English idioms confuse learners of English as a second language because they usually convey meanings entirely different from the definitions of the words used in those phrases. The list of English idioms stems from many sources including Shakespeare, sailors, and movies. The following is a list of English idiomatic expressions that one might hear in every day speech:
“A piece of cake” means that something is very easy: “Designing that web site was a piece of cake”
“A chip on your shoulder” means that you are still upset about something that happened in the past: “She still has a chip on her shoulder about Fred being late for their date.”
“A drop in the bucket” refers to a very small part of something much bigger: “Saving honeybees may seem like a drop in the bucket compared with other environmental issues, but bees play a huge role in the planet’s health.”
“Sick and tired” means that you are fed up with something: “I am sick and tired of getting stuck in traffic every day.”
“Broke” means to have no money: “I had to borrow money from my dad because I’m broke.”
“Can of worms” refers to a difficult, complicated situation: “Achieving peace in the Middle East is a real can of worms.”
“Keep your chin up” means to stay optimistic and brave: “I know things are difficult, but keep your chin up!”
“Sharp” means to be exactly punctual: “We need to be there at 7:30 sharp, or we’ll miss the train!”
“An arm and a leg” means exorbitantly expensive: “That dress is going to cost an arm and a leg!”
“Chill out” means to relax: “Chill out. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Kill two birds with one stone” means to accomplish two goals at once: “Jane kills two birds with one stone by studying as she rides the train home.”
“Herding cats” points to the difficulty of trying to organize a group of people who want to act independently. “Getting all of the 3-year-olds to sit down for story time is like herding cats.”