100 Common Idioms

1. a blessing in disguise : a good thing that seemed bad at first

> Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.

2. a picture is worth 1000 words : a picture tells a story just as well as, if not better than, written words

> Please could you sketch out of a floorplan? A picture is worth a thousand words.

3. a piece of cake : really easy

> That exam was a piece of cake.

4. actions speak louder than words : what somebody does means more than what they say they will do

> I'm going to wait for him to show me he loves me because actions speak louder than words.

5. add insult to injury : act in a way that makes a bad situation worse

> I was late and, to add insult to injury, I forgot my keys.

6. as cheap as chips : really cheap

> Don't worry about paying me back - they were as cheap as chips!

7. barking up the wrong tree : be wrong about the way to achieve something or the reason for something

> I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Rather than reading the textbook cover to cover, you should try the SQRRR method. 

8. beat around the bush : avoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable

> I'm not going to beat around the bush - I hate your boyfriend.

9. better late than never : it is better to arrive or do something later than expected than to not arrive or not do something at all

> Wow! She finally turned up! Better late than never!

10. bite off more than you can chew : try to do something that is too difficult or too much for you

> I have bitten off more than I can chew with this 100 idioms video!

11. bite the bullet : force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to be brave in a difficult situation

> I'm going to bite the bullet and quit my job. 

12. break a leg : good luck

> Break a leg tonight! You're an amazing actor!

13. break the ice : make people who have not met each other before feel more relaxed and comfortable

> I've organized a fun game to help us all break the ice!

14. call it a day : stop what you are doing because you think you have done enough or do not want to do any more.

> I'm exhausted - I think I'm going to call it a day! 

15. cost an arm and a leg : be very expensive

> That car looks like it cost and an arm and a leg! 

16. cut corners : do something in the fastest, easiest or cheapest way

> This report is of poor quality - I think the author may have cut some corners. 

17. cut someone some slack : give somebody additional freedom

> Because it was the last day of class, the teachers cut the students some slack.

18. don't give up your day job : used for telling somebody that you don't think they're very good at something

> Your drum solo was very entertaining, but don't give up (your) day job!

19. put all your eggs in one basket : depend for success on a single person or plan

> I'm applying for several jobs because I don't want to pull all of my eggs in one basket.

20. easy does it : used to tell someone to do something carefully and slowly

> Easy does it! Don't spill that paint!

21. every cloud has a silver lining : every negative has a positive ក្រោយភ្លៀងមេឃស្រឡះ គ្រោះជាលាភ

> Every cloud has a silver lining - after being made redundant I found my dream job!

22. get a taste of your own medicine : get treated the way you've been treating other people សាងអីបានណឹង កម្មពៀរ បាបកម្ម

> The nasty prison warden got a taste of his own medicine after being thrown in jail. 

23. get out of hand : become difficult to control 

> Over Khmer New Year, our spending got a little out of hand.

24. get something out of your system : get rid of a wish or emotion, especially a negative one, by allowing yourself to express it

> I went and bought that dress I was thinking about all day - I had to get it out of my system!

25. get your act together : start to organize yourself so that you do things in an effective way

> My desk is a complete mess. I need to get my act together! 

26. give someone the benefit of the doubt : decide that you will believe someone, even if you are not sure that what they're saying is true ជឿសិន ជឿសិនឆាប់ចប់

> She said she was late because her train was cancelled, and we gave her the benefit of the doubt.

27. give some the cold shoulder : ignore someone

> I think he is giving me the cold shoulder!

28. go back to the drawing board : start planning something again because the first plan failed

> Well that didn't work! Let's go back to the drawing board.

29. good things come to those who wait : be patient 

> Stop rushing me! Good things come to those who wait!

30. hang in there : said as a way to tell people to not give up hope, even though difficulties កុំអស់សង្ឃឹម ត្រូវមានសង្ឃឹម មានជីវិតមានសង្ឃឹម 

> Final exams are tough, but hang in there and it'll be ok. 

31. hit the nail on the head : get something exactly right ត្រឹមត្រូវ ចំចំណុច ចំរមាស់ ចំចំណុចដែលចង់បាន 

> You've hit the nail on the head - that is the route we should have taken! 

32. hit the sack : go to bed 

> I'm tired - do you mind if I hit the sack?

33. ignorance is bliss : you're better off not knowing

> I could ask my boss if she's planning to fire me, but ignorance is bliss.

34. in a nutshell : in the fewest possible words និយាយអោយខ្លី និយាយរួម និយាយអោយឆាប់ចប់ មិនបាច់និយាយច្រើន មិនបាច់និយាយតទៀត

> In a nutshell, everything went wrong. 

35. it takes one to know one : you're just as bad as I am

> You're such a gossip! It takes one to know one! 

36. It's not rocket science : used to say that you don't think something is very difficult or hard to understand

> I don't understand how you can't work out how to use the washing machine! It's not rocket science!

37. jump on the bandwagon : join an activity, trend or opinion that has become popular

> I've jumped on the bandwagon and downloaded Fortnight.

38. keep one's chin up : keep one's spirits high

> I'm trying to keep my chin up after receiving that rejection letter.

39. kill two birds with one stone : get two things done with a single action ព្រួញមួយបាញ់បានចាបពីរ ព្រួយ១បាញ់បានចាប២ ធ្វើរឿងមួយចំណេញពីរ 

> We could kill two birds with one stone by stopping off at the bakery on the way home from the butcher's. 

40. leave no stone unturned : try every possible course of action in order to get something done ធ្វើអ្វីគ្រប់យ៉ាង រកវិធីគ្រប់យ៉ាង 

> He left no stone unturned in his search for his natural mother. ម្តាយបង្កើត

41. let sleeping dogs lie : leave a situation as it is, in order to not make it worse កុំតបត កុំត កុំខ្ចីតបត ទុកអោយតាមដំណើរ អោយទៅតែឯងទៅ

> I think we should let sleeping dogs lie and avoid confronting her about her issues. 

42. let someone off the hook : allow (someone who has been caught doing something wrong or illegal) to go unpunished លើកលែង (ទោស កំហុស ច្បាប់) អោយរួចខ្លួន 

> This is the third time you've been caught speeding and I don't think they're going to let you off the hook. 

43. let the cat out of the bag : reveal a secret លាតត្រដាង ឬបង្ហាញការពិត លាតត្រដាងអាថ៌កំបាំង បង្ហាញ បង្ហាញអោយដឹង

> Don't let the cat out of the bag because the party is a surprise!

44. make a long story short : used to indicate that you are providing just basic facts and information in order to reduce the length of a story និយាយយរួម និយាយអោយខ្លី និយាយអោយឆាប់ចប់​ មែនទែនទៅ

> To make a long story short, I cancelled the party because of financial problems!

45. miss the boat : be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity

> I waited too long for the house prices to drop and I missed the boat. 

46. neck of the woods : the area where someone comes from, or the area where you are

> I'm surprised to see you in this nect of the woods. 

47. no pain, no gain : suffering is necessary in order to achieve something

> I've been going to the gym twice a day and my muscles ache - but no pain, no gain!

48. not one's cup of tea : some doesn't like or isn't interested in something

> I'm sorry but line-dancing really isn't my cup of tea.

49. off the top of one's head : from memory, without a lot of thought or consideration ចាំច្បាស់ណាស់ 

> Off the top of my head, I think she's been engaged 5 times.

50.  on the ball : alert to new ideas, methods, and trends

> I like hanging out with younger people - it keeps me on the ball.

51. on thin ice : one probation. If you make another mistake, there will be trouble

> I'm on thin ice after my behaviour at the office party.

52. once in a blue moon : rarely, very infrequently

> I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon, but when I do go I really enjoy it. 

53. out of someone's league : too good or expensive for someone to have

> My crush is completely out of league. 

54. play devil's advocate : argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument 

> I don't wat to play devil's advocate but are you really going out dressed like that? មិនថាម៉េចទេ មិនមែនចេះតែថា មិនមែនចេះតែរិះគន់ ឬជំទាស់នោះទេ

55. play something by ear : plan something in an improvised way (instead of planning ahead), deciding what to do as the plan develops

> Instead of booking a table this weekend - shall we just play it by ear?

56. pull someone's leg : playfully deceived someone

> Are you actually leaving your job or are you pulling my leg?

57. pull yourself together : recover control of your emotions

> I need to pull myself together and stop crying!

58. rain on someone's parade : spoil something

> I don't want to rain on your parade but I think you've made a huge mistake in your thesis.

59. rock the boat : do or say something that could cause a problem or disturbance បំបែកបំបាក់ ញុះញុង ចាក់ចុច​ ធ្វើអោយបែកបាក់ ធ្វើអោយឈ្លោះគ្នា  

> The team is getting on really well at the moment so let's not rock the boat.

60. save something for a rainy day : save something (usually money) for when you need it សន្សំ (លុយ) ទុកគ្រាន់ដោះទាល់ ទុកពេលអត់ សន្សំទុកពេលអត់

> I think you should save that bonus for a rainy day.

61. see eye to eye : agree

> I really don't see eye to eye with my grandma.

62. shed light on something : reveal information about or to clarify something

> Please could you shed some light on your absence yesterday?

63. sit on the fence : avoid making a decision or choice មិនអាចធ្វើការជ្រើសរើស ឬសម្រេចចិត្ត

> I am sitting on the fence, I really can't choose between these two puppies. 

64. sit tight : refrain from taking action or changing one's mind

> The estate agent advised us to sit tight and neither buy nor sell.

65. smell a rat : begin to suspect trickery or deception

> When she passed away, investigators were called in and soon smelt a rat.

66. so far so good : used to say that something (such as a plan or project) is progressing well with no problems u to the present

> How is the new job? So far so good!

67. someone wouldn't be caught dead : someone dislikes something very much 

> I wouldn't be caught dead in a dress like that!

68. someone heart in the right place : someone only has good intentions

> He is very strict with his students, but his heart is in the right place.

69. someone's jaw drops : someone is very surprised

> When I say him in his suit, my jaw dropped!

70. someone's pride joy : a person or thing that gives someone a lot of satisfaction and happiness

> Her vegetable garden is her pride and joy!

71. someone true colours : the kind of person someone really is rather than what they appear be ហ្សីន ចរិកហ្សីន ចរិកពិត សារជាតិ សារជាតិពីកំណើតម៉េចចឹង

> I thought he was really nice, but then he was rude to the waiter and showed his true colours. 

72. something rings a bell : something is familiar or that you've heard something before ដូចប្រហែលៗ ដូចធ្លាប់ស្គាល់ ដូចធ្លាប់លឺ ប្រហែលៗ

> I don't know him personally, but the name rings a bell. 

73. speak of the devil : said when a person appears just after being mentioned នឹកដើមដល់

> A is so mean. Speak of the devil - He's just liked my Facebook post!

74. spill the beans : give away a secret 

> Go on, spill the beans! I need to know how your date went!

75. steal someone's thunder : take attention or praise away from someone else's accomplishments by outdoing them with your own

> She stole my thunder when she announced her pregnancy at my wedding!

76. stick to one's guns : refuse to change your opinions or beliefs about something

> You need to stick to your guns and stop listening to what he says! 

77. take something with a pinch/grain of salt : not take something too seriously

> I think you need to take anything that he says with a pinch of salt. 

78. take the mickey : make fun of 

> Are you taking the mickey of my mum? 

79. the ball is in your court : it's your decision បាល់នៅក្នុងដៃអ្នក ការសម្រេចចិត្តស្ថិតលើអ្នក ស្ថិតលើខ្លួនអ្នក

> The ball is in your court regarding the location of the next event.

80. the best of both words : a situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two different things

> She works in the city but lives in the countryside, so she can enjoy best of both words.

81. the best thing since sliced bread : a really great invention

> This spork is the best thing since sliced bread!

82. the devil is in the details : it looks good from afar, but when you look more closely, there are problems ល្អមើល មើលពីចម្ងាយល្អ ល្អមើលតែមិនល្អស៊ី ពិរោះស្តាប់

> The illustrations looked fine at first glance, but the devil is in the details! 

83. the early bird gets the worm : the people who arrive first will get the best stuff

> Let's head to the sales at 6 am - the early bird gets the worm! 

84. the elephant in the room : the big issue, the problem that people are avoiding 

> I think we should address the elephant in the room - your hideous shoes.

85. the last straw : the last in a series of unpleasant events that makes you feel like you can't continue ស្ទើរទ្រាំមិនបាន ស្ទើរទប់មិនបាន

> She's always been rude to me, but it was the last straw when she started  insulting my mother.

86. there are plenty more fish in the sea : it's ok to miss this opportunity because others will arise: នៅមានឧិកាស ឧិកាសនៅមានទៀត អោយតែនៅព្រៃ មិនខ្វះអុសដុត កុំទៅព្រួយ កុំទៅភ័យ កុំទៅស្តាយ កុំទៅសោកស្តាយ កុំស្រណោះ

> Just forget about him - there are plenty more fish in the sea!

87. there's a method to someone's madness : someone appears crazy but actually they have a plan

> My bedroom seems messy but thee is a method to my madness! 

88. there's no such thing as a free lunch : nothing is entirely free

> I wonder what he wants from me? There's no such thing as a free lunch!

89. through thick and thin : under all circumstances, no matter how difficult ទោះខាំស្មៅ ទោះកាលទេសណាក៏ដោយ ទោះលំបាកយ៉ាងណា

> He stuck with her through thick and thin. 

90. throw caution to the wind : take a risk ប្រថុយ កុំទៅខ្វល់ មានរឿងអីកើតឡើងកើតទៅ ចោរក៏ចោរ

> I think you should throw caution to the wind and go on that date! 

91. make matters worse : with the result that a bad situation is made worse រឹតតែធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ គាន់តែធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ រិតតែអាក្រក់ កាន់តែអាក្រក់ជាងនោះ

> She accidentally sent a romantic message to her family WhatsApp group, and to make matters worse it included a picture.

92. twist someone's arm : convince someone to do what you want

> I didn't want to go out tonight, but he twisted my arm!

93. under the weather : slightly unwell or in low spirits 

> I don't think I'll come tonight because I'm feeling a bit under the weather. 

94. up in the air : (of a plan or issue) still to be settled; unresolved

> The fate of our house purchase is still up in the air! 

95. we'll cross that bridge when we come to it : an expression that means you will not worry about a possible future problem but will deal with it if it happens កុំគិតច្រើន កុំទៅខ្វល់ពេក ដើរមួយជំហ៊ានគិតមួយជំហាន ទៅសិនចាំគិតទៀត 

> Don't worry about the car breaking down - we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

96. wrap your head around something : find a way to understand or accept (something)

> I still can't wrap my head around why she would do that! 

97. you can say that again : used to express emphatic agreement

> The weather has been terrible. You can say that again! 

98. you can't have your cake and eat it too : you can't have everything ពាំត្រណោត មិនអាចយកទាំងពីរ យកតែមួយ

> You need to choose between the two opinions - you can't have your cake and eat it too! 

99. you can't judge a book by its cover : don't judge what's on the outside កុំមើលតែសំបកខាងក្រៅ កុំទាន់សន្និដ្ឋាន កុំទាន់វាយតម្លៃខាងក្រៅ កុំទាន់អាលវាយតម្លៃ

> She may look scruffy but don't judge a book by its cover. 

100. you live and you learn : you learn from your mistakes 

> I know I failed the interview but you live and you learn.

By LUCY: Beautiful British English