11 everyday English idioms and their origins

Are you hands down the best at using English idioms? Or does the thought of seemingly random phrases make you feel a bit under the weather?

One of the best to truly master English is to weave idioms into your conversations. The world of English idioms is broad and navigating it can seem daunting at first. But fear not — we’re here to break the ice with our list of 11 common English idioms and where originated.

What are idioms?

To truly sound fluent in English, it’s important to understand idioms and how to use them. Idioms are phrases used to describe a person’s feelings or a particular situation that have a definition beyond the literal words used. Essentially, you can’t take idioms at face value — you must learn and grasp the meaning behind them.

While they may seem confusing at first, idioms are frequently used by native speakers, so they're very helpful to follow conversation. Plus, understanding the origins and etymology of these handy phrases adds a fun new dimension to your language learning. Read on to discover 11 everyday English idioms and learn about their origins.

1. Spill the beans

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Okay, I’ll spill the beans but you can’t tell anyone else.”

What does it mean?
Share a secret and/or private information with someone, usually in a mischievous way.

Where does it come from?
The most common theory about this idiom is that it originated from Ancient Greek politics. Back in those days, people would vote for something using different colors of beans (e.g., a white bean would be a “yes” and a black bean a “no”.) Literally spilling the beans would reveal the outcome of the vote.

2. Once in a blue moon

Can you use it in a sentence?
“I doubt Jonny will come to the cinema with us tonight — he’s only available once in a blue moon these days.”

What does it mean?
Very rarely. 

Where does it come from?
A lunar cycle lasts around 29-30 days, so we usually have 12 a year. A “blue moon” is used to describe the rare event of a 13th full moon in a year, or a second full moon within a single calendar month. This occurs on average every two and a half years and is now used more generally as a phrase to describe anything that is considered a rare occurrence. 

3. A red flag

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Saying that playing video games counts as exercise is a definite red flag.”

What does it mean?
A cause for concern, often used in relation to a potential romantic partner.

Where does it come from?
Red flags have been used by people throughout history to indicate danger. They were flown by the military as far back as the 1700s to signal a battle was about to start, and are still used now. For example, red flags are used in Formula One car racing to signal a serious accident or dangerous weather conditions on track. Describing a person’s behavior or characteristic as a “red flag” simply means it is a warning signal about their true nature.

4. Bite the bullet

Can you use it in a sentence?
“I hate going to the dentist but I have to bite the bullet.” 

What does it mean?
To accept something reluctantly.

Where does it come from?
This one’s a bit grisly. First coined by English writer Rudyard Kipling, it’s been suggested this phrase came from surgeries before the invention of anesthetic. Patients would often bite down on a bullet between their teeth to cope with the pain (at the time, bullets were then made with softer metal.) Ouch.

5. Hands down

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Taylor Swift is hands down the best singer of all time.”

What does it mean?
Undoubtedly; inarguably.

Where does it come from?
This phrase comes from 19th-century horse racing, of course. If the race was won by a very large distance, people would say the rider had won “hands down.” This meant they could even drop the reins of their horse and relax for the final stretch of the race, with their “hands down”. Now we use it to describe anything we believe is beyond question or doubt. 

6. Break a leg

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Break a leg at the show tonight!”

What does it mean?
Good luck!

Where does it come from?
This unusual idiom is used to wish somebody luck before a performance, especially in theater acting. A few theories exist as to how this counterintuitive expression first came about, with one example (again) attributed to Ancient Greece. Back then, people would stamp their feet instead of applauding if they liked a performance — so the idea of somebody stamping with enough force to break a leg would indicate a good show. And don’t forget: saying “good luck” to a performer before they go on stage is actually considered to be bad luck to this day. Makes sense, right?

7. Break the ice

Can you use it in a sentence?
“The party was a bit awkward at first, so I started a game to break the ice.”

What does it mean?
To remove the tension at a first meeting or social event.

Where does it come from?
This is a very common idiom that most likely originates from sailing in the 1800s. Special boats were used to break the ice in frozen parts of the ocean to ensure safe passage for the rest of the fleet. It’s now used in a figurative sense to describe when someone does something (e.g., start a game) to relieve the initial tension or awkwardness at the beginning of a social event.

8. Under the weather

Can you use it in a sentence?
“I won’t have dinner tonight because I’m feeling a bit under the weather.”

What does it mean?
Feeling ill or unwell. This is used to describe mild illnesses rather than severe ones.

Where does it come from?
Brits just love to talk about the weather. Another example that likely originates from sailing: if sailors became unwell or seasick during a bad storm they would go below deck to rest and recuperate. This was described as being literally “under the weather”, although the phrase now describes any feeling of illness someone may have.

9. Beat around the bush

Can you use it in a sentence?
“Helena was beating around the bush for an hour before she told me what she wanted to say.”

What does it mean?
Avoid discussing a topic directly; Take a long time to arrive at the main point of a conversation.

Where does it come from?
This idiom can be traced back to over 500 years ago. When hunting birds in former times, one person would beat forest bushes causing birds to fly out for a second person to shoot. Beating around the bush (and not the bush itself) would therefore be indirect and unhelpful, as it would not lead the birds to fly out.

10. Close but no cigar

Can you use it in a sentence?
“It was close but no cigar for Arsenal, as they lost the final in the last minute.”

What does it mean?
To be close to achieving something, but ultimately fail.

Where does it come from?
In the late 1800s, carnival games were for adults rather than children. Instead of a comically large teddy bear, cigars were common rewards for these games. If someone almost won but ultimately failed to earn the prize, it was said that they were close but no cigar.

11. Riding shotgun

Can you use it in a sentence?
“I don’t mind riding shotgun if you prefer to drive.”

What does it mean?
To ride in the passenger seat of a car.

Where does it come from?
The Wild West. During this era of US history, stagecoaches riding through large, remote parts of the country would be vulnerable to dangerous animals and bandits. For protection, someone would ride up front alongside the driver with a shotgun. Nowadays it’s common for people to call “shotgun!” to claim the front seat of a car if there is more than one passenger.

Now you're ready to spice up your next English conversation — both with these everyday idioms and the fascinating stories of where they came from.

Sources: Britannica, The Henry Ford, Grammarly, Writing Prompts