Useful English Idioms Related to Problems
Problems come in many different shapes and sizes. We can have big problems or small ones, personal problems or work-related ones. To discuss these problems in our daily conversation, we use idioms related to problems.
Idioms Related to Problems
Idioms are a huge part of our everyday language, but how many of us really know what they mean? Most of the time, we just memorize them because they sound good or they’re easy to remember. But if you really want to understand idioms and how they work, you’ve got to dig deeper. Here are some common ones to get you started:
| Sr.# | Idioms Related to Problems | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Add fuel to the fire | To make a bad situation worse. |
| 2 | Blow off some steam | To relieve stress or anger by doing something physical. |
| 3 | On thin ice | In a risky situation. |
| 4 | The proof of the pudding is in the eating | You can only judge something by trying it or using it. |
| 5 | Make a mountain out of a molehill | To make a big deal out of something small. |
| 6 | Throw in the towel | To give up |
| 7 | I’m pulling your leg | I’m joking with you |
| 8 | Speak of the devil! | The person we were just talking about has arrived |
| 9 | Get your ducks in a row | To get everything organized |
| 10 | When pigs fly | Never going to happen |
| 11 | To be in the same boat as someone | To have a similar problem or situation. For example, if several people are having problems finding jobs, they might say “We’re all in the same boat.” |
| 12 | To fly off the handle | If somebody flies off the handle, it means that they become angry very quickly and uncontrollably. |
| 13 | To take one’s hat off to someone/something | This idiom is used to show respect for someone or something by removing one’s hat in admiration or awe at their skills or achievements. |
| 14 | That hits the spot | That’s exactly what I wanted. |
| 15 | The squeaky wheel gets the grease | A person who complains about a problem or inconvenience will get more attention than someone who does not complain. |
| 16 | That’ll be the day! | I will never believe that! |
| 17 | Give me a break! | I’ve been working like a dog all day! |
| 18 | Get off your ass | Do something; start moving forward. |
| 19 | Get out of hand | Become too big or too difficult to control; get out of control. |
| 20 | Easy come, easy go! | Something that came easily will be taken away easily too. |
| 21 | Every cloud has a silver lining! | Even if things seem bad now, there could be something good in store for you in the future. |
| 22 | Don’t cry over spilt milk | don’t be upset about something that has happened and can’t be changed now; look forward instead of back at mistakes or regrets from the past |
| 23 | Too many cooks spoil the broth | too many people working together end up making things worse than if they’d worked separately |
| 24 | An elephant in the room | is a problem that no one wants to talk about. |
| 25 | Be in deep water | This means that you are in a big problem or difficult situation, and it will be hard to get out of it. |
| 26 | Hit rock bottom | This means that something has reached its lowest point and will not get any worse. |
| 28 | In a fix | This means that something has gone wrong and caused problems for someone or something. |
| 29 | To be slow off the mark | to be very slow to react or respond |
| 30 | To turn a blind eye | To ignore something, when you know it is happening/going on. |
| 31 | To give someone the cold shoulder | This means that you’re avoiding them and not offering them anything. |
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