You studied all the grammar rules and memorized endless vocabulary lists, but you still feel you can’t put sentences together in a natural way. Sound familiar? Common English phrases and expressions might be exactly what you need to fix that problem.

They add life to your words and help you sound more like a native speaker.

So yes, grammar rules alone might not be enough. That is why common English phrases and expressions are so important. They make your speech feel smooth and more relaxed.

In this blog post, we will explore ten new common English phrases and expressions. Each comes with a simple meaning and two examples to help you use them right away.

So, get comfy and get ready to learn some expressions!

Common English Phrases and Expressions

1. Keep Your Chin Up

Meaning:
This means you should stay positive even when things are hard. It is like telling someone not to let sad feelings bring their head down.

Examples:
– You had a tough day at school, but keep your chin up. Tomorrow will be better.
– I know practice was hard today. Keep your chin up and try again tomorrow.

This is a great phrase to say when someone feels worried or sad. It shows you believe things will get better soon.

2. Cut Corners

Meaning:
This means to do something in the easiest or fastest way, but not in the best or safest way. It is like rushing too much and skipping important steps.

Examples:
– If we cut corners on the project, it might not work well.
– He cut corners when building the shelf, so it fell apart fast.

Use this phrase when you want to warn someone about the risks of doing a task too quickly. It reminds them to focus on quality.

3. Once in a Blue Moon

Meaning:
This means something does not happen often. A blue moon is very rare, so this phrase says something only happens once in a long while.

Examples:
– My aunt lives far away, so I only see her once in a blue moon.
– He cooks a big meal once in a blue moon, but it tastes amazing.

This is a fun expression for talking about events that rarely happen. It adds color to your sentences and makes you sound more fluent.

4. Hold Your Horses

Meaning:
This means wait or slow down. It is like telling someone to pause before doing something too quickly.

Examples:
– Hold your horses. We need to check the map before we drive.
– Hold your horses, you cannot run outside without a coat in the rain.

You can use this phrase with friends or family when they need to stop and think before taking action.

5. Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Meaning:
This means to reveal a secret by accident. Imagine you had a secret cat in a bag, and it suddenly jumped out for everyone to see.

Examples:
– I wanted the party to be a surprise, but she let the cat out of the bag.
– He let the cat out of the bag about my secret trip next month.

Use this expression when someone shares information they were not supposed to tell. It can be a funny way to talk about secrets.

6. Keep an Eye On

Meaning:
This means to watch something or someone carefully. It could be about safety or just paying attention.

Examples:
– Please keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom.
– I have to keep an eye on the oven so the cookies do not burn.

Try this phrase when you ask someone to look after something. It is simple, but very common in daily English.

7. Get Cold Feet

Meaning:
This means to become nervous or uncertain about something you planned to do. It is like feeling so scared, your feet turn cold and you want to back out.

Examples:
– I got cold feet right before my big stage performance.
– She got cold feet about the trip and almost did not go.

Use this phrase when talking about second thoughts or sudden fear. It shows a person was ready before but is now unsure.

8. The Early Bird Catches the Worm

Meaning:
This saying means that people who start or arrive early often find success. If you get up early, you have the best chance to do well.

Examples:
– She woke up at dawn to study, and she passed her test. The early bird catches the worm.
– My mom always says the early bird catches the worm, so she goes for a run every morning.

This expression is handy when you want to encourage someone not to wait until the last minute.

9. Go the Extra Mile

Meaning:
This means to do more than what is expected. You add more effort or time to make something better than usual.

Examples:
– She always goes the extra mile for her friends, like baking them a cake on their birthdays.
– My teacher went the extra mile by giving me extra practice work.

Use this phrase to praise someone who puts in extra effort. It shows they do more to get the best result.

10. Speak of the Devil

Meaning:
This means you were just talking about someone, and then they appear. It is said in a light, fun way, not a mean way.

Examples:
– I was telling my sister about you, and then you knocked on the door. Speak of the devil.
– We were chatting about our old classmate, and speak of the devil, he called me.

Try this phrase when someone shows up right after you mention their name. It is a playful expression.

11. Bend Over Backward

Meaning:
This means to try really hard to help someone or make them happy.

Examples:
– She bent over backwards to plan the perfect birthday party for her friend.
– My parents bent over backwards to help me study for my exams.

Use this when someone puts in a lot of effort to please or assist others.

12. Give Someone the Benefit of the Doubt

Meaning:
This means to believe the best about someone, even if you are not sure.

Examples:
– I was not certain about her story, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
– He made a mistake, but we decided to give him the benefit of the doubt this time.

Use this when you want to show trust or kindness, assuming the person is honest.

13. Hit the Ground Running

Meaning:
This means to start something with energy and be ready to do well right away.

Examples:
– We need to hit the ground running if we want our event to be successful.
– When she joined the team, she hit the ground running and finished tasks right away.

Use this to talk about beginning a task or project with strong enthusiasm.

14. Keep Your Head Above Water

Meaning:
This means to manage tough situations without getting overwhelmed.

Examples:
– With all these bills, it is hard to keep my head above water.
– I have so many assignments, but I am trying to keep my head above water.

Use this phrase when you or someone else is doing their best to handle stress.

15. Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Meaning:
This means to rely on just one plan or idea, which can be risky if it fails.

Examples:
– He put all his eggs in one basket by investing only in one stock.
– I do not want to put all my eggs in one basket, so I will apply to many schools.

Use this expression as a warning not to risk everything on a single option.

Wrapping Up

Learning grammar rules is great, and having a strong vocabulary is important. But do not forget about the power of common English phrases and expressions. They bring life to your words and help you fit right in with native speakers. Each time you learn a new expression, try using it in a sentence or two every day. Over time, you will build a strong habit of speaking in a more lively way.

Keep your chin up when you make mistakes. Everyone stumbles at first, and that is okay. The key is to keep trying. Cut corners is never a good idea in learning, but going the extra mile will help you improve much faster.

Remember, the early bird catches the worm, so do not wait too long to start practicing. Grab your phone, open ELSA Speak, and begin right now. Soon, you will be dropping these phrases with ease, and people will say you sound like you have been speaking English your whole life!

More on common English phrases and expressions here