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Familiar English Idioms And Proverbs

These English idioms and proverbs are familiar and easily understood by native English speakers, but they are not usually used in everyday conversation. If you haven't mastered the more frequent idioms yet, they are a better place to start, but if you're already familiar with those expressions, the idioms below will further spice up your English.

Idiom Meaning Usage
A little learning is a dangerous thing People who don't understand something fully are dangerous by itself
A snowball effect Events have momentum and build upon each other as part of a sentence
A snowball's chance in hell No chance at all as part of a sentence
A stitch in time saves nine Fix the problem now because it will get worse later by itself
A storm in a teacup A big fuss about a small problem as part of a sentence
An apple a day keeps the doctor away Apples are good for you by itself
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure You can prevent a problem with little effort. Fixing it later is harder. by itself
As right as rain Perfect as part of a sentence
Bolt from the blue Something that happened without warning as part of a sentence
Burn bridges Destroy relationships as part of a sentence
Calm before the storm Something bad is coming, but right now it's calm as part of a sentence
Come rain or shine No matter what as part of a sentence
Curiosity killed the cat Stop asking questions by itself
Cut the mustard Do a good job as part of a sentence
Don't beat a dead horse Move on, this subject is over by itself
Every dog has his day Everyone gets a chance at least once by itself
Familiarity breeds contempt The better you know someone the less you like him by itself
Fit as a fiddle In good health as part of a sentence
Fortune favours the bold Take risks by itself
Get a second wind Have more energy after having been tired as part of a sentence
Get wind of something Hear news of something secret as part of a sentence
Go down in flames Fail spectacularly as part of a sentence
Haste makes waste You'll make mistakes if you rush through something by itself
Have your head in the clouds Not be concentrating as part of a sentence
He who laughs last laughs loudest I'll get you back for what you did by itself
Hear something straight from the horse's mouth Hear something from the person involved as part of a sentence
He's not playing with a full deck He's dumb by itself
He's off his rocker He's crazy by itself
He's sitting on the fence He can't make up his mind by itself
It is a poor workman who blames his tools If you can't do the job, don't blame it on others by itself
It is always darkest before the dawn Things are going to get better by itself
It takes two to tango One person alone isn't responsible. Both people are involved. by itself
Jump on the bandwagon Follow a trend, do what everyone else is doing as part of a sentence
Know which way the wind is blowing Understand the situation (usually negative) as part of a sentence
Leave no stone unturned Look everywhere as part of a sentence
Let sleeping dogs lie Stop discussing an issue as part of a sentence
Like riding a bicycle Something you never forget how to do as part of a sentence
Like two peas in a pod They're always together as part of a sentence
Make hay while the sun shines Take advantage of a good situation as part of a sentence
On cloud nine Very happy as part of a sentence
Once bitten, twice shy You're more cautious when you've been hurt before by itself
Out of the frying pan and into the fire Things are going from bad to worse by itself
Run like the wind Run fast as part of a sentence
Shape up or ship out Work better or leave by itself
Snowed under Busy as part of a sentence
That ship has sailed It's too late by itself
The pot calling the kettle black Someone criticizing someone else he is just as bad as part of a sentence
There are clouds on the horizon Trouble is coming by itself
Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones People who are morally questionable shouldn't criticize others by itself
Through thick and thin In good times and in bad times as part of a sentence
Time is money Work quickly by itself
Waste not, want not Don't waste things and you'll always have enough by itself
We see eye to eye We agree by itself
Weather the storm Go through something difficult as part of a sentence
Well begun is half done Getting a good start is important by itself
When it rains it pours Everything is going wrong at once by itself
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar You'll get what you want by being nice by itself
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink You can't force someone to make the right decision by itself
You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs There's always a cost to doing something by itself

 

Source: https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-idioms/

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