America is a big country with many different people and places. People in America like to use special phrases when they talk. These phrases are called idioms. Idioms are fun because their meanings are different from what the words seem to say. For example, if someone says “break the ice,” they don’t mean breaking real ice. They mean helping people feel more comfortable.
In this article, we will look at some idioms people use in America. We will learn what they mean and how people use them. These idioms can help us understand how Americans speak and think. They can also help us talk in fun and interesting ways. Let’s begin by learning what idioms are and why they are used.
Idioms for America
1. Break the ice
Meaning: To help people feel more comfortable in a new situation.
To Provide an Example: At school, the teacher told a joke to break the ice. / Mom asked us to play a game to break the ice at the party.
Alternative Meaning: Dad used a fun story to break the ice at his work meeting. / We played a song to break the ice during the school play practice.
2. Hit the books
Meaning: To start studying.
To Provide an Example: I have a math test, so I need to hit the books. / We hit the books after dinner to get ready for school.
Alternative Meaning: My sister hit the books to study for her spelling test. / He hit the books before his science quiz.
3. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To tell a secret by mistake.
To Provide an Example: I let the cat out of the bag about Dad’s birthday gift. / She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
Alternative Meaning: He let the cat out of the bag when he talked about the cake. / My brother let the cat out of the bag about our trip.
4. A piece of cake
Meaning: Something that is very easy to do.
To Provide an Example: That puzzle was a piece of cake. / The math homework was a piece of cake today.
Alternative Meaning: Helping Mom fold the towels was a piece of cake. / Cleaning my room was a piece of cake with my brother’s help.
5. Under the weather
Meaning: To feel sick.
To Provide an Example: I stayed home from school because I was under the weather. / My sister is under the weather and resting in bed.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was under the weather and didn’t go to work. / Our teacher was under the weather, so we had a substitute.
6. Spill the beans
Meaning: To tell a secret.
To Provide an Example: She spilled the beans about our class trip. / I spilled the beans about the birthday party.
Alternative Meaning: He spilled the beans before the surprise was ready. / We tried not to spill the beans about the new puppy.
7. Cold feet
Meaning: To feel nervous about something.
To Provide an Example: I got cold feet before going on stage. / She had cold feet before trying the big slide.
Alternative Meaning: He had cold feet before his school speech. / My brother got cold feet before his dentist visit.
8. On the ball
Meaning: To be ready and paying attention.
To Provide an Example: She was on the ball during the math game. / I was on the ball and finished my chores fast.
Alternative Meaning: Our team was on the ball at recess. / He was on the ball in class today.
9. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To try to do too much.
To Provide an Example: I bit off more than I could chew with five books. / She bit off more than she could chew with two clubs.
Alternative Meaning: He bit off more than he could chew by doing all the chores. / My friend bit off more than she could chew by joining two sports.
10. Hit the hay
Meaning: To go to bed.
To Provide an Example: I was tired, so I hit the hay early. / After the game, we hit the hay right away.
Alternative Meaning: Mom told us to hit the hay after our movie. / He hit the hay as soon as he got home.
11. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset over something small.
To Provide an Example: Don’t cry over spilled milk if your toy breaks. / She cried over spilled milk when her drawing tore.
Alternative Meaning: He cried over spilled milk after losing a sticker. / I told my brother not to cry over spilled milk when his cookie broke.
12. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To say something exactly right.
To Provide an Example: She hit the nail on the head with her answer. / I hit the nail on the head in my report.
Alternative Meaning: He hit the nail on the head about what we needed. / My friend hit the nail on the head when he guessed the reason.
13. Kick the bucket
Meaning: To pass away.
To Provide an Example: Our goldfish kicked the bucket last week. / Grandma told us about her old dog who kicked the bucket.
Alternative Meaning: The old cartoon character kicked the bucket in the show. / My friend said his cat kicked the bucket last year.
14. Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: To ask someone why they are quiet.
To Provide an Example: You’re so quiet cat got your tongue? / My teacher asked, “Cat got your tongue?” when I didn’t speak.
Alternative Meaning: Dad said, “Cat got your tongue?” when I forgot my line. / My sister didn’t answer, so I asked, “Cat got your tongue?”
15. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble.
To Provide an Example: I was in hot water for drawing on the wall. / She got in hot water for staying up late.
Alternative Meaning: He was in hot water for missing homework. / My friend got in hot water after yelling in class.
16. Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To joke with someone.
To Provide an Example: I was just pulling your leg about the monster. / He pulled my leg and said it was snowing in July.
Alternative Meaning: She pulled my leg about the test being canceled. / Dad pulled my leg about having candy for dinner.
17. Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: To make a bad situation worse.
To Provide an Example: Yelling added fuel to the fire during the argument. / Laughing at him added fuel to the fire.
Alternative Meaning: She added fuel to the fire by blaming others. / I added fuel to the fire by talking back.
18. When pigs fly
Meaning: Something that will never happen.
To Provide an Example: I’ll clean my brother’s room when pigs fly. / He’ll stop talking when pigs fly.
Alternative Meaning: She’ll share her candy when pigs fly. / Dad said he’ll get a pet dinosaur when pigs fly.
19. Have a sweet tooth
Meaning: To love sweet food.
To Provide an Example: I have a sweet tooth for ice cream. / She has a sweet tooth and eats candy every day.
Alternative Meaning: He has a sweet tooth for cupcakes. / My mom has a sweet tooth and loves cookies.
20. Costs an arm and a leg
Meaning: Something very expensive.
To Provide an Example: That toy costs an arm and a leg. / The big TV costs an arm and a leg.
Alternative Meaning: The trip to the theme park costs an arm and a leg. / New shoes can cost an arm and a leg.
21. Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait and be patient.
To Provide an Example: Hold your horses, dinner is almost ready. / I told my brother to hold his horses while I got my shoes.
Alternative Meaning: Mom said to hold our horses before opening gifts. / My friend told me to hold my horses during the game.
22. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Blaming the wrong person or looking in the wrong place.
To Provide an Example: I wasn’t the one who spilled the juice, you’re barking up the wrong tree. / She thought I took her toy, but she was barking up the wrong tree.
Alternative Meaning: He blamed me, but he was barking up the wrong tree. / The teacher was barking up the wrong tree by asking me.
23. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late working or studying.
To Provide an Example: I burned the midnight oil to finish my art project. / She burned the midnight oil to study for her quiz.
Alternative Meaning: My brother burned the midnight oil reading his new book. / We burned the midnight oil finishing our science project.
24. Hit the road
Meaning: To leave or start a trip.
To Provide an Example: We hit the road early for our trip to Grandma’s. / Dad said it was time to hit the road and go home.
Alternative Meaning: After breakfast, we hit the road to visit the zoo. / They hit the road before the sun came up.
25. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to do something.
To Provide an Example: I gave you my answer, now the ball is in your court. / She asked if we could go, so the ball is in Mom’s court.
Alternative Meaning: He picked the movie, so the ball is in my court now. / The teacher said the ball is in our court to finish the work.
26. Walk on eggshells
Meaning: To be very careful not to upset someone.
To Provide an Example: I had to walk on eggshells because Dad was tired. / We walked on eggshells after our friend got upset.
Alternative Meaning: She walked on eggshells when her sister was grumpy. / I walked on eggshells after my team lost the game.
27. Get cold feet
Meaning: To feel too scared to do something.
To Provide an Example: I got cold feet before riding the roller coaster. / She got cold feet before singing on stage.
Alternative Meaning: He got cold feet about joining the team. / We got cold feet before our first swim lesson.
28. Cut to the chase
Meaning: To get to the point.
To Provide an Example: Let’s cut to the chase and talk about the game. / The teacher cut to the chase and gave us the answer.
Alternative Meaning: Mom cut to the chase and told us the plan. / I cut to the chase and asked for help.
29. Easy as pie
Meaning: Very simple or easy.
To Provide an Example: That test was easy as pie. / Folding the clothes was easy as pie.
Alternative Meaning: Tying my shoes is now easy as pie. / That puzzle was easy as pie for me.
30. Get your feet wet
Meaning: To try something new for the first time.
To Provide an Example: I got my feet wet in painting class. / She got her feet wet with her first music lesson.
Alternative Meaning: He got his feet wet by helping in the kitchen. / We got our feet wet trying out for the play.
31. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To do more than expected.
To Provide an Example: I went the extra mile and cleaned the table too. / She went the extra mile and made a card for the teacher.
Alternative Meaning: He went the extra mile and helped a classmate. / We went the extra mile on our group project.
32. Keep an eye on
Meaning: To watch carefully.
To Provide an Example: Please keep an eye on the soup so it doesn’t burn. / I’ll keep an eye on your dog while you go inside.
Alternative Meaning: Keep an eye on your little brother at the park. / She kept an eye on her lunch bag during the trip.
33. Jump the gun
Meaning: To do something too soon.
To Provide an Example: I jumped the gun and answered before the teacher finished. / She jumped the gun and opened the gift early.
Alternative Meaning: He jumped the gun and pressed play too soon. / We jumped the gun and started before the rules were explained.
34. Hold your tongue
Meaning: To stay quiet.
To Provide an Example: I held my tongue even though I was upset. / She told her brother to hold his tongue.
Alternative Meaning: He held his tongue during the game. / We had to hold our tongues at the library.
35. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very hard.
To Provide an Example: It’s raining cats and dogs outside, so we can’t play. / We got wet because it was raining cats and dogs.
Alternative Meaning: She ran fast in the rain because it was raining cats and dogs. / We used big umbrellas since it was raining cats and dogs.
36. Put your thinking cap on
Meaning: To think carefully.
To Provide an Example: We put our thinking caps on to solve the puzzle. / She put her thinking cap on during the quiz.
Alternative Meaning: He put his thinking cap on to finish the riddle. / We needed our thinking caps for the group work.
37. The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: People who wake up or act early get the best chance.
To Provide an Example: I got the best seat because I came early the early bird catches the worm. / She found the last toy on sale because she came early.
Alternative Meaning: We were first in line because we got up early. / Dad says the early bird catches the worm, so he wakes up before sunrise.
38. Zip your lip
Meaning: To stop talking.
To Provide an Example: The teacher said to zip our lips during the test. / I told my brother to zip his lip during the movie.
Alternative Meaning: She zipped her lip during the secret game. / We zipped our lips when the principal walked in.
39. A fish out of water
Meaning: Feeling out of place or uncomfortable.
To Provide an Example: I felt like a fish out of water at the new school. / He looked like a fish out of water in dance class.
Alternative Meaning: She felt like a fish out of water at the party. / We felt like fish out of water in the new town.
40. Shake a leg
Meaning: To hurry up.
To Provide an Example: Come on, shake a leg or we’ll be late. / Mom told us to shake a leg and get in the car.
Alternative Meaning: She said to shake a leg so we’d catch the bus. / Dad said, “Shake a leg!” when we were slow at dinner.
41. Out of the blue
Meaning: Something that happens suddenly without warning.
To Provide an Example: Out of the blue, it started snowing. / She called me out of the blue after many weeks.
Alternative Meaning: A rainbow appeared out of the blue. / Out of the blue, the power went out.
42. Over the moon
Meaning: Very happy.
To Provide an Example: I was over the moon when I got a new bike. / She was over the moon after winning the prize.
Alternative Meaning: He was over the moon when his grandparents visited. / We were over the moon to go to the zoo.
43. In a pickle
Meaning: In a difficult or tricky situation.
To Provide an Example: I was in a pickle when I lost my homework. / She was in a pickle because she forgot her lunch.
Alternative Meaning: He was in a pickle when his toy broke. / We were in a pickle when it started to rain and we had no umbrella.
44. Blow off steam
Meaning: To do something to feel better after being upset.
To Provide an Example: I ran outside to blow off steam after my test. / She drew pictures to blow off steam.
Alternative Meaning: He played basketball to blow off steam. / We danced to blow off steam after cleaning.
45. Head in the clouds
Meaning: Not paying attention.
To Provide an Example: I had my head in the clouds and missed the question. / She had her head in the clouds during the story.
Alternative Meaning: He had his head in the clouds and walked into the wrong room. / My friend had her head in the clouds and forgot her snack.
46. Let off the hook
Meaning: To not be punished or blamed.
To Provide an Example: I was let off the hook for not finishing chores. / She was let off the hook when the teacher forgot about the quiz.
Alternative Meaning: He was let off the hook and didn’t have to do extra homework. / We were let off the hook for being late because of traffic.
47. Monkey business
Meaning: Silly or bad behavior.
To Provide an Example: Stop the monkey business and sit down. / The kids were full of monkey business after lunch.
Alternative Meaning: There was monkey business going on in the back of the classroom. / Dad said no monkey business at the store.
48. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely.
To Provide an Example: We go to the beach once in a blue moon. / I eat candy for breakfast once in a blue moon.
Alternative Meaning: She visits us once in a blue moon. / He wears that hat once in a blue moon.
49. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: To depend on only one thing to work out.
To Provide an Example: I put all my eggs in one basket by picking just one project. / She put all her eggs in one basket and chose only one team.
Alternative Meaning: He put all his eggs in one basket with his one idea. / We put all our eggs in one basket by choosing one game.
50. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up.
To Provide an Example: I threw in the towel after trying many times. / She threw in the towel on the puzzle.
Alternative Meaning: He threw in the towel when the game got too hard. / We threw in the towel and asked for help.
Trials for Success: Idioms for America
- I had to __________ before school because I forgot to pack my lunch.
- My little brother was jumping on the couch and got in __________ with Mom.
- We had to __________ while waiting for our turn at the playground.
- I felt like a __________ on my first day at my new school.
- It was raining __________ so we stayed inside for recess.
- Dad told me to __________ and finish my homework before dinner.
- She __________ when she said we were going to Disney World tomorrow.
- I had to __________ after my basketball team lost the game.
- We were so happy, we were __________ after winning the class prize.
- He got __________ and didn’t want to sing at the school concert.
- My teacher told me to __________ when I gave the right answer.
- Mom said the cookies were a __________ to bake.
- I had to __________ and be quiet when my baby sister was napping.
- She had her __________ and didn’t hear the teacher call her name.
- We had to __________ early to get to Grandma’s house on time.
Answer Key
- hit the road
- hot water
- hold our horses
- fish out of water
- cats and dogs
- shake a leg
- pulled my leg
- blow off steam
- over the moon
- cold feet
- hit the nail on the head
- piece of cake
- zip my lip
- head in the clouds
- hit the road
Conclusion
Idioms help us speak in fun and smart ways. People in America use them every day. They make talking and writing more interesting.
Now you know what many idioms mean. You can also use them when you speak. Try using one at school or at home. It will help you share your thoughts in a better way.
