50 Everyday English Phrases That Make No Sense At All

You’re feeling pretty confident about your essay, thinking it’s going to knock your professor’s socks off. But then, surprise, your professor is less than impressed. What went wrong? Out of the many possibilities, one certainty is that you have used some English phrases that make no sense at all.

You must have picked those phrases that natives were using, or your old buddies in the society. But now you truly need to save yourself from such embarrassment again!

Why English Phrases That Make No Sense Are Common?

English is a very popular language now with a vast vocabulary and different sentence structuring styles. The phrases we speak of are the idioms or the sentences that have been spoken for centuries. But with time and advancement of the language and vocabulary, the new generation is unable to understand them.

The most confusing part of these phrases is that students struggle to separate the literal meaning of these words from the actual meaning behind those words. It makes it hard to use those phrases in everyday reading and writing.

50 Phrases In English That Needs To Just Go

Let’s get to know them all so you can avoid using them to get rid of any confusion. We’ll start with idiomatic expressions and then move to the common language ones that read nonsensical when taken literally.

Break a leg!

You use this phrase to wish someone good luck. This is even better to use when you want to convey good luck to somebody in a performance context. Once taken literally, you could see that it’s a terrible idea. Imagine saying ‘Go, break a leg.’

Piece of cake

This phrase means that something is very easy. Taking it literally would mean that you are talking about dessert and thus may confuse your readers.

Hit the hay

Using this phrase means that you want someone to go to bed. But this phrase would make more sense when you are a farmer and not a person in the city who has no hay to hit.

Bite the bullet

It does sound like chewing metal. This phrase implies that you have to endure a painful situation. Like, bite the bullet for this test. It even sounds painful when you imagine it literally, hence it could be very confusing for readers.

Cost an arm and a leg

Using this phrase means that you want to convey that something is very expensive. But you are not paying with the body parts.

Under the weather

This one is used to convey that you are sick or ill. But for some readers, it could be hard to see how being under the weather means being sick.

Caught between a rock and a hard place

You use this phrase to imply that you are in a difficult situation with not so many choices. But this phrase is unclear how one could get stuck between two hard objects.

Spill the beans

Spilling the beans means revealing a secret. But as you can tell, it’s hard to understand. Spilling beans literally is hectic.

It’s raining cats and dogs

You use it when you want to say that it’s heavily raining. However, the imagery of falling animals could confuse the new or occasional readers.

Jump on the bandwagon

This means joining a popular trend or activity, but it’s odd to imagine jumping onto a moving vehicle. Like, you can’t, unless you want a vacation in a hospital emergency.

A penny for your thoughts

This means to ask someone what they are thinking, but it’s unclear why someone’s thoughts would only be worth a penny.

Hold your horses

This one means to wait or be patient. But it’s strange to picture how someone can hold their horses.

When Pigs Fly

This is to imply something which will never happen. But picturing it is hard to understand and doesn’t look much possible.

Raining buckets

This one also means that you want to imply that it is raining heavily. But imaging buckets falling from the sky would cause a panic.

Let the cat out of the bag

This phrase also means to reveal a secret. But if you think about it literally, you can get confused as to how taking out the cat from the bag would mean something like that.

Spitting image

You use a spitting image to convey a strong resemblance to something. But it’s unclear how someone would spit an image of anything.

Apple of my eye

You use it to imply that somebody is your favorite person. But somehow it is unclear how an apple could mean affection.

Close, but no cigar

This means almost succeeding but falling short, but it’s unclear why cigars are involved.

Drive someone up the wall

This phrase means irritating someone badly. But it’s very hard for someone to imagine being driven up a vertical surface.

More than one way to skin a cat

You use this one to convey that there is more than one way to accomplish a task. But this phrase presents a disturbing image.

These are the common confusing sentences or phrases you would normally use as per different types of tones in writing you prefer. Hold on, as another list of random sentences that make no sense is coming your way.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

You use this phrase to convey that it’s better to have something tangible that is in your hands right now. Don’t risk it for something that is out of your reach.

Don’t cry over spilled milk

You should not waste your time by thinking about things that have already happened. But picturing this image seems so pathetic. 

It’s a piece of cake

This is one of the most common English phrases that make no sense and it implies that something is very easy as eating a piece of cake.

You can’t judge a book by its cover

Out of all the confusing sentences, this one is less abstract but still could cause trouble for the readers. It means you shouldn’t estimate someone’s worth or abilities just by their appearance. 

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

This one is used to convey that someone or something has moved from one danger to another. Plus, the later danger is far worse than the earlier.

It takes two to tango

Ola, tango is mentioned! But don’t get excited, it’s not the dancing. You use this phrase to tell that both parties are responsible for a certain situation. 

The early bird catches the worm

This is also one of the most common English phrases that make no sense. This implies that getting started early could earn you success. 

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink

Here you want to convey that you can’t force someone to act on your will for their advantage. Hard to picture, we get it. 

It’s the straw that broke the camel’s back

This one is used to tell that a minor event or cause has such a big impact on something.

The ball is in your court

This one is fairly understandable. It means that it’s your turn to make a quick decision. But non-natives or even some natives won’t get the meaning behind it.

Actions speak louder than words

This common idiomatic phrase conveys that what someone does matters more than what someone is saying.

A watched pot never boils

It means that when you are waiting for something to happen, time passes more slowly. Yep, like in the class at school. 

The devil is in the details

Here you would mean that hidden details of something could be problematic.

Let sleeping dogs lie

This one conveys that you don’t have to disturb a situation that is currently peaceful.

The pot calling the kettle black

You use this one to criticize someone for a fault that you also possess. But the words might look nonsense to you. 

Every cloud has a silver lining

This phrase is used to say that even in difficult situations there’s a possibility of a favorable outcome.

Better late than never

You will use this phrase when you want to imply that being late is still better than being never.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat

This implies that you have more than one way to accomplish a task.

The grass is always greener on the other side

You always perceive the circumstances of others better than yours.

A penny saved is a penny earned

Saving money is equivalent to earning money through work or effort.

Once in a blue moon

Refers to something that happens very rarely or infrequently.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Advise against putting all of your resources or trust into one thing, as it could lead to loss or failure.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease

This means that people who make their needs known will likely receive more attention or assistance.

Two wrongs don’t make a right

Here you want to convey that even though someone did wrong to you, you can’t make it right by doing wrong to them.

A stitch in time saves nine

Here you want to say that a problem should be dealt with as early as possible.

The proof is in the pudding

The true value or effectiveness of something is only demonstrated when it’s put into practice or tested.

You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours

An informal way of saying that favors or assistance should be reciprocated but oh my the literal image is not appreciated. 

A rolling stone gathers no moss

Used to convey that someone who is always on the move or changing locations doesn’t accumulate responsibilities or commitments.

Too many cooks spoil the broth

Having too many people involved in a task or decision-making process can lead to confusion, inefficiency, or a poor outcome.

Under the Weather

No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the weather. It means you are sick and not feeling well enough.

Struggling? It’s Ok, You Have Us!

If you are confused still but need to finish an assignment faster and if you are uncertain how to use some of those popular phrases well in your essay., you can always rely on professional essay writing services for the best fancier work.

So, These Were English Phrases That Make No Sense

You finished it at last. Today, we have discussed 50 english phrases that make no sense. You can even call them a fun puzzle box of words or funny sentences that confuse the brain. We have also tried to explain each of these confusing sentences so you have a good idea of what they imply. So, good luck using them.