*IDIOMS/IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
*IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
1. A BLESSING IN DISGUISE
Something that appears bad at first but ends up having good resultsMissing that plane turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I got to spend more time with my family.
2. A SANDWICH SHORT OF A PICNIC
A humorous way of saying someone is stupid or is a bit madHe brought only shorts and t-shirts when he went to Sweden in the winter – I think he might be a sandwich short of a picnic!
3. A STONE’S THROW
Something is very close or nearLuckily the wedding is just a stone’s throw from our hotel so we can walk there.
4. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
What you do is more important than what you say; someone’s words may not be trustworthye.g
Person A: “John keeps saying he wants to take me out for dinner, but then he never does!”
Person B: “Actions speak louder than words.“
5. ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE
When someone does something to make a bad situation worsee.g When Sarah started laughing during the argument, it really added fuel to the fire!
6. ADD INSULT TO INJURY
To make a bad situation worseAs if breaking my arm isn’t bad enough, to add insult to injury I have to pay £1,000 in hospital fees as I didn’t have travel insurance!
7. ALL EARS
To be eagerly waiting to hear about somethingPerson A: “I have to tell you about what happened on our trip to Spain…”
Person B: “I’m all ears!”
8. AT A CROSSROADS
To be at a point in your life when you need to make an important decisionI was at a crossroads when I was offered a job in the US, but my boyfriend wanted to stay in London.
9. BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE
To be wrong or misguided about the reason for somethingHe thinks the company’s problems can be solved just by firing the sales team, but he’s barking up the wrong tree.
10. BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH
To talk about unimportant things because you’re avoiding a particular topicStop beating about the bush! Are you planning to quit university, or not?
11.BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
It’s better to do something late than not at allPerson A: “Sorry I missed your birthday! There’s a card in the post.”
Person B: “Don’t worry. Better late than never!”
12. BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
To be in a difficult situation where both options are badPerson A: “If I go to the wedding mum will be upset, but if I don’t go then I’ll be letting down the rest of the family!”
Person B: “Sounds like you’re caught between a rock and a hard place.”
13. BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW
To do too much or take something on that is too difficultPerson A: “I’m going to start that weekend job at the museum on top of my full-time job because I really need the money.”
Person B: “Sounds like a lot of work! Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
14. BITE THE BULLET
To decide to do something that is difficult or unpleasant, but necessaryYou’re going to have to bite the bullet and tell your ex-(girlfriend) that you need the apartment back.
15. BLOW OFF STEAM
To do something that helps you get rid of stress, energy or angerAfter my meeting with the boss, I went for a run to blow off steam.
16. BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
To say that a set of instructions or task is simple or easyTo make the salad dressing, you just put oil, vinegar, honey and mustard into a bowl, mix them together and bob’s your uncle!
17. Bog-standard
Something that is very ordinary or basic, nothing specialDespite the excellent reviews, we thought the restaurant was just bog-standard.
When learning idioms in English, you need to watch out for old-fashioned expressions. For example, you probably know the idiom ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’. However, most Brits would never use this expression now. It is outdated. Instead we say: ‘It’s bucketing it down!’, ‘It’s chucking it down!’ or ‘It’s pi*sing it down!’.
18. BOTCH/BODGE JOB
Work that has been done badly, in a clumsy, lazy wayThe original builders did such a bodge job of our kitchen that we had to get it completely redone.
19. BUDGE UP
An informal way of asking someone to move to make room for youCould you budge up a bit so I can sit down?
20. BUILDER’S TEA
Strongly-brewed English breakfast tea with milkI’ll have a builder’s tea, please.
21. BURY ONE’S HEAD IN THE SAND
To refuse to think about or confront serious issues or situationsMartin just buries his head in the sand when it comes to his financial problems.
22. BUST ONE’S CHOPS
To work very hard on something, or to harass someoneI was busting my chops all night to get that report finished!
Stop busting my chops! I’ll mow the lawn later.
Note: In British English slang, the word ‘chops’ is used to mean ‘mouth’. So the idiom above literally means ‘punch in the mouth’.
23. BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH
To narrowly succeed in doing somethingThe traffic was terrible so we only made the plane by the skin of our teeth!
24. CALL A SPADE A SPADE
To state the truth about something even if it’s unpopular or unpleasantI know he’s your brother, but let’s call a spade a spade: he’s pretty lazy.
25. CALL IT A DAY
To stop working on somethingIt’s almost 9pm. I think we should call it a day and finish the report tomorrow.
26. CHEAP AS CHIPS
When something is inexpensive or good value for moneyIt doesn’t look it, but our new sofa was (as) cheap as chips!
27. CHINESE WHISPERS
Information or rumours that have been passed on by many people and are no longer reliableJohn and Maggie from the office haven’t actually announced they’re getting a divorce. It’s probably just Chinese whispers.
28. CHIP ON ONE’S SHOULDER
To hold a grudge/be angry about something that happened in the past, or to be arrogant and think too highly of oneselfWhenever we mention his childhood, he gets really angry. He’s got a chip on his shoulder about it.
The new sales guy at the office has a real chip on his shoulder. He’s not even that good!
29. CLAM UP
To become silent or stop talkingWhen Bill came into the room, Jenny just seemed to clam up. I think she likes him!
30. COLD FEET
To get nervous or to have second thoughts about doing somethingHe’s getting cold feet about the wedding, but I told him that was perfectly normal.
Goodluck
SOURCE: www.edustuff.com.ng
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