An important part of learning a language is being able to communicate with native speakers.
In English there are a lot of idioms that native speakers use when talking to one another. An idiom is a phrase with a particular meaning, often taking the form of an analogy or metaphor.
Here are a few you can use when you are speaking in English.
Pitch in
Meaning: to contribute.
“Would you please pitch in to dad’s birthday present?”
Face the music
Meaning: to accept a punishment or bad consequence.
“My mother is angry with me. It is time to go home and face the music.”
Blow off steam
Meaning: to get rid of stress or negative feelings.
“I am going to a party tonight to blow off steam.”
My cup of tea
Meaning: something that is a personal preference.
“I love your dress. It is exactly my cup of tea.”
Go with the flow
Meaning: to agree with what is happening and to copy what others are doing.
“I do not have a preference of where we go for dinner. I will go with the flow.”
Piece of cake
Meaning: something is easy.
“My science homework was a piece of cake!”
Up in the air
Meaning: things are inconclusive or unfinished.
“Our group project is not yet done. It is totally up in the air.”
Cool as a cucumber
Meaning: to be relaxed or calm.
“I am not nervous for the exam. I am as cool as a cucumber.”
Stab in the back
Meaning: to betray someone.
“He stabbed me in the back!”
Sit tight
Meaning: to wait patiently.
“There is no rush. You should sit tight.”
Hit the sack
Meaning: to go to bed.
“I am tired so I am going to hit the sack.”
Smart cookie
Meaning: someone who is clever.
“You have scored highly in the test. You must be a smart cookie.”
On the ball
Meaning: to be ready for something or to be ahead of something.
“I have completed all of my chores already. I am on the ball this morning!”
Break the bank
Meaning: something is very expensive.
“I cannot buy this car because it will break the bank.”
Run a mile
Meaning: To be scared or displeased by something and want to leave.
"Every time I was around him I wanted to run a mile."
Get over
Meaning: to recover from something.
"It was sad but think I have now gotten over the death of my goldfish."
Learn English from native English speakers with a General English course.