Investigating Idioms: Where They Come From and How to Use Them

English idioms are among the strangest. It can confuse language learners as they often sound like nonsense. “Spill the beans”? “Bite the bullet”? “Kick the bucket”? None of these make sense, unless you know the backstory. But, once you get the hang of them, they add colour, humour, and personality to your conversations. So let’s crack a few open and see what’s really going on underneath.

So…what even is an idiom?

An idiom is a phrase that doesn’t mean what the words suggest literally. If someone tells you it’s “raining cats and dogs,” they don’t mean that pets are falling from the sky – it just means it’s raining really hard. The meaning is understood by native speakers, but it’s not literal. That’s what makes them tricky.

Idioms usually come from real-life situations. Work, farming, food, sport. They start out as everyday phrases, and then, over time, people just start using them to mean something else entirely.

Gambling idioms – there are lots of them

There are all kinds of gambling idioms in the English language. They’re used as a way to describe the games on offer and how to play them at land-based and online casinos. For example, there’s a small chance somebody might hit the jackpot on an online gambling site, where players can claim ten spins every day and partake in weekly tournaments. However, you’ll also often hear phrases like “hit the jackpot” and “roll the dice” outside of a gambling context. But why are these so commonly used?

Gambling is all about random chance and risk. Life is the same! That’s why these phrases pop up so often. For example, if someone “plays their cards right” in real life, they’re making smart choices. If you “put all your chips on the table,” you’re going all in, no holding back. And if you “call someone’s bluff”, you mean, “Nice try, but I know you’re lying.”

You’ll hear these all the time, even when no one’s anywhere near a poker table. They’re just part of the language now.

Food idioms – giving conversations some flavour

Food idioms can be found everywhere too, and they’re some of the most fun to use. “Piece of cake”? That’s not dessert, it just means something was very easy. “Spill the beans”? You’re not ruining lunch. You’re revealing a secret.

Then there’s “bring home the bacon” (earning money), “in a pickle” (stuck in a difficult situation), and “cheesy” (something overly emotional or fake). Food’s a big part of everyday life, so it’s no surprise it found its way into our speech.

You might even hear someone described as “the salt of the earth” (a really good person), or find out something’s not “your cup of tea” (not for you). English speakers just can’t help themselves, we’ve been turning food into metaphors for centuries.

How to use idioms without sounding like a robot

Nobody wants to sound like a walking idiom dictionary. The trick is to pick the right moment. Idioms are best used casually, when you’re chatting with friends, telling a story, maybe trying to be a bit dramatic.

Don’t worry if they feel awkward at first. Try slipping one into a text or a conversation and see how it lands. If someone laughs or nods like they get it, you’ve nailed it. If they look confused, just say, “Ah, never mind” and move on. You’re learning!