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Idioms | List of Idioms

A List of idioms. This page contains examples of idioms and an ever growing list of idioms. It is a good practice to avoid use of these idioms in poetry unless used in a completely original way. See also: Proverbs

What is an idiom?

Idioms are expressions, sayings, or phrases whose meanings cannot be understood from the meanings of the words that make it up.

Examples of Idioms

Easy as pie | Discuss

Easy as pie / As easy as pie

Meaning:

Very easy.

If something is (as) easy as pie, it is very easy to do.

Example:

The midterm should be easy as pie if you prepare well.

Baking great bread is as easy as pie with this brand-new breadmaker.

Eat one's words | Discuss

Eat one's words

Meaning:

Admit that what you said was wrong.

If you eat your words, you admit that the statements or predictions you made were wrong.

Example:

Tom said Nancy would never succeed in her business, but after seeing her business grow, he had to eat his words.

I taught a grammar rule in my ESL class, and one of my students said I was wrong. After I checked it in dictionaries and asked other teachers, I found she was right. I had to eat my words in the next class.

Eat out | Discuss

Eat out

Meaning:

Eat a meal in a restaurant.

If you eat out, you go out and eat a meal in a restaurant instead of eating at home.

Example:

I don't want to cook tonight. Why don't we eat out?

He is a single student and eats out a lot.