For me to understand idioms is easy as pie or a piece of cake, but of course I have an ace in the hole or up my sleeve and I can spit them out at the drop of a hat or right off the bat, not because I burn the midnight oil or the candle at both ends, but because I spend a lot of time chewing the fat and by word of mouth gain understanding. To let the cat out of the bag, I must say that the ace I previously mentioned was that English was my native language from the word go. And, other than formal schooling, the school of hard knocks was a blessing in disguise that taught me idioms as well. Translation: For me to understand idioms is extremely easy, but of course I have an advantage, and can express them most immediately, not because I stay up very late at night studying or overwork, but because I chat friendly in a relaxed way and by listening, gain understanding. To give away my secret, I must say that my advantage, perhaps somewhat surprising, is that English was my first language from the beginning, and thus, other than customary schooling, learning by suffering hardships everywhere