like a fish out of water, when pigs fly, open a can of worms, get the lion's share, the elephant in the room: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 7. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. like a fish out of water · idiom/laɪk ə fɪʃ aʊt əv ˈwɔtɚ/

   a person who is in an unfamiliar or an uncomfortable situation

   During the first weeks of college, Emily felt like a fish out of water because she was away from home for the first time in her life.

   Origin: Used by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 1380s — vividly compares social discomfort to a dying fish on land.

2. when pigs fly · idiom/wɛn pɪɡz flaɪ/

   used to say that something is very unlikely to happen

   A girl like Sarah would agree to date someone like you when pigs fly.

   Origin: Originated in Scotland in the 1500s; expresses absolute impossibility through an obviously absurd image.

3. open a can of worms · idiom/ˈoʊpən ə pænˈdɔrəz bɑks/

   to do something that will cause more problems

   Tony opened a can of worms when he asked Mia all those questions about her past relationships.

   Origin: From Greek mythology — Pandora opened a forbidden jar, releasing all the evils of the world.

4. get the lion's share · idiom/ɡɛt ðə ˈlaɪənz ʃɛr/

   to get the biggest portion of something

   Automotive startups got the lion's share of private investments in 2019.

   Origin: From Aesop's fable — the lion claimed all parts of a hunt with various excuses, leaving nothing for others.

5. the elephant in the room · idiom/ði ˈɛləfənt ɪn ðə rum/

   an obvious problem or situation that people avoid talking about

   The subject of mental health is the elephant in the room in most workplaces and people still feel uncomfortable talking about it.

   Origin: A modern phrase popularized in the 1900s — an obvious problem too large for anyone to comfortably mention.