IdiomsEnglish level B1
Everyday idioms
Common everyday idioms — fixed phrases whose meaning is not literal.
Rule
An idiom is a fixed expression with a figurative meaning you cannot guess word by word. Learn the whole phrase, not the separate words.
Word list
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a piece of cake | very easy | The exam was a piece of cake. |
| hit the sack | go to bed / sleep | I'm tired, I'm going to hit the sack. |
| break the ice | start a conversation in an awkward situation | He told a joke to break the ice. |
| under the weather | feeling ill / unwell | She's a bit under the weather today. |
| once in a blue moon | very rarely | We eat out once in a blue moon. |
| hit the books | study hard | I have to hit the books this weekend. |
Notes
- Idioms are fixed — do not change the words (it is a piece of cake, not "a piece of pie").
- They are common in everyday speech but best avoided in very formal writing.
Practice
The test was really easy - it was a piece of missing word.
I'm feeling a bit under the missing word today.
It's late - I'm going to hit the missing word.