List of idioms in the English language

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Please note that the sub-article listing the idioms starting with the letter (A) has been deleted in accordance with the result of Articles for Deletion debate that took place. All other such articles will be deleted in the near future (as of 30 November 2006). Readers interested in idioms are requested and required to look up the individual entry in Wiktionary, or peruse the Wiktionary category and not add to this article, or create new ones on the same topic.

A list of idioms can be useful, since the meaning of an idiom cannot be deduced by knowing the meaning of its constituent words.

For example, someone might know perfectly well what a bucket is and also understand the meaning of the verb "to kick" completely. However, unless they had already encountered the meaning of the phrase or were able to tell from the context the phrase appears in, they would not know that to kick the bucket is one of the many colorful idioms in the English language meaning to die.

[edit] Usage

There is limited global 'Standard English', and, just as there are variants of spelling and vocabulary in English across the world, so are different idioms used. Some idioms may well be used universally, but others are obscure or unknown outside their country or region of origin. A distinction needs also to be made between idioms understood by English speakers, and those naturally used by English speakers. This distinction is important, as very many American English idioms are understood by virtue of the export of American television programmes and films, but not naturally used in other countries. For example, while many people will understand what "To take the fifth" means, very few people outside the United States of America will actually use the phrase as the American Constitution is not extra-territorial. Similarly several British idioms are not well understood in the USA.