You know English well, but would like to take it to another level? Well, you have to study the English idioms. Those are figurative expressions that express the cultural aspects of a language. The idioms, also called phraseological expressions, make no sense at first when you hear them, but actually convey a hidden message that only natives or people with a good command of English can understand. So, stay tuned and discover the British expressions that will make you speak like a native!
List of the most used English idioms
- The icing on the cake - something that makes a good situation even better
“Winning the lottery was amazing, but finding out I also got a promotion at work was the icing on the cake”. - A skeleton in the cupboard - to have an embarrassing or unpleasant secret
“I was shocked to find out that my boss had a criminal record. It turns out he had a skeleton in the cupboard”. - To take smth with a grain of salt — to not believe something that you are told, as it is unlikely to be true
“You should take everything he says with a grain of salt. He's known for exaggerating”. - Touch wood - refers to the act of trying to achieve a positive outcome in a hopeless situation
“I've never been in a car accident, touch wood”. - A drop in the ocean - refers to a small or insignificant thing that does not make a significant difference in a larger or more complex situation
“The government's effort to reduce carbon emissions was commendable, but it was just a drop in the ocean compared to the overall amount of pollution”. - It’s raining cats and dogs - when it is heavily raining
“We have to cancel our picnic în the park. It’s raining cats and dogs out there”. - Piece of cake - something that is easy to do or achieve
“I will definitely get a good mark for the exam. It was a piece of cake”. - Break a leg - used to wish someone good luck
“Break a leg, Tom. I am sure you are going to win the race”. - To feel under the weather - to feel sick
“I’m feeling under the weather. I have a terrible headache and a runny nose”. - Silver lining - good or advantageous aspect of a difficult or unpleasant situation
Example: “There is a silver lining in your job dismissal, you can now find do something that you really like”.
Try to use these expressions to make your speech sound more colorful and advanced!
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