The 37 Idioms You Should Know for the TOEFL

So now you know that idioms are important, but which ones are most important for the TOEFL? Below are the 37 best idioms to know for
the TOEFL. These are idioms that have either been used before in the TOEFL, are used commonly enough in English that they’re
important to know, or both.

For each idiom, the definition and a sample sentence using it are included.

Idiom Definition Sample Sentence

A short fuse A quick temper. Don’t get the coach mad; he has a very short fuse.

To avoid the main topic/not

Beat around the bush Stop beating around the bush and tell me why you’re here.
speak directly.

Be on your toes Be ready/prepared. A fire can happen at any moment, so firemen always need to be on their toes.

Breeze though To do something quickly and

Don’t worry about the math homework; I’m sure you’ll breeze through it.
something easily.

Butterflies in your
To feel nervous. Tom always got butterflies in his stomach before giving a speech.
stomach

Costs an arm and a leg Is very expensive. That new purse of hers costs an arm and a leg.

Couch potato Someone who is lazy. You need to stop being such a couch potato and start joining me at the gym.

To do something badly to The architect cut corners on the bridge’s construction, which is why it eventually
Cut corners
save time or money. collapsed.
Cut someone some I heard Rachel’s dad is sick, so we should cut her some slack on this group
To go easy on someone.
slack project.

Feeling blue Feeling sad or depressed. Erika’s been feeling blue every since her boyfriend broke up with her.

Finding a needle in a These days, finding a job that doesn’t require experience is like trying to find a
Virtually impossible to find.
haystack needle in a haystack.

Get some shut eye Sleep. I have a big exam tomorrow, so I need to get some shut eye.

Kelsey has the highest grades in our class since she always goes the extra mile
Go the extra mile Put in extra effort.
with homework assignments.

Hang in there Be patient. I know it’s hard waiting for the exam results, but you just need to hang in there.

Hard up Lack money. Ellie knew I was hard up, so she paid for my coffee.

Have something to argue

Have a bone to pick I have a bone to pick with the girl who stole my boyfriend from me.
about.

Jump on the To join something that’s I’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon and listen to that new band everyone is
bandwagon popular. talking about.

Let’s get this show on

Let’s get started! We have everything packed for the road trip, so let’s get this show on the road!
the road!

Let the cat out of the The surprise party was ruined when my little brother let the cat out of the bag and
To tell a secret.
bag told our mom about it.

Lose your marbles To be crazy. (Often said as a Mrs. Thompson wants all this homework finished tomorrow? She must have lost
joke.) her marbles!
Make a long story short To quickly get to the point. To make a long story short, my neighbor found my lost dog near the park.

Make your blood run

Frighten. That new horror movie made my blood run cold.
cold

Something that happens

Once in a blue moon Only once in a blue moon will Mr. Smith let us get out of class early.
very rarely.

To not have made a decision

On the fence I’m on the fence as to whether this new law is a good idea.
or formed an opinion yet.

The math homework has only three questions, so finishing it will be a piece of
Piece of cake Something easy to do.
cake.

Pulling one’s leg To joke with someone. You didn’t really believe that, did you? I was just pulling your leg.

Put your foot in your Say something you shouldn’t

The husband put his foot in his mouth when he told his wife her dress was ugly.
mouth have.

Raining cats and dogs Raining very hard. You absolutely need an umbrella; it’s raining cats and dogs out there!

To detect a meaning that’s

Read between the Reading between the lines of this poem you wrote her, it seems as though you
implied but not stated
lines like Elizabeth.
outright.

Meet someone
Run into someone I ran into my old kindergarten teacher at the grocery store today.
unexpectedly.

Sweating bullets To be very nervous. Alan was sweating bullets when he asked the girl he liked to the dance.
Tag along Accompany. I told my little sister she could tag along when we go to the beach.

Take a rain check Postpone a plan. I have the flu, so I’ll need to take a rain check on going to the club.

Take it easy Relax. This summer, all I’m going to do is take it easy.

Take with a grain of My father doesn’t know anything about cars, so take any advice he gives you
Don’t take too seriously.
salt about fixing your engine with a grain of salt.

If you’re not sure if you want to join the club, you can test the waters by just going
Test the waters Try something out.
to the first meeting.

Way to go! Good job! You got 100% on your chemistry test? Way to go!