In this lesson, you will learn 5 English idioms you must know. These English idioms are used by native English speakers and will help you speak English more fluently.

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IDIOM #1

Idiom: A foot in the door

Meaning: “Gives people an opportunity to start doing something new, usually in an area that is difficult to succeed in”

EXAMPLE SENTENCES [3]

1. My internship allowed me to get my foot in the door for my career.
2. This isn’t the job you hoped for, but it will help you get a foot in the door.
3. I worked as a movie extra just to get my foot in the door.

IDIOM #2

Idiom: A shot in the dark

Meaning: “An attempt that has very little chance for success”

EXAMPLE SENTENCES [3]

1. You can look for your key on the beach, but that’s a shot in the dark.
2. The figure he came up with was really a shot in the dark.
3. It was a shot in the dark; I can’t believe I was right.

IDIOM #3

Idiom: Allow the dust to settle

Meaning: “Allow a situation to become normal again”

EXAMPLE SENTENCES [3]

1. I’m going to allow the dust to settle before I try talking to her again.
2. My mom said I needed to allow the dust to settle before I ask my dad to adopt a dog.
3. She waited for the dust to settle, then began to express her feelings to her fiancé.

IDIOM #4

Idiom: Back against the wall

Meaning: “To be in a very bad situation or position”

EXAMPLE SENTENCES [3]

1. The lawsuit had him with his back against the wall.
2. We had our backs against the wall, but somehow, we managed to win the game!
3. I was in a foreign country without a phone, and my back was against the wall.

IDIOM #5

Idiom: Barking up the wrong tree

Meaning: “To pursue a mistaken line of thought, or course of action”

EXAMPLE SENTENCES [3]

1. If he thinks I’m paying for him, he’s barking up the wrong tree.
2. She’s barking up the wrong tree, if she thinks that will solve the problem.
3. The investors kept barking up the wrong tree.

QUIZ 5 Questions

1. She doesn’t like guys with long hair, so I think you may be barking up the wrong tree.
2. Her back was against the wall after she lost her biggest client.
3. My mother was furious, so I decided to allow the dust to settle before I asked for a new phone.
4. The project was hopeless, so his suggestion was really a shot in the dark.
5. I think this conference will really help you get your foot in the door.