12 Uncommon Idioms to Take Your English to the Next Level

Both beginners and experts should know these sayings

Photo by Etienne Boulanger on Unsplash

I am from India. English is my third language. Granted, it feels like my first, but the point remains: when I was young, I faced considerable trouble understanding idioms.

For the uninitiated, an idiom is a phrase that has a different, deeper meaning than its literal interpretation.

Idioms are not exclusive to the English language, but it does contain several obscure, tricky expressions even intermediates might not know. This article is geared toward them; beginners are more than welcome to stick around, but this piece is more for those who have already attained a certain degree of mastery over the language.

For instance, most English speakers know what it means for something to occur once in a blue moon, or for somebody to call it a day. The following idioms are comparatively uncommon. I have provided their meaning and origin, with two sample sentences for a more complete understanding of their usage.

1. The Bee’s Knees

For a person or thing to be the bee’s knees is for it to be excellent or of an exceedingly high standard. It is an expression of quality and admiration. You can use this expression as a substitute for…