50 Common Idioms in English Language – Part 2

Why Learn More Common Idioms in English?

Idioms are the heart of natural English. If you want to speak English fluently and confidently, you must understand how native speakers use idioms in daily life. In Part 2 of this series, we share 25 more common idioms in English, each explained in a simple way with clear examples. These idioms will help you sound more natural in conversations, job interviews, meetings, and daily talk.

How to Use These Idioms for Speaking Practice

Speak 5–6 Sentences for Each Idiom

Read the meaning and sample sentences of each idiom. Then create and speak 5–6 of your own sentences. These may match the examples — that’s okay. Speaking is key to confidence.

Common Questions About English Idioms (With Clear Answers)

1. How do I learn common idioms in English easily?

Start with 2–3 idioms daily. Read, speak, and use them in your routine. Speak 5 sentences aloud for each idiom.

2. Can beginners use idioms in conversation?

Yes. If you know the meaning, you can use idioms in simple conversations and sound fluent.

3. Do I need to make my own sentences?

Yes. Use the given examples to get the idea, then speak your own to improve memory and confidence.

 1.      The ball is in your court

Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.

Sample Sentences:

·        I’ve given you all the information. Now the ball is in your court.

·        Once I have explained all the pros and cons, the ball is in your court.

·        After understanding this critical information, the ball is in my court.

·        After learning the cooking skills from the top chefs, the ball is in your court.

·        Once you understand the client’s requirements, the ball is in your court.

2. Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: To make a bad situation worse.

Sample Sentences:

·        His rude comment added fuel to the fire.

·        The client is already upset. This mistake will add fuel to the fire.

·        He doesn’t like you. Your presence at the party will add fuel to the fire.

·        She doesn’t want to talk to you. Calling her now will only add fuel to the fire.

·        Discussing his past mistakes during the meeting only added fuel to the fire.

3. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To do more than expected.

Sample Sentences:

·        He always goes the extra mile for his customers.

·        You cannot contribute your best if you are not ready to go the extra mile.

·        Go the extra mile in whatever you do. This attitude will always reward you.

·        He has a very good rapport with his clients because he always goes the extra mile for them.

·        Success chases those who are always willing to go the extra mile.

4. Keep an eye on
Meaning: To watch carefully.

Sample Sentences:

·        Keep an eye on the baby while I cook.

·        He always keeps an eye on the new servant.

·        The boss keeps an eye on employees who are negligent.

·        The bride was keeping an eye on the groom’s friends.

·        The teacher always keeps an eye on students who disturb others.

5. Have second thoughts
Meaning: To reconsider a decision.

Sample Sentences:

·        I’m having second thoughts about quitting my job.

·        She has second thoughts about this proposal.

·        I have second thoughts about joining dance classes because I’ve never liked dancing.

·        Raj is having second thoughts about this job because he doesn’t have a good command of Excel.

·        The management has second thoughts about launching this product because it did not pass the quality test.

6. Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret.

Sample Sentences:

·        You cannot trust her—she always spills the beans.

·        I don’t want to discuss this matter with him; he might spill the beans.

·        If I tell you the truth, you might spill the beans.

·        Why did he spill the beans despite knowing the consequences?

·        No one can stop you if you really want to spill the beans.

7. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something difficult or unpleasant.

Sample Sentences:

·        I decided to bite the bullet and take the job no one wanted to do.

·        If you don’t want to face the angry client, I’ll bite the bullet.

·        Someone has to bite the bullet, or we’ll lose our biggest client.

·        He left a high-paying job and bit the bullet by starting his own business.

·        He didn’t want to study, but he bit the bullet and did it.

·        She bit the bullet and told her boss the bad news.

8. Get out of hand
Meaning: To become uncontrollable.

Sample Sentences:

·        The party got out of hand after midnight.

·        If you don’t act now, the situation may get out of hand.

·        Your employees got out of hand because you never addressed their mistakes.

·        The problem got out of hand because everyone tried to ignore it.

·        Many students get out of hand because the teachers never correct them.

9. On thin ice
Meaning: In a risky or dangerous situation.

Sample Sentences:

·        You’re on thin ice after that mistake.

·        You’ll be on thin ice if you don’t get your car serviced.

·        Just relax! You won’t be on thin ice after the marriage.

·        He was on thin ice after keeping a lion at home.

·        She will be on thin ice after leaving this job.

10. See eye to eye
Meaning: To agree.

Sample Sentences:

·        We don’t see eye to eye on politics.

·        I don’t see eye to eye with him on any topic.

·        Ramesh never sees eye to eye with his wife on working after office hours.

·        I cannot see eye to eye with some people on developing reading habits.

·        He doesn’t see eye to eye with his family on changing his job.

11. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working for the day.

Sample Sentences:

·        It’s 6 PM — let’s call it a day.

·        We’ll call it a day once we finish this project.

·        In some offices, employees call it a day when the boss leaves.

·        I never call it a day until I finish my most important task.

·        I call it a day when my wife reminds me to get home on time.

12. From scratch
Meaning: From the beginning; without using anything that already exists.

Sample Sentences:

·        We built this business from scratch.

·        I want to understand this concept from scratch.

·        She read the report from scratch.

·        He wants to learn this game from scratch.

·        Let’s plan the journey from scratch.

13. Easy does it
Meaning: Do something slowly and carefully.

Sample Sentences:

·        Easy does it! Don’t drop that box.

·        Easy does it! Every stakeholder will read this report.

·        Easy does it. This step is very important to complete the job.

·        Easy does it. We can't afford a mistake in this report.

·        Easy does it. The client wants the design to be perfect.

 14. Bell the Cat

Meaning: To take on a difficult or dangerous task that others are afraid to do — especially one that involves risk or courage.

Sample Sentences:

·        Someone has to bell the cat and speak to the boss about the problem.

·        We all agreed on the issue, but no one was ready to bell the cat.

·        Who will bell the cat and take responsibility for this risky project?

·        It's easy to give ideas, but difficult to bell the cat.

·        She decided to bell the cat and file a complaint against the powerful manager.

15.Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid saying something directly.

Sample Sentences:

Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth.

I normally beat around the bush because I never want to hurt others.

I think one cannot be an effective communicator if he beats around the bush.

I have met many daring people who never beat around the bush.

Why would I ever beat around the bush?

16. Beat Around the Bush

Meaning: To avoid saying something directly; to delay or avoid getting to the point.

Sample Sentences:

·        Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth.

·        I usually beat around the bush because I don’t want to hurt others.

·        I think one cannot be an effective communicator if they beat around the bush.

·        I’ve met many daring people who never beat around the bush.

·        Why would I ever beat around the bush?

17. Blessing in Disguise

Meaning: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good later.

 Sample Sentences:

·        Losing that job was a blessing in disguise — it pushed me to start my own business.

·        He had to shut his business, but it might be a blessing in disguise.

·        Her illness was a blessing in disguise; it made her focus on her health.

·        The failed deal turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

·        Missing the flight was a blessing in disguise — the weather turned terrible later.

·        Breaking off your friendship with him might be a blessing in disguise.

18. Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: To intentionally ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly way.

Sample Sentences:

·        If Ramesh doesn’t want to meet people, he gives them the cold shoulder.

·        I usually give talkative people the cold shoulder.

·        If you give someone the cold shoulder, they may hesitate to contact you again.

·        I think it’s not appropriate to give your friends the cold shoulder.

·        Many interviewers give candidates the cold shoulder if they don’t like how they are dressed.

19. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Not very often.

Sample Sentences:

1.      I meet my friends once in a blue moon because we’re all quite busy.

2.      She calls her parents once in a blue moon since she moved to Canada.

3.      Raj plays badminton once in a blue moon since his marriage.

4.      He takes a day off from work once in a blue moon because he loves his job.

5.      Pooja attends classes once in a blue moon because she hates school.

20. Through thick and thin
Meaning: In good times and bad times; in all situations.

Sample Sentences:

·        True friends stay with you through thick and thin.

·        She supported her husband through thick and thin.

·        I’ve been with this company through thick and thin for over ten years.

·        He remained loyal to his team through thick and thin.

·        My parents have always stood by me through thick and thin.

21. Speak of the devil
Meaning: Used when the person you are talking about unexpectedly appears.

Sample Sentences:

·        Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you.

·        I was telling her about Rahul, and speak of the devil—he walked in.

·        Speak of the devil, here comes our manager.

·        We were discussing Neha’s project, and speak of the devil, she called.

·        Oh, speak of the devil! There’s Raj at the door.

22. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it
Meaning: Don’t worry about a future problem until it actually happens.

Sample Sentences:

·        What if the plan fails? Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.

·        We don’t need to decide now— we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

·        She’s worried about moving abroad, but I told her we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

·        If the client rejects the proposal, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

·        He asked what we’d do if it rains, and I said we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

23. Hang in there
Meaning: Don’t give up; stay strong and keep going, especially in a difficult situation.

Sample Sentences:

·        I know things are tough right now, but hang in there.

·        Hang in there! Your hard work will pay off soon.

·        The job search is stressful, but just hang in there.

·        She told her friend to hang in there during his illness.

·        We’re almost done with the project—just hang in there a little longer.

24. Speak of the devil
Meaning: You say this when the person you are talking about suddenly appears.

Sample Sentences:

·        Speak of the devil! You just came when we were talking about you.

·        We were talking about Riya, and speak of the devil—she called.

·        Speak of the devil! Look who’s here!

·        Oh, speak of the devil! There is my boss.

·        We were just saying your name, and speak of the devil—you showed up!

25. The best of both worlds
Meaning: A situation where you enjoy the benefits of two different things at the same time.

Sample Sentences:

1. Working from home gives me the best of both worlds—comfort and income.
2. She lives in the city but works in nature. She has the best of both worlds.
3. This job lets me travel and earn money. It’s the best of both worlds.
4. With online and offline classes, students get the best of both worlds.
5. He enjoys village peace and city fun. He has the best of both worlds.

Meet the Author – Yogesh

• ✅ A Qualified Chartered Accountant helping professionals and jobseekers speak English confidently for over 15 years.
• 🏢 Founder of Urcareer, one of the most trusted institutes on Google for learning English-speaking skills.
• 📚 Author of 7 books, including 2 bestsellers: Learn English Through Hindi-English Translation and English Speaking Practice.
• 🎓 Creator of English Speaking Mastery Course for Beginners, with 7,200+ students from over 110 countries.
• 💬 His language tips and answers have received over 1.5 million views on Quora.