100+ English Idioms with Urdu Meaning (Complete List for Students)

Idioms show up everywhere in English, in conversation, in novels, and in exams like CSS, PMS, and board-level English papers. The tricky part isn’t memorizing them, it’s understanding what they actually mean, since idioms rarely make sense if you translate them word for word.

This guide covers over 100 common English idioms with Urdu meaning, grouped by category, each with a short example so you can see how it’s actually used in a sentence. It’s built for students preparing for exams, but it works just as well if you just want to sound more natural in everyday English.

Why Idioms Matter for Exams and Daily English

Idioms in English with Urdu meaning are especially useful for students because exams don’t just test vocabulary, they test whether you understand meaning in context. CSS and PMS English papers often include idiom usage, meaning-matching, and fill-in-the-blank questions built entirely around idioms. Board exams test them too, usually in comprehension passages or short-answer sections.

Beyond exams, idioms are what make spoken and written English sound natural instead of textbook-stiff. A student who uses “break the ice” correctly in a sentence sounds far more fluent than one who only knows the dictionary definition of “ice.”

Daily Communication & Feelings

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
A piece of cake	بہت آسان کام	The math test was a piece of cake for him.
Under the weather	طبیعت ناساز ہونا	I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.
On cloud nine	ساتویں آسمان پر ہونا، انتہائی خوش ہونا	She was on cloud nine after receiving her acceptance letter.
Break the ice	بات چیت کا آغاز کرنا	He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
Cost an arm and a leg	بہت مہنگا ہونا	That new phone cost an arm and a leg.
Feeling blue	اداس ہونا	He’s been feeling blue since his friend moved away.
Butterflies in stomach	گھبراہٹ محسوس ہونا	She had butterflies in her stomach before the interview.
Down in the dumps	مایوس یا اداس ہونا	He’s been down in the dumps since he lost the match.
In hot water	مصیبت میں پھنسنا	He’s in hot water after missing the deadline.
Keep your chin up	حوصلہ رکھنا	Keep your chin up, things will get better.
Get cold feet	آخری وقت پر ہمت ہار جانا	He got cold feet right before the wedding.
Over the moon	بہت زیادہ خوش ہونا	They were over the moon about the good news.

Effort, Hard Work & Success

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Burn the midnight oil	رات دیر تک محنت کرنا	She burned the midnight oil to prepare for her exams.
Leave no stone unturned	ہر ممکن کوشش کرنا	The police left no stone unturned during the investigation.
Turn over a new leaf	نئی زندگی یا اچھے رویے کا آغاز کرنا	He decided to turn over a new leaf and start studying daily.
Bite the bullet	صبر سے مشکل کا سامنا کرنا	You just have to bite the bullet and finish your assignment.
Go the extra mile	ضرورت سے زیادہ محنت کرنا	She always goes the extra mile for her students.
Hit the books	پڑھائی میں جت جانا	I need to hit the books before the exam next week.
Sink or swim	کامیاب ہونا یا ناکام ہونا، خود پر منحصر ہونا	It’s sink or swim now, there’s no one to help you.
Rome wasn’t built in a day	بڑا کام ایک دن میں نہیں ہوتا	Don’t get discouraged, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Practice makes perfect	مشق سے انسان ماہر بنتا ہے	Keep practicing your English, practice makes perfect.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way	جہاں چاہ، وہاں راہ	She overcame every obstacle to finish her degree.
Cut corners	کام میں کوتاہی برتنا	Don’t cut corners when preparing for such an important exam.
Pull your socks up	زیادہ محنت شروع کرنا	You need to pull your socks up if you want to pass.

Money & Business

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush	نقد نو، نہ ادھار تیرہ	Take the job offer you have; a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
Make hay while the sun shines	موقع سے فائدہ اٹھانا	The store is offering discounts, so make hay while the sun shines.
Break even	نہ نفع نہ نقصان	The business finally broke even after two years.
In the red	نقصان میں ہونا	The company has been in the red for months.
Cut your losses	نقصان کو مزید بڑھنے سے روکنا	It’s time to cut your losses and move on from this deal.
Money doesn’t grow on trees	پیسہ آسانی سے نہیں ملتا	Stop spending so much, money doesn’t grow on trees.
Bring home the bacon	گھر کے لیے کمانا	He works two jobs to bring home the bacon.
Tighten your belt	خرچ کم کرنا	We need to tighten our belt this month.
A penny saved is a penny earned	بچت بھی کمائی کے برابر ہے	She never wastes money, a penny saved is a penny earned.
Foot the bill	خرچ برداشت کرنا	His uncle footed the bill for the entire trip.

Time

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Once in a blue moon	کبھی کبھار، عید کا چاند	He visits his hometown once in a blue moon.
Better late than never	دیر آید درست آید	She finally apologized, better late than never.
Time flies	وقت پر لگا کر اڑتا ہے	Time flies when you’re having fun.
Around the clock	دن رات، ہر وقت	The hospital staff works around the clock.
In the nick of time	عین وقت پر	He arrived in the nick of time to catch the flight.
At the eleventh hour	آخری لمحے میں	They finished the project at the eleventh hour.
Once and for all	ہمیشہ کے لیے	Let’s settle this once and for all.
Give someone the time of day	کسی کو اہمیت دینا	He didn’t even give her the time of day.

Relationships & Trust

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Blood is thicker than water	اپنا خون آخر اپنا ہوتا ہے	In times of crisis, he stood by his brother.
Through thick and thin	ہر اچھے اور برے وقت میں	True friends stand by you through thick and thin.
It takes two to tango	تالی دونوں ہاتھوں سے بجتی ہے	Don’t blame him alone; it takes two to tango.
Break someone’s trust	کسی کا اعتبار توڑنا	Lying to her broke his trust completely.
See eye to eye	ہم خیال ہونا	The two brothers rarely see eye to eye on business matters.
Give someone the benefit of the doubt	کسی پر شک کے بجائے اعتبار کرنا	I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt this time.
A shoulder to cry on	دکھ بانٹنے کے لیے سہارا	She’s always a shoulder to cry on for her friends.
Burn bridges	تعلقات ہمیشہ کے لیے خراب کرنا	Don’t burn bridges with your old colleagues.
Two peas in a pod	بہت مشابہ، ایک جیسے	The twins are like two peas in a pod.

Difficulty & Problems

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Out of the frying pan into the fire	آسمان سے گرا، کھجور میں اٹکا	Leaving that company was like going out of the frying pan into the fire.
Between a rock and a hard place	دو مشکلوں کے درمیان پھنسنا	He was between a rock and a hard place with no easy choice.
A blessing in disguise	بظاہر مصیبت مگر اصل میں فائدہ	Losing that job was a blessing in disguise for her.
Every cloud has a silver lining	ہر مصیبت کے بعد آسانی ہوتی ہے	He lost his job but found a better one.
Hit a wall	رکاوٹ کا سامنا ہونا	We hit a wall trying to finish the project on time.
An uphill battle	مشکل جدوجہد	Getting the visa approved was an uphill battle.
The last straw	صبر کا پیمانہ لبریز ہونے کی آخری وجہ	His rude comment was the last straw for her.
Bite off more than you can chew	اپنی طاقت سے زیادہ ذمہ داری لینا	He bit off more than he could chew with three part-time jobs.
A drop in the ocean	بہت تھوڑی مقدار	The donation was just a drop in the ocean for the relief effort.

Advice, Wisdom & Proverbs

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Actions speak louder than words	عمل باتوں سے زیادہ بولتا ہے	Don’t just promise; show me, because actions speak louder than words.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch	وقت سے پہلے امیدیں لگانا	Wait until the contract is signed.
Barking dogs seldom bite	جو گرجتے ہیں وہ برستے نہیں	Don’t worry about his threats; barking dogs seldom bite.
Call a spade a spade	سچی اور صاف بات کہنا	She always calls a spade a spade, no matter how uncomfortable it is.
Cry over spilled milk	اب پچھتائے کیا ہووت جب چڑیاں چگ گئیں کھیت	There’s no point crying over spilled milk after failing the test.
Don’t judge a book by its cover	ظاہری شکل سے فیصلہ نہ کرنا	Don’t judge a book by its cover, he’s smarter than he looks.
Look before you leap	سوچ سمجھ کر قدم اٹھانا	Look before you leap, this decision can’t be undone.
Strike while the iron is hot	موقع پر فوراً فائدہ اٹھانا	Strike while the iron is hot and apply now.
The early bird catches the worm	جلدی کرنے والا فائدے میں رہتا ہے	She always arrives first, the early bird catches the worm.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do	جہاں جاؤ وہاں کے رواج اپناؤ	He adjusted to local customs quickly, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Anger, Conflict & Criticism

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Add fuel to the fire	جلتی پر تیل ڈالنا	His harsh remarks only added fuel to the fire.
Face the music	اپنے کیے کی سزا پانا	He didn’t study, so he had to face the music on exam day.
Blow a fuse	غصے سے آپے سے باہر ہونا	He blew a fuse when he saw the damaged car.
Rub someone the wrong way	کسی کو ناگوار گزرنا	His tone rubbed her the wrong way.
Bite someone’s head off	سخت غصے سے جواب دینا	She bit his head off for being late.
Get on someone’s nerves	کسی کو تنگ کرنا	His constant complaining gets on my nerves.
Let off steam	غصہ نکالنا	He went for a run to let off some steam.
A bone to pick	کسی سے شکایت کرنا	I have a bone to pick with you about last night.

Luck & Chance

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Beginner’s luck	نئے شخص کی اچانک کامیابی	He won the first game, pure beginner’s luck.
Once in a lifetime	زندگی میں ایک بار ملنے والا موقع	This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Long shot	کم امکان والا موقع	Winning the scholarship is a long shot, but worth trying.
Down on your luck	بدقسمتی کا شکار ہونا	He’s been down on his luck since losing his job.
A stroke of luck	اچانک اچھی قسمت	Finding that job was a real stroke of luck.
As luck would have it	قسمت سے	As luck would have it, the shop was still open.

Secrets & Honesty

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Spill the beans	راز فاش کر دینا	Who spilled the beans about the surprise party?
Let the cat out of the bag	راز کھول دینا	She accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the trip.
Keep something under wraps	راز کو خفیہ رکھنا	The company kept the new product under wraps until launch.
Read between the lines	ان کہی بات سمجھنا	You need to read between the lines to understand his real message.
An open book	بالکل صاف اور واضح شخصیت	She’s an open book; there’s nothing hidden about her.
Behind someone’s back	کسی کی غیر موجودگی میں	Don’t talk about him behind his back.
Come clean	سچ بتا دینا	He finally came clean about what happened.
Beat around the bush	ادھر ادھر کی باتیں کرنا	Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.

Health & Body

Idiom	Urdu Meaning	Example
Under the knife	آپریشن ہونا	He’s going under the knife next week for his surgery.
Fit as a fiddle	بالکل تندرست	Despite his age, he’s fit as a fiddle.
Break a leg	کامیابی کی دعا (نیک خواہش)	Break a leg at your presentation tomorrow!
Cost you your health	صحت کو نقصان پہنچانا	Working nonstop like this will cost you your health.
A pain in the neck	مصیبت یا پریشانی کا باعث	This paperwork is such a pain in the neck.
Sick and tired of	کسی چیز سے تنگ آ جانا	I’m sick and tired of his excuses.
Get a grip	خود پر قابو پانا	You need to get a grip before the exam starts.
At death’s door	موت کے قریب	The patient was at death’s door before the treatment worked.
A ripe old age	بھرپور لمبی عمر	Her grandmother lived to a ripe old age.
Back on your feet	دوبارہ صحت یاب ہونا	It took months, but he’s finally back on his feet.

How Idioms Are Actually Tested in Exams

CSS, PMS, and board exams don’t usually just ask “what does this idiom mean?” They test it a few specific ways:

• Fill in the blank, where you complete a sentence with the correct idiom from a list.
• Meaning matching, where you pair idioms with their closest definitions.
• Usage in a sentence, where you’re asked to write an original sentence using a given idiom correctly.
• Comprehension passages, where an idiom appears naturally in a paragraph and you’re tested on whether you understood it in context.

The best way to prepare isn’t memorizing definitions in isolation. It’s reading each idiom in a full sentence, like the examples above, until the meaning feels natural rather than memorized.

Tips to Remember Idioms Faster

• Learn them in groups, not one at a time. Categories (like the ones above) are far easier to retain than a random alphabetical list.
• Say the example sentence out loud, not just the idiom itself. Context sticks better than isolated phrases.
• Use a few in daily conversation or writing, even artificially at first. Active use cements idioms far faster than passive reading.
• Connect them to a Kahawat or Mahawara you already know in Urdu. If an English idiom has a close Urdu proverb equivalent, that mental link makes it stick almost immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions