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Music to Your Ears: 20 Common English Idioms Found in Great Songs
1. go crazySong: “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince (Song) (Lyrics)I wanted to start with this song, because I really like Prince and I was sad that he died earlier this year. But even though he’s gone, his music will live on, and so will this really common idiom.
To go crazy can mean to go insane (not have control of your mind). But in this song, “go crazy” can also mean to be wild or to have a good, fun time. Another similar phrase is “go nuts” or “get nuts,” which is also used in this song.
Example: I’ve been working here at my desk for three hours without a break. If I don’t go outside to get some fresh air soon, I think I’ll go crazy!
2. give upSong: “Never Give You Up” by Raphael Saadiq (Song) (Lyrics)“Give up” is a phrasal verb that means to surrender, or stop trying. It’s actually a common phrase in a lot of songs. In this particular song, Raphael Saadiq is using it to say he’ll never give up on his relationship.
If you want to hear more songs with this idiom, I recommend “Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush. There are also two great songs called “Never Gonna Give You Up”: one by The Black Keys and the other, much more famous one by Rick Astley.
Example: Sheila has failed two Japanese exams, but she’ll keep on trying until she passes it. She said she’s not going to give up.
3. basket caseSong: “Basket Case” by Green Day (Song) (Lyrics)The meaning of “basket case” is very similar to our first one, “go crazy.” But the biggest difference is that “go crazy” is an action, and “basket case” is a noun that you can use to talk about a person. Another difference is that “go crazy” isn’t very strong, but if you call someone a basket case, they may be offended or angry with you. It’s the kind of phrase that you can use in a joking way about yourself or with friends or family, but probably not with people you don’t know.
This song is about a guy who thinks he’s going crazy. The idiom “basket case” is actually only in the title, not in the lyrics. One other good phrase that he uses is “crack up,” which is another idiom that means to go crazy.
Example: I was a real basket case when I arrived home after my long trip. I had been flying for over 30 hours, and two of the planes were delayed.
4. mixed upSong: “Mixed Up World” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (Song) (Lyrics)The phrase “mixed up” means that someone or something is confused or confusing, or just not normal. The verb “mix” by itself is what you use when you stir or combine things. So you can also think of something “mixed up” being in a different order than normal.
In this song, Sophie Ellis-Bextor sings about how she’s confused because she’s going through a difficult time. But she also says that if you think life is tough (difficult), you need to remember that you’re also tough (strong).
There are two other really common idioms in this song: She mentions right at the beginning that she’s “messed up,” which is the same as “mixed up.” And—you guessed it—she also mentions that she’s going crazy!
Example: We were trying to drive to the swimming pool, but we got our directions mixed up. Fortunately, we asked a woman on the side of the road, and she told us how to get to the pool.
5. in your (wildest) dreamsSong: “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift (Song) (Lyrics)Dreams are things you see or imagine when you’re sleeping, so they’re not real. In the same way, if you say that something will happen “in your dreams,” it means that you don’t think it really will happen, or that you think it’s impossible.
In this Taylor Swift song, she tells a man to say some things, even if they’re only in his wildest dreams. Here “wildest” means “craziest” or “most impossible.” In other words, she wants him to say those things, even if he doesn’t think those things will ever happen. As a quick note, there’s another version of this song by Ryan Adams that I think is pretty good. There’s also a completely unrelated (but good!) Iron Maiden song that’s also called “Wildest Dreams.”
Example: I would like for Taylor Swift and Iron Maiden to sing together at my birthday party, but I don’t think that will actually happen, even in my wildest dreams.
6. poker faceSong: “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga (Song) (Lyrics)Do you ever play poker? If so, imagine what kind of face you would make if you got the perfect cards, and what kind of face you would make if you got terrible cards. If it’s obvious from your expression what cards you have, then you don’t have a good poker face.
If you say that someone has a “poker face,” it means it’s difficult to read their emotions through their face. You can also use this expression outside of cards, if you want to say that it’s difficult to know what someone is thinking.
In the song “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga says a man can’t read her poker face, so she may be difficult for him to understand.
Example: I asked Vivianna what she thought of my new haircut, but she just said it looked “nice.” But she usually has a poker face and I can never tell what she’s really thinking.
1. go crazySong: “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince (Song) (Lyrics)I wanted to start with this song, because I really like Prince and I was sad that he died earlier this year. But even though he’s gone, his music will live on, and so will this really common idiom.
To go crazy can mean to go insane (not have control of your mind). But in this song, “go crazy” can also mean to be wild or to have a good, fun time. Another similar phrase is “go nuts” or “get nuts,” which is also used in this song.
Example: I’ve been working here at my desk for three hours without a break. If I don’t go outside to get some fresh air soon, I think I’ll go crazy!
2. give upSong: “Never Give You Up” by Raphael Saadiq (Song) (Lyrics)“Give up” is a phrasal verb that means to surrender, or stop trying. It’s actually a common phrase in a lot of songs. In this particular song, Raphael Saadiq is using it to say he’ll never give up on his relationship.
If you want to hear more songs with this idiom, I recommend “Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush. There are also two great songs called “Never Gonna Give You Up”: one by The Black Keys and the other, much more famous one by Rick Astley.
Example: Sheila has failed two Japanese exams, but she’ll keep on trying until she passes it. She said she’s not going to give up.
3. basket caseSong: “Basket Case” by Green Day (Song) (Lyrics)The meaning of “basket case” is very similar to our first one, “go crazy.” But the biggest difference is that “go crazy” is an action, and “basket case” is a noun that you can use to talk about a person. Another difference is that “go crazy” isn’t very strong, but if you call someone a basket case, they may be offended or angry with you. It’s the kind of phrase that you can use in a joking way about yourself or with friends or family, but probably not with people you don’t know.
This song is about a guy who thinks he’s going crazy. The idiom “basket case” is actually only in the title, not in the lyrics. One other good phrase that he uses is “crack up,” which is another idiom that means to go crazy.
Example: I was a real basket case when I arrived home after my long trip. I had been flying for over 30 hours, and two of the planes were delayed.
4. mixed upSong: “Mixed Up World” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (Song) (Lyrics)The phrase “mixed up” means that someone or something is confused or confusing, or just not normal. The verb “mix” by itself is what you use when you stir or combine things. So you can also think of something “mixed up” being in a different order than normal.
In this song, Sophie Ellis-Bextor sings about how she’s confused because she’s going through a difficult time. But she also says that if you think life is tough (difficult), you need to remember that you’re also tough (strong).
There are two other really common idioms in this song: She mentions right at the beginning that she’s “messed up,” which is the same as “mixed up.” And—you guessed it—she also mentions that she’s going crazy!
Example: We were trying to drive to the swimming pool, but we got our directions mixed up. Fortunately, we asked a woman on the side of the road, and she told us how to get to the pool.
5. in your (wildest) dreamsSong: “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift (Song) (Lyrics)Dreams are things you see or imagine when you’re sleeping, so they’re not real. In the same way, if you say that something will happen “in your dreams,” it means that you don’t think it really will happen, or that you think it’s impossible.
In this Taylor Swift song, she tells a man to say some things, even if they’re only in his wildest dreams. Here “wildest” means “craziest” or “most impossible.” In other words, she wants him to say those things, even if he doesn’t think those things will ever happen. As a quick note, there’s another version of this song by Ryan Adams that I think is pretty good. There’s also a completely unrelated (but good!) Iron Maiden song that’s also called “Wildest Dreams.”
Example: I would like for Taylor Swift and Iron Maiden to sing together at my birthday party, but I don’t think that will actually happen, even in my wildest dreams.
6. poker faceSong: “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga (Song) (Lyrics)Do you ever play poker? If so, imagine what kind of face you would make if you got the perfect cards, and what kind of face you would make if you got terrible cards. If it’s obvious from your expression what cards you have, then you don’t have a good poker face.
If you say that someone has a “poker face,” it means it’s difficult to read their emotions through their face. You can also use this expression outside of cards, if you want to say that it’s difficult to know what someone is thinking.
In the song “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga says a man can’t read her poker face, so she may be difficult for him to understand.
Example: I asked Vivianna what she thought of my new haircut, but she just said it looked “nice.” But she usually has a poker face and I can never tell what she’s really thinking.