25 Idioms You Need to Know: Mastering Figurative English

Introduction:

At the advanced level, native speakers use idioms not just to communicate, but to communicate efficiently and vividly. These are the phrases that inject personality, color, and cultural context into your English.

If you've ever felt confused when someone says they have to "bite the bullet" or think they're literally standing "on the fence," this guide is for you. We’ve collected 25 essential idioms focused on three central areas of conversation—money, decisions, and time—that will instantly make your English more natural and fluent. Stop translating and start thinking like a native speaker.

 

 

The 25 Essential Idioms

Theme 1: Money & Finance (10 Idioms)

These are used when discussing costs, budgeting, and wealth.

#	Idiom	Meaning	Example Use
1.	To cut corners	To do something badly or cheaply to save time or money.	"They had to cut corners on quality to meet the budget."
2.	To foot the bill	To pay for something (often expensive).	"The company decided to foot the bill for the whole conference."
3.	To be a rip-off	To be heavily overpriced; poor value.	"That tiny coffee shop is a rip-off; their prices are too high."
4.	To break the bank	To cost too much money.	"I'd love a new car, but I don't want to break the bank."
5.	To live hand to mouth	To have just enough money to live and nothing extra.	"After losing her job, she was living hand to mouth."
6.	To tighten one's belt	To spend less money than before; to economize.	"With rising costs, we all need to tighten our belts a bit."
7.	To squirrel money away	To save money slowly, often hidden.	"He’s been squirreling money away for a down payment on a house."
8.	To make a killing	To earn a very large amount of money.	"They made a killing selling their startup to a bigger firm."
9.	In the red/In the black	Spending more than you earn (red) / Making a profit (black).	"We hope to move from in the red to in the black this quarter."
10.	To chip in	To contribute money (or effort) to a common fund or cause.	"Let's all chip in to buy the boss a thank-you gift."

Theme 2: Decisions & Risk (8 Idioms)

These relate to making choices, taking control, or avoiding action.

#	Idiom	Meaning	Example Use
11.	To call the shots	To be in charge or make the important decisions.	"As the CEO, she's the one who calls the shots around here."
12.	To sit on the fence	To avoid making a decision or choosing a side.	"He can't decide which proposal to back; he's sitting on the fence."
13.	To bite the bullet	To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.	"It's time to bite the bullet and tell them the truth."
14.	To weigh one's options	To carefully consider all the choices available.	"Before accepting the job, I need to weigh my options."
15.	To put all your eggs in one basket	To risk everything on one venture; to rely on one plan.	"Don't invest only in one stock; never put all your eggs in one basket."
16.	To jump the gun	To act too hastily or before the proper time.	"The report wasn't due until next week, but she jumped the gun and sent it today."
17.	To make waves	To cause trouble or controversy.	"The new intern is making waves with his radical ideas."
18.	To play it by ear	To decide how to proceed as a situation develops, rather than sticking to a fixed plan.	"We don't need a strict agenda for the weekend; let's just play it by ear."

Theme 3: Timing & Urgency (7 Idioms)

These describe deadlines, delays, and when things happen.

#	Idiom	Meaning	Example Use
19.	The eleventh hour	The last possible moment.	"We managed to finish the contract at the eleventh hour."
20.	To be up against the clock	To be severely limited by time; under pressure.	"The team is up against the clock to get the prototype finished."
21.	To kill time	To spend time doing nothing important while waiting.	"I had two hours before my flight, so I was just killing time reading a book."
22.	In the nick of time	At the very last moment, just before something bad happens.	"The package arrived in the nick of time for her birthday."
23.	Better late than never	It is better for someone or something to be late than not to arrive at all.	"He finally apologized. Better late than never, I guess."
24.	To be running out of steam	To be losing energy or enthusiasm for an activity.	"It's a great project, but I think the committee is running out of steam."
25.	A whole new ballgame	A completely different situation or circumstance.	"Working from home was fine, but managing a team remotely is a whole new ballgame."