Idioms and phrases are figurative expressions that are used to add colour and creative expression to the language. The meanings of idioms are different from their literal words. Common examples of idioms and phrases include 'break the ice', 'jump the bandwagon', or 'hold your horses'.
These phrases do not literally mean to break the ice, jump the bandwagon, or hold horses. In our previous letter series, we have shared the most common idioms with their meanings to help you sound more like a native English speaker.
Idioms have been a part of language for centuries. The word 'idiom' itself is traced back to the 16th-century French idiome and late Latin idioma. It is estimated that there are over 25,000 idioms in the English language. Most idioms are rooted in history, literature, maritime activities, horse races, etc.
For example, the idiom 'feeling under the weather', meaning to feel ill, is believed to be nautical in nature, tracing back to the 18th and 19th centuries. When sailors would feel sick, they would go beneath the bow (the front part of the boat or ship).
Another interesting one: 'Read the riot act', meaning to reprimand someone for behaving badly, is believed to have originated from the real British Riot Act, an act passed by the British government in 1714 to prevent unruly assemblies.
What Does 'Let The Cat Out Of The Bag' Mean? Check 15+ Most Common Idioms Starting With The Letter 'L'
Here is a list of the most common idioms starting with the letter 'L' with their meanings.
| Idioms and phrases | Meaning |
| Let the cat out of the bag | to reveal a secret |
| Lion's share | the largest part or majority of something |
| Leave no stone unturned | to do everything possible to achieve a result |
| Last straw | the breaking point or the last in the series of unpleasant series |
| Left to your own devices | allowed to do as one pleases without supervision |
| Light at the end of the tunnel | a sign of hope that difficult period is coming to end |
| Long story short | to get to the point quickly |
| Lead someone up the garden path | to deceive someone |
| Lame duck | a person or project that is weak or unsuccessful |
| Laughing stock | a person who is ridiculed or subject of mockery |
| Learn the ropes | to understand how to do a job or activity |
| Let bygones be bygones | to forget past quarrels |
| Lend an ear | to listen sympathetically |
| Let nature take its course | to let something happen without interference |
| Let off steam | to release pent up emotions or energy |
| Let your hair down | to relax and enjoy yourself |
| Like a shag on a rock | completely alone |
| Lay of the land | the current state of affairs |
| Lay it on thick | to exaggerate praise or blame |
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