Studying English should be engaging and rewarding, particularly as you become familiar with widely used common expressions. These phrases enrich our dialogue and allow us to communicate in a way that resonates with native speakers. They are an integral part of everyday language, making it essential to understand them.

We’ll explore the 18 most common English expressions, learn their meanings, and discover how to incorporate them into our conversations.

The 18 Most Common English Expressions

1. “Piece of cake”

When something is really easy, you can say it’s a “piece of cake.” It’s like saying doing this task is as enjoyable and simple as eating your favorite dessert.

Example: "Finishing this puzzle was a piece of cake!"

2. “Break the ice”

To “break the ice” means to do something that makes people feel more comfortable and start talking to each other, especially when they meet for the first time.

Example: "I told a funny story to break the ice at the party."

3. “Costs an arm and a leg”

This funny expression means something is very expensive. It’s like saying you would have to give something very important to you in order to buy it.

Example: "This designer dress costs an arm and a leg!"

4.”Feeling under the weather”

When you’re not feeling well, you can say you’re “feeling under the weather.” It’s a gentle way to say you’re sick without going into details.

Example: "I can't come to school today. I'm feeling under the weather."

5. “Hit the nail on the head”

When you get something exactly right, you “hit the nail on the head.” It’s like saying you’ve found the perfect answer or solution to a problem.

Example: "You hit the nail on the head when you guessed why I was happy."

6. “Bite off more than you can chew”

This means you’ve tried to do too much, more than you can handle. It’s like taking a big bite of food and then realizing you can’t chew it all.

Example: "I volunteered for too many projects. I've bitten off more than I can chew."

7. “Out of the blue”

If something happens unexpectedly, without any warning, you can say it happened “out of the blue.” It’s like something suddenly appearing out of nowhere.

Example: "My old friend called me out of the blue yesterday."

8. “The ball is in your court”

This means it’s your turn to make a decision or take some action. It comes from sports where players take turns hitting the ball.

Example: "I've done all I can. Now the ball is in your court."

9. “Spill the beans”

To “spill the beans” means to tell a secret, especially one that was supposed to be kept hidden.

Example: "He spilled the beans about the ending of the movie."

10. “Burning the midnight oil”

When you stay up very late working or studying, you’re “burning the midnight oil.” It’s like using an oil lamp to see in the old days, long into the night.

Example: "I was burning the midnight oil to finish my science project."

11. “Cry over spilled milk”

Worrying about things that have already happened and can’t be changed is like “crying over spilled milk.” It’s no use being upset over things you can’t fix.

Example: "Yes, you made a mistake, but there's no use crying over spilled milk."

12. “Piece of the pie”

When you want your share of something, like profits or benefits, you want a “piece of the pie.” It’s like everyone getting a slice of a delicious dessert.

Example: "Everyone wants their piece of the pie when it comes to group project success."

13. “Jump on the bandwagon”

If you start liking or doing something because everyone else is, you “jump on the bandwagon.” It’s like joining a parade that’s already in motion.

Example: "I never used to like yoga, but I decided to jump on the bandwagon."

14. “Through thick and thin”

Sticking with someone no matter what happens, like walking together through both thick mud and thin water.

Example: "We've been friends through thick and thin."

15. “Bite the bullet”

When you have to do something difficult or unpleasant, it’s like biting down on something hard.

Example: "I really don't want to clean my room, but I guess I'll just bite the bullet."

16. “Break a leg”

A funny way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.

Example: "You're going to do great in the school play. Break a leg!"

17. “Hit the books”

When you need to start studying really hard, it’s like you’re hitting your books open.

Example: "My exams are next week, so I need to hit the books this weekend."

18. “When pigs fly”

This means something will never happen, like pigs flying in the sky.

Example: "I'll clean my room when pigs fly."

Using ELSA to help you with expressions

English expressions are super important for sounding like a native speaker and for understanding everyday conversations. They add flavor to our language and help us express our thoughts and feelings in fun and interesting ways. To get really good at using these expressions, practice is key.

That’s where our app, ELSA Speak, comes in! ELSA Speak is designed to help you master these expressions and much more. With our app, you can practice pronunciation, learn new phrases, and even get feedback on how to improve. It’s like having a personal English tutor in your pocket, ready to help you anytime, anywhere.

So, if you want to get better at using the most common English expressions and boost your English skills, give ELSA Speak a try. It’s a great tool for learning at your own pace and becoming more confident in your English speaking abilities. Let’s start practicing together and make English learning a piece of cake!