Tickle my funny bone! 15 humorous English idioms that will make you laugh out loud
Rolling in the aisles
When something is incredibly funny, you might hear people say they are 'rolling in the aisles'. This phrase originally referred to the way audience members at theaters would laugh so hard they would literally roll on the floor.
Zip your lip
If someone tells you to 'zip your lip', it means they want you to be quiet. The image here is of someone closing their mouth, like a zipper closing on a jacket.
Bite the bullet
To 'bite the bullet' means to endure something difficult or unpleasant. The phrase originated in the days before anesthesia, when soldiers would bite down on a bullet during surgery to distract them from the pain.
Take a rain check
If someone invites you to do something, but you can't make it, you can say you'll 'take a rain check'. This means you'd like to do it another time, when it's more convenient for you.
Wear your heart on your sleeve
If someone 'wears their heart on their sleeve', it means they are very open about their emotions. The phrase comes from the tradition of wearing a badge or emblem on one's sleeve to show loyalty or love.
Kick the bucket
To 'kick the bucket' means to die. The phrase (which can also be used as a lighthearted way to talk about death) is thought to come from the idea of a person dying by kicking a bucket out from under themselves while standing on it.
Pull someone's leg
If you're 'pulling someone's leg', you're teasing or joking with them. The origin of this phrase is unclear, but it might come from the idea of tripping someone up by pulling their leg.
Hit the jackpot
If you 'hit the jackpot', you've found something very valuable or got extremely lucky. The phrase comes from the world of gambling, where hitting the jackpot means winning a large amount of money.
Between a rock and a hard place
If you're 'between a rock and a hard place', you're in a difficult or impossible situation with no easy way out. The phrase may have originated from mining, where workers were sometimes trapped between layers of rock and earth.
Knock someone's socks off
If you 'knock someone's socks off', you impress them greatly. The image here is of someone being so surprised or delighted that their socks are literally knocked off their feet.
Barking up the wrong tree
If you're 'barking up the wrong tree', you're pursuing the wrong course of action or looking in the wrong place. The phrase comes from hunting dogs, who might keep barking at a tree where the prey isn't located.
Make a mountain out of a molehill
If you're 'making a mountain out of a molehill', you're exaggerating a problem or making something seem much worse than it really is. The phrase comes from the idea of a molehill, which is a small bump in the ground that can look much larger if viewed from a certain angle.
Twist someone's arm
To 'twist someone's arm' means to persuade or convince them to do something they might not want to do. The phrase comes from the idea of physically twisting someone's arm to force them to comply.
More holes than Swiss cheese
If something has 'more holes than Swiss cheese', it's full of flaws or inconsistencies. The phrase alludes to the many holes found in Swiss cheese.
Get off your high horse
If someone tells you to 'get off your high horse', it means they want you to stop acting superior or arrogant. The phrase may come from the idea of a knight on horseback, who would be elevated above others and might act haughtily.
So next time you hear one of these humorous English idioms, you'll know exactly what it means and you might even get a chuckle out of it!