Maltalingua School of English Blog

Idioms are the spice of fluent English. They’re those quirky little phrases that don’t mean what the words actually say — and once you start spotting them in conversation, films and songs, you genuinely can’t stop. They turn up everywhere.

Here’s the thing: native speakers use idioms constantly without even noticing. If you want your English to sound natural rather than textbook-correct, idioms are your shortcut. In this lesson we’ll look at five everyday categories — time, food, animals, weather and body parts — then talk about when to use them and when to hold back. Stick around for the quiz at the end to see how many you’ve picked up.

Time-related idioms are some of the most common you’ll hear in everyday English — probably because we’re all a bit obsessed with the clock.

• Time flies — time passes very quickly. “I can’t believe it’s already May. Time flies!”
• In the nick of time — at the very last moment, just before it’s too late. “He caught the train in the nick of time.”
• Against the clock — under serious time pressure. “We’re working against the clock to finish before Friday.”
• Kill time — do something to pass the time while you wait. “I read a magazine to kill time at the airport.”
• Around the clock — 24 hours a day, non-stop. “The doctors worked around the clock.”
• Take your time — don’t rush, do it slowly and carefully. “Take your time with the test, there’s no hurry.”
• Time is money — time is valuable, don’t waste it. Often used in business contexts.

Notice how these aren’t really about clocks at all — they’re about how we feel about time. That’s idioms for you.

The English language has a real soft spot for food metaphors. Here are the ones you’ll hear most often:

• A piece of cake — very easy. “The exam was a piece of cake.”
• In a nutshell — in a few words, summed up briefly. “In a nutshell, we need more staff.”
• The cherry on top — the final touch that makes something perfect. “Sunshine on holiday is the cherry on top.”
• Cool as a cucumber — very calm, especially under pressure. “She was cool as a cucumber during the interview.”
• Spill the beans — reveal a secret, often by accident. “Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party!”
• Butter someone up — flatter someone to get something from them. “He’s buttering up the boss for a promotion.”
• Take it with a pinch of salt — don’t believe it completely; be sceptical. “Take what he says with a pinch of salt — he exaggerates.”

Try slipping one of these into your next conversation. You might surprise yourself with how natural it sounds.

Animal idioms are wonderfully visual. They paint a picture in your head, which is why they tend to stick.

• Let the cat out of the bag — accidentally reveal a secret. “He let the cat out of the bag about her new job.”
• Raining cats and dogs — raining very heavily. A bit old-fashioned, but everyone knows it. “Bring an umbrella — it’s raining cats and dogs.”
• The elephant in the room — an obvious problem nobody wants to talk about. “Let’s address the elephant in the room: the budget.”
• Hold your horses — wait, slow down, don’t rush into things. “Hold your horses — we haven’t decided yet.”
• A wild goose chase — a pointless search for something that probably doesn’t exist. “Looking for that file was a wild goose chase.”

The British are famous for talking about the weather, so it’s no shock that weather idioms are everywhere in English.

• Under the weather — feeling slightly unwell. “I’m a bit under the weather today, I might skip the gym.”
• Raining cats and dogs — yes, it counts twice. Heavy rain.
• A storm in a teacup — a big fuss over something very minor. “The whole argument was a storm in a teacup.”
• On cloud nine — extremely happy. “She’s been on cloud nine since the engagement.”
• The calm before the storm — a peaceful moment just before something hectic happens. “Monday’s quiet — it’s the calm before the storm.”

Quick tip: weather idioms are particularly handy for small talk. They feel natural and never sound forced.

If you’ve ever wondered why English speakers keep talking about arms, legs, hearts and feet when they don’t really mean any of them — welcome to body-part idioms.

• Cost an arm and a leg — be very expensive. “That car cost an arm and a leg.”
• See eye to eye — agree with someone. “We don’t always see eye to eye, but we respect each other.”
• Get cold feet — suddenly feel nervous about doing something you’d planned. “He got cold feet the day before the wedding.”
• Head over heels — completely in love. “She’s head over heels for him.”
• A chip on your shoulder — be resentful or easily offended about something from your past. “He’s got a chip on his shoulder about not going to university.”
• All ears — listening very attentively. “Tell me everything — I’m all ears.”
• Lend a hand — help someone. “Could you lend a hand with the dishes?”

Idioms are brilliant — but knowing when not to use them is just as important as knowing them in the first place.

Informal speech: yes, please. Chatting with friends, posting on social media, sending a casual message — go for it. Idioms make you sound relaxed and confident.

Formal writing: be careful. A business email or academic essay isn’t really the place for “a piece of cake” or “spill the beans”. Stick to direct, neutral language. There are exceptions — a well-placed idiom in a presentation or speech can land beautifully — but generally, save them for less formal contexts.

With non-native speakers: read the room. If you’re talking to someone whose English is still developing, idioms can genuinely confuse. “It’s raining cats and dogs” sounds bizarre if you’ve never heard it. Use them, but be ready to explain — or pick a more literal phrase if you sense someone’s lost.

The golden rule: match your language to your audience. That’s a skill on its own.

Ten quick questions. Read the idiom, pick the meaning, and check your score at the bottom.

1. In the nick of time — (a) very late (b) just in time (c) on schedule
2. A piece of cake — (a) delicious (b) very easy (c) very difficult
3. Spill the beans — (a) make a mess (b) reveal a secret (c) cook dinner
4. Hold your horses — (a) ride faster (b) wait a moment (c) be brave
5. Under the weather — (a) outside (b) feeling unwell (c) caught in the rain
6. On cloud nine — (a) very high up (b) very confused (c) very happy
7. Cost an arm and a leg — (a) be free (b) be cheap (c) be very expensive
8. Get cold feet — (a) feel nervous (b) feel ill (c) feel cold
9. All ears — (a) listening carefully (b) ignoring you (c) overhearing
10. The elephant in the room — (a) a big mistake (b) an obvious problem nobody mentions (c) a heavy object

Answers: 1-b, 2-b, 3-b, 4-b, 5-b, 6-c, 7-c, 8-a, 9-a, 10-b.

How did you do?

• 9–10: brilliant — your idiom radar is sharp.
• 6–8: solid B1/B2 level. Keep listening for them in films and podcasts.
• 0–5: no problem at all. Bookmark this page and come back to it.

Want to use idioms naturally — not just memorise them? That happens when you’re surrounded by English every day. Get a quote for an English course in Malta and start picking up idioms in real conversations, not just textbooks.