Idioms are one of the more confusing areas when it comes to learning English as a second language. Many ESL students have to learn what each and every idiom means, but because they are used so much in everyday English conversation, it is essential to at least be familiar with the most common idioms

What Are Idioms?

Idioms are commonly used expressions whose meanings don’t relate to the actual meaning of the words that are used.

Common Idioms And Their Meaning

• Bun in the oven (She’s pregnant).
• Paint the town red (have a great time out on the town)
• Pushing up daisies (means someone is dead)
• Piece of cake (very easy to complete)
• Costs an arm and a leg (something very expensive)
• Break a leg (good luck)
• Hit the books (study hard)
• Let the cat out of the bag (tell a secret you weren’t supposed to tell)
• Hit the nail on the head (when something is precisely right)
• When pigs fly (something will never happen)
• You can’t judge a book by its cover (can’t judge someone by the way they look)
• Bite off more than you can chew (Take on more than you can handle)
• Scratch someone’s back (help someone out with the assumption they will return the favor)

Idiom Resources

• http://iteslj.org/links/ESL/Idioms_and_Slang/
• http://www.careerride.com/idioms-meaning-and-examples-part-1.aspx

Idiom – Figurative Language

Idioms use figurative language. Figurative language include puns, euphemisms, hyperbole, personification, similes, and metaphors.

Idiom Games

The following are some idiom games and activities that ESL students can play to help you understand idioms and how they are written.

• http://www.manythings.org/e/slang.html
• https://www.eslpartyland.com/quiz-center/quiz.htm#idioms
• http://www.vocabulary.co.il/idioms/idioms-game-slang-game/
• http://www.englishmedialab.com/Quizzes/advanced/idioms%20match1.htm
• http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/languages/words/idioms/
• http://www.funbrain.com/idioms/
• http://a4esl.org/q/h/idioms.html

With the right study material, practice, listening and speaking with native speakers, ESL students can come to understand idioms and their meanings.