Expertise is often celebrated in various fields, and the English language has a rich collection of idioms to describe those who possess exceptional skill and knowledge. Here are 20 idioms that encapsulate the essence of expertise, each with a brief meaning and a concise example sentence to illustrate its use.
1. Ace in the Hole
Meaning: Secret advantage.
Example: Her coding skills were her ace in the hole.
2. Top of the Line
Meaning: Highest quality.
Example: His paintings are always top of the line.
3. Master of the Craft
Meaning: Highly skilled expert.
Example: She is a master of the craft in woodworking.
4. Whiz Kid
Meaning: Young expert.
Example: The new intern is a real whiz kid in marketing.
5. In a Class of One’s Own
Meaning: Unique expert.
Example: His culinary skills are in a class of their own.
6. Second to None
Meaning: Best, unmatched.
Example: Her negotiation skills are second to none.
7. Knows the Ropes
Meaning: Fully experienced.
Example: He knows the ropes of the fashion industry.
8. At the Top of One’s Game
Meaning: Performing exceptionally well.
Example: She is at the top of her game in tennis.
9. Jack of All Trades
Meaning: Versatile expert.
Example: He’s a jack of all trades in the tech world.
10. In One’s Element
Meaning: Performing naturally well.
Example: She is in her element when teaching.
11. Born Leader
Meaning: Natural expert in leading.
Example: He is a born leader in crisis situations.
12. Skilled to Perfection
Meaning: Extremely skilled.
Example: Her embroidery is skilled to perfection.
13. Knows One’s Stuff
Meaning: Very knowledgeable.
Example: The professor really knows his stuff.
14. On the Ball
Meaning: Alert and competent.
Example: She’s always on the ball at meetings.
15. An Old Hand
Meaning: Experienced expert.
Example: He is an old hand at carpentry.
16. All the Answers
Meaning: Highly knowledgeable.
Example: The consultant had all the answers.
17. Tech-Savvy
Meaning: Skilled with technology.
Example: She’s incredibly tech-savvy with new gadgets.
18. Midas Touch
Meaning: Everything turns successful.
Example: He has the Midas touch in business.
19. Gifted
Meaning: Naturally talented.
Example: She’s a gifted musician.
20. Prodigy
Meaning: Young genius.
Example: The chess player is a prodigy.
