Idioms for advice and encouragement: meanings and examples
Short answer: Idioms for advice and encouragement help you wish someone luck, cheer them up or tell them not to worry. “Break a leg” means good luck, “hang in there” means do not give up, and “keep your chin up” means stay hopeful.
What do these expressions mean?
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Break a leg | A way to say good luck, especially before a show | Break a leg tonight! You will be great on stage. |
| Hang in there | Do not give up when things are hard | I know exam week is hard. Hang in there. |
| Keep your chin up | Stay hopeful when things are hard | Keep your chin up. Things will get better. |
| Take it easy | Relax; do not worry | You worked all day. Take it easy tonight. |
| Cry over spilled milk | To feel bad about something that cannot be changed | The cake is burned. There is no use crying over spilled milk. |
| Cross that bridge when you come to it | Wait to solve a problem until it really happens | We may not have enough chairs, but let's cross that bridge when we come to it. |
| Easy does it | Slow down; be careful and gentle | Easy does it. The box is heavy. |
| Let sleeping dogs lie | Do not bring up old problems | He has forgotten about it, so let sleeping dogs lie. |
| Cut someone some slack | To be kind and not too strict with someone | She is new here. Cut her some slack. |
| Bite the bullet | To do something hard or scary because you must | I bit the bullet and made the phone call. |
| Give it a shot / Give it a try | To try something | You have never tried climbing? Give it a shot! |
When do you use these idioms?
- Before a performance, a talk or a test: “Break a leg!”
- When a friend has a hard time: “Hang in there”, “Keep your chin up”.
- When someone worries too much: “Take it easy”, “Easy does it”.
- When you want to say that you will not worry about a problem yet: “cross that bridge when we come to it”.
Is “break a leg” rude?
No. It sounds strange, but it is a kind way to say good luck, mostly before a show. Say it to someone who is about to perform. For other situations, say “good luck”.
Common mistakes with advice idioms
- “Break a leg” is only for good wishes. Never use it as a threat.
- “Cry over spilled milk” means to feel bad about something that cannot be changed. It is advice to stop, so say it kindly.
- “Let sleeping dogs lie” means do not bring up old problems. It is not about animals.
- “Cut someone some slack” means to be kind and not too strict with someone.
Similar expressions
Both “hang in there” and “keep your chin up” encourage someone in a hard time. “Take it easy” and “easy does it” both ask someone to slow down, and “easy does it” is more about being careful.
More idioms
- English idioms: meanings and examples (all groups)
- Idioms about feelings: meanings and examples
- Idioms for school and work: meanings and examples
- Idioms about mistakes and trouble: meanings and examples
Questions
What does “break a leg” mean?
It is a way to say good luck, especially before a show. For example, “Break a leg tonight!”
What does “hang in there” mean?
It means do not give up when things are hard.
What does “keep your chin up” mean?
It means stay hopeful when things are hard.
What does “cross that bridge when you come to it” mean?
It means wait to solve a problem until it really happens.
What does “cry over spilled milk” mean?
It means to feel bad about something that cannot be changed. People usually say it in a negative sentence: “There is no use crying over spilled milk.”
Part of the English idioms guide in the 💬 Idioms tool.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.