Common idiomatic expressions in English

Here are some common idiomatic expressions in English.

To hit the books

To hit the books is to study. This is an idiom common among English students.

‘Sorry I can’t party tonight. I’ve to hit the books. I’ve an important exam tomorrow.’

To hit the sack

To hit the sack is to go to bed. The expression ‘hit the hay’ also means the same.

I’m so tired. I have to hit the sack.

To twist someone’s arm

To twist someone’s arm is to convince them to do something. When someone twists your arm they manage to convince you to do something you were not interested in doing.

I was not keen on going to the movies, but he twisted my arm and I ended up going.

To be up in the air

When things are up in the air, they look uncertain.

We haven’t set a date for the wedding. Things are still up in the air.

Stab someone in the back

To stab someone in the back is to hurt them by doing things that break the trust they had in us.

I can’t believe that he stabbed me in the back. He was my best friend and I trusted him blindly.

Sit tight

To sit tight is to wait patiently without doing anything.

Sit tight. The train might take an hour or so to arrive.