When learning English, you quickly realize that idioms make conversations colorful and natural. Idioms are phrases whose meanings go beyond the literal words. They often express emotions, cultural ideas, or everyday situations in a creative way.
When life takes a wrong turn, English speakers often use idioms to describe those tough situations. That’s why learning idioms about bad things happening is so helpful.
They give you the tools to describe difficulties, setbacks, and unlucky events in a natural, native-like way. Instead of saying “I had a problem,” you can say, “Things went south.”
These idioms not only make your English richer, but they also help you understand movies, books, and casual conversations where such expressions are common.
Did You Know?
Many idioms about misfortune come from history and seafaring. For example, “sink or swim” comes from old tests where sailors were thrown into water to prove if they could survive. Over time, these survival-related phrases became everyday expressions for handling difficulties.
Idioms About Bad Luck and Misfortune
1. Bad luck
Meaning: An unfortunate event or outcome.
Example: “He failed the test again—just bad luck.”
Similar Idiom: Tough break.
Note: Common in casual speech when explaining misfortune without blame.
2. Tough break
Meaning: A difficult or unlucky situation.
Example: “Losing the game in the last minute was a tough break.”
Similar Idiom: Bad luck.
Note: Mostly informal, often used to show sympathy.
3. Murphy’s Law
Meaning: If something can go wrong, it will.
Example: “The printer broke right before the meeting—Murphy’s Law!”
Similar Idiom: That’s just my luck.
Note: Often used humorously in work or daily life.
4. A stroke of bad luck
Meaning: An unfortunate incident.
Example: “She lost her wallet—what a stroke of bad luck.”
Similar Idiom: Unlucky day.
Note: Slightly formal, often in storytelling.
5. Down on your luck
Meaning: Facing a period of misfortune or difficulty.
Example: “He’s been down on his luck since losing his job.”
Similar Idiom: Hard times.
Note: Common in everyday conversations about money or work struggles.
Idioms About Failure and Setbacks
6. Go south
Meaning: To fail or worsen.
Example: “The project went south after the budget cuts.”
Similar Idiom: Fall apart.
Note: Informal, often used in business and personal life.
7. Fall through
Meaning: Plans that fail to happen.
Example: “Our trip fell through because of bad weather.”
Similar Idiom: Go wrong.
Note: Neutral tone, common in daily conversations.
8. Miss the boat
Meaning: To miss an opportunity.
Example: “He missed the boat by not applying earlier.”
Similar Idiom: Too late.
Note: Informal, often about jobs or opportunities.
9. Back to square one
Meaning: Starting over after failure.
Example: “The deal collapsed, so we’re back to square one.”
Similar Idiom: Start from scratch.
Note: Common in work or academic contexts.
10. A dead end
Meaning: No progress or no solution.
Example: “This argument is leading to a dead end.”
Similar Idiom: Going nowhere.
Note: Useful in formal and informal discussions.
11. Bite the dust
Meaning: To fail or be defeated.
Example: “Another competitor bit the dust in the race.”
Similar Idiom: Go under.
Note: Informal, often used humorously.
12. Hit a snag
Meaning: To face an unexpected problem.
Example: “We hit a snag while building the software.”
Similar Idiom: Run into trouble.
Note: Common in business or project discussions.
Idioms About Trouble and Problems
13. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble or difficulty.
Example: “He got in hot water for missing the deadline.”
Similar Idiom: In a tight spot.
Note: Often used in workplace or school contexts.
14. In deep trouble
Meaning: Facing serious problems.
Example: “She’s in deep trouble with the law.”
Similar Idiom: Big mess.
Note: Serious tone, not humorous.
15. A storm is brewing
Meaning: Trouble is coming.
Example: “With the new policies, a storm is brewing among employees.”
Similar Idiom: Trouble ahead.
Note: Often used metaphorically.
16. A rough patch
Meaning: A difficult period.
Example: “They’re going through a rough patch in their marriage.”
Similar Idiom: Hard times.
Note: Common in daily life conversations.
17. A slippery slope
Meaning: A situation likely to get worse.
Example: “Skipping classes is a slippery slope to failing.”
Similar Idiom: Downhill spiral.
Note: Slightly formal, often in advice or warnings.
18. Walking on thin ice
Meaning: Taking risks that could cause trouble.
Example: “He’s walking on thin ice by lying to his boss.”
Similar Idiom: Playing with fire.
Note: Informal, often used as a warning.
19. Out of the frying pan into the fire
Meaning: Escaping one problem but landing in a worse one.
Example: “He changed jobs but ended up out of the frying pan into the fire.”
Similar Idiom: From bad to worse.
Note: Common in daily conversations.
20. A can of worms
Meaning: A situation that creates more problems.
Example: “Changing the rules opened a can of worms.”
Similar Idiom: Pandora’s box.
Note: Informal, often used in politics or workplace discussions.
Idioms About Disasters and Extreme Situations
21. A recipe for disaster
Meaning: Something likely to fail.
Example: “Mixing business with friendship is a recipe for disaster.”
Similar Idiom: Bound to fail.
Note: Often used as advice.
22. Train wreck
Meaning: A total disaster.
Example: “The meeting was a train wreck from the start.”
Similar Idiom: Complete mess.
Note: Informal, often dramatic.
23. Crash and burn
Meaning: To fail completely.
Example: “His new business crashed and burned.”
Similar Idiom: Flop.
Note: Common in casual speech.
24. The last straw
Meaning: The final problem that causes a breakdown.
Example: “His rude comment was the last straw.”
Similar Idiom: Breaking point.
Note: Informal, emotional situations.
25. All hell breaks loose
Meaning: Total chaos or disorder.
Example: “When the news spread, all hell broke loose.”
Similar Idiom: Chaos erupted.
Note: Informal, dramatic.
26. The bottom fell out
Meaning: A sudden collapse or failure.
Example: “The stock market crashed—the bottom fell out.”
Similar Idiom: Collapse.
Note: Used in finance or business contexts.
27. A sinking ship
Meaning: A failing situation.
Example: “He left the company like a sinking ship.”
Similar Idiom: Going under.
Note: Informal, workplace conversations.
28. Skeletons in the closet
Meaning: Hidden secrets that cause trouble later.
Example: “The politician had skeletons in the closet.”
Similar Idiom: Dark secrets.
Note: Common in media and news.
29. Hit rock bottom
Meaning: Reaching the lowest point.
Example: “After losing his job, he hit rock bottom.”
Similar Idiom: Lowest point.
Note: Informal, personal struggles.
30. Dig your own grave
Meaning: Cause your own failure.
Example: “By lying, he dug his own grave.”
Similar Idiom: Shoot yourself in the foot.
Note: Informal, often advice or warning.
31. A powder keg
Meaning: A dangerous, explosive situation.
Example: “The negotiations were a powder keg ready to explode.”
Similar Idiom: Ticking time bomb.
Note: Serious contexts like politics or conflict.
How to Use These Idioms in Daily Life
- In speaking: Use them in conversations to sound natural. For example, instead of saying “things got worse,” say “it went south.”
- In writing: Great for emails, blogs, or stories where you want to add color and emotion.
- In professional life: Use carefully in meetings or reports—expressions like “back to square one” or “hit a snag” are common in business English.
Common Mistakes Learners Make With Idioms
- Wrong usage: “I hit a snag the ball.” ❌
Correct: “I hit a snag in my project.” ✅ - Mixing idioms: “He bit the square one.” ❌
Correct: “He bit the dust.” ✅ - Too literal: Learners sometimes imagine the picture instead of the meaning. Remember, idioms are figurative.
FAQs
1. Why do English speakers use idioms for bad things?
Because they make language more expressive and emotional, helping people explain problems vividly.
2. Are idioms about bad things always negative?
Not always. Some are used humorously, like “Murphy’s Law.”
3. Can I use these idioms in formal writing?
Some yes, some no. Idioms like “back to square one” fit business reports, but “all hell breaks loose” is too casual.
4. How can I practice idioms?
Listen to TV shows, podcasts, and try using one or two new idioms daily.
5. What’s the difference between a proverb and an idiom?
A proverb teaches wisdom (e.g., “Honesty is the best policy”), while an idiom is a figurative expression (e.g., “hit rock bottom”).
Conclusion
Idioms about bad things happening help you express life’s struggles in a colorful, memorable way. Instead of simply saying “I had problems,” you can say “I hit a snag” or “things went south.”
These expressions make your English more natural and engaging, whether in casual conversations, storytelling, or professional contexts. By learning them, you’ll not only sound more fluent but also understand native speakers better.
Remember—bad things happen, but with the right words, you can always describe them powerfully. Keep practicing, and soon these idioms will feel natural in your everyday English!
