beat about the bush
Meaning: to avoid answering a question or discussing a subject directly; to stall; to waste time.
Example: “Let’s stop beating about the bush and discuss this matter.”
Focused Idiom Category
Conversation and Communication Idioms
Conversation and communication idioms help speakers describe how information is shared, hidden, misunderstood, repeated, or delivered. They cover speaking directly, avoiding a subject, gossiping, listening carefully, giving an opinion, and reacting to what someone says. This page contains expressions whose primary purpose is connected with words, messages, discussion, or verbal behaviour rather than loosely related social situations. Short meanings make the list easy to scan, while practical example sentences show how each expression works in natural communication. The letter navigation is useful for students, teachers, writers, and English learners who need to find a particular expression quickly. Related categories are provided for idioms that overlap naturally with learning, relationships, or emotions, while the main list remains focused on communication itself.
47Relevant idioms
B
B Idioms
5 entriesbeggar description
Meaning: to be impossible to describe well enough to give an accurate picture; to be impossible to do justice to in words.
Example: “Her cruelty to her child beggars description.”
bend someone’s ear
Meaning: to talk to someone at length, perhaps annoyingly.
Example: “Tom is over there bending Jane’s ear about something.”
beyond words
Meaning: more than one can say.
Example: “Sally was thankful beyond words at being released.”
bite someone’s head off
Meaning: to speak sharply and angrily to someone.
Example: “There was no need to bite Mary’s head off just because she was five minutes late.”
C
C Idioms
3 entriescall a spade a spade
Meaning: to call something by its right name; to speak frankly about something, even if it is unpleasant.
Example: “Well, I believe it’s time to call a spade a spade.”
Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: Why don’t you speak?; Speak up and answer my question!.
Example: “What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?”
cause tongues to wag
Meaning: to cause people to gossip; to give people something to gossip about.
Example: “The way John was looking at Mary will surely cause tongues to wag.”
G
G Idioms
2 entriesget a tongue-lashing
Meaning: to receive a severe scolding.
Example: “I really got a tongue-lashing when I got home.”
get down to brass tacks
Meaning: to begin to talk about important things.
Example: “Let’s get down to brass tacks.”
H
H Idioms
2 entrieshang on someone’s every word
Meaning: to listen carefully and obsequiously to everything someone says.
Example: “We hung on his every word.”
haul someone over the coals
Meaning: to give someone a severe scolding.
Example: “My mother hauled me over the coals for coming in late last night.”
I
I Idioms
3 entriesin a nutshell
Meaning: in a few words; briefly; concisely.
Example: “Please give it to me in a nutshell.”
in a stage whisper
Meaning: in a loud whisper which everyone can hear.
Example: “John said in a stage whisper, “This play is boring.” “When do we eat?” asked Billy in a stage whisper.”
in black and white
Meaning: official, in writing or printing.
Example: “I have it in black and white that I’m entitled to three weeks’ holiday each year.”
K
K Idioms
6 entrieskeep a civil tongue (in one’s head)
Meaning: to speak decently and politely.
Example: “Keep a civil tongue in your head.”
keep one’s mouth shut (about someone or something)
Meaning: to keep quiet about someone or something; to keep a secret about someone or something.
Example: “They told me to keep my mouth shut about the problem or I’d be in big trouble.”
keep one’s word
Meaning: to uphold one’s promise.
Example: “I told her I’d be there to collect her, and I intend to keep my word.”
keep someone posted
Meaning: to keep someone informed; to keep someone up to date.
Example: “Please keep me posted.”
keep something under one’s hat
Meaning: to keep something a secret; to keep something in one’s mind.
Example: “Keep this under your hat, but I’m getting married.”
keep something under wraps
Meaning: to keep something concealed.
Example: “We kept the plan under wraps until after the election.”
L
L Idioms
1 entrieslay something on the line
Meaning: to speak very firmly and directly about something.
Example: “She laid it on the line, and we had no doubt about what she meant.”
M
M Idioms
5 entriesmaiden speech
Meaning: a first public speech, especially a British Member of Parliament’s first speech to the House of Commons.
Example: “The new MP makes his maiden speech tonight.”
make a great show of something
Meaning: to make something obvious; to do something in a showy fashion.
Example: “Ann made a great show of wiping up the drink that John spilled.”
make a name for oneself
Meaning: to make oneself famous; to become famous.
Example: “Sally wants to work hard and make a name for herself.”
make a pitch for someone or something
Meaning: to say something in support of someone or something; to attempt to promote or advance someone or something.
Example: “Bill is making a pitch for his friend’s new product again.”
make light of something
Meaning: to treat something as if it were unimportant or humorous.
Example: “I wish you wouldn’t make light of his problems.”
N
N Idioms
2 entriesname of the game
Meaning: the goal or purpose; the important or central thing.
Example: “The name of the game is sell.”
never mind
Meaning: forget it; pay no more attention.
Example: “I wanted to talk to you, but never mind.”
O
O Idioms
1 entriesone’s words stick in one’s throat
Meaning: one finds it difficult to speak because of emotion.
Example: “My words stick in my throat whenever I try to say something kind or tender.”
P
P Idioms
5 entriesparty line
Meaning: the official ideas and attitudes which are adopted by the leaders of a particular group, usually political, and which the other members are expected to accept.
Example: “He refused to follow the party line.”
pass the time of day (with someone)
Meaning: to chat or talk informally with someone.
Example: “I saw Mr. Brown in town yesterday.”
pay lip-service (to something)
Meaning: to express loyalty, respect, or support for something insincerely.
Example: “You’re just paying lip-service to the candidate.”
pay someone a back-handed compliment
Meaning: to give someone an apparent compliment that is really an insult.
Example: “I think he was paying me a backhanded compliment.”
pay someone a compliment
Meaning: to compliment someone.
Example: “Sally thanked me for paying her a compliment.”
R
R Idioms
1 entriesread someone the Riot Act
Meaning: to give someone a severe scolding.
Example: “The manager read me the Riot Act for coming in late.”
S
S Idioms
2 entriessay something under one’s breath
Meaning: to say something so softly that hardly anyone can hear it.
Example: “John was saying something under his breath, and I don’t think it was very pleasant.”
say the word
Meaning: to give a signal to begin; to say or as a signal to begin.
Example: “I’m ready to start anytime you say the word.”
T
T Idioms
7 entriestake the words (right) out of one’s mouth
Meaning: to say what you were going to say.
Example: “He took the words out of my mouth.”
talk nineteen to the dozen
Meaning: to talk a lot, usually quickly.
Example: “The old friends talk nineteen to the dozen when they meet once a year.”
talk of the town
Meaning: the subject of gossip; someone or something that everyone is talking about.
Example: “Joan’s argument with the town council is the talk of the town.”
talk through one’s hat
Meaning: to talk nonsense.
Example: “He’s just talking through his hat.”
talk until one is blue in the face
Meaning: to talk until one is exhausted.
Example: “I talked until I was blue in the face, but I couldn’t change her mind.”
Tell it to the marines. and Tell that to the marines.
Meaning: I do not believe you.
Example: “Tell it to the marines.”
tell tales out of school
Meaning: to tell secrets or spread rumours.
Example: “He’s telling tales out of school again.”
W
W Idioms
2 entriesweigh one’s words
Meaning: to consider one’s own words carefully when speaking.
Example: “I always weigh my words when I speak in public.”
wheels within wheels
Meaning: circumstances, often secret or personal, which all have an effect on each other and lead to a complicated, confusing situation.
Example: “There are wheels within wheels and one of the applicants is the boss’s son-in-law.”
Helpful Answers
Frequently asked questions
What are communication idioms?
They are fixed expressions used to describe speaking, listening, explaining, gossiping, questioning, answering, or exchanging information.
Do these idioms improve spoken English?
Yes. Learning common communication idioms helps conversations sound more natural and makes it easier to understand native and fluent speakers.
Are communication idioms suitable for emails?
Many are suitable for friendly or semi-formal emails, but highly informal expressions should be avoided in sensitive or very formal messages.
How can I avoid using an idiom incorrectly?
Check its meaning, tone, grammar pattern, and example sentence before using it in a new conversation or written message.
What is the difference from speaking-skills idioms?
Communication idioms focus on exchanging messages, while speaking-skills idioms also cover understanding, learning, memory, knowledge, and verbal ability.
