Ariannita explains 20 widely used English idioms with short examples from everyday situations, relationships, work, and social gatherings. Follow the full transcript to learn what each expression means, how it sounds in context, and when a more direct phrase may be clearer.

Read the full lesson summary

This lesson introduces idioms as expressions whose intended meaning is not simply the literal meaning of each word. Ariannita contrasts them with sayings and proverbs, then groups examples around feelings, choices, relationships, and everyday situations. Learners hear ‘under the weather’ for feeling unwell, ‘hold your horses’ for asking someone to wait, and ‘once in a blue moon’ for something that happens very rarely. These expressions are useful to recognize in conversation, but their tone and setting matter.

The lesson includes social expressions such as ‘break the ice,’ which describes easing the awkwardness when people first meet, and ‘getting something off your chest,’ which means talking about a worry or problem that has been bothering you. Other examples include ‘call it a day’ to stop working for now, ‘pull yourself together’ to regain emotional control, and ‘spill the beans’ to reveal information that was supposed to remain secret. Some of these phrases can sound direct or playful, so a learner should consider the relationship and situation before using them.

Ariannita also explains expressions for effort, agreement, and action. ‘Go the extra mile’ means make more effort than expected; ‘catch someone red-handed’ means discover them while they are doing something wrong; ‘you can say that again’ signals strong agreement rather than asking for repetition; and ‘cut corners’ means save time or money by skipping proper steps. ‘On the same page’ describes shared understanding, while ‘give it a shot’ encourages someone to try something. Idioms can have more than one interpretation in other contexts, so the surrounding conversation helps determine the intended meaning.

Learners can practise by matching each expression to a situation and then making a new, low-stakes example of their own. For instance, they might use ‘break the ice’ when describing a friendly opening at a group event or ‘call it a day’ when explaining that they are stopping work. The phrases are common conversational tools, not formal formulas; a direct, literal explanation is often clearer in professional, sensitive, or unfamiliar situations.

S2.1

Ariannita la GringaAmerican English18:10

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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00

Explaining idioms and distinguishing them from sayings

Hello everyone, it's Aria and welcome back to my YouTube channel. In today's video, we are going to learn about something super common in English, but sometimes a little tricky, idioms. We'll learn 20 of the most common idioms that you'll hear all the time. So, what exactly is an idiom? Sometimes in English, we put words together and the meaning of the whole phrase is totally different from the meaning of the individual words. They

Try it: Notice one useful detail about explaining idioms and distinguishing them from sayings.

Phrase cheat sheet

All phrases at a glance

Review each expression, hear it, save it, or jump to where it appears in the video.

24 phrases

Showing 24 of 24 phrases

break a leg

Explaining idioms and distinguishing them from sayings · idiom

A good-luck wish, especially before a performance; it is not meant literally.

Tone and use: Traditional theater expression, now also used more broadly before an event. Wish a performer or someone facing a challenge good luck.

May not fit: Do not use it with someone who might interpret it literally or when discussing an actual injury.

Example“You’ve rehearsed all week—break a leg tonight!”

piece of cake

Explaining idioms and distinguishing them from sayings · idiom

Something that is very easy to do.

Tone and use: Common informal expression. Describe a task that required little effort.

May not fit: In formal writing, use easy or straightforward.

Example“The setup was a piece of cake once I followed the instructions.”

look before you leap

Explaining idioms and distinguishing them from sayings · expression

Think about possible consequences before you act; this is a familiar proverb.

Tone and use: Familiar cautionary saying. Advise someone to consider the risks before making a decision.

May not fit: It can sound overly cautious when a quick, low-risk decision is needed.

Example“Look before you leap—check the cancellation policy before booking.”

under the weather

Explaining idioms and distinguishing them from sayings · idiom

Feeling mildly ill or generally unwell.

Tone and use: Common, informal, and somewhat understated. Tell someone you are not feeling well without listing symptoms.

May not fit: For serious symptoms or a medical conversation, describe what is wrong directly.

Example“I’m feeling under the weather, so I’ll stay home tonight.”

speak of the devil

Describing how you feel · idiom

Said when someone appears just after you were talking about them.

Tone and use: Playful and familiar; usually not meant as a serious reference to the devil. React when a person being discussed suddenly arrives.

May not fit: It can sound awkward if the person does not know you were talking about them.

Example“Speak of the devil—we were just talking about your new job.”

hold your horses

Slowing down and not rushing · idiom

Wait, slow down, or do not rush into a decision.

Tone and use: Informal and sometimes playful; can sound impatient if said sharply. Ask someone to pause before acting or getting ahead of the plan.

May not fit: For a sensitive situation, use “let’s take a moment” to sound gentler.

Example“Hold your horses—we haven’t checked the train times yet.”

once in a blue moon

Slowing down and not rushing · idiom

Very rarely.

Tone and use: Common and conversational; not a precise frequency. Describe something that happens infrequently.

May not fit: Use an exact schedule or frequency when precision matters.

Example“I eat fast food once in a blue moon.”

an arm and a leg

Hearing native speakers and introducing extra effort · idiom

A very large amount of money; used when something is extremely expensive.

Tone and use: Informal and often mildly exaggerated. Complain casually about a high price.

May not fit: For a real budget decision or formal discussion, state the amount.

Example“That concert ticket cost an arm and a leg.”

break the ice

Sponsor segment and returning to the idiom lesson · idiom

Do or say something that helps people feel less awkward when they first meet.

Tone and use: Common in social and professional settings. Start a conversation or make a new group feel more comfortable.

May not fit: Do not force a joke or activity if people seem uncomfortable.

Example“A simple question about the venue helped break the ice.”

getting something off your chest

Sharing a worry or something on your mind · idiom

Talking about a worry, secret, or problem that has been bothering you.

Tone and use: Informal and emotionally candid. Tell someone you need to share something that has been weighing on you.

May not fit: Check that the other person has time and is ready to listen.

Example“Can we talk? I need to get something off my chest.”

call it a day

Sharing a worry or something on your mind · idiom

Stop working on something for now, often until the next day.

Tone and use: Common and casual at work or during an activity. Suggest that the group has done enough for today.

May not fit: If the task is unfinished and urgent, clarify what still needs to happen.

Example“We’ve reviewed the draft twice; let’s call it a day.”

pull yourself together

Ending work for the day · expression

Calm down and regain control of your emotions.

Tone and use: Can be supportive or impatient depending on tone and relationship. Encourage someone to steady themselves during a stressful moment.

May not fit: It can sound dismissive to someone who is distressed; try “take a breath” or offer support.

Example“Take a moment and pull yourself together before we call them.”

spill the beans

Helping someone calm down · idiom

Reveal information that was meant to stay secret.

Tone and use: Informal and often playful. Talk about accidentally or deliberately revealing a surprise or secret.

May not fit: For confidential information, use reveal or disclose and consider the seriousness.

Example“Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party.”

go the extra mile

Revealing a secret · idiom

Make more effort than people expect or more than is required.

Tone and use: Positive and common in work, service, and personal contexts. Praise someone who has made a special effort to help.

May not fit: Do not imply that unpaid or excessive effort should always be expected.

Example“The host went the extra mile to make everyone feel welcome.”

catch someone red-handed

Making an extra effort · idiom

Find someone in the act of doing something wrong.

Tone and use: Informal and vivid; often used for a clear, observable act. Describe catching someone while the action is happening.

May not fit: Do not use it for an unproven accusation or a past event you did not witness.

Example“I caught my dog red-handed stealing food from the counter.”

you can say that again

Catching someone in the act · expression

A way to strongly agree with what someone just said, not a request to repeat it.

Tone and use: Informal, emphatic agreement. Show that you feel exactly the same way about a comment.

May not fit: If the other person may not know the expression, answer directly to prevent confusion.

Example““That meeting was long.” “You can say that again.””

cut corners

Showing agreement · idiom

Do something carelessly or skip proper steps to save time or money.

Tone and use: Usually critical; implies quality or safety may suffer. Describe a shortcut that compromises the result.

May not fit: For efficient but acceptable simplification, say streamline instead.

Example“The contractor cut corners, and the paint started peeling.”

on the same page

Doing something cheaply or too quickly · idiom

Having the same understanding, information, or plan as other people.

Tone and use: Common in workplaces, planning, and everyday coordination. Check that everyone agrees about what will happen.

May not fit: Ask a specific question if you need to confirm an exact detail.

Example“Before we send the invitation, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.”

take it easy

Making sure people agree · expression

Relax, calm down, or avoid working too hard.

Tone and use: Friendly in some contexts but can sound dismissive when someone is upset. Encourage a friend to relax or slow down.

May not fit: When someone is distressed, acknowledge their concern before telling them to calm down.

Example“You’ve been working all weekend—take it easy tonight.”

give it a shot

Making sure people agree · expression

Try something, especially when you are not sure whether you will like it or succeed.

Tone and use: Casual and encouraging. Suggest trying a new activity, food, or approach.

May not fit: In a formal proposal, use try or attempt.

Example“I’ve never played pickleball, but I’ll give it a shot.”

hang in there

Encouraging someone to try something · expression

Keep going and do not give up during a difficult situation.

Tone and use: Warm encouragement, often used during a temporary hardship. Support someone who is facing a challenge.

May not fit: Pair it with specific help when the person needs more than encouragement.

Example“Hang in there—the medical team is working on a plan.”

get along with someone

Encouraging someone not to give up · expression

Have a friendly relationship and interact without frequent conflict.

Tone and use: Neutral and common when describing relationships. Talk about how well two people or groups interact.

May not fit: For a specific disagreement, describe the issue rather than labeling the whole relationship.

Example“I get along with my new teammates.”

on cloud9

Describing good relationships · idiom

Extremely happy or excited; the standard written form is “on cloud nine.”

Tone and use: Positive, familiar, and slightly expressive. Describe a strong feeling of happiness after good news or success.

May not fit: For a small positive reaction, say pleased or happy instead.

Example“She was on cloud nine after getting the scholarship.”

hands down

Describing extreme happiness · expression

Clearly and unquestionably, especially when naming the best option.

Tone and use: Informal and confident. Say that one choice is easily the best among alternatives.

May not fit: If people could reasonably disagree, soften it with “for me” or explain your criteria.

Example“That was hands down the best meal of our trip.”

Knowledge check

Practice the phrases you heard

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Use it in a sentence · “under the weather”

My 20 Favorite Idioms in English

Transcript

All phrases at a glance

break a leg

piece of cake

look before you leap

under the weather

speak of the devil

hold your horses

once in a blue moon

an arm and a leg

break the ice

getting something off your chest

call it a day

pull yourself together

spill the beans

go the extra mile

catch someone red-handed

you can say that again

cut corners

on the same page

take it easy

give it a shot

hang in there

get along with someone

on cloud9

hands down

Practice the phrases you heard

You have a mild cold and need to cancel a casual plan. What sounds natural?