10 English Idioms You Should Know

As if moving to and setting up a new life in a new country isn't hard enough, one of the biggest additional challenges faced by expats is picking up a new language. Fortunately most expats moving to England do actually speak some English but from experience we know most won't be familiar with popular English idioms and slang.

The team at Cornerstone has put our heads together (this is another idiom for you!) and come up with an introductory guide of the most commonly used idioms, slang or phrases; their meaning, how to use them and origin. It's a great place to begin navigating a conversation with a native English speaker, so that perhaps next time, you may be able to drop one into a conversation too? Good luck!

1. Beating around the bush.

Meaning: to avoid answering a question, to waste or stall time… to not be direct.

Example: 'Stop beating around the bush, and tell me what you need please!'

Origin: Associated with hunting. Hunters would hire men to beat the low lying foliage - bushes etc - with sticks to flush out any game (type of birds) taking coverage. They would however avoid hitting bushes directly as they could risk hitting something more sinister, like for example a bees nest!

2. Straight from the horse's mouth.

Meaning: to obtain information directly from the source/ usually the most reliable source.

Example: 'Well it's come straight from the horse's mouth, so you can't really argue with it!'

Origin: believed to have originated in the 1900s, when, through examining a horse's teeth a buyer could determine the horse's age.

3. It's all gone Pete Tong!

Meaning: when something has gone wrong!

Example: 'I thought I could buy everything for the party on the day, but the shop's closed so my party plans have all gone Pete Tong!'

Origin: this is one of Cockney Rhyming Slang's gems (slang form the east end of London), and alludes to the popular DJ Pete Tong.

4. To be under the weather.

Meaning: to be ill or sick, in a milder form.

Example: 'I didn't sleep very well, and got caught in the rain yesterday, so today I am feeling a bit under the weather.'

Origin: With believed nautical origins, when a sailor was feeling unwell he would go beneath the 'bow' (front part of the boat), which would protect him from any adverse weather; as if he was exposed to bad weather it could potentially make him feel worse.

5. To spill the beans.

Meaning: to tell a secret or give away a surprise.

Example: 'Come on tell us what happened, just spill the beans!'

Origin: the origin of this idiom is quite hard to pin down, but the commonest thought is that it came from an ancient greek voting process which involved beans. By placing either a white bean - yes - or a black bean - no - in a vase, individuals could partake in an election. However, if someone were to spill these beans then the secret results would have been revealed.

6. It's in the bag.

Meaning: definite success, something will definitely succeed.

Example: 'France vs Italy tomorrow night, France have definitely got it in the bag!'

Origin: beginning as a superstition, the old New York Giants in 1916 had a run of 26 consecutive wins. Subsequently, a bag of 72 extra baseballs would be placed on the field to replace any balls that were too dirty, or hit into the seats. If the giants were winning during the last innings they would carry the bag off the field to ensure the win… as they had captured the game in the bag…

7. To turn a blind eye…

Meaning: to refuse to acknowledge something that was outwardly true.

Example: 'I'm just going to turn a blind eye to his arriving late, as I just need to finish the job!'

Origin: in 1801 Admiral Horatio Nelson alongside Admiral Sir Hyde Parker led an attack in the Battle of Copenhagen. Nelson was blind in one eye. Nelson at one stage was convinced he could prevail and push on forward, holding the telescope to his blind eye, he pretended not to see any of the signals or signs marked by the Admiral… and made a comment to the him that he was reserving the right to use his blind eye now and again!

8. To bodge something.

Meaning: to mend or repair something badly or clumsily.

Example: 'The builders have done a total bodge job on our patio, it's so disappointing.'

Origin: from middle English the word 'bocchen' meant to mend, patch up and repair… nowadays it is used to imply a negative opinion on someone's repair work.

9. Cheeky.

Meaning: for something or someone to be playful or mischievous.

Example: 'Do you want to come for a cheeky glass of wine after work?'

Origin: used in the 1850s as the nickname for a misbehaving boy in a story, originating from the word 'cheek' meaning insolence.

10. Not my cuppa tea!

Meaning: something is not to your liking.

Example: 'I don't fancy roller blading this evening; it's really not my cuppa tea.'

Origin: used since the 1800s, originating from my cup of tea to describe something you would like, in the 1920s the 'not' was added, because, well, we brits are a huge fan of tea so why not use it to define what we both like and dislike!