There’s a sub on Reddit where people ask questions about the English language. Foreigners learning the language have so many questions that we take for granted if we are English speakers.

Here are a few common American idioms that trip up people learning the English language.

Break the ice – To initiate conversation or make people feel more comfortable in a social setting.
Example: “We played a few games to break the ice at the party.”

Bite the bullet – To do something difficult or unpleasant that you’ve been avoiding.
Example: “I guess I’ll have to bite the bullet and tell him the bad news.”

The ball is in your court – It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Example: “I’ve done everything I can; now the ball is in your court.”

A piece of cake – Something that’s very easy to do.
Example: “The test was a piece of cake; I finished it in 20 minutes.”

Hit the nail on the head – To be exactly correct about something.
Example: “When she said we needed better communication, she really hit the nail on the head.”

Spill the beans – To reveal a secret or disclose something confidential.
Example: “Come on, spill the beans! What did you get me for my birthday?”

Under the weather – Feeling sick or unwell.
Example: “I think I’m going to stay home today. I’m feeling a bit under the weather.”

Burn the midnight oil – To stay up late working on something.
Example: “I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report on time.”

Cost an arm and a leg – To be very expensive.
Example: “The new phone costs an arm and a leg, but it’s totally worth it.”

Let the cat out of the bag – To accidentally reveal a secret or surprise.
Example: “I was planning a surprise party for her, but John let the cat out of the bag.”

Some of these might be more common than others, depending on the region or context. Do any of these stand out to you, or are you curious about others?

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