Idioms are an integral constituent of the English language; they carry color, depth, and personality. Have you ever thought about where they come from? Idioms have a life of their own, with different origins and meanings. Knowing where they come from will undoubtedly help us better understand their meanings and nuances. It will also help us use them more effectively and with greater confidence.
In addition, idioms play a significant role in communication, and knowing them makes one’s expression and conversation more interesting. Speaking and writing without idioms can sometimes sound very formal, academic, and awkward.
So to begin with, these are the reasons why idioms are necessary for effective communication. As a result, it is advisable to know a good number of idioms and use them when possible in order to be a better communicator.
In this article, we look at 50 interesting idioms, their historical roots, and their evolution into everyday conversation.
Brief Overview on the Origin of some of the Most frequently used Idioms
Usually, idioms were derived from histories or stories, cultural practices, or believes. For example:
“Bite the bullet“: Derives from the use in the surgery after soldiers had been brought from the battlefields and had the patient bite on a bullet to help make them bear the pain.
“Break the ice“: The origin is related to ships breaking ice in rivers to open trade routes.
Indeed, historical idioms denote the life and time of the people in existence when such words were created. Realising these stories enhances the level of our knowledge regarding language and history.
Idioms in Modern Conversation
Nevertheless, idioms remain popular throughout the world today since people employ them in both spoken and written conversation.
Examples:
“Spill the beans“: Its usual usage as a term refers to the act of telling a secret.
“Burning the midnight oil“: Popular in contexts involving work to mean that one has stayed behind to do extra work beyond his or her normal hours.
The use of idioms in conversations increases the ads’ relevance, although the latter should be used only in their proper context.
Regional Variations of Idioms
Idioms can be very different from region to region, even for English-speaking countries.
“Bob’s your uncle” means, in the UK, that something is easy as pie.
“Hit the books” in the US means to study very hard.
In Australia, “Flat out like a lizard drinking” humorously means being very busy.
One must know the regionalisms in order to be precise with the tone and tenor of conversations.
How to Write the Appropriate Use of Idioms
As much as idioms add flavor to your writing, they should not be overused when one is writing on a formal basis. Following are some tips:
Appropriate Use: The idioms should be used in a way that illustrates or supports the point at hand, for example, “His proposal was the icing on the cake.”
Avoid Overuse: Too many idioms will make the writing cluttered.
Context Matters: Make sure that the idiom fits the audience and the tone of the message, especially in scholarly and technical contexts.
Idioms vs. Literal Expressions
Idioms differ from literal expressions in that their meanings are figurative rather than direct.
Literal: “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
Idiomatic: “It’s raining heavily.”
Distinguishing between these words is crucial for foreign speakers of the language in order to avoid misunderstandings.
| Idiom | Meaning | Origin |
| Pursuing the wrong course | Hunting dogs barking at the wrong tree | |
| Burn the midnight oil | Work late into the night | Ancient lamps fueled by oil for late-night use |
| Caught red-handed | Caught in the act | Originates from catching someone with blood on their hands |
| Cross that bridge when you come to it | Deal with a problem later | Navigational references to crossing literal bridges |
| Cry over spilled milk | Worry about something irreversible | 17th-century English proverb emphasizing acceptance |
| Devil’s advocate | Arguing against an idea for debate | Catholic Church’s role in arguing against sainthood |
| Elephant in the room | An obvious problem ignored | First appeared in 1950s American literature |
| Face the music | Confront unpleasant consequences | Military drummers playing during punishments |
| Give the cold shoulder | Ignore someone intentionally | Mediaeval practice of serving a cold shoulder of meat to unwelcome guests |
| Go the extra mile | Make additional effort | Biblical reference to Roman law requiring carrying a soldier’s gear |
| Hit the nail on the head | Do or say something exactly right | Carpentry metaphor for precise hammering |
| Keep your chin up | Stay positive | Victorian-era expression of optimism |
| Kill two birds with one stone | Accomplish two things at once | Hunting metaphor from the 1600s |
| Let sleeping dogs lie | Avoid interfering with a situation | The 14th-century proverb about avoiding unnecessary trouble |
| Miss the boat | Miss an opportunity | Nautical reference to missing a departing vessel |
| Over the moon | Extremely happy | The nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle” (16th century) |
| Piece of cake | Something very easy | 19th-century American slang comparing tasks to eating cake |
| Pull someone’s leg | Joke or tease someone | Originates from street thieves tripping people to rob them |
| Put all your eggs in one basket | Risk everything on a single venture | Appears in 17th-century Spanish literature |
| Raining cats and dogs | Heavy rain | Possible Norse mythology reference or 17th-century England drainage issues |
| Read between the lines | Understand implied meanings | Comes from deciphering coded messages in war |
| Rule of thumb | General guideline | Based on craftsmen using thumbs to measure |
| Saved by the bell | Saved at the last moment | Boxing term or graveyard “safety coffin” legend |
| Show your true colors | Reveal your true nature | Naval warfare reference to flying flags of identity |
| Spill the beans | Reveal a secret | Ancient Greek voting method using beans |
| Steal someone’s thunder | Take credit for another’s idea | 18th-century playwright John Dennis’s stolen sound effect |
| Take with a grain of salt | View skeptically | Roman Pliny the Elder’s antidote recipe advice |
| Taste of your own medicine | Receive the same treatment you give others | Originates from fables about quack doctors |
| The ball is in your court | It’s your turn to take action | Tennis metaphor for returning a serve |
| Through thick and thin | Loyal under any circumstances | Mediaeval hunting reference through tough terrains |
| Tie the knot | Get married | Ancient Roman wedding tradition of tying a bride’s dress knot |
| Under the weather | Feeling ill or unwell | Nautical term for sailors resting below deck during storms |
| Wild goose chase | A hopeless or pointless pursuit | Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet describing an erratic race |
| You can’t judge a book by its cover | Don’t judge by appearances | Early 19th-century proverb with literal and metaphorical meanings |
| Burn bridges | Destroy relationships or opportunities | Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet describes an erratic race |
| Bite off more than you can chew | Take on too much | Comes from chewing tobacco habits of the 1800s |
| A blessing in disguise | A good thing that seemed bad initially | Likely originated from religious sermons |
| Hit the ground running | Begin something energetically | World War II paratroopers’ operations reference |
| Break a leg | Good luck | Theatre superstition to avoid jinxing performances |
| The last straw | Final incident causing action | Camel-related proverb emphasizing limits |
| Pull the plug | End or discontinue something | Medical reference to removing life support |
| Straight from the horse’s mouth | Directly from the source | Horse racing phrase about tips from trainers |
| Throw in the towel | Surrender or give up | Boxing term for signalling defeat |
| Water under the bridge | Past issues no longer matter | Symbolises bygone troubles, referenced in literature |
| Beat around the bush | Avoid getting to the point | Hunting practice of beating bushes to flush out birds |
| Dead ringer | Exact duplicate | Horse-racing term for replacing a horse with an identical one |
| Jump on the bandwagon | Follow a trend | 19th-century American political campaigns using bandwagons |
| Cut to the chase | Get to the point | Early Hollywood films skipped unnecessary scenes |
| Bark is worse than their bite | Someone seems more aggressive than they are | 17th-century proverb comparing people to barking dogs |
| Have a chip on your shoulder | Holding a grudge or being easily offended | The 19th-century American custom of placing a chip of wood on the shoulder as a challenge to fight |
| Turn a blind eye | Ignore something intentionally | Admiral Horatio Nelson reportedly used his blind eye to avoid seeing a retreat signal during a naval battle |
The idioms give color to the language and blend history and cultures into their particular expressions. Whether one is writing, speaking, or even studying the language, idioms enrich one’s linguistic arsenal.
Wasn’t that interesting to learn how those idioms came about? Share with us in the comments below which idioms surprised you more. And don’t forget to share this article with fellow language enthusiasts and subscribe to LanLit.com for more linguistic insights!
