10 Idiomatic Expressions to Describe Human Behaviors with Example Dialogues
Bite the Bullet
‘Bite the bullet’ refers to facing a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage. For example:
Mary: ‘I know the project is overwhelming, but you’ll just have to bite the bullet and get started.’
John: ‘You’re right, Mary. I’ll begin now.’
Hit the Nail on the Head
‘Hit the nail on the head’ means to accurately identify or fix a problem. For example:
Peter: ‘I think the real issue is our communication gap.’
Lisa: ‘You’ve hit the nail on the head, Peter. Let’s work on improving that.’
Let the Cat Out of the Bag
‘Let the cat out of the bag’ means to reveal a secret. For example:
Jane: ‘I accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.’
Tom: ‘Oh no! Let’s hope he doesn’t find out.’
Kick the Bucket
‘Kick the bucket’ is a colloquial way to say someone has died. For example:
Sarah: ‘Did you hear? Mr. Smith kicked the bucket last night.’
Molly: ‘That’s really sad. He was such a nice man.’
Break the Ice
‘Break the ice’ refers to initiating conversation in a social setting to ease tension. For example:
Mark: ‘The team seems so quiet.’
Nina: ‘I’ll break the ice with a funny story.’
Spill the Beans
‘Spill the beans’ means to disclose a secret or confidential information. For example:
Greg: ‘Who spilled the beans about the new project?’
Anna: ‘I think it was John.’
Bury the Hatchet
‘Bury the hatchet’ means to make peace and end a conflict. For example:
Alex: ‘We need to stop fighting, Jamie. Let’s bury the hatchet.’
Jamie: ‘I agree. It’s time for a fresh start.’
Play it by Ear
‘Play it by ear’ means to improvise rather than plan ahead. For example:
Rachel: ‘What’s our plan for the trip?’
Sam: ‘Let’s just play it by ear.’
Under the Weather
‘Under the weather’ means to feel ill. For example:
Chris: ‘You look under the weather today.’
Emma: ‘Yes, I think I’m coming down with a cold.’
Burn the Midnight Oil
‘Burn the midnight oil’ means to work late into the night. For example:
Kim: ‘You seem tired.’
Paul: ‘I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report.’
Love them!