the r#les0 he was onl gi!en a slap on the wrist.4 mild p#nishment1$. "ikes( This shirt costs an arm and a leg.It is extremel expensi!e.1'. +o0 I was 5#st p#lling o#r leg.6#st 5oking1*. It%s 7reek to me(I don%t #nderstand.1,. 8eep o#r chin #p.9e happ.1/. :old o#r horses.9e patient.11. .e%re all in the same boat.4ll o& #s are in the same position.13. :e%s a bit o& a loose cannon.;npredictable20. I will clean m room when pigs which man people are talking abo#t and which is #s#all disp#ted4 penn &or o#r tho#ghts4 wa o& asking what someone is thinking4ctions speak lo#der than words?eople%s intentions can be 5#dged better b what the do than what the sa.4dd ins#lt to in5#rTo rther a loss with mocker or indignit@ to worsen an #n&a!orable sit#ation.4n arm and a leg)er expensi!e or costl.4 large amo#nt o& mone.4t the drop o& a hatMeaningA witho#t an hesitation@ instantl.9ack to the drawing board.hen an attempt &ails and it%s time to start all o!er.9all is in o#r co#rtIt is #p to o# to make the next decision or step9arking #p the wrong treeBooking in the wrong place. 4cc#sing the wrong person9e glad to see the back o&9e happ when a person lea!es.9eat aro#nd the b#sh4!oiding the main topic. +ot speaking directl abo#t the iss#e.9est o& both worldsMeaningA 4ll the ad!antages.9est thing since sliced bread4 good in!ention or inno!ation.4 good idea or plan.9ite oC more than o# can chewTo take on a task that is wa to big.9lessing in disg#iseSomething good that isn%t recogniDed at Erst.9#rn the midnight oilTo work late into the night0 all#ding to the time be&ore electric lighting.Can%t 5#dge a book b its co!erCannot 5#dge something primaril on appearance.Ca#ght between two stools.hen someone Ends it diFc#lt to choose between two alternati!es.Costs an arm and a legThis idiom is #sed when something is !er expensi!e.Cross that bridge when o# come to itGeal with a problem i& and when it becomes necessar0 not be&ore.Cr o!er spilt milk.hen o# complain abo#t a loss &rom the past.C#riosit killed the cat9eing InH#isiti!e can lead o# into an #npleasant sit#ation.C#t corners.hen something is done badl to sa!e mone.C#t the m#stard Ipossibl deri!ed &rom Jc#t the m#sterJKTo s#cceed@ to come #p to expectations@ adeH#ate eno#gh to compete or participateGe!il%s 4d!ocateTo present a co#nter arg#mentGon%t co#nt o#r chickens be&ore the eggs ha!e hatchedThis idiom is #sed to express JGon%t make plans &or something that might not happenJ.Gon%t gi!e #p the da 5ob"o# are not !er good at something. "o# co#ld deEnitel not do it pro&essionall.Gon%t p#t all o#r eggs in one basketGo not p#t all o#r reso#rces in one possibilit.Grastic times call &or drastic meas#res.hen o# are extremel desperate o# need to take drastic actions.El!is has le&t the b#ildingThe show has come to an end. It%s all o!er.E!er clo#d has a sil!er lining9e optimistic0 e!en diFc#lt times will lead to better das.2ar cr &rom)er diCerent &rom.2eel a bit #nder the weatherMeaningA 2eeling slightl ill.7i!e the beneEt o& the do#bt9elie!e someone%s statement0 witho#t proo&.:ear it on the grape!ineThis idiom means %to hear r#mors% abo#t something or someone.:it the nail on the headGo or sa something exactl right:it the sack L sheets L haTo go to bed.In the heat o& the momentM!erwhelmed b what is happening in the moment.It takes two to tango4ctions or comm#nications need more than one person6#mp on the bandwagon6oin a pop#lar trend or acti!it.8eep something at ba8eep something awa.8ill two birds with one stoneThis idiom means0 to accomplish two diCerent things at the same time.Bast strawThe Enal problem in a series o& problems.Bet sleeping dogs lieMeaning N do not dist#rb a sit#ation as it is N since it wo#ld res#lt in tro#ble or complications.Bet the cat o#t o& the bagTo share in&ormation that was pre!io#sl concealedMake a long stor shortCome to the point N lea!e o#t detailsMethod to m madness4n assertion that0 despite one%s approach seeming random0 there act#all is str#ct#re to it.Miss the boatThis idiom is #sed to sa that someone missed his or her chance+ot a spark o& decencMeaningA +o manners+ot plaing with a ll deckSomeone who lacks intelligence.MC one%s rockerCraD0 demented0 o#t o& one%s mind0 in a consed or beddled state o& mind0 senile.Mn the ball.hen someone #nderstands the sit#ation well.Mnce in a bl#e moonMeaningA :appens !er rarel.?ict#re paints a tho#sand words4 !is#al presentation is &ar more descripti!e than words.?iece o& cake4 5ob0 task or other acti!it that is eas or simple.?#t wool o!er other people%s eesThis means to decei!e someone into thinking well o& them.See ee to eeThis idiom is #sed to sa that two =or more people> agree on something.Sit on the &enceThis is #sed when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.Speak o& the de!il(This expression is #sed when the person o# ha!e 5#st been talking abo#t arri!es.Steal someone%s th#nderTo take the credit &or something someone else did.Take with a grain o& saltThis means not to take what someone sas too serio#sl.Taste o& o#r own medicineMeans that something happens to o#0 or is done to o#0 that o# ha!e done to someone elseTo hear something straight &rom the horse%s mo#thTo hear something &rom the a#thoritati!e so#rce..hole nine ardsE!erthing.4ll o& it..o#ldn%t be ca#ght dead.o#ld ne!er like to do something"o#r g#ess is as good as mineTo ha!e no idea0 do not know the answer to a H#estion