Idioms are phrases where the meaning isn't the same as the words: a piece of cake means "very easy", not cake! They're very common in everyday English, so understanding them helps a lot, even if you don't use them all yourself.
30 common idioms
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a piece of cake | very easy | The test was a piece of cake. |
| break the ice | start a conversation in a new group | He told a joke to break the ice. |
| call it a day | stop working for today | We've done enough. Let's call it a day. |
| hit the sack | go to bed | I'm exhausted. I'm going to hit the sack. |
| under the weather | a bit sick | I'm feeling under the weather today. |
| on the same page | agreeing; understanding the same thing | Let's check we're all on the same page. |
| cut corners | do something cheaply or badly to save time | Don't cut corners on safety. |
| get the hang of | learn how to do something | You'll get the hang of the new system. |
| in a nutshell | in a few words | In a nutshell, we need more staff. |
| keep an eye on | watch carefully | Can you keep an eye on my bag? |
| once in a blue moon | very rarely | I eat fast food once in a blue moon. |
| the ball is in your court | it's your decision now | I've made an offer. The ball is in your court. |
| cost an arm and a leg | be very expensive | Rent in Sydney costs an arm and a leg. |
| hit the nail on the head | say exactly the right thing | You hit the nail on the head. |
| let the cat out of the bag | tell a secret by mistake | Who let the cat out of the bag about the party? |
| pull someone's leg | joke with someone | Relax, I'm just pulling your leg. |
| sit on the fence | not choose a side | You can't sit on the fence forever. |
| by the skin of your teeth | only just | I passed by the skin of my teeth. |
| back to square one | start again from the beginning | The plan failed, so we're back to square one. |
| better late than never | it's good it happened, even if late | You finally called! Better late than never. |
| a blessing in disguise | something bad that turns out good | Losing that job was a blessing in disguise. |
| go the extra mile | do more than expected | She always goes the extra mile for customers. |
| learn the ropes | learn how to do a job | Your first week is for learning the ropes. |
| up in the air | not decided yet | Our holiday plans are still up in the air. |
| a fair go | a fair chance (very Australian) | Everyone deserves a fair go. |
| flat out like a lizard drinking | very busy (Aussie, humorous) | Sorry, I'm flat out like a lizard drinking today. |
| she'll be right | it'll be OK (Aussie) | Don't worry about the scratch. She'll be right. |
| have a crack | try (Aussie) | Never done it? Have a crack! |
| chuck a sickie | take a day off work pretending to be sick (Aussie, informal) | He chucked a sickie on Friday. |
| fair dinkum | real, genuine (Aussie) | Is that fair dinkum? |
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For more Australian expressions, see the Australian slang dictionary and what Aussies really mean.
Frequently asked questions
What is an idiom?
A phrase with a meaning that's different from its individual words, like 'break the ice' (start a conversation).
Should I use idioms in IELTS or PTE?
Only if they fit naturally. In IELTS Speaking, a natural idiom can help; in academic writing, avoid them.
What are some Australian idioms?
'A fair go' (a fair chance), 'she'll be right' (it'll be OK) and 'have a crack' (try).