Everyday English idioms for practice

30 B1-B2 English Idioms to Spice Up Your English

30 B1-B2 English Idioms to Spice Up Your English

Learning idioms can really help you sound more like a native English speaker.

Idioms are phrases that might not make sense if you just look at the words in them.

People use them all the time when they talk, so it’s important to understand them if you want to have better conversations with native English speakers.

In this blog post, we’re going to look at 30 idioms that are great for people who are learning English at the B1-B2 level.

I’ll tell you what they mean and show you how to use them.

Let’s get started!

1. A blessing in disguise

Meaning: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.

Example: Losing my job was a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to start my own business.

 

2. Bite the bullet

Meaning: To endure a difficult situation bravely.

Example: I didn’t want to go to the dentist, but I had to bite the bullet and get it done.

 

3. Break the ice

Meaning: To make people feel more comfortable in a new situation.

Example: To break the ice at the party, I started with a few jokes.

 

4. By the book

Meaning: To do things exactly as the rules say.

Example: She always does everything by the book, so her reports are always perfect.

 

5. Call it a day

Meaning: To stop working for the day.

Example: We’ve been working for hours. Let’s call it a day and finish this tomorrow.

 

6. Cry over spilled milk

Meaning: To waste time worrying about something that has already happened.

Example: There’s no use crying over spilled milk. Let’s just focus on fixing the problem.

 

7. Cut to the chase

Meaning: To get to the main point without wasting time.

Example: I don’t have much time, so let’s cut to the chase. What’s the main issue?

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8. Get a taste of your own medicine

Meaning: To experience the same bad treatment you have given to others.

Example: When she was late for the meeting, she got a taste of her own medicine.

 

9. Hit the nail on the head

Meaning: To describe exactly what is causing a situation.

Example: When you said that the project failed because of poor planning, you really hit the nail on the head.

 

10. In hot water

Meaning: In trouble.

Example: I’m in hot water because I forgot my sister’s birthday.

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11. Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning: To reveal a secret accidentally.

Example: I didn’t mean to let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.

 

12. Miss the boat

Meaning: To miss an opportunity.

Example: I missed the boat on the sale because I waited too long to buy the item.

 

13. Once in a blue moon

Meaning: Very rarely.

Example: I only see my cousin once in a blue moon since she lives so far away.

 

14. Piece of cake

Meaning: Something very easy to do.

Example: The test was a piece of cake; I finished it in no time.

 

15. Pull someone’s leg

Meaning: To tease or joke with someone.

Example: Are you pulling my leg, or is it really going to snow tomorrow?

 

16. Put all your eggs in one basket

Meaning: To risk everything on one plan or idea.

Example: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. It’s better to have multiple plans.

 

17. Raining cats and dogs

Meaning: Raining very heavily.

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Example: We had to cancel our picnic because it was raining cats and dogs.

 

18. Read between the lines

Meaning: To understand something that isn’t said directly.

Example: You have to read between the lines to see that she’s not happy with the decision.

 

19. Speak of the devil

Meaning: When the person you are talking about appears.

Example: We were just talking about Jane, and there she is! Speak of the devil.

 

20. Take it with a grain of salt

Meaning: To not take something too seriously.

Example: She said she would come, but I’ll take it with a grain of salt because she often changes her mind.

 

21. The ball is in your court

Meaning: It’s up to you to make the next decision or move.

Example: I’ve done all I can to help. Now the ball is in your court.

 

22. Throw in the towel

Meaning: To give up.

Example: After trying for months, I had to throw in the towel and admit that the project wasn’t working.

 

23. Under the weather

Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell.

Example: I’m not going to work today because I’m feeling a bit under the weather.

 

24. Up in the air

Meaning: Uncertain or not decided yet.

Example: Our vacation plans are still up in the air because we haven’t decided where to go.

 

25. Wipe the slate clean

Meaning: To start over and forget past problems.

Example: After the argument, we decided to wipe the slate clean and start fresh.

 

26. You can say that again

Meaning: To agree strongly with what someone said.

Example: “That movie was amazing!” “You can say that again!”

 

27. Better late than never

Meaning: It’s better to do something late than not do it at all.

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Example: I’m sorry I’m late to the party, but better late than never!

 

28. Hit the sack

Meaning: To go to bed.

Example: I’m so tired. I think I’ll hit the sack early tonight.

 

29. In the same boat

Meaning: In the same difficult situation as others.

Example: We’re all in the same boat with this project. We need to work together to finish it.

 

30. Break a leg

Meaning: Good luck!

Example: You have a big performance tonight? Break a leg!

Conclusion

Learning idioms can help you sound more like a native English speaker and understand others better.

We’ve talked about 30 idioms that are good for B1-B2 level learners.

Practice using these idioms in your daily conversations to get better at English.

Remember, idioms are a fun part of learning a language.

Don’t be scared to try them out and see how they work in different situations.

The more you practice, the more natural they will feel!

Good luck with your new idioms!

Additional Tips for Using Idioms

Learn in Context: Look for idioms in books, movies, or conversations to see how they’re used.

Practice Regularly: The more you use idioms, the more comfortable they will become.

Ask for Feedback: Use idioms in your conversations and ask native speakers if you’re using them correctly.

Create Flashcards: Make flashcards with the idiom on one side and the meaning and example on the other.

By using these tips in your learning, you can get better at understanding and using idioms in English.

If you have any questions about idioms or other parts of English, feel free to ask in the comments below.

Happy studying!

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Check out these awesome phrases & Idioms books I recommend:

Cambridge Idioms Dictionary

IDIOMS and PHRASES Anglo,Synonyms and Antonyms Anglo,One Word Substitution

Oxford Dictionary of Idioms

3000 Idioms and Phrases+ 3000 Proverbs 

Idioms for Kids

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