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Every Country’s culture is characterized not only by food, religion, traditions…but also by its own language. Every language in fact has particular expressions called idioms that reflect the country’s culture. Idioms are words or phrases that aren’t meant to be taken literally and usually have a cultural meaning behind them indeed.

Here you can find some of the most common idioms that you can use while talking to native English speakers and feel more confident.

  1. ‘The best of both worlds’– means you can enjoy two different opportunities at the same time.
  2. ‘Speak of the devil’ –this means that the person you were talking about actually appears at that same moment.
  3. ‘See eye to eye’– this means agreeing with someone.
  4. ‘Once in a blue moon’– an event that happens infrequently
  5. ‘When pigs fly’ –when something is impossible, that will never happen
  6. ‘To cost an arm and a leg’– when something is very expensive
  7. ‘A piece of cake’– when something is very easy
  8. ‘Let the cat out of the bag’– to accidentally reveal a secret
  9. ‘To kill two birds with one stone’– to solve two problems at once
  10. ‘To cut corners’– to do something badly or cheaply
  11. ‘To add insult to injury’– to make a situation worse
  12. ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’– to not judge someone or something based solely on appearance.
  13. ‘Break a leg’ –means ‘good luck’ (often said to actors before they go on stage)
  14. ‘A blessing in disguise’ – A misfortune that eventually results in something good happening later on.
  15. ‘Call it a day’ – Stop working on something
  16. ‘Let someone off the hook’ – To allow someone, who have been caught, to not be punished.
  17. ‘No pain no gain’ –You have to work hard for something you want
  18. ‘Bite the bullet’ – Decide to do something unpleasant that you have avoiding doing.
  19. ‘Getting a taste of your own medicine’ – Being treated the same unpleasant way you have treated others
  20. ‘Giving someone the cold shoulder’ – To ignore someone
  21. ‘The last straw’ – The final source of irritation for someone to finally lose patience
  22. ‘The elephant in the room’ –A matter or problem that is obvious of great importance but that is not discussed openly
  23. ‘Stealing someone’s thunder’ – Taking credit for someone else achievements