I have already written two blogs on the subject of English Idioms, continuing with the same subject here are some more advanced English Idioms:
1 Bite the hand that feeds you-Hurt your helper.
2 The ball is in your court– Your move.
3 Devil’s advocate– Opposing Debater
4 Throw someone under the bus– Betray someone.
5 Go the extra mile– Do much more.
6 The best of both the words– Double benefit.
7 Jump the gun- Start early.
8 Keep something at bay- Hold off.
9 Let sleeping dog lie– Do not stir trouble.
10 Take the bull by horns– Tackle directly.
11 By the skin of your teeth– Just barely.
12 Hit the sack- Go to sleep.
13 Kick the can down the road– Postpone.
14 Let someone off the hook– Excuse them.
15 Cry wolf– Raise false alarm.
16 Out of the woods– Safe now.
17 Rain on someone’s parade- Spoil the fun.
18 Throw a wrench in the works– Disrupt plans.
19 On the thin ice– Risky spot
20 Pull the rug from under– Undermine.
21 Have a chip on your shoulder– Hold a grudge against someone.
22 Put all your cards on the table– Be open.
23 Take someone for ride– trick someone.
24 Go down in flames– Fall badly.
25 Hit the nail on the head– Be precise or exact.
26 Know the ropes– Be experienced
27 Like a fish out of water– Feel awkward.
28 Go overboard– Overdo something.
29 Bite your tongue– Stay silent completely.
30 Blow off steam– Release anger.
31 Out of left field– Unexpected.
32 In the same boat– Facing same problem.
33 Put your money where your mouth is– Prove something.
34 Break the bank– Cost too much.
35 No strings attached– Without any conditions.
36 The tip of an iceberg– Small part which is seen.
37 Rock the boat– Create trouble.
38 Behind the eight ball– In trouble.
39 Keep a lid on it– Keep quiet.
40 Put a sock on it– this also means keep quiet or be quiet.
41 Walk on eggshells– Be cautious.
42 Out of the blue– Suddenly.
43 Don’t cry over spilt milk– Move on.
44 Shoot the breeze– Chat casually.
45 Play it by ear– Improvise.
46 Elephant in the room– Obvious issue.
47 Pull yourself together-Calm down.
48 To be in the driver’s seat– In control.
49 water under the bridge– Forgotten issue.
50 Burn the candle at both ends– Overwork
Here are some Mythological Idioms and their meanings
1 Achilles’ heal– A small weakness in someone who is otherwise strong (From the Greek hero Achilles whose only vulnerable spot was his heel)
2 Herculean task– A job that requires great strength or effort ( From Hercules, the demigod known for completing 12 impossible tasks)
3 Pandora’s box– A source of endless problems or trouble once opened.( From Pandora, who opened a forbidden box and released evil into the world).
4 Midas touch– The ability to make money or be successful at anything. (From King Midas, who turned everything he touched into gold)
5 Trojan horse– A hidden threat inside something that appears safe. (From the wooden horse used by Greeks to infiltrate Troy)
6 Between Scylla and Charybdis– Trapped between two equally dangerous choices. ( From Odysseus’s journey navigating between two sea monsters).
7 Open a can of worms– To start something that leads to many unexpected problems.( Linked metaphorically to Pandora’s box).
8 To have sword of Damocles hanging over you– to live under constant threat. (From Damocles, who sat beneath a hanging sword).
9 Narcissitic– Self obsessed or vain. ( From Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection).
10 Sisyphean task– A never ending pointless task. ( From Sisyphus, doomed to roll a boulder uphill forever).
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
29th May 2025