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Idiom List

Idiom Listening Builder — All Idioms

480 idioms · Grades 1–12 · 20 each for levels 1–4, 50 each for levels 5–12 · fixed display order · English & Japanese meanings

Level 1 Grade 1 20 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 break a leg used to wish someone good luck
2 piece of cake something that is very easy to do
3 hit the sack to go to bed
4 cool as a cucumber very calm and not nervous at all
5 on cloud nine feeling extremely happy
6 under the weather feeling a little sick
7 once in a blue moon something that happens very rarely
8 spill the beans to tell a secret
9 hit the books to study hard
10 a piece of the pie a share of something
11 see eye to eye to agree with someone
12 raining cats and dogs raining very heavily
13 costs an arm and a leg very expensive
14 the ball is in your court it is your turn to make a decision
15 early bird catches the worm the person who starts early has the best chance of success
16 better late than never doing something late is still better than not doing it at all
17 practice makes perfect the more you practice, the better you become
18 actions speak louder than words what people do matters more than what they say
19 easy as pie extremely easy
20 time flies time seems to pass very quickly
Level 2 Grade 2 20 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 bite the bullet to do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding
2 break the ice to make people feel more comfortable in a social situation
3 call it a day to stop working on something for now
4 cut corners to do something in the easiest or cheapest way
5 get cold feet to become nervous about doing something you had planned
6 hang in there to stay determined despite difficulty
7 hit the road to leave; to start a trip
8 keep an eye on to watch something or someone carefully
9 miss the boat to miss a chance to do something
10 on the same page having the same understanding or opinion
11 pull yourself together to calm down and behave normally again
12 speak of the devil said when someone you were just talking about suddenly appears
13 the last straw the final problem in a series that makes a situation unbearable
14 think outside the box to think creatively or differently
15 throw in the towel to give up
16 under your belt already having a skill or experience
17 up in the air undecided or uncertain
18 wrap your head around to understand something difficult
19 a blessing in disguise something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good
20 by the skin of your teeth barely succeeding at something
Level 3 Grade 3 20 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 add insult to injury to make a bad situation even worse
2 back to the drawing board to start a plan over again
3 beat around the bush to avoid talking about something directly
4 burn the midnight oil to work late into the night
5 caught red handed caught while doing something wrong
6 cry over spilled milk to be upset about something that cannot be changed
7 judge a book by its cover to judge something only by its appearance
8 every cloud has a silver lining there is something good in every bad situation
9 get the ball rolling to start something
10 give the cold shoulder to ignore someone on purpose
11 go the extra mile to make a greater effort than expected
12 hit the nail on the head to describe exactly what is causing a situation
13 it takes two to tango both people are responsible for something
14 jump on the bandwagon to join others in doing something popular
15 kill two birds with one stone to solve two problems with one action
16 learn the ropes to learn how to do a new job or task
17 let sleeping dogs lie to avoid restarting an old argument
18 make a long story short to explain something quickly
19 on thin ice in a risky or dangerous position
20 pull my leg to joke with someone
Level 4 Grade 4 20 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 a dime a dozen very common and of little value
2 taste of your own medicine being treated the way you treat others
3 against the clock racing to finish before a deadline
4 barking up the wrong tree pursuing a mistaken idea
5 glued to the screen very interested in watching something
6 bite off more than you can chew to take on more than you can handle
7 burst your bubble to ruin someone happy mood with disappointing news
8 cut to the chase to get to the point without wasting time
9 play devils advocate to argue the opposite side for the sake of debate
10 drop the ball to fail to do something properly
11 face the music to accept the consequences of your actions
12 get out of hand to become difficult to control
13 benefit of the doubt to believe someone even though it is not proven
14 go cold turkey to stop a habit suddenly and completely
15 hit close to home to affect someone personally
16 heat of the moment acting without thinking, due to strong emotion
17 jump the gun to act before the right time
18 keep your chin up to stay positive during a difficult time
19 lose your train of thought to forget what you were saying
20 make ends meet to have just enough money to live on
Level 5 Grade 5 50 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 add fuel to the fire to make a bad situation even worse
2 all ears listening very attentively
3 apple of my eye someone who is loved more than anyone else
4 ballpark figure an approximate number or estimate
5 barking mad completely crazy
6 beating a dead horse wasting time on something that is already settled
7 bend over backwards to make a great effort to help someone
8 best of both worlds enjoying the benefits of two different things at once
9 bite the dust to fail or stop working
10 blow off steam to release pent up energy or anger
11 break the bank to cost too much money
12 bring home the bacon to earn money to support the family
13 burning the candle at both ends working too hard without enough rest
14 by and large generally speaking
15 call the shots to be in charge and make the decisions
16 caught between two stools unable to choose between two options
17 chip on your shoulder feeling resentful about something
18 clean slate a fresh start with no past issues
19 close but no cigar almost successful but not quite
20 come rain or shine no matter what happens
21 cross that bridge when you come to it deal with a problem only when it actually happens
22 cut someone some slack to be less critical of someone
23 dark horse someone unexpected who succeeds
24 dead ringer someone who looks exactly like another person
25 down to earth practical and sensible
26 drag your feet to act slowly on purpose
27 drive you up the wall to annoy someone greatly
28 eat your words to admit that what you said was wrong
29 elephant in the room an obvious problem that nobody wants to discuss
30 fall on deaf ears to be ignored
31 fish out of water uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
32 for a song for a very low price
33 foot the bill to pay for something
34 get the short end of the stick to be treated unfairly
35 get your act together to organize yourself and behave properly
36 go back to square one to start over from the beginning
37 go down in flames to fail spectacularly
38 go with the flow to relax and accept things as they happen
39 hit the ground running to start something quickly and energetically
40 hold your horses wait and be patient
41 in hot water in trouble
42 in the nick of time just before it is too late
43 not rocket science not difficult to understand
44 jump through hoops to do many difficult things to achieve something
45 keep your fingers crossed to hope for good luck
46 lend a hand to help someone
47 light at the end of the tunnel hope that a difficult situation will improve
48 live and learn to gain wisdom from experience, even from mistakes
49 lose your touch to no longer have a skill you once had
50 miss the point to fail to understand the main idea
Level 6 Grade 6 50 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 a far cry from very different from
2 a leopard cannot change its spots people do not change their basic character
3 a penny for your thoughts asking what someone is thinking
4 a picture is worth a thousand words an image can express an idea better than words
5 add a feather to your cap to achieve something to be proud of
6 an axe to grind having a complaint or grievance against someone
7 armed to the teeth heavily armed or very well prepared
8 at the drop of a hat immediately, without any hesitation
9 back against the wall in a very difficult situation with few options
10 his bark is worse than his bite someone seems more threatening than they really are
11 beat a hasty retreat to leave quickly in order to avoid trouble
12 behind the eight ball at a disadvantage
13 bite your tongue to stop yourself from saying something
14 blow your own horn to boast about your own achievements
15 bone of contention the subject of an ongoing argument
16 born with a silver spoon born into a wealthy family
17 bottom line the most important point of a matter
18 break new ground to do something that has never been done before
19 burn your bridges to destroy a relationship so badly that you cannot go back
20 by hook or by crook by any means necessary
21 call a spade a spade to speak about something honestly and directly
22 caught off guard surprised and unprepared
23 champ at the bit eager and impatient to start something
24 clear the air to remove confusion or tension between people
25 come full circle to return to the starting point after a series of changes
26 cross your fingers to hope for good luck
27 cut the mustard to meet the necessary standard
28 hold no water an argument or excuse that is not valid
29 down in the dumps feeling sad
30 draw a blank to be unable to remember or think of something
31 drop in the bucket a very small amount compared to what is needed
32 eleventh hour the last possible moment before a deadline
33 fall from grace to lose the respect or status you once had
34 fan the flames to make a conflict or bad feeling worse
35 feather in your cap an honor or achievement to be proud of
36 fit as a fiddle in very good health
37 fly off the handle to suddenly become very angry
38 food for thought something worth thinking about carefully
39 get a grip to control your emotions and calm down
40 get the picture to understand a situation
41 give the green light to give permission for something to start
42 go against the grain to do something different from what is usual or expected
43 go down in history to be remembered for a very long time
44 go out on a limb to take a risk by saying or doing something unusual
45 go through the motions to do something without real effort or interest
46 grasp at straws to try desperate and unlikely solutions
47 hang by a thread in a very uncertain or risky situation
48 change of heart to change your opinion or feeling about something
49 have your cake and eat it too to enjoy two good things that cannot usually happen together
50 head over heels completely in love
Level 7 Grade 7 50 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 a bitter pill to swallow something unpleasant that must be accepted
2 a stone's throw away a very short distance away
3 an uphill battle a difficult struggle that requires great effort
4 at loggerheads in strong disagreement with someone
5 a wolf in sheep's clothing someone who seems harmless but is actually dangerous
6 bite the hand that feeds you to harm someone who has helped you
7 by the book strictly according to the rules
8 cast iron extremely strong and reliable
9 caught in the crossfire affected by a conflict between other people
10 chase your tail to be very busy without actually achieving much
11 come to terms with to accept a difficult situation
12 cut from the same cloth having very similar qualities or character
13 cut your losses to stop doing something before it causes more harm
14 the devil is in the details small details can cause serious problems
15 draw the line to set a limit on what is acceptable
16 drop everything to stop what you are doing immediately
17 eat humble pie to admit you were wrong and apologize
18 face value the way something appears at first, without deeper examination
19 fall by the wayside to fail to continue or be abandoned
20 fall into place to start making sense or working out well
21 feel it in your bones to have a strong instinctive sense about something
22 find your feet to become confident in a new situation
23 fish for compliments to try to get someone to praise you
24 fit like a glove to fit perfectly
25 flesh and blood a close blood relative
26 follow suit to do the same thing someone else just did
27 for the record stated so that it is officially noted
28 from scratch starting with nothing, without using anything prepared earlier
29 get a kick out of to enjoy something very much
30 get the wrong end of the stick to misunderstand a situation completely
31 give it your all to try as hard as possible
32 give someone a run for their money to compete strongly against someone
33 go down swinging to keep fighting until the very end, even if you lose
34 go to great lengths to make a great effort to achieve something
35 heart of gold to be a very kind and generous person
36 have a hunch to have an instinctive feeling about something
37 head in the clouds not paying attention to reality; daydreaming
38 hit home to be fully understood or felt emotionally
39 hold your ground to refuse to change your position despite pressure
40 in a nutshell expressed briefly and simply
41 in the same boat in the same difficult situation as someone else
42 in over your head involved in something more difficult than you can handle
43 keep a low profile to avoid attracting attention
44 keep your nose clean to stay out of trouble
45 know it like the back of your hand to know something extremely well
46 land on your feet to recover successfully from a difficult situation
47 leave no stone unturned to try every possible way to achieve something
48 let the chips fall where they may to accept whatever happens as a result of your actions
49 lighten up to relax and not take things too seriously
50 live hand to mouth to have barely enough money to survive
Level 8 Grade 8 50 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 add up to make sense
2 against all odds despite very low chances of success
3 all in a day's work something that is a normal part of your routine, even if difficult
4 all thumbs clumsy with your hands
5 at the end of your rope having no patience or energy left
6 back out of a deal to withdraw from an agreement
7 bend the rules to interpret rules less strictly than usual
8 better safe than sorry it is wiser to be careful than to regret carelessness later
9 beyond the pale unacceptable or outside the limits of decent behavior
10 blood is thicker than water family relationships are stronger than other relationships
11 bring to light to reveal something that was previously unknown
12 burn out to become exhausted from overworking
13 call off to cancel something
14 carry the day to be successful, especially after a struggle
15 caught in a bind in a difficult situation with limited choices
16 come to a head to reach a critical point
17 cut and dried completely settled with no room for change
18 dot the i's and cross the t's to make sure every small detail is correct
19 down the drain wasted, with no benefit gained
20 drive a hard bargain to negotiate firmly for the best possible terms
21 eat your heart out said to express envy at someone's success
22 fall flat to fail completely, especially to get no reaction
23 fall short to fail to reach a goal or standard
24 fend for yourself to take care of yourself without help
25 fight tooth and nail to fight with great determination
26 fine line a small and subtle difference between two things
27 first come first served people are helped in the order that they arrive
28 flash in the pan something that seems impressive but does not last
29 for keeps permanently
30 get a foot in the door to get a first opportunity to enter a field or organization
31 give credit where credit is due to acknowledge someone for their achievement
32 go down the rabbit hole to become deeply absorbed in something complicated
33 go off the rails to start behaving in an uncontrolled or unexpected way
34 go out of your way to make a special effort to do something
35 green with envy extremely jealous
36 grit your teeth to face a difficult situation with determination
37 hang in the balance uncertain, with the outcome not yet decided
38 have the upper hand to have an advantage over someone
39 hit a wall to suddenly be unable to make further progress
40 hit rock bottom to reach the worst possible point in a difficult situation
41 in the long run over a long period of time, considering everything
42 in the same vein in a similar way or style
43 keep tabs on to watch or monitor someone or something closely
44 keep your cards close to your chest to keep your plans or thoughts secret
45 kick the habit to stop doing something addictive
46 know the drill to understand the usual procedure for something
47 lay it on the line to state something clearly and directly, taking a risk
48 lead by example to influence others by behaving the way you want them to behave
49 let off the hook to release someone from blame or responsibility
50 live up to expectations to perform as well as people hoped you would
Level 9 Grade 9 50 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 a leap of faith trying something without knowing for certain if it will succeed
2 a means to an end something done not for its own sake but to achieve another goal
3 an olive branch a gesture offered as a sign of peace or reconciliation
4 at the mercy of completely without protection from something or someone
5 bide your time to wait patiently for the right moment
6 call a truce to agree to stop fighting or arguing temporarily
7 carved in stone permanent and unable to be changed
8 cast a wide net to consider many possibilities in a search
9 caught in a dilemma facing a difficult choice between two options
10 come out of your shell to become less shy
11 cross a line to do something that is considered completely unacceptable
12 cut to the bone reduced to the minimum necessary level
13 dance around the issue to avoid discussing something directly
14 deliver the goods to do what is expected, especially something difficult
15 dig your heels in to refuse stubbornly to change your decision
16 divide and conquer to defeat an opponent by breaking it into smaller, weaker parts
17 drive home a point to emphasize something so it is clearly understood
18 err on the side of caution to choose the safest option when unsure
19 face the inevitable to accept something that cannot be avoided
20 fall on hard times to experience a period of difficulty, especially financial
21 fend off criticism to defend yourself against negative comments
22 fit the bill to be exactly what is needed
23 follow your gut to make a decision based on instinct rather than logic
24 for all intents and purposes in every practical sense
25 gain ground to make progress, especially against opposition
26 get the lay of the land to understand the basic facts of a situation
27 give and take a situation where both sides make compromises
28 go against the tide to act in a way that opposes the majority opinion
29 go cold to suddenly lose interest or stop responding
30 go to bat for someone to support or defend someone
31 grasp the nettle to deal with a difficult problem firmly and without hesitation
32 hammer out a deal to reach an agreement after long discussion
33 hard and fast rule a rule that cannot be changed or broken
34 have a bone to pick to have a complaint to discuss with someone
35 have a leg up to have an advantage over others
36 hit a rough patch to go through a difficult period
37 hit the jackpot to have great unexpected success or luck
38 hold all the cards to be in the strongest position in a situation
39 hold out hope to continue believing something good might happen
40 ignorance is bliss not knowing about a problem can keep you happy
41 in a pinch if necessary, when there is no better choice
42 in full swing at the most active and lively stage
43 in the clear no longer in danger or suspected of wrongdoing
44 iron out the details to resolve small remaining problems
45 it is what it is used to accept a situation that cannot be changed
46 keep your options open to avoid committing to one choice too soon
47 keep your word to do what you promised
48 lay the groundwork to do the basic preparation needed before something can happen
49 let your guard down to stop being careful or alert
50 light a fire under someone to motivate someone to act more quickly
Level 10 Grade 10 50 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 a double-edged sword something that has both beneficial and harmful effects
2 a far-fetched idea an idea that is very unlikely or unrealistic
3 as a last resort done only when all other options have failed
4 a slippery slope a course of action likely to lead to something bad
5 a wake up call an event that makes someone realize a serious problem
6 above board honest and legal
7 across the board applying to everyone or everything equally
8 all bark and no bite someone who threatens but never actually acts
9 at a crossroads at a point where an important decision must be made
10 at odds with in disagreement with
11 bear fruit to produce successful results
12 bear the brunt to suffer the main impact of something difficult
13 beat the odds to succeed despite a low chance of success
14 behind closed doors in private, away from public knowledge
15 blaze a trail to be the first to do or discover something
16 bridge the gap to reduce the difference between two things
17 burst onto the scene to suddenly become noticed or popular
18 by no means not at all
19 call it quits to decide to stop doing something
20 chalk it up to experience to accept a failure as something to learn from
21 champion a cause to support and promote something strongly
22 come into play to become a relevant factor in a situation
23 come to light to become known or revealed
24 cross paths with to meet someone, often unexpectedly
25 deal a blow to cause harm or difficulty
26 dish out criticism to give criticism, often harshly
27 dodge a bullet to narrowly avoid a dangerous or unpleasant situation
28 draw a line in the sand to set a firm limit that must not be crossed
29 ease into something to begin something gradually
30 fall in line to behave according to the rules or expectations of a group
31 fast track a project to make something happen more quickly than usual
32 flip the script to do the opposite of what is expected
33 for the greater good for the benefit of most people, even if some suffer
34 forge ahead to move forward with determination
35 give rise to to cause something to happen or exist
36 go off script to act differently from what was planned
37 go the distance to continue until the end despite difficulty
38 grease the wheels to make a process happen more smoothly, often using influence
39 hash out a plan to discuss something thoroughly until it is settled
40 hit the mark to be exactly correct or successful
41 hold sway to have great influence or power over something
42 ill at ease feeling uncomfortable or anxious
43 in the same league at the same level of skill or quality as someone else
44 jump at the chance to eagerly accept an opportunity
45 keep at arm's length to avoid becoming too close or involved with someone
46 keep pace with to move or develop at the same speed as something else
47 lay down the law to state firm rules that must be followed
48 leave a mark to have a lasting effect or impression
49 level the playing field to make a situation fair for everyone involved
50 live in the moment to focus on enjoying the present rather than worrying about past or future
Level 11 Grade 11 50 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 a Pyrrhic victory a victory that comes at such a great cost that it is not worth winning
2 a foregone conclusion a result that is obvious before it actually happens
3 an Achilles heel a weakness or vulnerability despite overall strength
4 at cross purposes when people misunderstand each other's intentions
5 baptism by fire a difficult introduction to a new task or situation
6 bear witness to to see something happen and be able to confirm it
7 bring to fruition to make something succeed or be completed
8 by virtue of because of; as a result of
9 call into question to cause doubt about something
10 cast aspersions to make critical or negative remarks about someone
11 caught in the act caught while doing something wrong, in the moment
12 cross the Rubicon to take an irreversible action
13 cut both ways to have both advantages and disadvantages
14 deliver a verdict to announce an official decision or judgment
15 drive a wedge between to cause division between people who were close
16 eat crow to admit you were wrong, often with embarrassment
17 fall prey to to be tricked or harmed by something
18 fall on one's own sword to take responsibility and accept defeat or blame
19 find common ground to discover shared interests or opinions
20 fly under the radar to avoid being noticed
21 for posterity to be remembered or preserved for future generations
22 gain traction to start becoming popular or accepted
23 get a foothold to establish an initial position from which to advance
24 give pause to make someone stop and think before acting
25 hang in limbo to remain in an uncertain, unresolved state
26 hit a nerve to upset someone by mentioning a sensitive topic
27 hold court to be the center of attention while speaking
28 in earnest with sincere and serious intent
29 in retrospect looking back on a past event with new understanding
30 in the wake of happening as a result of, or shortly after, an event
31 keep at bay to prevent something from coming closer or causing harm
32 lay the blame to say that someone is responsible for something bad
33 lend credence to to make something seem more believable
34 lose face to suffer a loss of respect or reputation
35 make a mountain out of a molehill to treat a small problem as if it were very serious
36 mince words to speak vaguely or carefully to avoid being too direct
37 mixed blessing something that has both good and bad results
38 moot point a topic no longer worth discussing because it has no practical importance
39 muddy the waters to make a situation more confusing
40 nip something in the bud to stop a problem early before it grows worse
41 on the fence undecided between two choices
42 open a can of worms to create a complicated situation by raising a topic
43 par for the course typical and expected in a given situation
44 pave the way to make it possible for something to happen later
45 play into someone's hands to do exactly what someone wanted, often without realizing it
46 pull the plug to stop or end something suddenly
47 push the envelope to go beyond normal limits, especially creatively
48 raise the bar to set a higher standard
49 read between the lines to understand a hidden meaning not directly stated
50 reap the benefits to receive the rewards of earlier work or effort
Level 12 Grade 12 50 idioms
#IdiomEnglish meaningJapanese meaning
1 a Sisyphean task an endless and seemingly pointless task
2 a watershed moment a turning point that marks significant change
3 an exercise in futility an effort that has no chance of succeeding
4 be that as it may even if that is true; nevertheless
5 beggar belief to be so extreme that it is hard to believe
6 bring to bear to apply pressure, force, or influence to a situation
7 by the same token for the same reason; similarly
8 cast in a different light to make something seem different by viewing it another way
9 chink in the armor a weakness in something that otherwise seems strong
10 come to grips with to begin to deal with or accept a difficult situation
11 cut the Gordian knot to solve a complicated problem decisively
12 draw a parallel to show how two things are similar
13 eke out a living to earn just barely enough to survive
14 fly in the face of to be in direct conflict with something
15 for all the world exactly as if; completely
16 garner support to gradually gain support for something
17 go to the wall to fail completely, especially financially
18 grapple with to struggle to deal with or understand something difficult
19 harbor doubts to secretly have doubts about something
20 in a bid to in an attempt to
21 in the same breath said immediately after, often contradicting what was just said
22 keep one's powder dry to stay prepared and wait for the right opportunity
23 lay to rest to finally end or resolve an issue completely
24 leave no room for doubt to make something completely certain
25 let bygones be bygones to forgive and forget past conflicts
26 live to fight another day to survive a setback in order to try again later
27 lull into complacency to make someone feel falsely safe or satisfied
28 make headway to make progress, especially with difficulty
29 mete out punishment to give out a punishment or judgment
30 muster the courage to gather enough bravery to do something difficult
31 of one's own accord by personal choice, without being forced
32 on tenterhooks in a state of nervous suspense
33 pass muster to be considered acceptable according to a standard
34 play fast and loose to behave carelessly or dishonestly with rules
35 pour cold water on to discourage enthusiasm for an idea
36 press the issue to insist on discussing or pursuing something
37 quell the unrest to calm or put an end to disorder
38 rest on one's laurels to stop trying because of past success
39 ride out the storm to survive a difficult period without giving up
40 run its course to continue naturally until it ends by itself
41 set in motion to start a process that will continue on its own
42 settle the score to take revenge or resolve an old conflict
43 stand the test of time to remain valuable or relevant after a long period
44 steer clear of to deliberately avoid someone or something
45 strike a balance to find a satisfactory middle point between two extremes
46 take with a grain of salt to not completely believe something
47 tip the scales to cause a situation to change in favor of one side
48 turn a blind eye to deliberately ignore something wrong
49 weather the storm to survive a difficult period
50 wear thin to gradually become less acceptable or tolerable, often used of patience