60 Most Common Idioms for ESL Students

Have your students ever been confused by phrases like “spill the beans” or “hit the nail on the head”? Common idioms are a key part of vocabulary teaching, but they often leave learners scratching their heads.

Students often get puzzled by English expressions. But if you teach these common idioms in fun and engaging ways, they’ll feel more confident in daily conversations.

In this post, we’ll explore 60 common idioms that fit perfectly into vocabulary activities for ESL students. Whether you’re teaching basic vocabulary or helping students expand their knowledge, these idioms will make learning exciting and memorable.

What is an Idiom?

An idiom is a phrase or group of words that has a meaning different from the individual words. It’s like a special expression used to explain an idea in a fun or creative way. Idioms are often used in daily conversations to make language more colorful and interesting.

For example:

• The idiom “a piece of cake” means something very easy, not an actual cake!
• “Break the ice” means to make people feel comfortable, not breaking real ice.

Idioms can’t always be understood by looking at the words alone. You have to learn their meaning and how they are used. They are common in English and help you sound more natural when speaking.

Why Do ESL Students Need to Learn Idioms

Learning idioms is important for ESL students because idioms are a big part of everyday English. Native speakers use them often, and understanding idioms helps students:

1. Understand Natural Conversations

Idioms are common in casual speech, movies, and even books. Without knowing them, students might struggle to follow what others are saying. For example, phrases like “spill the beans” or “hit the nail on the head” are regularly used and can confuse students if they don’t know the meanings.

2. Sound More Fluent

Using idioms in the right way makes ESL learners sound more natural and confident. It shows they understand not just the grammar and vocabulary but also the nuances of the language.

3. Learn About Culture

Idioms often reflect the culture and values of English-speaking countries. For example, “don’t cry over spilled milk” reflects a cultural attitude of moving on from small mistakes. Learning idioms helps students connect with the cultural context behind the language.

4. Improve Listening and Reading Skills

Idioms are everywhere—in songs, TV shows, podcasts, newspapers, and books. Knowing idioms helps students understand these materials better and enjoy them more.

5. Build Confidence

When students learn and use idioms correctly, it boosts their confidence. They feel like they are mastering a more advanced and fun part of the language.

By learning idioms, ESL students become better equipped to handle real-world conversations and express themselves creatively, making their communication more effective and enjoyable.

Most Common Idioms for ESL Students

Teaching idioms to your students can be fun and exciting. When you begin, focus on simple idioms that are easy to visualize and understand.

Below are the 60 most common idioms, their meanings, and examples to use in your lessons.

1. Piece of cake
Meaning: Something that is very easy to do.
Example: “This homework is a piece of cake. I finished it in 10 minutes!”

2. Break the ice
Meaning: To start a conversation in a friendly way, especially with someone new.
Example: “We played a game to break the ice at the beginning of the class.”

3. Hit the books
Meaning: To study hard.
Example: “I have a test tomorrow, so I need to hit the books tonight.”

4. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell.
Example: “She’s not coming to class today because she’s feeling under the weather.”

5. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret by accident.
Example: “We were planning a surprise party, but John let the cat out of the bag.”

6. Give someone a hand
Meaning: To help someone.
Example: “Can you give me a hand with these heavy bags?”

7. Spill the beans
Meaning: To tell a secret.
Example: “Don’t spill the beans about the surprise gift!”

8. On cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy.
Example: “She was on cloud nine when she got the job.”

9. Cold feet
Meaning: Feeling nervous about doing something.
Example: “He got cold feet before his big speech.”

10. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to make a decision or take action.
Example: “I’ve done my part. Now the ball is in your court.”

11. Cut corners
Meaning: To do something quickly and cheaply, often by skipping steps.
Example: “Don’t cut corners when you’re writing an essay. Take your time to do it well.”

12. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble or a difficult situation.
Example: “He’s in hot water because he forgot his boss’s birthday.”

13. Keep an eye on
Meaning: To watch or take care of something.
Example: “Can you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom?”

14. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Example: “She burned the midnight oil to finish her project on time.”

15. Over the moon
Meaning: Extremely happy or excited.
Example: “He was over the moon when he passed his driving test.”

16. It’s raining cats and dogs
Meaning: It’s raining very heavily.
Example: “We can’t go outside right now. It’s raining cats and dogs!”

17. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely.
Example: “I only go to the movies once in a blue moon.”

18. Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait a moment; be patient.
Example: “Hold your horses! Let me finish what I’m saying.”

19. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To do more than what is expected.
Example: “She always goes the extra mile to help her students.”

20. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To say or do exactly the right thing.
Example: “You hit the nail on the head with your answer!”

21. A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something good that seemed bad at first.
Example: “Losing that job was a blessing in disguise; I found a better one!”

22. The last straw
Meaning: The final problem or difficulty that causes someone to give up.
Example: “When he missed the meeting, it was the last straw for his boss.”

23. Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something.
Example: “I wanted to complain, but I had to bite my tongue.”

24. Break the bank
Meaning: To spend all your money on something.
Example: “You don’t have to break the bank to buy a good phone.”

25. Hit the road
Meaning: To leave or start a journey.
Example: “Let’s hit the road early to avoid traffic.”

26. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working for the day.
Example: “We’ve done enough work; let’s call it a day.”

27. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up or quit.
Example: “I’ll never throw in the towel, no matter how hard it gets.”

28. Jump the gun
Meaning: To do something too soon or without thinking.
Example: “Don’t jump the gun and send the email before proofreading.”

29. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Something very expensive.
Example: “That dress cost an arm and a leg, but it’s beautiful.”

30. Get the ball rolling
Meaning: To start something.
Example: “Let’s get the ball rolling on our group project.”

31. On the same page
Meaning: To agree or understand something the same way.
Example: “We need to be on the same page before presenting this idea.”

32. In a nutshell
Meaning: To explain something briefly.
Example: “In a nutshell, the movie is about friendship.”

33. Put yourself in someone’s shoes
Meaning: To imagine what it’s like to be someone else.
Example: “Put yourself in her shoes before judging her decision.”

34. Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: What you do is more important than what you say.
Example: “He always promises to help, but actions speak louder than words.”

35. Easier said than done
Meaning: Something that sounds easy but is hard to do.
Example: “Losing weight is easier said than done.”

36. Get cold feet
Meaning: To feel nervous before doing something important.
Example: “She got cold feet before her big job interview.”

37. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To solve two problems at once.
Example: “If we walk to the store, we can exercise and shop—kill two birds with one stone.”

38. Better late than never
Meaning: It’s better to do something late than not do it at all.
Example: “He finally apologized—better late than never!”

39. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t judge something by its appearance.
Example: “That old car looks bad, but it runs perfectly. Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

40. Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: There is something good in every bad situation.
Example: “I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining—I can spend more time with family.”

41. Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: To make a bad situation worse.
Example: “Arguing back will only add fuel to the fire.”

42. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: To focus on the wrong thing or blame the wrong person.
Example: “If you think I took your pen, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”

43. Burn your bridges
Meaning: To destroy relationships or opportunities you might need later.
Example: “Don’t burn your bridges with your old job; you might need a reference.”

44. Caught red-handed
Meaning: Caught while doing something wrong.
Example: “He was caught red-handed stealing the candy.”

45. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To waste time worrying about something that can’t be changed.
Example: “It’s already broken; don’t cry over spilled milk.”

46. Face the music
Meaning: To accept the consequences of your actions.
Example: “He skipped class, and now he has to face the music.”

47. Go with the flow
Meaning: To relax and accept things as they happen.
Example: “We don’t have a plan, so let’s just go with the flow.”

48. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: To have great success or luck.
Example: “She hit the jackpot when she got that scholarship.”

49. Keep your fingers crossed
Meaning: To hope for good luck.
Example: “I have an interview tomorrow—keep your fingers crossed for me!”

50. Make a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning: To make a small problem seem much bigger.
Example: “Relax! You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.”

51. Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To joke or tease someone.
Example: “I didn’t win the lottery—I was just pulling your leg.”

52. Rain on someone’s parade
Meaning: To spoil someone’s plans or good mood.
Example: “I didn’t mean to rain on your parade, but we can’t go out in this weather.”

53. Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning: Don’t take something too seriously.
Example: “He’s exaggerating; take his words with a grain of salt.”

54. A penny for your thoughts
Meaning: Asking someone to share what they’re thinking.
Example: “You’ve been quiet. A penny for your thoughts?”

55. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on more than you can handle.
Example: “I bit off more than I could chew by joining two clubs at once.”

56. Under someone’s thumb
Meaning: To be under someone’s control.
Example: “He’s completely under his boss’s thumb.”

57. The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: Success comes to those who start early.
Example: “Let’s leave early. The early bird catches the worm.”

58. Get something off your chest
Meaning: To talk about something that’s bothering you.
Example: “I need to get something off my chest—I’m upset about yesterday.”

59. Have butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous or excited.
Example: “She had butterflies in her stomach before her performance.”

60. Wrap your head around
Meaning: To understand something complicated.
Example: “I’m trying to wrap my head around this math problem.”

Idioms Teaching Tips for ESL Teachers

1. Start with Context, Not Definitions

Explain idioms through relatable stories or examples rather than providing direct translations. For example, use a short story to introduce “spill the beans” rather than simply saying it means “to reveal a secret.”

2. Group Idioms by Theme

Organize the idioms into themes like emotions, daily life, or actions. For example:

• Emotions: “On cloud nine,” “feeling under the weather.”
• Actions: “Break the ice,” “cut to the chase.”
  Thematic grouping helps students connect idioms with real-life scenarios.

3. Use Visuals and Props

Illustrate idioms with pictures, cartoons, or props. For example, a cartoon of someone holding eggs in one basket can visually explain “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

4. Encourage Dialogue Creation

Ask students to create short dialogues using 2-3 idioms. For example:

• A: “I’ve got butterflies in my stomach about the exam.”
• B: “Don’t worry! You’ll do great—it’ll be a piece of cake!”

5. Incorporate Idioms into Role-Playing

Use role-playing activities where students must use idioms naturally. For instance, a scenario like “a job interview” might include idioms like “the ball is in your court” or “go out on a limb.”

6. Highlight Idioms in Media

Show how idioms are used in movies, TV shows, or songs. Students might hear “face the music” in a drama or “hit the jackpot” in a game show. Authentic exposure enhances retention.

7. Create Idiom Journals

Encourage students to maintain a journal where they write down idioms they learn, including definitions and their own sentences. Review them weekly to ensure understanding.

8. Use Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises

Prepare exercises where students complete sentences with idioms. Example:

• “I got caught ______-handed taking cookies from the jar.”
  This reinforces proper usage in context.

9. Play Idiom Games

• Match the Idiom: Pair idioms with their meanings.
• Charades: Act out idioms and have others guess.
• Story Chains: Students take turns building a story, each using one idiom.

10. Be Patient and Focus on Progress

Idioms are tricky for many ESL learners. Reassure students that it’s okay to make mistakes and that understanding idioms takes practice and exposure.

Bonus Tip: Focus on Relevance

Choose idioms that are commonly used in modern English and are relevant to your students’ lives. Avoid teaching outdated or overly complex idioms that they are unlikely to encounter.

These strategies will make learning idioms enjoyable and practical for students, helping them feel more confident in everyday English conversations.

Conclusion

Teaching common idioms can seem tricky at first, but it’s also a great way to make your vocabulary lessons more exciting and fun.

When you use creative activities and simple examples, your students will quickly feel more confident using these expressions in their daily conversations.

The 60 idioms we’ve shared in this post are perfect for making vocabulary teaching easier and more engaging.

Whether you’re helping students learn basic vocabulary or adding new expressions to their knowledge, these idioms are a great starting point.

With the right approach, you can turn confusing phrases into enjoyable and memorable learning experiences that your students will use with confidence every day.

FAQs on Teaching The Most Common Idioms

1. What are idioms, and why are they important for ESL students?
Idioms are phrases where the meaning is different from the literal meanings of the words. They are important for ESL students because they help them sound more natural in everyday conversations and improve their understanding of native English speakers.

2. How can I make teaching idioms more engaging for my students?
You can make it fun by using creative activities like role-playing, matching games, and storytelling. Visual aids, cartoons, and props can also make learning idioms more interactive and enjoyable.

3. At what proficiency level should I start teaching idioms?
You can start teaching idioms as early as the beginner level, but introduce simpler and more commonly used idioms. As students progress, you can gradually introduce more complex ones.

4. How do I help students understand idioms that don’t translate well into their native language?
Focus on teaching idioms through context and real-life examples, rather than direct translations. Provide situations where the idiom would naturally be used, and explain its meaning with relatable scenarios.

5. How many idioms should I teach in one lesson?
It’s best to teach a few idioms at a time—around 3 to 5—so students can fully understand and remember them. Overloading them with too many idioms may confuse them.

6. Can idioms be used in formal writing?
Most idioms are informal and are used in everyday conversation. However, some idioms can be used in writing, especially in personal letters, emails, or creative writing. It’s best to avoid them in formal academic writing.

7. How can I help students remember idioms?
Encourage students to practice idioms regularly in conversations. Keeping an idiom journal where they write down new idioms, their meanings, and example sentences can also help with retention.

8. Should I teach idioms in isolation or with themes?
Teaching idioms in themes—such as idioms about emotions, actions, or weather—helps students see patterns and remember them more easily. Grouping idioms makes them more relatable and easier to understand.

9. Are there any idioms I should avoid teaching?
Avoid teaching idioms that are outdated, too complex, or culturally specific to a small group. Stick to common, widely used idioms that students are likely to encounter in everyday situations.

10. How can I assess my students’ understanding of idioms?
You can assess understanding by having students use idioms in sentences, quizzes, or through role-playing activities. Pay attention to how they use idioms in context to make sure they understand the meaning.