You’re Killing It! Learning English Colloquialisms
By Kyle Quilatan
Published on: October 7th, 2024
While learning formal English is critical for understanding how the language works, “proper” sentence constructions are not used frequently in everyday conversations. They might even make your speech sound somewhat stiff.
Colloquialisms are words or phrases considered informal, more suitable for casual speech than writing. Adding colloquialisms to your vocabulary can make your speech flow better and sound more natural.
Please continue reading to learn more about some English colloquialisms and how to use them.
Body-based expressions
Many colloquial expressions reference body parts. The hand, for example, features in several sayings. To “lend a hand” means to offer someone assistance. To “get out of hand” means to become out of control.
Eyes also appear in a few phrases. For example, to “see eye to eye” means to agree on something, whereas “an eye for an eye” implies punishing someone for offending.
To “get your foot in the door” means to create an initial connection. The saying is used notably in the context of getting a job. To get “cold feet” means to become hesitant about a decision, often leading someone to back out of an agreement.
Bullets
A handful of expressions include the word “bullet,” with the word itself often having a negative connotation (underlying idea). For example, to “bite the bullet” means to endure something difficult. “Dodging a bullet” means avoiding something difficult, often by accident. “Sweating bullets” is a figure of speech used when someone is sweating excessively.
Killing
The meaning of the word “killing” can vary greatly depending on the type of context in use. It is often a hyperbole (an exaggeration) with a negative connotation. For example, if you were to say, “This homework is killing me,” it could mean the work is challenging. You might also say, “My back is killing me,” meaning your back hurts.
You could say something “kills me” or “what kills me is” this or that. These variations might refer to feelings of disbelief, shock or regret.
“Killing” can also sometimes carry a positive connotation. For example, “She kills me” could mean “She’s really hilarious,” or “You’re killing it” could mean that you’re doing a good job.
No worries
This common phrase means “it’s no big deal” and is used to show someone you are not upset with them or something they have done. For example, if someone apologizes to you for making a mistake, you might respond with: “No worries, it’s ok!”
This phrase comes in several variations like “don’t worry,” “don’t sweat it,” and “it’s all good.”
A variation like “it’s fine” has a similar meaning but may come across as passive-aggressive, sounding more dismissive rather than forgiving.
Yeah and no
While “yeah” and “no” are straightforward, combining the two words in everyday speech can change their meanings.
- Yeah, yeah: a sarcastic response
- No, no: interjection to correct someone or dispel uncertainty
- Yeah, no: in disagreement
- No, yeah: in agreement
Idioms and proverbs
Many idioms and proverbs are used less often in everyday conversation, but they will likely be familiar to most native English speakers in Canada. They more likely appear in literature than speech, so they are still convenient to know.
- The calm before the storm: a situation where something unpleasant is on the way, but everything is fine until then
- Fortune favours the bold: take higher risks, earn greater rewards
- Leave no stone unturned: to search everywhere
- Lying through your teeth: to tell a lie that you know is entirely false
- On cloud nine: extremely happy
- Rain or shine: no matter what
- That ship has sailed: it’s too late now
- Two peas in a pod: describes two people who are always together
- Under the weather: feeling unwell
- Wrapping your head around it: understanding something complex
The use and frequency of some idioms, expressions and slang may vary due to cultural, regional or other differences. Using these colloquialisms will not be appropriate in every setting and context, but keep practicing and studying. You will eventually get the hang of them. Language learning is an ongoing process. Colloquialisms will change in popularity over time. There are always new phrases and words to discover, so remember to have fun with them!