Communication is the cornerstone of human interaction, allowing us to convey thoughts, feelings, and ideas effectively. In the world of language, idioms play a unique role in enriching our conversations and providing colorful expressions.
Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of idiomatic expressions that make communication more vibrant and engaging.
What is an idiom for communication?
Idioms are expressions that carry a figurative or symbolic meaning beyond their literal interpretation.
When it comes to communication, idioms add depth and nuance to our conversations, making them more interesting and relatable.
Below, we’ll delve into a list of idioms for communication, breaking down their meanings and offering real-life examples to illustrate their usage.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Break the ice | To start a conversation or initiate interaction with someone, especially in a social setting where people are initially reserved | At the networking event, he used humor to break the ice and make new acquaintances feel comfortable. |
| Speak the same language | To share common understanding or beliefs with someone, making communication smooth and easy | They have similar educational backgrounds and work experiences, so they speak the same language when discussing their industry. |
| Give someone the cold shoulder | To intentionally ignore or treat someone with indifference, often as a form of disapproval or rejection | After the argument, she decided to give her friend the cold shoulder and didn’t respond to messages for a while. |
| Talk a mile a minute | To speak very quickly and enthusiastically, often without pausing | When she’s excited about a topic, she can talk a mile a minute, making it challenging for others to keep up. |
| Keep someone in the loop | To provide someone with information and updates about a particular situation or project | As the project manager, it’s essential to keep the team in the loop regarding any changes or developments. |
| Get on the same page | To ensure that everyone involved in a discussion or project has a shared understanding and is in agreement | The team had a meeting to get on the same page regarding the project’s objectives and timeline. |
| Beat around the bush | To avoid addressing an issue directly or to speak indirectly, usually to delay or evade the topic | Instead of providing a straightforward answer, he tended to beat around the bush when asked about his future plans. |
| Hear it on the grapevine | To hear information or rumors from unofficial or informal sources, often through gossip | She heard about the upcoming changes at work on the grapevine, but she wasn’t sure if the information was accurate. |
| Cry over spilled milk | To dwell on past mistakes or regrets that cannot be undone, rather than moving forward | After losing the game, he realized that crying over spilled milk wouldn’t help him improve his skills. |
| Speak one’s mind | To express one’s thoughts, opinions, or feelings openly and honestly | In the meeting, she felt it was essential to speak her mind and address the issues that needed attention. |
| Have a heart-to-heart | To have a deep and sincere conversation with someone, often discussing personal feelings or concerns | They decided to have a heart-to-heart conversation to resolve their relationship issues and better understand each other. |
| Bite one’s tongue | To refrain from saying something that may be offensive or hurtful, even though you want to express it | During the heated argument, he had to bite his tongue to avoid making hurtful comments. |
| Put in one’s two cents | To share one’s opinion or give input on a particular topic or situation, often unsolicited | She couldn’t help but put in her two cents during the discussion, as she felt passionate about the subject. |
| Get the word out | To spread information, news, or announcements to a wide audience | The marketing team worked tirelessly to get the word out about the upcoming product launch. |
| Read between the lines | To understand a deeper or hidden meaning in someone’s words or actions, often involving inference | She had to read between the lines of his cryptic message to decipher his true feelings. |
| Talk the talk | To express a particular viewpoint or position verbally, especially when it’s essential to back it up with actions | He could talk the talk when it came to environmental conservation, but he also actively participated in clean-up events. |
| Keep a stiff upper lip | To remain emotionally strong and composed in the face of adversity or difficulty | Despite the challenges, she managed to keep a stiff upper lip and provide support for her family. |
| Play it by ear | To make decisions or handle situations spontaneously or without a fixed plan, adapting as needed | They decided to play it by ear and see where their road trip took them, without a strict itinerary. |
| Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret or disclose information that was intended to be kept confidential | He accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party, spoiling the surprise for everyone. |
| Have a chip on one’s shoulder | To be easily offended or hold a grudge, often due to past experiences or grievances | He always seemed to have a chip on his shoulder, reacting defensively to even minor criticism. |
| Talk a blue streak | To talk very quickly and at great length, often excitedly or nervously | When she’s anxious, she tends to talk a blue streak, rambling on about various topics. |
| Go off on a tangent | To deviate from the main topic of conversation and start discussing something unrelated | During the meeting, he went off on a tangent about his recent vacation, causing confusion among the participants. |
| Keep it under wraps | To keep something a secret or not reveal information to the public or a specific audience | The company decided to keep the new product features under wraps until the official launch. |
| Face the music | To confront the consequences or responsibilities of one’s actions, especially when they are unfavorable | After missing the deadline, he knew he had to face the music and explain the delay to his supervisor. |
| Break a silence | To end a period of silence by speaking or making noise | The awkward silence in the room was finally broken when someone decided to break a silence by telling a joke. |
| Catch someone’s drift | To understand or grasp the intended meaning or idea, often when it is implied rather than explicitly stated | She had trouble understanding the complex concept, but after a detailed explanation, she finally caught the speaker’s drift. |
| Speak volumes | To convey a significant amount of information or meaning through one’s words or actions | Her dedication to volunteering spoke volumes about her commitment to making a positive impact on the community. |
Communication is like a bridge connecting two islands of understanding, allowing ideas and thoughts to flow freely between them. For more comparisons to describe communication, you can check this link: Similes for communication. And for a variety of metaphors related to communication, you can explore this link: Metaphors for communication.
Idioms for Communication
1. Break the ice
Meaning: To start a conversation or initiate interaction with someone, especially in a social setting where people are initially reserved.
In a Sentence: At the networking event, he used humor to break the ice and make new acquaintances feel comfortable.
2. Speak the same language
Meaning: To share common understanding or beliefs with someone, making communication smooth and easy.
In a Sentence: They have similar educational backgrounds and work experiences, so they speak the same language when discussing their industry.
3. Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: To intentionally ignore or treat someone with indifference, often as a form of disapproval or rejection.
In a Sentence: After the argument, she decided to give her friend the cold shoulder and didn’t respond to messages for a while.
4. Talk a mile a minute
Meaning: To speak very quickly and enthusiastically, often without pausing.
In a Sentence: When she’s excited about a topic, she can talk a mile a minute, making it challenging for others to keep up.
5. Keep someone in the loop
Meaning: To provide someone with information and updates about a particular situation or project.
In a Sentence: As the project manager, it’s essential to keep the team in the loop regarding any changes or developments.
6. Get on the same page
Meaning: To ensure that everyone involved in a discussion or project has a shared understanding and is in agreement.
In a Sentence: The team had a meeting to get on the same page regarding the project’s objectives and timeline.
7. Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid addressing an issue directly or to speak indirectly, usually to delay or evade the topic.
In a Sentence: Instead of providing a straightforward answer, he tended to beat around the bush when asked about his future plans.
8. Hear it on the grapevine
Meaning: To hear information or rumors from unofficial or informal sources, often through gossip.
In a Sentence: She heard about the upcoming changes at work on the grapevine, but she wasn’t sure if the information was accurate.
9. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To dwell on past mistakes or regrets that cannot be undone, rather than moving forward.
In a Sentence: After losing the game, he realized that crying over spilled milk wouldn’t help him improve his skills.
10. Speak one’s mind
Meaning: To express one’s thoughts, opinions, or feelings openly and honestly.
In a Sentence: In the meeting, she felt it was essential to speak her mind and address the issues that needed attention.
11. Have a heart-to-heart
Meaning: To have a deep and sincere conversation with someone, often discussing personal feelings or concerns.
In a Sentence: They decided to have a heart-to-heart conversation to resolve their relationship issues and better understand each other.
12. Bite one’s tongue
Meaning: To refrain from saying something that may be offensive or hurtful, even though you want to express it.
In a Sentence: During the heated argument, he had to bite his tongue to avoid making hurtful comments.
13. Put in one’s two cents
Meaning: To share one’s opinion or give input on a particular topic or situation, often unsolicited.
In a Sentence: She couldn’t help but put in her two cents during the discussion, as she felt passionate about the subject.
14. Get the word out
Meaning: To spread information, news, or announcements to a wide audience.
In a Sentence: The marketing team worked tirelessly to get the word out about the upcoming product launch.
15. Read between the lines
Meaning: To understand a deeper or hidden meaning in someone’s words or actions, often involving inference.
In a Sentence: She had to read between the lines of his cryptic message to decipher his true feelings.
16. Talk the talk
Meaning: To express a particular viewpoint or position verbally, especially when it’s essential to back it up with actions.
In a Sentence: He could talk the talk when it came to environmental conservation, but he also actively participated in clean-up events.
17. Keep a stiff upper lip
Meaning: To remain emotionally strong and composed in the face of adversity or difficulty.
In a Sentence: Despite the challenges, she managed to keep a stiff upper lip and provide support for her family.
18. Play it by ear
Meaning: To make decisions or handle situations spontaneously or without a fixed plan, adapting as needed.
In a Sentence: They decided to play it by ear and see where their road trip took them, without a strict itinerary.
19. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret or disclose information that was intended to be kept confidential.
In a Sentence: He accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party, spoiling the surprise for everyone.
20. Have a chip on one’s shoulder
Meaning: To be easily offended or hold a grudge, often due to past experiences or grievances.
In a Sentence: He always seemed to have a chip on his shoulder, reacting defensively to even minor criticism.
21. Talk a blue streak
Meaning: To talk very quickly and at great length, often excitedly or nervously.
In a Sentence: When she’s anxious, she tends to talk a blue streak, rambling on about various topics.
22. Go off on a tangent
Meaning: To deviate from the main topic of conversation and start discussing something unrelated.
In a Sentence: During the meeting, he went off on a tangent about his recent vacation, causing confusion among the participants.
23. Keep it under wraps
Meaning: To keep something a secret or not reveal information to the public or a specific audience.
In a Sentence: The company decided to keep the new product features under wraps until the official launch.
24. Face the music
Meaning: To confront the consequences or responsibilities of one’s actions, especially when they are unfavorable.
In a Sentence: After missing the deadline, he knew he had to face the music and explain the delay to his supervisor.
25. Break a silence
Meaning: To end a period of silence by speaking or making noise.
In a Sentence: The awkward silence in the room was finally broken when someone decided to break a silence by telling a joke.
26. Catch someone’s drift
Meaning: To understand or grasp the intended meaning or idea, often when it is implied rather than explicitly stated.
In a Sentence: She had trouble understanding the complex concept, but after a detailed explanation, she finally caught the speaker’s drift.
27. Speak volumes
Meaning: To convey a significant amount of information or meaning through one’s words or actions.
In a Sentence: Her dedication to volunteering spoke volumes about her commitment to making a positive impact on the community.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Here are 10 quizzes about the idioms for communication mentioned in the article:
Quiz 1:
Question: What does the idiom “Give someone the cold shoulder” mean?
- a) Offer someone a cold drink
- b) Intentionally ignore or treat someone with indifference
- c) Greet someone warmly
Quiz 2:
Question: What is the meaning of the idiom “Put in one’s two cents”?
- a) Share two cents (coins) with someone
- b) Share one’s opinion or give input on a particular topic or situation
- c) Keep quiet and listen attentively
Quiz 3:
Question: Which idiom means to start a conversation or interaction in a social setting?
- a) Give someone the cold shoulder
- b) Break the ice
- c) Speak one’s mind
Quiz 4:
Question: What does the expression “Play it by ear” imply?
- a) Carefully plan every step
- b) Make decisions or handle situations spontaneously, adapting as needed
- c) Follow a predetermined script
Quiz 5:
Question: Which idiom means to understand or grasp an implied meaning?
- a) Speak volumes
- b) Read between the lines
- c) Talk a mile a minute
Quiz 6:
Question: What is the meaning of the idiom “Have a chip on one’s shoulder”?
- a) Always carry snacks
- b) Be easily offended or hold a grudge due to past experiences
- c) Share a bag of chips with someone
Quiz 7:
Question: Which idiom involves keeping a secret?
- a) Cry over spilled milk
- b) Let the cat out of the bag
- c) Get on the same page
Quiz 8:
Question: What does “Talk the talk” mean?
- a) Discuss walking as a form of exercise
- b) Express a particular viewpoint or position verbally, especially when it’s essential to back it up with actions
- c) Engage in casual conversation
Quiz 9:
Question: Which idiom means to avoid addressing an issue directly or to speak indirectly?
- a) Face the music
- b) Beat around the bush
- c) Keep a stiff upper lip
Quiz 10:
Question: What is the meaning of the idiom “Get the word out”?
- a) Spread information to a narrow audience
- b) Spread information, news, or announcements to a wide audience
- c) Keep information to oneself
Answers:
- b) Intentionally ignore or treat someone with indifference
- b) Share one’s opinion or give input on a particular topic or situation
- b) Break the ice
- b) Make decisions or handle situations spontaneously, adapting as needed
- b) Read between the lines
- b) Be easily offended or hold a grudge due to past experiences
- b) Let the cat out of the bag
- b) Express a particular viewpoint or position verbally, especially when it’s essential to back it up with actions
- b) Beat around the bush
- b) Spread information, news, or announcements to a wide audience
Conclusion
These idioms for communication add depth and richness to our language, allowing us to express a wide range of emotions, experiences, and interactions.
Whether you’re aiming to break the ice, have a heart-to-heart conversation, or keep it under wraps, these idiomatic expressions play a crucial role in how we connect and convey our thoughts in everyday communication.
