Say It the Idiomatic Way
Say It the Idiomatic Way
Ever heard someone say something that made zero sense… but somehow, everyone else understood it? Welcome to the colourful world of idioms — phrases where the words don’t always mean exactly what they say, but together, they create a vivid and interesting meaning.
Learning idioms isn’t just about sounding smart — it helps you sound natural, confident, and sometimes even a bit witty. Ready to add some flavour to your English? Here are six fun idioms to learn and try this week!
Idioms to Try This Week
- Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Something that is very expensive
Example: That new phone costs an arm and a leg — I’ll need to save up for months!
- Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on more work or responsibility than you can handle
Example: I agreed to plan the event and finish my assignment this week — I may have bitten off more than I can chew.
- Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid getting to the point
Example: Just say what you mean — no need to beat around the bush!
- Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To join something that’s already popular
Example: Everyone’s learning how to bake bread these days, so I jumped on the bandwagon too!
- Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: To make a wrong assumption or blame the wrong person
Example: If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
- Straight from the horse’s mouth
Meaning: Information that comes directly from the original source
Example: I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth — the event is confirmed!
Why are idioms important? Idioms bring life, humour, and personality to the English language. They help you understand jokes, shows, songs, and everyday conversations. And they’re also a great way to make you sound more like a native speaker. So go ahead, sprinkle a few idioms into your chat. Don’t worry if it feels awkward at first because just like anything else, practice makes perfect!
At ILTI, we encourage our learners to polish their language skills via real-life situations. We do not practise the chalk and talk approach – we learn and have fun at the same time. Join us today by calling / WhatsApp 010-395 3067 or email: info@ilti.edu.my.