English Idioms

Communication

Mastering communication-related idioms can significantly enhance your ability to articulate ideas and engage in meaningful conversations. Our selection of communication idioms provides clear definitions, practical examples, and audio pronunciations to aid your learning. By understanding these idioms, you'll be able to express thoughts and interactions more effectively and naturally. Explore the origins of these idioms to gain deeper cultural insights and improve your overall comprehension. Incorporate these idioms into your conversations to build fluency and confidence in discussing communication. Start learning communication idioms today to refine your English speaking skills.

Idiom	Meaning and Examples
Bite your tongue	Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something because it might get you in trouble or hurt someone's feelings. It's an act of self-restraint to keep a thought or opinion to yourself. Examples: During the heated meeting, Sarah had to bite her tongue to avoid escalating the argument further. John wanted to criticize his colleague's presentation but decided to bite his tongue to maintain team harmony. When her friend started discussing politics, Emily bit her tongue, knowing her differing opinion might cause a rift. Meaning and Examples of the "Bite your tongue" idiom
Break the news	Meaning: To inform someone about something important, often something that is unexpected or disappointing. This phrase is used when delivering significant information that could evoke a strong emotional response. Examples: After the board meeting, the CEO had to break the news about the company's financial losses to the employees. She dreaded having to break the news of her resignation to her team, knowing it would come as a shock. When the doctor entered the room, he prepared himself to break the news of the diagnosis to the anxious family. Meaning and Examples of the "Break the news" idiom
Call a spade a spade	Meaning: To speak plainly and directly about something, even if it may be uncomfortable or unpleasant. It involves being straightforward and honest without sugarcoating the situation. Examples: In the board meeting, Sarah didn’t hesitate to call a spade a spade when discussing the company's financial issues. When it comes to his opinion on politics, John always calls a spade a spade, even if it ruffles a few feathers. Despite the awkwardness, the doctor called a spade a spade and explained the seriousness of the diagnosis to the patient. Meaning and Examples of the "Call a spade a spade" idiom
Drive home the point	Meaning: To make something very clear or forcefully emphasize a particular idea or message, ensuring that the audience fully understands it. Examples: In his presentation, John used several compelling statistics to drive home the point about the importance of cybersecurity. The teacher repeated the key concept multiple times to drive home the point to her students. Her heartfelt story about the impact of climate change really drove home the point of the urgency to take action. Meaning and Examples of the "Drive home the point" idiom
Drop a line	Meaning: To briefly contact someone, usually in writing. It often implies a quick and informal message, such as an email or a short note. Examples: After moving to a new city, Sarah promised to drop a line to her old friends every month. If you need any help with the project, just drop me a line, and I'll be happy to assist. John decided to drop a line to his professor to thank her for the recommendation letter. Meaning and Examples of the "Drop a line" idiom
Get something off your chest	Meaning: To share or confess something that has been bothering you, providing a sense of relief. It's often something you’ve been holding back and feel the need to express. Examples: After weeks of worrying about it, she finally got the mistake off her chest and felt much better. He needed to get his concerns off his chest before the meeting, so he called his friend to talk it out. Maria decided it was time to get her feelings off her chest and wrote a heartfelt letter to her sister. Meaning and Examples of the "Get something off your chest" idiom
Get the wrong end of the stick	Meaning: When someone misunderstands a situation or interprets something incorrectly, they have grasped the concept in a completely wrong way. Examples: Despite my clear instructions, she got the wrong end of the stick and ended up at the wrong venue. When he overheard their conversation, he got the wrong end of the stick and assumed they were plotting against him. Sarah thought the meeting was canceled, but she got the wrong end of the stick; the time was merely changed. Meaning and Examples of the "Get the wrong end of the stick" idiom
Give the green light	Meaning: When someone gives the green light, they grant permission or approval to proceed with a project or activity. It signifies that all preliminary checks or considerations are complete, and you can move forward confidently. Examples: The board of directors finally gave the green light to the new marketing campaign after months of deliberation. Once the FDA gives the green light, the new drug will be available to the public. The city council gave the green light for the construction of the new library, much to the community's delight. Meaning and Examples of the "Give the green light" idiom
Hear it on the grapevine	Meaning: To learn about something through informal means, often through gossip or casual conversation, rather than official channels. Examples: She heard on the grapevine that the company is planning to lay off several employees next month. I found out through the grapevine that they got engaged over the weekend. Rumors about the merger circulated on the grapevine long before it was officially announced. Meaning and Examples of the "Hear it on the grapevine" idiom
Hold your tongue	Meaning: To refrain from speaking, especially to avoid saying something inappropriate or out of place. It suggests exercising self-control and choosing not to express what one is thinking. Examples: Despite wanting to argue, she decided to hold her tongue during the heated meeting. He had to hold his tongue when his boss made an incorrect statement. John held his tongue rather than criticize his colleague's presentation in front of everyone. Meaning and Examples of the "Hold your tongue" idiom
In the loop	Meaning: Being in the loop means being informed and aware of current events or developments within a particular group or context. It's about having access to the latest information and being included in decision-making processes. Examples: After attending the executive meeting, she felt confident she was in the loop about the company's future plans. To ensure everyone was in the loop, the manager sent out a detailed email summarizing the project's progress. As a new employee, he struggled to get in the loop with the team's ongoing initiatives. Meaning and Examples of the "In the loop" idiom
Keep in the loop	Meaning: To ensure someone is informed or updated about all the important developments in a situation or project. It's about making sure no one is left out of the communication chain. Examples: Please keep me in the loop regarding any updates on the new marketing strategy. As the project manager, it's crucial to keep everyone in the loop to avoid any misunderstandings. She always makes an effort to keep her team in the loop about changes in company policies. Meaning and Examples of the "Keep in the loop" idiom
Keep your ear to the ground	Meaning: To stay informed about current trends, events, or opinions. It involves being attentive and aware of what is happening around you, especially in your field of interest. Examples: To stay competitive in the tech industry, you must keep your ear to the ground for the latest innovations. As a journalist, it's crucial to keep your ear to the ground to uncover breaking news stories. Entrepreneurs need to keep their ear to the ground to identify new market opportunities before their competitors do. Meaning and Examples of the "Keep your ear to the ground" idiom
Lay it on the line	Meaning: To speak honestly and directly about something, often involving risk or exposing one's true feelings. It's about being upfront and straightforward, even if it means facing potential consequences. Examples: In the board meeting, Jennifer laid it on the line and told everyone that the project was doomed to fail unless immediate changes were made. After years of hiding his feelings, Mark finally laid it on the line and confessed his love to Sarah. The coach laid it on the line: if the team didn't start practicing harder, they wouldn't make it to the championships. Meaning and Examples of the "Lay it on the line" idiom
Make a long story short	Meaning: To condense a lengthy explanation or narrative into a brief summary. It's often used when someone wants to get to the main point without delving into all the details. Examples: To make a long story short, we ended up missing our flight because of traffic. She went on and on about her vacation, but to make a long story short, they had a great time. The meeting dragged on for hours, so to make a long story short, we decided to postpone the project. Meaning and Examples of the "Make a long story short" idiom
Put in a good word	Meaning: To speak favorably about someone to others, often to help them get a job, promotion, or other opportunity. It's a way of endorsing someone to improve their chances. Examples: When Elise heard about the job opening, she asked her friend at the company to put in a good word for her. The professor agreed to put in a good word for his student who was applying to graduate school. Despite his lack of experience, Jake got the promotion because his colleague put in a good word for him. Meaning and Examples of the "Put in a good word" idiom
Read between the lines	Meaning: To understand a hidden or unspoken meaning in something that is said or written. It involves looking beyond the obvious and recognizing the subtleties and nuances in communication. Examples: When she said she was fine, I could read between the lines and tell she was actually upset. The politician's speech seemed positive, but if you read between the lines, there were subtle hints of dissatisfaction. Although the report appeared optimistic, investors read between the lines and saw the underlying financial troubles. Meaning and Examples of the "Read between the lines" idiom
Shoot from the hip	Meaning: To act or speak impulsively without careful consideration or planning. It often implies making quick decisions or comments without thinking them through. Examples: During the meeting, Jane shot from the hip and proposed a new strategy without consulting the team. When asked about the company's future, the CEO shot from the hip, giving an unfiltered and spontaneous response. He tends to shoot from the hip during interviews, which sometimes gets him into trouble. Meaning and Examples of the "Shoot from the hip" idiom
Shoot the breeze	Meaning: Engaging in casual or light-hearted conversation with no specific purpose. It's a way to relax and enjoy each other's company while talking about trivial matters or everyday life. Examples: After the meeting, we stayed behind to shoot the breeze about our weekend plans. Every Sunday, he visits his grandparents and shoots the breeze with them over coffee. We spent the whole afternoon shooting the breeze on the porch, not worrying about the time. Meaning and Examples of the "Shoot the breeze" idiom
Spread like wildfire	Meaning: When something becomes popular or known very quickly, similar to how a fire spreads rapidly in a forest, it can be said to spread like wildfire. Examples: When the new product launched, news about it spread like wildfire on social media. Rumors about the celebrity's sudden departure spread like wildfire through the entertainment industry. The viral video spread like wildfire, reaching millions of views within hours. Meaning and Examples of the "Spread like wildfire" idiom
Talk the talk	Meaning: To speak confidently or persuasively about a subject, often suggesting expertise or familiarity. It's about using the right language and appearing knowledgeable, even if one may not necessarily follow through with actions. Examples: Despite his impressive presentation, it's clear he can talk the talk but struggles to deliver on his promises. She can talk the talk in multiple languages, impressing everyone at the international conference. The CEO may talk the talk about innovation, but the company's outdated practices tell a different story. Meaning and Examples of the "Talk the talk" idiom
Through the grapevine	Meaning: Hearing information indirectly, often through gossip or rumors, rather than from an official source. This kind of information usually spreads quickly among peers or within a community. Examples: I heard through the grapevine that the company is planning to launch a new product next month. She found out through the grapevine that her colleagues were planning a surprise party for her. It’s amazing how fast news travels through the grapevine in a small town. Meaning and Examples of the "Through the grapevine" idiom
Touch base	Meaning: To make contact or reconnect with someone to share information or check in on progress. It often implies a brief conversation or update to stay aligned. Examples: Let's touch base next week to finalize the project details. I need to touch base with my team before making the final decision. We should touch base with our clients to ensure they are satisfied with our services. Meaning and Examples of the "Touch base" idiom
Up in the air	Meaning: When something is uncertain or undecided, it means the final outcome or decision hasn't been made yet. It indicates that things are still in progress and could change at any moment. Examples: The outcome of the merger is still up in the air, leaving employees anxious about their jobs. With the weather forecast up in the air, we decided to postpone the picnic to next week. The director's decision on the casting is up in the air, making the actors quite nervous. Meaning and Examples of the "Up in the air" idiom
Voice your opinion	Meaning: To express your thoughts, feelings, or beliefs about a particular subject. It involves sharing your perspective openly, whether in a discussion, meeting, or any public forum. Examples: During the town hall meeting, she felt compelled to voice her opinion on the new zoning laws. In the brainstorming session, Mark didn't hesitate to voice his opinion about the marketing strategy. The teacher encouraged all students to voice their opinions during the class discussion on climate change. Meaning and Examples of the "Voice your opinion" idiom
Word of mouth	Meaning: When people share information or recommendations with others through personal conversations rather than through traditional advertising or media. It relies on trust and personal experiences, making it a powerful form of communication. Examples: The new café became popular through word of mouth, as satisfied customers told their friends. Despite having no advertising budget, the startup thrived due to positive word of mouth from early users. The book club grew exponentially thanks to word of mouth recommendations. Meaning and Examples of the "Word of mouth" idiom