50 Best Education Idioms Advanced ESL Students Would Know

Looking for a fun and effective way to teach education idioms to your ESL students? You’ve found the perfect resource. In this post, you’ll discover 50 useful and easy-to-understand idioms that students can use in real-life conversations about school, learning, and classroom life.

Education idioms are common expressions that native speakers often use when talking about studying, tests, teachers, or school rules. But many ESL learners don’t know these phrases yet. That’s why we’ve made this post simple and clear, with meanings, examples, and practice questions for each idiom.

Teachers can use these idioms in many classroom activities. You can create conversations, build role-plays, ask follow-up questions, start a debate, or teach new vocabulary through context. These idioms make learning more fun, practical, and interactive.

Each idiom comes with easy definitions, short example sentences, and questions students can answer or discuss. This helps learners understand how to use these idioms in real life—not just remember them for a test.

Whether you’re teaching a beginner or intermediate class, this is a complete tool for helping students speak naturally about their education. Save time, keep your class engaged, and boost your students’ confidence using these common expressions.

Let’s explore the best idioms for your next ESL lesson on education!

What Are Education Idioms?

Education idioms are common English expressions related to school, studying, teachers, exams, and learning. These idioms use simple words, but their meanings are different from the usual meaning of the words.

For example, the idiom “burn the midnight oil” means to study very late at night, not to actually burn anything. Another example is “pass with flying colors,” which means to do very well on a test or exam.

These idioms are used by native speakers when talking about their school experience. ESL students might hear them in movies, books, or real conversations, so it’s important to understand what they mean.

Here are a few more examples:

• “Cut class” means to skip a class on purpose.
• “Pop quiz” means a surprise test with no warning.
• “Teacher’s pet” means a student who is liked most by the teacher.

Understanding these idioms helps students follow conversations better and speak more naturally. They also add fun and color to the way we talk about education.

Why ESL Students Need to Know Education Idioms

ESL students often learn formal English in class, but real-life English is full of idioms. Native speakers use education idioms all the time when talking about school or learning. If students don’t understand these expressions, they can get confused during conversations.

Knowing education idioms helps students understand teachers, classmates, movies, books, and even social media. For example, if a friend says, “I totally bombed the test,” students need to know it means the friend did very badly—not that something exploded.

When students learn these idioms, they can also use them in their own speaking and writing. Saying something like “I need to hit the books tonight” sounds more natural and fluent than just saying “I have to study.”

Idioms also make English more fun and interesting. They add color to the language and help students feel more connected to how native speakers really talk. Learning them gives students more confidence when speaking in class or outside of school.

For ESL learners, education idioms are not just vocabulary—they are part of everyday English. Understanding them is a big step toward fluency.

1. Ace a test

Meaning: Do very well on a test or exam.

Example Sentences:

1. I studied hard and aced the math test.
2. She always aces her English quizzes.
3. Tom aced the final after weeks of practice.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever aced a test? Which one?
2. What do you do to ace your exams?
3. Is it easy or hard for you to ace English tests?

2. Back to the drawing board

Meaning: Start again with a new plan after a mistake or failure.

Example Sentences:

1. Our group project failed, so we went back to the drawing board.
2. The teacher didn’t like my idea. I need to go back to the drawing board.
3. We had to go back to the drawing board after getting low marks.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever gone back to the drawing board?
2. What do you do when your plan doesn’t work?
3. How do you feel when you must start again?

3. Be a bookworm

Meaning: A person who loves reading and studying.

Example Sentences:

1. My sister is a real bookworm.
2. He spends all day reading. He’s such a bookworm!
3. I was a bookworm in high school.

Context Questions:

1. Are you a bookworm?
2. What kinds of books do you like to read?
3. Do you know someone who is a bookworm?

4. Be in a class of one’s own

Meaning: Be much better than others in something.

Example Sentences:

1. Sarah is in a class of her own in science.
2. He’s in a class of his own when it comes to writing.
3. The teacher said our project was in a class of its own.

Context Questions:

1. Who is in a class of their own in your school?
2. What subject are you best at?
3. Do you want to be in a class of your own in any area?

5. Be on the same page

Meaning: Understand and agree with someone.

Example Sentences:

1. Our teacher made sure we were on the same page.
2. My group and I are on the same page about the topic.
3. It’s hard to work together if we’re not on the same page.

Context Questions:

1. Are you usually on the same page with your classmates?
2. How do you make sure your group understands the plan?
3. What happens if people are not on the same page?

6. Blow the exam

Meaning: Do very badly on a test.

Example Sentences:

1. I was nervous and blew the exam.
2. He forgot to study and blew the math test.
3. She thinks she blew the final yesterday.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever blown an exam?
2. What causes students to blow tests?
3. What can you do if you blow an exam?

7. Book smart

Meaning: Good at studying and learning from books, but not always good at real-life tasks.

Example Sentences:

1. He’s book smart but not very street smart.
2. My friend is book smart and always gets high marks.
3. Some students are book smart but don’t know how to cook.

Context Questions:

1. Are you more book smart or street smart?
2. Can someone be both book smart and street smart?
3. Do you think book smart people do better in school?

8. Brainstorm an idea

Meaning: Think of many ideas quickly, often in a group.

Example Sentences:

1. Let’s brainstorm ideas for our presentation.
2. We brainstormed different topics in class.
3. The teacher asked us to brainstorm before writing.

Context Questions:

1. Do you like brainstorming in class?
2. When do you usually brainstorm ideas?
3. How does brainstorming help you learn?

9. Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: Study or work very late into the night.

Example Sentences:

1. I burned the midnight oil before the exam.
2. She burned the midnight oil to finish her project.
3. They always burn the midnight oil during finals week.

Context Questions:

1. Do you often burn the midnight oil?
2. What do you do when you have a lot of homework?
3. Is it better to study late or wake up early?

10. By the book

Meaning: Follow rules or instructions exactly.

Example Sentences:

1. Our teacher wants us to do everything by the book.
2. He studies grammar by the book.
3. She teaches by the book, step by step.

Context Questions:

1. Do you like doing things by the book?
2. When is it important to follow rules closely?
3. Is it always good to work by the book?

11. Call the roll

Meaning: Check who is present by reading names from a list.

Example Sentences:

1. The teacher called the roll at the start of class.
2. Please be quiet while I call the roll.
3. He was marked absent when his name was called during the roll.

Context Questions:

1. Does your teacher call the roll every day?
2. What happens if you are late when they call the roll?
3. Do you like being the first name called in roll?

12. Cheat sheet

Meaning: A small piece of paper with answers or notes used secretly during a test.

Example Sentences:

1. He got caught using a cheat sheet in the exam.
2. Some students make cheat sheets instead of studying.
3. I don’t use cheat sheets because I like to study honestly.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever seen someone use a cheat sheet?
2. Why do some students make cheat sheets?
3. What’s a better way to prepare for a test than using a cheat sheet?

13. Crack a book

Meaning: To open a book to study or read, usually used in the negative to say someone didn’t study.

Example Sentences:

1. I didn’t crack a book all weekend.
2. She never cracks a book but still passes.
3. If you want to pass, you have to crack a book.

Context Questions:

1. Do you crack a book every day?
2. What helps you remember to study?
3. How do you feel when you don’t crack a book before a test?

14. Cut class

Meaning: Skip a class on purpose.

Example Sentences:

1. They cut class to go to the mall.
2. He was in trouble for cutting class again.
3. I never cut class because I don’t want to miss anything.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever cut class?
2. Why do some students cut class?
3. What do you miss when you cut class?

15. Draw a blank

Meaning: Be unable to remember something.

Example Sentences:

1. I drew a blank during the test.
2. She tried to answer but drew a blank.
3. I studied, but I still drew a blank on question 5.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever drawn a blank during a test?
2. What do you do when your mind goes blank?
3. How can you avoid drawing a blank in class?

16. Drop out

Meaning: Leave school or college before finishing.

Example Sentences:

1. He dropped out of college last year.
2. Many students drop out because of money problems.
3. I don’t want to drop out. I want to finish strong.

Context Questions:

1. Do you know someone who dropped out?
2. Why do students drop out of school?
3. What can help students stay in school?

17. Eager beaver

Meaning: A person who is always excited and works hard, especially in class.

Example Sentences:

1. She’s an eager beaver who always raises her hand.
2. The eager beaver finished the homework early.
3. Our teacher loves eager beavers in the class.

Context Questions:

1. Are you an eager beaver in class?
2. What makes someone eager to learn?
3. Do you think eager beavers do better in school?

18. Fill in the blanks

Meaning: Complete a sentence or form by writing words in empty spaces.

Example Sentences:

1. Fill in the blanks using the correct verb tense.
2. The quiz had ten fill-in-the-blank questions.
3. I practiced filling in the blanks before the test.

Context Questions:

1. Do you like fill-in-the-blank exercises?
2. What helps you get better at grammar blanks?
3. Are fill-in-the-blank tests easy or hard for you?

19. From the school of hard knocks

Meaning: Learning from life experiences instead of formal education.

Example Sentences:

1. He didn’t go to college, but he learned from the school of hard knocks.
2. Life taught her many lessons—the school of hard knocks.
3. People who work young often graduate from the school of hard knocks.

Context Questions:

1. Have you learned anything from the school of hard knocks?
2. Do you learn better from books or from life?
3. What’s a big lesson you learned from experience?

20. Get credit for

Meaning: Receive recognition or marks for doing something.

Example Sentences:

1. I didn’t get credit for my homework because I was late.
2. She got credit for helping with the group project.
3. You can get credit for attending extra classes.

Context Questions:

1. Do you always get credit for your work?
2. What did you last get credit for?
3. How do you feel when you don’t get credit?

21. Get expelled

Meaning: Be forced to leave school for breaking rules.

Example Sentences:

1. He got expelled for cheating too many times.
2. Students who fight may get expelled.
3. She was scared she might get expelled after the incident.

Context Questions:

1. What actions can get a student expelled?
2. Do you know anyone who got expelled?
3. What can students do to avoid getting expelled?

22. Go back to basics

Meaning: Return to simple or main ideas to improve learning.

Example Sentences:

1. Our teacher went back to basics to help us understand grammar.
2. Sometimes you must go back to basics to move forward.
3. We went back to basics to fix our writing.

Context Questions:

1. When do you go back to basics in learning?
2. What are the basics of English grammar?
3. Do you like reviewing the basics in class?

23. Goof off in class

Meaning: Waste time or play instead of paying attention in class.

Example Sentences:

1. The boys goofed off in class and didn’t finish the work.
2. If you goof off in class, you won’t understand the lesson.
3. Our teacher got angry because some students were goofing off.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever goofed off in class?
2. Why do some students goof off during lessons?
3. What should you do when your friend is goofing off in class?

24. Graduate with honors

Meaning: Finish school with high grades and special recognition.

Example Sentences:

1. She worked hard and graduated with honors.
2. Only the top students graduate with honors.
3. My goal is to graduate with honors next year.

Context Questions:

1. Do you want to graduate with honors?
2. What does it take to graduate with honors?
3. Do you know anyone who graduated with honors?

25. Hit the books

Meaning: Start studying seriously.

Example Sentences:

1. I have a test tomorrow, so I need to hit the books.
2. He hit the books every night before exams.
3. You must hit the books if you want to pass.

Context Questions:

1. When do you usually hit the books?
2. What helps you focus when you hit the books?
3. Do you enjoy hitting the books, or is it hard?

26. In hot water (with the teacher)

Meaning: In trouble with the teacher.

Example Sentences:

1. She’s in hot water with the teacher for not doing homework.
2. He got in hot water for talking too much in class.
3. I don’t want to be in hot water again, so I’ll study.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever been in hot water with a teacher?
2. What usually puts students in hot water?
3. How can you stay out of hot water in class?

27. Jump through hoops

Meaning: Do many difficult things to meet demands or rules.

Example Sentences:

1. We had to jump through hoops to get a scholarship.
2. Students often jump through hoops to get into top schools.
3. I don’t like jumping through hoops, but I want to succeed.

Context Questions:

1. What hoops have you jumped through in school?
2. Is jumping through hoops always worth it?
3. How do you feel when rules make you jump through hoops?

28. Keep up with the class

Meaning: Stay at the same level as the rest of the class.

Example Sentences:

1. He studies extra to keep up with the class.
2. If you miss lessons, it’s hard to keep up with the class.
3. I find it easy to keep up with the class now.

Context Questions:

1. Do you keep up with your class easily?
2. What makes it hard to keep up with the class?
3. How can teachers help students keep up?

29. Know the ropes

Meaning: Understand how something works or is done.

Example Sentences:

1. After a week, I knew the ropes at my new school.
2. He showed me the ropes on the first day of class.
3. It’s easier when someone helps you know the ropes.

Context Questions:

1. Do you know the ropes at your school?
2. Who helped you learn the ropes in your class?
3. What’s hard to understand before you know the ropes?

30. Learn by heart

Meaning: Memorize something completely.

Example Sentences:

1. I learned the poem by heart.
2. We had to learn all the verbs by heart.
3. She learns vocabulary by heart for the test.

Context Questions:

1. Do you like learning things by heart?
2. What have you learned by heart recently?
3. How do you help yourself learn by heart?

31. Learn the hard way

Meaning: Learn through mistakes or problems.

Example Sentences:

1. I forgot my homework and learned the hard way.
2. He didn’t study and learned the hard way.
3. Sometimes we need to learn the hard way.

Context Questions:

1. What have you learned the hard way in school?
2. Do you think it’s good to learn the hard way?
3. How can you avoid learning the hard way?

32. Make the grade

Meaning: Meet the required standard.

Example Sentences:

1. I worked hard to make the grade in English.
2. She didn’t make the grade and failed the test.
3. Only a few students made the grade in that course.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever failed to make the grade?
2. What helps you make the grade in school?
3. What subject is hardest to make the grade in?

33. Miss the mark

Meaning: Fail to do something correctly or well.

Example Sentences:

1. His essay missed the mark and got a low score.
2. I missed the mark on the last question.
3. The project missed the mark because it had no details.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever missed the mark in a test?
2. What causes students to miss the mark?
3. How can you avoid missing the mark?

34. Not make the cut

Meaning: Not meet the required standard to be chosen.

Example Sentences:

1. I didn’t make the cut for the debate team.
2. Only the best students made the cut.
3. He studied more after not making the cut.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever not made the cut?
2. How did you feel when you didn’t make the cut?
3. What helps students make the cut next time?

35. Off the charts

Meaning: Very high or excellent.

Example Sentences:

1. Her test scores were off the charts.
2. The class energy was off the charts today.
3. That student’s reading level is off the charts.

Context Questions:

1. What was off the charts in your last test?
2. Do you know a student whose skills are off the charts?
3. How can you help your scores be off the charts?

36. Old school

Meaning: Using traditional methods or ideas.

Example Sentences:

1. Our teacher is old school and uses chalkboards.
2. He teaches in an old-school way, with books only.
3. Some students like old-school methods.

Context Questions:

1. Do you like old-school or modern learning?
2. What is an old-school way of learning English?
3. Who is an old-school teacher you know?

37. Out to lunch (mentally)

Meaning: Not paying attention; daydreaming.

Example Sentences:

1. He was out to lunch and missed the question.
2. Don’t be out to lunch during the test.
3. She’s always out to lunch in math class.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever been out to lunch in class?
2. What makes students go out to lunch mentally?
3. How can you stay focused and not be out to lunch?

38. Pass with flying colors

Meaning: Succeed or pass something very well.

Example Sentences:

1. She passed the exam with flying colors.
2. I studied hard and passed with flying colors.
3. They all passed with flying colors after the review.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever passed with flying colors?
2. What subject do you usually pass with flying colors?
3. What helps students pass with flying colors?

39. Play hooky

Meaning: Skip school or class without permission.

Example Sentences:

1. He played hooky and went to the mall.
2. Don’t play hooky before the exam.
3. She was caught playing hooky last week.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever played hooky?
2. Why do students sometimes play hooky?
3. What are the risks of playing hooky?

40. Pop quiz

Meaning: A surprise test.

Example Sentences:

1. We had a pop quiz in math today.
2. The teacher gave a pop quiz to check understanding.
3. I was not ready for the pop quiz.

Context Questions:

1. Do you like pop quizzes?
2. How do you feel when there is a pop quiz?
3. How can you prepare for pop quizzes?

41. Put on your thinking cap

Meaning: Get ready to think carefully.

Example Sentences:

1. Put on your thinking cap and solve the puzzle.
2. You need to put on your thinking cap for this question.
3. The teacher said, “Time to put on your thinking caps!”

Context Questions:

1. When do you put on your thinking cap?
2. What helps you put on your thinking cap?
3. Can you give an example when you used your thinking cap?

42. Read between the lines

Meaning: Understand the hidden meaning.

Example Sentences:

1. You have to read between the lines in this story.
2. He didn’t say it, but I read between the lines.
3. Good readers learn to read between the lines.

Context Questions:

1. Do you find it easy to read between the lines?
2. When should we read between the lines?
3. Can you share a time you read between the lines?

43. School someone on something

Meaning: Teach someone something clearly.

Example Sentences:

1. She schooled me on how to write a good essay.
2. He schooled his friend on the rules of grammar.
3. The tutor schooled them on pronunciation.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever schooled someone on a topic?
2. What topic could you school someone on?
3. Has anyone schooled you in a helpful way?

44. Show of hands

Meaning: Raising hands to vote or answer.

Example Sentences:

1. The teacher asked for a show of hands.
2. Let’s have a show of hands to see who agrees.
3. Only five students raised their hands in the show of hands.

Context Questions:

1. Do you like answering questions in a show of hands?
2. When do teachers use a show of hands?
3. Have you ever led a show of hands in class?

45. Skip class

Meaning: Not attend class.

Example Sentences:

1. He skipped class to play games.
2. Don’t skip class before exams.
3. She often skips class on Fridays.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever skipped a class?
2. Why do some students skip class?
3. How can teachers stop students from skipping class?

46. Smart cookie

Meaning: A very clever or intelligent person.

Example Sentences:

1. She’s a smart cookie in science class.
2. That boy is a smart cookie—he always gets A’s.
3. The teacher called her a smart cookie.

Context Questions:

1. Do you know a smart cookie in your class?
2. What makes someone a smart cookie?
3. What do smart cookies do differently?

47. Teacher’s pet

Meaning: A student who is liked most by the teacher.

Example Sentences:

1. Everyone says she’s the teacher’s pet.
2. He became the teacher’s pet by always helping.
3. Being the teacher’s pet is not always fun.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever been the teacher’s pet?
2. How do students feel about the teacher’s pet?
3. Why do some students become the teacher’s pet?

48. Teach someone a lesson

Meaning: Make someone learn from a mistake.

Example Sentences:

1. The low grade taught him a lesson.
2. She forgot her homework, and it taught her a lesson.
3. The teacher gave extra work to teach them a lesson.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever been taught a lesson?
2. What lesson have you learned from a mistake?
3. How can teachers teach a lesson without being mean?

49. Top of the class

Meaning: The best student in the class.

Example Sentences:

1. He’s always top of the class in math.
2. She became top of the class this year.
3. Being top of the class takes hard work.

Context Questions:

1. Have you ever been top of the class?
2. What helps someone become top of the class?
3. Is it important to be top of the class?

50. Turn in your assignment

Meaning: Give your work to the teacher.

Example Sentences:

1. Please turn in your assignment by Monday.
2. I forgot to turn in my assignment on time.
3. He always turns in his assignments early.

Context Questions:

1. Do you turn in your assignments on time?
2. What happens if you don’t turn in your assignment?
3. How do you keep track of when to turn in assignments?

Final Thoughts

Teaching education idioms in the ESL classroom is a great way to help students speak more naturally and understand real-life English. These idioms are commonly used in everyday conversations about school, exams, teachers, and learning experiences.

When students learn idioms, they gain more than just new words—they learn how to express ideas in a more natural and fluent way. It also makes lessons more engaging, especially when idioms are practiced through games, dialogues, or personal stories.

By using the 50 education idioms in this guide, ESL teachers can create lessons that are fun, practical, and full of useful expressions. Students will enjoy learning them and feel more confident in class and in real life.

Now let’s look at some common questions teachers and students often ask about using education idioms in ESL classes.

FAQs About Using Education Idioms in ESL Class

1. What are the best ways to teach education idioms to ESL students?
The best ways include using real examples, role-plays, games, and short conversations. Try to connect the idioms to the students’ own school experiences.

2. Are education idioms suitable for beginners?
Some idioms are easy enough for beginners, especially with clear examples. Start with simple ones like “hit the books” or “pass with flying colors.”

3. How many idioms should I teach in one lesson?
It’s best to teach 3–5 idioms per lesson, so students have enough time to understand and use them in practice.

4. Should students memorize idioms?
Memorizing can help, but it’s better if students also use the idioms in speaking and writing so they remember them naturally.

5. How do I check if students understand an idiom?
You can ask them to explain it in their own words or use it in a sentence. You can also give them a situation and ask which idiom fits best.

6. Can I use videos or songs to teach education idioms?
Yes! Many songs, shows, and YouTube videos include idioms. They make learning fun and show idioms in real use.

7. Why do students often forget idioms after a few days?
Idioms can be hard to remember if students don’t use them often. Practice, repetition, and real-life examples help students remember better.

8. How can idioms help in improving fluency?
Using idioms makes students sound more like native speakers and gives them more ways to express the same idea.

9. Are idioms useful in writing too?
Yes, idioms can make writing more lively, especially in personal essays, stories, or informal writing.

10. Can idioms confuse students?
Yes, if taught without context. Always explain the meaning clearly and give examples. Let students ask questions and try using them in their own way.