Idioms Beginning with I

Here, you will find idioms that start with I.

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Examples of Idioms Beginning With I

I Couldn’t Care Less: I don’t care at all; I am completely indifferent.

I Wasn’t Born Yesterday: when someone says “I wasn’t born yesterday” they mean that they are not naive or gullible and they are not easily cheated, fooled, or deceived. They are basically saying they are “wise to the ways of the world.”

I’ll Be A Monkey’s Uncle:  an expression used to indicate surprise, astonishment, amazement, shock, and sometimes disbelief or skepticism.

I’m Afraid (idiom): although ‘I’m afraid’ literally means I am frightened or scared, when used idiomatically it means I’m sorry or I regret.

If Anything: to any degree, if at all; if anything definite can be said (this is it); if there is any difference at all.

If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It: you should not try to improve something that already functions adequately; if something works, don’t meddle with it.

If Wishes Were Horses: simply wishing for things does not make them happen; one must work actively for the things one wants; if wishes came true, then even the poorest people would have everything they want and need.

Ignorance Is Bliss: if you don’t know about something, you will not worry about it and it will not hurt you; not knowing about something is better than knowing about it and thus worrying; what you don’t know can’t hurt you.

Ill at Ease: to be ill at ease means to be uneasy, uncomfortable, feel nervous or awkward.

In a Nutshell:  in a nutshell is meant to indicate that someone is expressing something in as simple a way as possible, using the fewest words possible; a concise and brief summary.

In a Pickle:  to be in a pickle means to be in a difficult or embarrassing situation; in a dilemma or quandary.

In Hock: 1. when something is in hock it is in the possession of a pawnbroker and cannot be retrieved until the money lent by the broker is paid back 2. to be in debt.

In Progress: when something is in progress it is taking place right now but is not yet finished; underway or under development.

In Stock: refers to items for sale in retail establishments. When an item is ‘in stock’ the store or online business has one or more of the items physically in inventory, on the premises or in a warehouse, and available for purchase.

In the Doghouse: when someone is in the doghouse, someone else is angry, annoyed, irritated, or displeased with them; to be in trouble, disfavor, or disgrace.

In the Pipeline: when something is in the pipeline it is in process or underway; being developed; in the planning stages but intended to be implemented; budgeted for but not yet spent.

In the Same Boat, all: to be in the same boat means to be in a similar situation; to be experiencing the same problems or challenges.

In the Same Breath: in the same breath means at the same time; two things that contradict each other being spoken at the same time; saying two things that cannot both be true; speaking of two things in a way that compares them.

In the Worst Wayvery much; desperately; to an extreme degree.

Iron Out: to iron something out, in a literal sense, refers to using a hot iron to remove the wrinkles, creases, or folds from a garment or piece of fabric. In other words, when you iron out cloth, you make it smooth by pressing it with a flat piece of heated metal. To iron out is also used figuratively in a more general sense.

It Goes Without Saying: when we say something goes without saying we mean that it is obvious; it is generally understood or accepted; it is so well-known that it doesn’t need to be spoken or explained.

It Never Rains, But It Pours: when things go wrong or become difficult, they tend to do so one after the other so that negative things happen to excess; when one thing goes wrong, many things go wrong.

It Takes Two to Tango:  during a difficult situation, disagreement, dispute, etc. two parties are involved and both of them must bear some responsibility and blame for the situation.

It’s A Small World: the world seems so vast, we still meet the same people in the most unexpected places. Usually, “it’s a small world” is used to express surprise at seeing someone we know or discovering a personal connection with someone in a far away or unexpected place. It’s a small world basically means that the world is much smaller than it seems.

Ivory Tower: to describe someone as living in an ivory tower is a derogatory way of saying they are sheltered, separated, or insulated from the realities of life. The expression is most often used to refer to the world of academia and its disconnection to the practical concerns of everyday life, but politicians and economists are frequent targets, as well — Learn more.