Common British Idioms but What is an Idiom?

Let's first answer the question 'what is an idiom?' then we will look at the most common British idioms and phrases with meanings and examples. Timestamps and links are below!

0:07 What is an idiom?
1:53 What is figurative language?
2:40 What is the difference between an idiom, a metaphor, and a simile?
4:32 Why are idioms important for ESL learners?
5:37 How do you use idioms properly?
6:27 Ten common British idioms
6:31 Idiom - Under the weather
6:42 Idiom - The ball is in your court
6:55 Idiom - Spill the beans
7:06 Idiom - You're pulling my leg
7:20 Idiom - Take it with a pinch of salt
7:35 Idiom - You can say that again
7:50 Idiom - To see eye to eye
8:01 Idiom - to beat around the bush
8:16 Idiom - To miss the boat
8:29 Idiom - By the skin of your teeth

Do let me know in the comments section if you have any questions about this, and feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for future lessons.
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#Englishlikeanative

For those of you who are new to this channel, my name is Anna English. I am British, therefore I teach British English, though you will find some videos here that look at the differences between British English and American English. The best way to make use of this channel is to go to the home page, click on the videos tab and browse through the hundreds of available lessons. If you would like to be notified when I broadcast live and release new videos then please turn on notifications by clicking on the bell icon.

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Thanks for Watching

Anna ❤ 🇬🇧

[manuelgordillo]

Good job teacher. As usual, I got you 80, 85% of your speeches. Maybe, only maybe I am on the right path. And all of these things, you have played an important role. Listening to you I have improved this skill. But step by step.

[RichiEnglish]

Idioms are the ins and outs of a language, I reckon. That's why I worship idioms and collocations. My favourite ones are the following: Put the wood into the hole, It's brass monkeys outside, One sandwich short of a picnic, You make a better door than a window and Near as it makes no matter... :D

[satyavivekanandbattula]

Thank you very much Anna 😊. Useful lesson ☺.

[gabriellagirardi]

Great explanation on English idioms. Your lessons are always very clear. Thank you

[foxlink]

"at the end of the day ..."
"you scratch my back i'll scratch yours"
"let's call it a day/night"
"the crack of noon/('dawn' for normal people)"
"I eat ___ for breakfast"

[kennyloggins]

Your channel is so entertaining and educational! thank you

[sanjaynatekar]

Anna, its a great video. Very usefull and informative. Congrats and thanks 😊

[mikaelastefkova]

Idioms I usually use (Except those already mentioned in the video)^^

Every cloud has silver lining ✨
Watch your back 🌸🌿
At the end of the day... ☀️
Let's call it a day ...🦋
Count your blessings 💗

[wagnarok]

I´ve learnt this week 3 idioms that i´m going to share: this lesson "looked like a million bucks"; this 10 idioms really "catch my eye, if i can´t use these idioms in my everyday english speaking, i´ll "cry my eyes out".

[carotheplaylistmaker]

WOW Anna, the aesthetics of this video is amazing, its visual beauty is next level 😀😍

[sliabhgorm]

Anna, I love your English accent and your videos on the English language are super informative & top class. Being born in the Republic of Ireland, you would have difficulty understanding my English. I enjoy listening to you speaking «English Like A Native» Cheers from Canada.

[williamesteves]

I just loved this video, very useful. Cockney is also very interesting to look at.

[lowellcunningham]

The cut of their jib: a person's general demeanor "I like the cut of his jib."

From the American West:
End of my rope: stressed or overwhelmed "I'm at the end of my rope, cut me some slack!"
Cut me some slack: allow me some freedom to address the problem (both these are apparently cowboy idioms based on roping cattle)
Mending fences: correcting a misunderstanding or social faux pas "I forgot to invite June to the party. Time to mend fences."
Good fences make good neighbors: respect boundaries "He doesn't mow his lawn in the early morning and I don't play my music loud at night. Good fences make good neighbors."

Pig in a poke: something which has an important aspect obscured or hidden "You should tour the house, you don't want to buy a pig in a poke."
Let the cat out of the bag: to reveal a secret "It's not a surprise party anymore, Allen let the cat out of the bag."
(These are both based on scam in which an unscrupulous merchant would put a cat in a bag, or poke, and sell it to the unwary buyer as a pig or piglet. This is a case where the original meaning of the idioms is so removed from modern life that the sayings cannot be taken literally at all.)

From The Wizard of Oz:
I don't think we're in Kansas anymore: Things have changed, possibly in a disconcerting way "The company's up for sale. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
Over the Rainbow: very happy "Jane's favorite show was renewed and now she's over the rainbow."
Don't make me get/release my flying monkeys: do what I want, or there will be consequences "This room needs to be clean in five minutes! Don't make me get my flying monkeys."
And your little dog, too: everything concerning you "Get out of my house -- and your little dog, too!"
Horse of a different color: new information changes the original assessment of a situation "The winner of trivia night gets cash? Well, that's a horse of a different color." (This saying predates the movie. In the film, there's an actual horse that changes color randomly.)
Ignore the man behind the curtain: things aren't always as they appear on the surface "She claims not to be a corporate shill, but don't ignore the man behind the curtain.
There's no place like home: it's best to be with family and friends "I love to travel, but there's no place like home."

Idioms must be very difficult to a language learner!

[tpw]

Thanks to my favorite English teacher!

[aypibar]

I love you. I haven’t ever seen such a beautiful teacher like you
😉

[exoforever]

Thanks you, it was very helpful for me . 😍😍

[pile]

It's important to know as much idioms as possible because often foreigners cannot understand some phrases just because of them.

[tanishasamaiyra]

Thanks a million to you for bringing this marvellous video. I have a humble request from you to continue the idiom lessons, so that I will never fall behind on English.
You are a great teacher😇😇.

[willianrom]

Teacher, I've heard "Spill the tea", is it the same meaning of "Spill the beans"?

[imtiyazhusen]

Wow
Just subscribed to your channel

It's certainly impressive how you speak
And very well explanation of idioms and figurative language.
Thanks :)