- Since songwriters often employ figurative language in their lyrics, we thought music would be a fun way to learn some English phrases
- Who knew that Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran’s popular tracks would be so useful for your next essay?
Use these phrases to jazz up how you communicate. Photo: ShutterstockMusic is an integral part of our lives. Not only is it effective for relaxation, but songs are also great teachers for improving your writing as lyrics often contain colourful language. Here are nine idioms from popular English songs that are useful for essays or daily conversation.
1. Bite your tongue
Meaning: to stop yourself from saying something offensive, hurtful or inappropriate. The idiom appears in American singer Katy Perry’s hit “Roar” released in 2014, which is about empowering people to speak up for themselves.
Example: I used to bite my tongue and agree with everything people said because I was afraid of starting arguments.
2. Break the mould
Meaning: to be new and do something different from what everyone else is doing. American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys uses this idiom in her song “Underdog”, singing: “They said I would never make it, but I was built to break the mould.” Released in 2020, the song encourages people facing huge challenges, such as those who are homeless or single mothers, to keep pursuing their dreams against all odds.
Example: The singer breaks the mould with every release, setting trends for other artists to follow.
3. Get something off your chest
Meaning: to say something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty for some time. American pop band OneRepublic used the phrase in their song “Secrets”, released in 2009, to reflect honestly on fame and their music career.
Example: You look troubled – is there something you need to get off your chest?
4. Go down in flames
Meaning: to fail spectacularly. The idiom appears in American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s 2014 hit track “Blank Space”, a satirical song striking back at critics and the press who described her as a flirt who did not care if her relationships failed.
Example: During the financial crisis, many companies went down in flames, and their exploitative, unsustainable moneymaking schemes were exposed.
5. Go off the deep end
Meaning: to act recklessly or hysterically. The idiom is used in “Shallow”, from the soundtrack of the 2018 musical film A Star Is Born. Performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, the song is an open dialogue between a man and woman as they discuss taking a brave leap of faith together.
Example: Brinley went off the deep end when she found out her best friend lied to her.
6. In your wildest dreams
Meaning: to emphasise that a situation is beyond what someone can even imagine. In Swift’s 2015 song “Wildest Dreams”, the idiom in the title describes a love that is doomed; she pleads for her lover to remember her even after their relationship ends.
Example: Shawn was only 18 when he made it to the Olympics. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would beat all the other more experienced athletes.
7. Think out loud
Meaning: to say your thoughts as soon as they enter your head. In the 2014 ballad “Thinking Out Loud” by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, the singer uses this phrase to share his heartfelt reflections on the beauty of falling in love.
Example: Our teacher said it would be OK to think out loud during our brainstorming session – don’t hold back any of your ideas.
8. On the ground
Meaning: in the place where real, practical work is being done. Rosé, a member of K-pop group Blackpink, took the idiom as the title for her first solo track in 2021, singing: “I worked my whole life / Just to get high, just to realise / Everything I need is on the ground.” The song is a reminder that no matter how successful you become, you should not forget the people who have always been there supporting you.
Example: Just minutes after the accident, reporters were already on the ground getting the full picture of the story.
9. Water under the bridge
Meaning: describes something that happened in the past and is no longer important. British singer Adele uses the idiom as the title of her song in 2015 to show how she is trying to save the relationship and keep it from becoming “water under the bridge”.
Example: Although our company went through hard times last year, it is now water under the bridge as we are on track to have a profitable year.