30 C2-level Idioms with Meanings and Example Sentences

There are 30 C2-level idioms, along with their meanings and example sentences:

A bitter pill to swallow

Meaning: A difficult or unpleasant fact that must be accepted.

Example: Losing the championship was a bitter pill to swallow for the team.

Bite the bullet

Meaning: To face a difficult situation with courage.

Example: After years of procrastination, I finally decided to bite the bullet and start my thesis.

Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: To work late into the night.

Example: She had to burn the midnight oil to finish her project before the deadline.

Caught between a rock and a hard place

Meaning: In a difficult situation where there are no good choices.

Example: He was caught between a rock and a hard place when he had to choose between his job and his family.

Cry over spilled milk

Meaning: To waste time worrying about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.

Example: It’s no use crying over spilled milk; we need to focus on finding a solution.

Cut to the chase

Meaning: To get to the point without wasting time.

Example: Let’s cut to the chase; we need to discuss the budget immediately.

Devil’s advocate

Meaning: Someone who argues a position they do not necessarily agree with, for the sake of debate.

Example: I’ll play devil’s advocate and suggest why we shouldn’t proceed with the project.

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch

Meaning: Don’t assume success until it actually happens.

Example: He’s already planning the celebration, but I told him not to count his chickens before they hatch.

Every cloud has a silver lining

Meaning: There is something good in every bad situation.

Example: Losing that job was tough, but every cloud has a silver lining; it pushed me to pursue my dream career.

Hit the nail on the head

Meaning: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.

Example: When she said the project failed due to poor planning, she really hit the nail on the head.

In the same boat

Meaning: In a similar situation or predicament.

Example: We are all in the same boat regarding the budget cuts, so we need to support each other.

Jump on the bandwagon

Meaning: To join a popular activity or trend.

Example: Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon of sustainable practices.

Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning: To reveal a secret, often by accident.

Example: He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party during lunch.

Once in a blue moon

Meaning: Something that happens very rarely.

Example: We only go out for dinner once in a blue moon because we prefer to cook at home.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

Meaning: To go from a bad situation to a worse one.

Example: He thought changing jobs would solve his problems, but he ended up out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Put all your eggs in one basket

Meaning: To risk everything on a single venture.

Example: Investing all your savings in one company is putting all your eggs in one basket.

Raining cats and dogs

Meaning: To rain very heavily.

Example: We decided to stay indoors because it was raining cats and dogs outside.

Read between the lines

Meaning: To understand the hidden meaning or significance of something.

Example: If you read between the lines, you can see that he’s unhappy with the current situation.

Steal someone’s thunder

Meaning: To take credit for someone else’s idea or to do something that takes attention away from them.

Example: She stole my thunder by announcing the project before I had a chance to present it.

The ball is in your court

Meaning: It is up to you to make the next decision or take action.

Example: I’ve given you all the information; now the ball is in your court.

The elephant in the room

Meaning: A major issue that is being ignored or not discussed.

Example: We need to address the elephant in the room regarding our declining sales.

Throw in the towel

Meaning: To give up; to admit defeat.

Example: After several failed attempts, he decided to throw in the towel on the project.

Turn a blind eye

Meaning: To ignore something that you know is wrong.

Example: The manager turned a blind eye to the minor violations in the office.

Under the weather

Meaning: Feeling ill or unwell.

Example: I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather lately, so I think I’ll stay home today.

Walk on eggshells

Meaning: To be very cautious in order to avoid upsetting someone.

Example: Since she’s been so stressed, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around her.

Wild goose chase

Meaning: A futile pursuit or a pointless search.

Example: Trying to find that old book in the library turned out to be a wild goose chase.

You can’t have your cake and eat it too

Meaning: You can’t have everything your way; you must make a choice.

Example: If you want to save money for a car, you can’t keep spending on luxuries; you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Your guess is as good as mine

Meaning: I have no idea; I don’t know any more than you do.

Example: When asked when the project would be completed, he said, “Your guess is as good as mine.”

Back to the drawing board

Meaning: To start over after a failure.

Example: The initial design didn’t meet the requirements, so it’s back to the drawing board for the team.

Cut corners

Meaning: To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often resulting in a poor-quality outcome.

Example: They cut corners on the project, which led to several mistakes.