🎯 A2 Level · Vocabulary
👋 An idiom is a fixed phrase whose meaning isn't literal — like "break a leg," which has nothing to do with legs! Learn these 15 idioms and you'll sound way more natural. Tap any card to open it. 👇
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1
Be a doll
📖 Definition
To ask someone to be kind and helpful — to do a favor for you. It is a warm and friendly way to make a request.
💬 Examples
Native"Be a doll and grab me a coffee, will you?"
Native"She was a real doll — she helped me move all weekend."
ESL"Can you please do me a favor and get a coffee?"
You use this when... you want to ask someone to do something kind or helpful for you. It adds warmth and friendliness to your request. Common between friends, family, and coworkers.
2
Break a leg
📖 Definition
A way to wish someone good luck — especially before a performance, exam, or important event.
💬 Examples
Native"Your audition is today? Break a leg!"
Native"Big presentation tomorrow — break a leg, buddy!"
ESL"I hope you have good luck in your presentation."
You use this when... someone is about to do something important — an exam, a job interview, a sports game, a performance, or any big moment. Do not say "good luck" in the theater world — "break a leg" is the tradition!
3
Cats and dogs
📖 Definition
Used in the phrase "raining cats and dogs" — it means it is raining very heavily. No animals are involved! 😄
💬 Examples
Native"Don't forget your umbrella — it's raining cats and dogs out there!"
Native"The game was cancelled. It was raining cats and dogs."
ESL"It is raining a lot outside today."
You use this when... it is raining very, very hard — a heavy storm. You always use it with the verb "raining": "It's raining cats and dogs."
4
Couch potato
📖 Definition
A person who spends a lot of time sitting on the sofa, watching TV, and doing very little physical activity. A lazy person.
💬 Examples
Native"Don't be such a couch potato — let's go for a walk!"
Native"My brother is a total couch potato on weekends."
ESL"My brother is a very lazy and inactive person on weekends."
You use this when... you want to describe someone (or yourself!) who is being very lazy, sitting around, and not exercising. It is informal and often said in a joking or teasing way.
5
Time flies
📖 Definition
Time passes very quickly — faster than you expected or noticed.
💬 Examples
Native"Wow, it's already December! Time flies when you're having fun."
Native"My daughter just turned 18 — time flies, I can't believe it."
ESL"The time passed very quickly. I did not notice how fast it went."
You use this when... you notice that time has passed very quickly. The full saying is "time flies when you're having fun," but natives often just say "time flies!"
6
Hold your horses
📖 Definition
Wait! Slow down! Don't go so fast or act too quickly.
💬 Examples
Native"Hold your horses! We need to check the plan before we move."
Native"Hold your horses — I haven't finished explaining yet!"
ESL"Please wait a moment. I have not finished explaining."
You use this when... someone is moving too fast, making a decision too quickly, or interrupting you. It can sound playful or slightly impatient depending on the tone.
7
In a nutshell
📖 Definition
To summarize something briefly — to explain the most important parts in a few words.
💬 Examples
Native"In a nutshell, the project failed because of poor communication."
Native"Can you explain the plan? — In a nutshell: we build, we test, we launch."
ESL"To summarize the main points briefly, the project failed due to communication."
You use this when... you want to summarize a long explanation in a quick and simple way. Very common in business meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations. It sounds professional and smart!
8
Out of the blue
📖 Definition
Something that happens suddenly and unexpectedly — with no warning at all.
💬 Examples
Native"Out of the blue, she quit her job and moved to Spain!"
Native"He texted me out of the blue after two years of silence."
ESL"Without any previous warning or notice, she quit her job."
You use this when... something surprising happens with absolutely no warning — a phone call you didn't expect, a job offer, or a decision that seems to come from nowhere.
9
Piece of cake
📖 Definition
Something that is very easy to do — no effort needed.
💬 Examples
Native"The driving test? Piece of cake. I passed on my first try."
Native"Don't worry about the installation — it's a piece of cake."
ESL"The exam was very easy. I did not have any difficulties."
You use this when... a task turns out to be much easier than expected, or when you want to reassure someone that something will not be difficult.
10
Put a foot down
📖 Definition
To be firm and refuse to accept something — to say "no" in a strong and final way. Also said as "put your foot down."
💬 Examples
Native"The kids wanted to stay up all night, but she put her foot down."
Native"The team kept changing the deadline. The manager put his foot down."
ESL"The manager firmly refused to allow any more deadline changes."
You use this when... someone makes a clear and firm decision to stop a situation or behavior. Common in parenting, management, and relationships.
11
Ring a bell
📖 Definition
To sound familiar — when something reminds you of something you have heard or seen before, but you are not 100% sure.
💬 Examples
Native"Does the name 'James Cooper' ring a bell?" — "Hmm, it does, actually."
Native"That song really rings a bell — what's it called?"
ESL"I think I have heard that name before, but I am not completely sure."
You use this when... a name, place, song, or face seems familiar but you can't quite remember where you know it from. Also used as a question: "Does that ring a bell?"
12
Speak of the devil
📖 Definition
Said when someone you were just talking about appears or contacts you at that exact moment.
💬 Examples
Native"We were just talking about Marco — speak of the devil, here he comes!"
Native"Did you hear from Sarah? — Speak of the devil, she just texted me!"
ESL"We were just talking about you and now you arrived at this moment."
You use this when... the person you were just talking about suddenly appears — in person, by phone, or by message. It's always said with a smile and a bit of surprise. It's never negative!
13
On thin ice
📖 Definition
To be in a risky or dangerous situation — where one wrong move could cause serious trouble.
💬 Examples
Native"He's on thin ice with his boss after missing two deadlines."
Native"Be careful what you say — you're already on thin ice with her."
ESL"He is in a very risky situation with his boss because of the missed deadlines."
You use this when... someone is in a delicate situation where any small mistake could make things much worse. You can use it as a warning or to describe someone else's situation.
14
Under the weather
📖 Definition
To feel sick or not feeling well — usually a mild illness like a cold or low energy.
💬 Examples
Native"I'm feeling a bit under the weather — I think I'm getting a cold."
Native"She won't be in today, she's been under the weather since Monday."
ESL"I am not feeling well today. I think I have a cold or something."
You use this when... you feel sick but not seriously ill. Very polite and common in professional settings when calling in sick or explaining your absence. Works great in emails too!
15
Up and running
📖 Definition
Working correctly and ready to use — especially after a problem, repair, or new setup.
💬 Examples
Native"The new system is finally up and running after last week's crash."
Native"We'll have the website up and running by Friday — don't worry."
ESL"The new system is now working correctly after the technical problems."
You use this when... something (a system, machine, business, or website) is now working and fully operational — especially after a repair or initial setup. Very common in tech and business.
🎬 See Them in Action: Series & Movies
Want to hear these idioms used for real? Check out this video with clips from TV shows and movies where native speakers use them naturally.
🔥 Why This Matters
Real English — conversations, TV, podcasts, work emails — is full of idioms. Knowing grammar is like knowing how to build a car engine; idioms are the style and personality that make your English come alive. You don't need to use them constantly — just 2 or 3 naturally in a conversation makes a huge difference.
The common mistake
Most students learn grammar and vocabulary but skip idioms because they're harder to memorize. The result: correct but robotic English. Learning even a handful of idioms instantly makes you sound more natural.
Compare how different these sound, even though both are correct:
| Situation | 🗣️ Native with idiom | 📖 ESL literal version |
|---|---|---|
| Before a performance | "Break a leg!" | "Good luck to you." |
| Explaining something quickly | "In a nutshell, we need more money." | "To summarize briefly and concisely, we need more money." |
| Something happened unexpectedly | "He called me out of the blue!" | "He called me without any previous warning." |
📖 Key Vocabulary from This Article
Idiom
A phrase whose meaning is different from the individual words
Literal
Using the exact dictionary meaning of each word
Figurative
Using words in an imaginative or symbolic way
Native speaker
A person who learned a language from birth
Fluent
Speaking a language smoothly and naturally
Context
The situation or setting where something is said
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