Everyone loves music, and everyone loves learning English. What if I told you we can combine the two? Look through the pictures below and learn some idioms related to music.

bell sayings

music expressions and sayings - bell idioms
bell idioms - as clear as a bell
bell idioms - ring a bell
bell idioms - ring a bell
bell idioms - saved by the bell

drum sayings

music expressions and sayings - drum idioms
drum idioms - drum something into someone’s head
drum idioms - march to the beat of one’s own drum

fiddle idioms

music expressions and sayings - fiddle idioms
fiddle idioms - as fit as a fiddle
fiddle idioms - fiddle while Rome burns
fiddle idioms - play second fiddle

musical instrument idioms

music expressions and sayings - musical instrument idioms
musical instrument idioms - air guitar
musical instrument idioms - blow one’s own trumpet
musical instrument idioms - chime in
musical instrument idioms - lock horns
bull phrases - take the bull by the horns
musical instrument idioms - toot one’s own horn

jazz idioms

music expressions and sayings - jazz idioms
jazz idioms - all that jazz
jazz idioms - jazzy
jazz idioms - jazz up

music idioms

music expressions and sayings - music idioms
music idioms - chin music
music idioms - face the music
music idioms - music to one’s ears

sing sayings

music expressions and sayings - singing idioms
singing idioms - It’s not over until the fat lady sings
singing idioms - pitch perfect
singing idioms - sing for one’s supper
singing idioms - sing from the same hymn sheet
singing idioms - sing the blues
singing idioms - tone-deaf

song idioms

music expressions and sayings - song idioms
song idioms - for a song
song idioms - make a song and dance about something
swan idioms and sayings - swansong

other music idioms and sayings

music expressions and sayings
music idioms - Elvis has left the building
music idioms - hear through the grapevine
music idioms - hit the right note
music idioms - it takes two to tango
music idioms - jam session
music idioms - jump on the bandwagon
music idioms - offbeat
music idioms - one-hit wonder
music idioms - play it by ear
music idioms - pull out all the stops
music idioms - sound like a broken record
music idioms - strike a chord

tune idioms

music expressions and sayings - tune idioms
tune idioms - call the tune
tune idioms - carry a tune
tune idioms - change one's tune
tune idioms - dance to someone else’s tune
tune idioms - fine-tune
tune idioms - out of tune
tune idioms - out of tune with
tune idioms - to the tune of
tune idioms - tune in
tune idioms - tune out
tune idioms - tune up

whistle sayings

music expressions and sayings - whistle idioms
whistle idioms - as clean as a whistle
whistle idioms - blow the whistle
whistle idioms - wet one’s whistle
whistle idioms - whistle-blower
whistle idioms - whistle for something
whistle idioms - whistle in the dark
whistle idioms - whistle-stop tour

You’ve learnt some idioms about music, did you know that some popular songs include some of these idioms? Crack out your best singing voices and let’s have a sing song.

Let’s put your musical idiom knowledge to the test. Answer the following questions:

What was the last bit of gossip you heard through the grapevine?
Have you ever been saved by the bell?
What tv shows do you always tune in for?
Have you ever played air guitar?
Are you as fit as a fiddle?
What was the last item you bought for a song?
Who was the last person you locked horns with?

 

Songs are a really great way of learning English. I’ve made a list of useful songs (and other materials) to help you out.