English idioms & sayings

90 sayings, 90 of them already translated.

Recently added

A–Z

A

Add fuel to the fireTo make a conflict worse.In French In German

B

A bee in your bonnetAn obsession with one particular idea.In French In German
A blessing in disguiseA misfortune that turns out well.In French In German
A breath of fresh airA welcome and refreshing change.In French In German
Back to square oneReturning to the start after a failureIn French In German
Barking up the wrong treeTo be completely mistaken.In French In German
Beat a dead horseWaste effort on something that cannot changeIn French In German
Beat around the bushTo avoid the main point.In French In German
Bend over backwardsTry very hard to help someoneIn French In German
Bite off more than you can chewTake on more work than you can handleIn French In German
Bite the bulletTo face something unpleasant with resolve.In French In German
Break a legAn informal way to wish someone luck.In French In German
Break the iceMake it easier to start talking.In French In German
Burn the midnight oilWork or study late into the nightIn French In German
Burn your bridgesTo cut off any way back.In French In German
By the skin of your teethJust barely managing to succeed or escape danger.In French In German
The ball is in your courtIt is your turn to act or decide.In French In German
The best of both worldsEnjoying the benefits of two different things at once.In French In German

C

Call it a dayTo stop for the day, or stop altogether.In French In German
Clear the airTalk openly to reduce tension.In French In German
Cost an arm and a legTo be very expensive.In French In German
Cry over spilt milkTo worry uselessly about past mistakes.In French In German
Cut cornersTo skimp on quality to save time or money.In French In German
Cut to the chaseGet directly to the main point.In French In German

D

Down to earthPractical, humble, and sensibleIn French In German

E

Every cloud has a silver liningBad situations always have something good in them.In French In German
The early bird catches the wormActing early brings success.In French In German
The elephant in the roomAn obvious issue nobody mentions.In French In German
The eleventh hourThe last possible moment.In French In German

F

Face the musicAccept unpleasant consequences for your actionsIn French In German

J

Jump on the bandwagonTo follow a trend late and opportunistically.In French In German

K

Keep a straight faceAvoid showing that you want to laugh.In French In German
Keep an eye onWatch someone or something carefully.In French In German
Kill two birds with one stoneTo solve two problems at once.In French In German

L

Leave no stone unturnedTry every possible way to achieve something.In French In German
Let the cat out of the bagTo accidentally reveal a secret.In French In German
Long story shortTo state the final result without detailsIn French In German
The last strawThe final problem that makes someone give up.In French In German

M

Make ends meetHave just enough money to live onIn French In German
Miss the boatTo be too late for an opportunity.In French In German

N

No pain, no gainYou must suffer to make progress.In French In German

O

Off the top of my headFrom memory without checking factsIn French In German
On the same pageSharing the same understanding.In French In German
On thin iceIn a risky situation close to trouble.In French In German
Once in a blue moonAlmost never; very rarely.In French In German
Out of the blueSuddenly and without warningIn French In German

P

A piece of cakeExtremely easy.In French In German
Play devil's advocateArgue the opposite view to test an idea.In French In German
Pull someone's legTo tease someone playfully.In French In German
Pull yourself togetherTo calm down and regain control of your feelings.In French In German

R

Read between the linesFind hidden meaning in what is saidIn French In German
Right under your noseIn plain sight, yet unnoticed.In French In German
Ring a bellSound familiar or awaken a memory.In French In German
Rock the boatCause trouble or disrupt a stable situation.In French In German

S

A storm in a teacupGreat anger or worry about something unimportant.In French In German
See eye to eyeTo agree completely with someone.In French In German
Sit on the fenceTo stay deliberately neutral.In French In German
Speak of the devilSaid when someone appears just as they are mentioned.In French In German
Spill the beansTo give away a secret.In French In German
Steal someone's thunderTake praise or attention meant for someone elseIn French In German

T

A taste of your own medicineThe same bad treatment that you gave to othersIn French In German
Take it with a pinch of saltTo treat a claim with mild scepticism.In French In German
Take the bull by the hornsFace a difficult situation directly and boldly.In French In German
The tip of the icebergA small visible part of a much bigger problem.In French In German
Through thick and thinLoyally, in good times and bad.In French In German
Throw in the towelTo give up or admit defeat.In French In German
Tie the knotTo get married.In French In German
Tighten your beltReduce your spending.In French In German

U

Under the weatherMildly unwell.In French In German
Up in the airNot yet decided or settled.In French In German

W

A wild goose chaseA pointless, fruitless search.In French In German
Walking on eggshellsActing very cautiously around someone.In French In German
Water under the bridgeA past problem that no longer matters.In French In German
When pigs flySomething will never happenIn French In German

Y

Your guess is as good as mineI do not know any more than you do.In French In German

English idioms & sayings

Popular

Recently added

A–Z

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W

Y