Introduction
Some of the following materials are specifically designed for persons whose native language is Chinese.
Lesson 10
Section 1
Common English Idioms and Phrases
What is an idiom?
An idiom is an expression that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for "undecided") or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way).
The words in idioms often seem totally random or strange when translated literally. That means it’s difficult to create connections between these expressions and their meanings, which makes them very difficult to remember.
There are estimated to be at least 25,000 idioms in the English language.
English idioms are an important part of everyday English. They come up all the time in both written and spoken English. Because idioms don't always make sense literally, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning idioms is fun, especially when you compare English idioms to the idioms in your own language.
Learning to use common idioms and expressions will make your English sound more native, so it's a good idea to master some of these expressions.
The English idioms listed in Section 2 are extremely common in everyday conversation in the United States. You will hear them in movies and TV shows and can use them to make your English sound more like that of a native speaker.
Section 2
English Idioms with Common Verbs
A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, such as hear, become, happen, or hit.
1. Hit the books
Literally, hit the books means to physically hit, punch or slap your reading books. However, this is a commonly used expression among people who have a lot of studying to do. It simply means “to study,” and is a way of telling your friends that you’re going to study.
“Sorry but I can’t watch the game with you tonight, I have to hit the books. I have a huge exam next week!”
2. Hit the sack
The literal meaning of this would be physically hitting or beating a sack (a large bag usually used for carrying things in bulk such as flour, rice or even soil). But actually to hit the sack means to go to bed, and you’d use this to tell your friends or family that you’re really tired, so you’re going to sleep. Instead of saying hit the sack you can also say hit the hay.
“It’s time for me to hit the sack, I’m so tired.”
3. Twist someone’s arm
To twist someone’s arm literally means to take a person’s arm and turn it around, which could be really painful if you take it exactly word-for-word. If your arm has been twisted it means that someone has done a great job of convincing you to do something you might not have wanted to do. And if you manage to twist someone else’s arm it means that you’re great at convincing them, and they’ve finally agreed to do something that you’ve been asking them to do.
“Jake, you should really come to the party tonight!”
“You know I can’t, I have to hit the books.”
“You have to come! It’s going to be so much fun. Please come?”
“Oh all right, you’ve twisted my arm, I’ll come!”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
4. Stab someone in the back
If we take this idiom literally, we could find ourselves in a whole lot of trouble with the police, as it would mean taking a knife or another sharp object and putting it into a person’s back. However, as an idiom, to stab someone in the back means to hurt someone who was close to us and trusted us by betraying them secretly and breaking their trust. We call the person who does this a back stabber.
“Did you hear that Sarah stabbed Kate in the back last week?”
“No! I thought they were best friends, what did she do?”
“She told their boss that Kate wasn’t interested in a promotion at work and Sarah got it instead.”
“Wow, that’s the ultimate betrayal! No wonder they’re not friends anymore.”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
5. Lose your touch
Literally, this means to no longer have the ability to touch or feel with your fingers or hands. But to lose your touch actually means that you lose an ability or talent you once had when dealing with things, people or situations.We use this when you’re usually good at a certain skill or talent, but then things start to go wrong.
“I don’t understand why none of the girls here want to speak to me.”
“It looks like you’ve lost your touch with the ladies.”
“Oh no, they used to love me, what happened?”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
6. Sit tight
Sit tight is a great example of why you can’t translate idioms in English word-for-word. It literally would mean that you sit down squeezing your body in a tight way, which if you did would be very uncomfortable, not to mention you’d look really strange. But if a person tells you to sit tight they want you to wait patiently and take no action until you hear otherwise.
“Mrs. Carter, do you have any idea when the exam results are going to come out?”
“Who knows Johnny, sometimes they come out quickly but it could take some time. You’re just going to have to sit tight and wait.”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
7. Pitch in
This phrase actually makes no sense if you take it literally. However, figuratively speaking, it means to contribute, or give, to something or someone or to join in. So if you tell the family that you want everyone to pitch in this weekend and help clear the backyard, it means you want everyone to join in on the efforts to clear the yard and get things done quicker.
“What are you going to buy Sally for her birthday?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have much money.”
“Maybe we can all pitch in and buy her something great.”
Now listen to the conversation without interruption.
The above conversation suggests that every one of Sally’s friends should contribute a little bit of money so they can afford to buy her a bigger and better present together.
8. Go cold turkey
Sound weird? Well, you’re right, it does. How can anyone literally go cold turkey? A person can’t transform into the bird we all love to eat for celebrations such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. To go cold turkey means to suddenly quit or stop addictive or dangerous behavior such as smoking or drinking alcohol. This idiom is thought to have originated in the early 20th century and suggests that a person who suddenly quits something addictive, such as drugs or alcohol, suffers from side effects that make them look and feel like a cold, uncooked turkey. This includes pale (very white) skin and goosebumps (little small bumps on the skin when we’re cold or sick).
“Shall I get your mom a glass of wine?”
“No, she’s stopped drinking.”
“Really, why?”
“I don’t know. A few months ago, she just announced one day she’s quitting drinking.”
“She just quit cold turkey?”
“Yes, just like that!”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
9. Face the music
In literal terms, facing the music means turning your body to the direction of the music and standing in front of it. But if your friend or your parents tell you to face the music, there’s a much harsher meaning. It means to “face reality” or to deal with the reality of the situation and accept all the consequences, good or bad (but mostly bad). Perhaps you’ve been avoiding something because you feel unsure or scared of the outcome. Maybe you lied to your teacher and he discovered the truth about you not doing your ESL homework and now you have to face the music and accept the punishment.
“I can’t understand why I failed math.”
“You know you didn’t study hard, so you’re going to have to face the music and take the class again next semester if you really want to graduate when you do.”
Now listen to the conversation without interruption.
10. Ring a bell
If we look at the literal meaning of ring a bell, it’s just that: you could be ringing the school bell to tell students it’s time to go to class or ringing someone’s doorbell. But the idiom means that somebody has mentioned something that sounds familiar to you, perhaps you’ve heard it before. In other words, when someone says something that you believe you’ve heard in the past, alarm bells start ringing and you try to remember how or why that name or place sounds familiar.
“You’ve met my friend Amy Adams, right?”
“Hmmm, I’m not sure, but that name rings a bell. Was she the one who went to Paris last year?”
Now listen to the conversation without interruption.
11. Blow off steam
In reality a person cannot blow off steam (the hot rising air from boiling water) only electrical equipment can, such as the electric jug (appliance for boiling water for coffee). So what does it mean when a person blows off steam? If you’re feeling angry, stressed or are experiencing some strong feelings and you want to get rid of them so you feel better again, you will blow off steam by doing something such as exercising to get rid of the stress.
“Why is Nick so angry and where did he go?”
“He had a fight with his brother, so he went for a run to blow off steam.”
Now listen to the conversation without interruption.
12. Cut to the chase
When somebody tells you to cut to the chase it means that you’ve been talking too long and haven’t gotten to the point. When a person uses this idiom, they’re telling you to hurry up and get to the important part, without all the details. Be careful how you use this idiom, because if used while talking to someone like a college professor or your boss, it’s rude and disrespectful.If you’re speaking to a group of people, like your employees, and say I’m going to cut to the chase, it means that there are a few things that need to be said but there’s very little time, so you’ll skip to the important parts so everyone understands.
“Hi guys, as we don’t have much time here, so I’m going to cut to the chase. We’ve been having some major problems in the office lately.”
English Idioms with Common Prepositions
Prepositions are words that indicate where one thing is in relation to another. These include the words up, on and over as you’ll see in the idioms below.
13. Up in the air
When we literally think about something being up in the air, we have the idea that something’s floating or flying in the sky, perhaps an airplane or a balloon. But really if someone tells you that things are up in the air it means that these things are uncertain or unsure. Definite plans have not been made yet.
“Jen, have you set a date for the wedding yet?”
“Not exactly, things are up in the air and we’re not sure if our families can make it on the day we wanted. Hopefully we’ll know soon and we’ll let you know as soon as possible.”
Now listen to the conversation without interruption.
14. On the ball
If you look at this phrase literally, it means to be either standing or sitting on a ball, but who would do that? If you’re on the ball it means that you’re very quick to understand certain things, very prepared for something or react quickly (and correctly) to a situation. For example, if you’re planning your wedding that’s still one year away from now and you’ve almost finished with all the planning already, you’re definitely on the ball because not many people are that prepared!
“Wow, you’ve already finished your assignments? They aren’t due until next week, you’re really on the ball. I wish I could be more organized.”
15. Get over something
If you think about it, it’s possible to literally get over something, for example get over a fence, but this is not how the phrase is generally used in the English language. Imagine having a really difficult time, like breaking up with your girlfriend or boyfriend; it’s hard. But eventually once time passes and you no longer think about your ex, it means that you’ve gotten over him/her, you no longer worry about it and it no longer affects you in a negative way. It’s also possible to get over an illness, which would mean that you’ve fully recovered.
“How’s Paula? Has she gotten over the death of her dog yet?”
“I think so. She’s already talking about getting a new one.”
Now listen to the conversation without interruption.
Cash and Money Idioms in English
16. Look like a million dollars/bucks
Wouldn’t it be great if we really could look like a million dollars? We’d be rich, but that’s not the case. If someone tells you that you look like a million bucks, you should take it as a huge compliment because it means you look absolutely fabulous and really attractive.While sometimes we use this idiom for guys, it’s more commonly used to compliment females. And while some of your female friends may look beautiful every day, you should save this one for when they’ve really made an effort and it’s a special occasion, like prom or a wedding.
“Wow, Mary, you look like a million dollars/bucks this evening. I love your dress!”
17. Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
This idiom means someone who comes from a wealthy and successful family.
“John was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His parents bought him everything he wanted and sent him to the best private schools.”
18. To go from rags to riches
This idiom means to go from being poor to having a lot of money.
“Actor Jim Carrey went from rags to riches. At one time, he was living in a van, but he continued to work hard and eventually became one of the highest-paid comedians in the world.”
19. Pay an arm and a leg for something
This idiom means to pay a lot of money for something. You can also say that something “costs an arm and a leg.”
“The price of chocolate has doubled. I nearly paid an arm and a leg for a small candy bar.”
“Chocolate costs an arm and a leg now.”
20. To have sticky fingers
This idiom means to be a thief.
“The manager fired the cashier because he had sticky fingers. He stole more than $200 in a month.”
21. To give a run for one’s money
This idiom means to compete with someone at their level and make them really work for their win.
“Joe really gave me a run for my money in the chess tournament. He almost beat me!”
22. To pony up
This idiom means to pay for something or settle a debt.
“Pony up and give me the $5 you owe me.”
“I told my roommate Jane to pony up her portion of the rent money.”
23. To ante up
This idiom means to pay someone (similar to “pony up”).The expression ante up comes from the game of poker, where players bet money before the cards are dealt. If this expression looks familiar, it’s because ante is also Latin for “before.” Over time, the idiom has come to refer to any type of payment someone owes—not just in poker.
“You’d better ante up and give me that $10 I loaned you last week.”
It can also be used to refer to other services besides money that someone’s owed.
Joe: “I’m tired of doing the housework by myself. You need to ante up or find a new roommate.”
Thomas: “I’m sorry. I’ll help more around the house.”
Now listen to the conversation without interruption.
In this sentence, Joe uses ante up to mean that Thomas needs to start helping with the housework. A similar idiom is to up the ante, which means “to raise the stakes/to raise the bet.” In poker, when people up the ante, they bet more money than the person before them. This is used similarly in everyday conversation, when someone raises a bet or agrees to do more.
“Susan agreed to type up the group report, but Billy upped the ante when he said he’d type, print and deliver the report to Professor Stephens.”
“I wanted to place a $10 bet on the soccer match, but Daniel upped the ante and raised the bet to $50.”
24. Break even
This idiom means to neither gain nor lose money.
“The trip to the beach cost me $100, but I almost broke even after winning $90 in a contest.”
25. Break the bank
This idiom means to be very expensive.
“Taking a week-long vacation would break the bank. There’s no way I could afford to do it.”
26. To be closefisted
This idiom is used to describe someone who doesn’t want to spend money, similar to being stingy.
“Carl is so closefisted, he won’t even buy snacks for the Christmas party.”
27. To go Dutch
This idiom means everyone pays for their own meal at a restaurant, or movie or other activity.
“We had a date last night and we went Dutch. I paid for my coffee and she paid for her salad.”
28. Shell out money/to fork over money
This idiom means to pay for something, usually something expensive.
“I wish I didn’t buy that new car now that I’m shelling out $1,000 a month in payments.”
“She had to fork over a lot of money for traffic fines last month.”
29. Midas touch
This idiom means to be able to make money easily. It comes from the story of King Midas, who turned everything he touched into gold.
“Jane really has the Midas touch. Every business she starts becomes very successful.”
30. In the red/In the black
This idiom means to lose more money than you make.
“I’m in the red this month after paying that speeding ticket. I’ll need to find some work over the weekend for extra money.”
The opposite of being in the red is being in the black, which means that you’ve made more money than you spent.
“After working a couple of small jobs over the weekend, I earned an extra $500 and am back in the black.”
31. Receive a kickback
This idiom means to receive money illegally or to receive bribes.
“The police chief was arrested after the news reported he was receiving kickbacks from criminals to ignore certain crimes.”
“The traffic cop receives kickbacks for not writing tickets to politicians.”
32. Living hand to mouth
This idiom means to live without a lot of money.
“The family has been living hand to mouth ever since their father lost his job.”
33. To be loaded
This idiom means to have a lot of money.
“Billy paid his Harvard Law School tuition with cash. His family is loaded.”
34. Make ends meet
This idiom means to make the money needed to pay for food and bills.
“I don’t make much from my job as a cashier, but I’m able to make ends meet. I always have enough money for rent and groceries.”
35. As genuine as a three-dollar bill
This is an American idiom used sarcastically to mean that something’s fake. When something’s genuine, that means it’s real. But the U.S. never made three-dollar bills, which means that there’s no such thing as a genuine three-dollar bill. For example, the Louvre Museum in Paris has the genuine Mona Lisa. If your school has a picture of the Mona Lisa hanging in the art room, it’s not genuine. It’s a copy. That means your school’s copy of the Mona Lisa is as genuine as a three-dollar bill.
“That man tried to sell me a Lamborghini from 1953. He said it was the first Lamborghini model ever made but the company didn’t exist until 10 years later. His car was as genuine as a three-dollar bill.”
Body Part Idioms in English
36. Rule of thumb
Can thumbs rule or can you literally rule a thumb? If you think about it logically, it means absolutely nothing and makes no sense. However, if you hear someone say as a rule of thumb, they mean that it’s a general unwritten rule for whatever they’re talking about. These rules of thumb are not based on science or research, and are instead just general principles. For example, there’s no written scientific rule that you must add oil to boiling water when cooking pasta, but it’s a rule of thumb and is practiced by most people so the pasta won’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
“As a rule of thumb you should always pay for your date’s dinner.”
“Why? There’s no rule stating that!”
“Yes, but it’s what all gentlemen do.”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
37. Keep your chin up
Did you just have a massive fight with your friend? Did you fail your English finals? Did your team lose the final match? Did you lose your job? If you answered “yes” to any of the questions, then you’re probably feeling sad and a little depressed, right? In this situation, a supportive friend might tell you to keep your chin up. When they tell you this, they’re showing their support for you, and it’s a way of saying, “Stay strong, you’ll get through this. Don’t let these things affect you too badly.”
“Hey, Ken, have you had any luck finding work yet?”
“No, nothing, it’s really depressing, there’s nothing out there!”
“Don’t worry, you’ll find something soon, keep your chin up buddy and don’t stress.”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
38. Find your feet
Is it possible to lose your feet? No way, they’re attached to your body! So what does it mean when somebody says they’re trying to find their feet? If you find yourself in a new situation, for example living in a new country and having to get used to a new college, you could say I’m still finding my feet. It means that you’re still adjusting and getting used to the new environment.
“Lee, how’s your son doing in America?”
“He’s doing okay. He’s learned where the college is but is still finding his feet with everything else. I guess it’ll take time for him to get used to it all.”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
Food Idioms
39. Spice things up
To spice things up means to make them more interesting or exciting.
“Instead of just buying Sam a birthday gift, let’s spice things up by taking him out for dinner.”
40. A piece of cake
A piece of cake refers to a task or job that’s easy to complete or accomplish.
“I expected the English test to be difficult but it was a piece of cake.”
41. Cool as a cucumber
Cucumbers have a refreshing taste and leave you with a cool, calm feeling. So if you’re cool as a cucumber, you’re someone who’s very calm and relaxed.
“My friend is nervous about taking his driving test but I’m cool as a cucumber.”
42. A couch potato
A couch potato refers to someone who spends a lot of time sitting on the couch watching TV.
“After my uncle retired from his job, he became a couch potato.”
43. Bring home the bacon
To bring home the bacon means to make an income or earn a living to support your family.
“Ever since her father was injured, she’s been working two jobs to bring home the bacon.”
44. In hot water
When someone is in hot water, they’re in a bad situation or serious trouble.
“My brother is in hot water for failing all his college classes.”
45. Compare apples and oranges
Apples are very different from oranges both in looks and taste. It’s hard to compare two things that are so unlike each other. So then, to compare apples and oranges is to compare two very different things.
“I’m not sure which I enjoy more—pottery or dancing. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.”
46. Not one’s cup of tea
If something is not your cup of tea, it’s an activity you have no interest in, don’t enjoy or don’t do well in.
“Camping is really not my cup of tea so I’m going to visit my friend in New York instead.”
47. Eat like a bird
How much does a bird eat? Not very much, right? So to eat like a bird is to eat very little.
“Don’t trouble yourself cooking such a big meal. I eat like a bird.”
48. Eat like a horse
Now, a horse is much bigger than a bird. So how much do you think a horse eats? That’s right, to eat like a horse is to eat a large amount of food.
“My mother has to cook a lot of food when my brother comes to visit. He eats like a horse.”
49. Butter [someone] up
To butter someone up is to please or flatter someone in order to win his or her favor. This is a separable phrase and may be used in the format butter [someone] up or butter up [someone]. When a phrasal verb is separable, it means you can separate the two words and put the direct object in the middle. If it is inseparable, then you can't do this.
“Everyone seems to be trying to butter up the new boss hoping to become her favorite.”
50. Food for thought
Food for thought refers to something that’s worth thinking carefully about.
“Moving to another state is food for thought for many of those affected by the recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida.”
51. A smart cookie
Here’s an easy one. A smart cookie means they are an intelligent person.
“It shouldn’t be too hard for a smart cookie like you to learn Spanish.”
52. Packed like sardines
What do you see when you open up a can of sardines? Yes, the fish crammed inside the can. So packed like sardines describes a place or situation that’s very crowded with people (or animals)—for example, a concert hall or sports event.
“Were you at the football game last night? The stadium was packed like sardines.”
53. Spill the beans
You accidentally knock over a bowl of beans and they all spill out. Think of this image and you’ll remember that spill the beans means to accidentally or prematurely give out information that’s supposed to be kept secret.
“We were planning a surprise birthday party for Joyce this weekend. But this morning, Owen spilled the beans and now it’s no longer a surprise.”
54. A bad apple
Imagine a basket of apples with one rotten apple inside. This picture will help you remember that a bad apple is someone who creates problems or trouble, or is a bad influence on the other people in a group.
“Instead of focusing on college, he spends his time hanging out with bad apples.”
55. Bread and butter
Bread and butter is a basic food that many of us eat. So the idiom bread and butter refers to a job that makes the money you need to live and afford basic necessities like food, housing, etc.
“Fishing is the bread and butter of the friendly people I met on the island last summer.”
56. Buy a lemon
To buy a lemon means to buy something (usually a motor vehicle) that doesn’t work well and is therefore worthless.
“The car looked so new and shiny I had no way of knowing I was buying a lemon.”
57. A hard nut to crack
Is it easy to crack open a nut? Not always. Well, a hard nut to crack refers to a person who’s difficult to deal with or to get to know.
“I tried to be friendly with her but I was told she’s a hard nut to crack.”
58. Have a sweet tooth
Do you like eating cakes, candy and other sweet-tasting food? If you do, then you can say you have a sweet tooth.
“Yes, I definitely have a sweet tooth. I can never walk past a bakery and not stop to buy myself a slice of chocolate cake.”
Nature Idioms
59. Under the weather
Can you be under the weather literally? Probably yes, if you think about standing under the clouds, rain and sun, but it makes no sense. If you’re feeling under the weather, you’re not your usual self and could be feeling a little sick. The sick feeling is nothing serious, perhaps it’s just extreme tiredness from studying too much, or having a bad headache because you’re starting to get the flu.
“What’s wrong with Katy, mom?”
“She’s feeling a little under the weather so be quiet and let her rest.”
Now listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
60. A storm is brewing
There will be trouble or emotional upset in the near future.
“She decided to go ahead with their wedding, even though all they’ve been doing lately is arguing. I can sense a storm is brewing.”
61. Calm before the storm
An unusually quiet period before a period of upheaval (problems, chaos).
“The strange quietness in town made her feel peaceful. Little did she know, it was just the calm before the storm.”
62. Weather a storm
To survive a dangerous event or effectively deal with a difficult situation.
“Last year, they had some financial difficulties when her husband was fired. Together, they weathered the storm and figured out how to keep going.”
63. When it rains, it pours
Bad things occur in large numbers, but many big things happen all at once.
“First he was laid off, then his wife got into a car accident. When it rains, it pours.“
64. Chasing rainbows
Following dreams, trying to do something that can’t be achieved.
“His paintings have neither style nor imagination, but he insists on being a professional painter. He’s always chasing rainbows.”
65. Rain or shine
Used to indicate that something will happen no matter what. This is one of the rare idioms that’s also often used literally, for outdoor events that’ll take place whether it rains or not.
“I’ll see you at the airport, rain or shine.”
66. Under the sun
Refers to everything on Earth, usually used as part of a superlative.
“Tahiti must be one of the most beautiful islands under the sun.”
67. Once in a blue moon
This means very rarely.
“He used to call his grandma once in a blue moon. Now that she has passed away, he regrets not making more of an effort to keep in touch.”
68. Every cloud has a silver lining
Thus means there’s a good aspect to every bad situation.
“Don’t worry about losing your job. It’ll be okay. Every cloud has a silver lining!“
69. A rising tide lifts all boats
This means, for example, when an economy is performing well, all of the people involved will benefit from it.
“When the economy showed the first signs of recovering, everyone started investing and spending more. A rising tide lifts all boats.“
70. Get into deep water
To be in trouble. Very similar to the idiom in hot water that we discussed above.
“He got into deep water when he borrowed a lot of money from a loan shark.”
71. Pour oil on troubled waters
To try to make people feel better and become friendly again after an argument. This expression comes from the calming effect that oil has on waves as it spreads over the surface of the sea.With the ecological disasters following big oil spillage in recent years, some people might now think of this phrase rather differently compared to its original meaning, but it’s still interesting to know about.
“She hated seeing her two best friends arguing, so she got them together and poured oil on troubled waters.”
72. Make waves
To cause trouble, to change things in a dramatic way.
“She likes to make waves with her creative marketing campaigns. They get a lot of attention from customers.”
73. Go with the flow
This means to relax and go along with whatever’s happening.
“Quite often in life, good things happen when you don’t make plans. Just go with the flow and see what happens!”
74. Lost at sea
This means to be confused about something or to feel unsure about what to do.
“I am lost at sea with this new system at work. I just can’t understand it.”
75. Sail close to the wind
This means to act just within the limits of what’s legal or socially acceptable, to push boundaries.
“They fired their accountant because he sailed too close to the wind.”
76. Make a mountain out of a molehill
This means to exaggerate the severity of a situation.
“She shouted at him angrily for being five minutes late, but it really didn’t matter that much. She really made a mountain out of a molehill.”
77. Gain ground
This means to become popular, to make progress, to advance.
“As Airbnb gains ground in many cities all over the world, many locals complain that they can no longer find a place to live. Landlords would rather rent places out to tourists and earn more money.”
78. Walking on air
This means to be very excited or happy. “Over the moon,” “on cloud nine,” “in seventh heaven” and “in good spirits” are a few more advanced English expressions you can use to talk about happiness.
“She’s been walking on air since she found out that she’s pregnant.”
79. Many moons ago
This is one of those English expressions that’s a little bit formal or dated. You’ll most likely hear it in stories, or when someone is trying to create a dramatic effect.
“Many moons ago, we used to be two very close friends. Now we’ve gone separate ways and lost contact.”
80. Castle in the sky
This idiom refers to a daydream, a hope, especially for one’s life, that’s unlikely to come true.
“World traveling used to be a castle in the sky for most people a few decades ago, but with cheap flight tickets and the global use of English, many youngsters are living that dream.”
81. Down to earth
This idiom means to be practical and sensible.
“It’s a stereotype, but Dutch people are known for being down to earth.”
82. Salt of the earth
This idiom means being honest and good.
“My father is the salt of the earth. He works hard and always helps people who are in need.”
83. The tip of the iceberg
This idiom means to be just a small part of something much bigger.
“Exceptionally long drought periods are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the global impact of climate change.”
84. Break the ice
This idiom refers to attempting to become friends with someone.
“He made a weather joke to break the ice.”
85. Sell ice to Eskimos
This idiom means to be able to sell anything to anyone; to persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous. The word Eskimo refers to indigenous people who live in very cold, snowy regions—they don’t need any ice! If you can sell ice to them, you can sell anything to anyone. While it’s important to recognize common idioms like this one, be aware that the word Eskimo is considered derogatory (rude; prejudiced) by many people.
“He’s a gifted salesman, he could sell ice to Eskimos.”
86. Bury your head in the sand
This idiom means to (try to) avoid a particular situation by pretending that it doesn’t exist.
“Stop burying your head in the sand. You haven’t been happy with him for years, why are you staying together?”
87. Let the dust settle
This idiom means to allow a situation to become calm or normal again after something exciting or unusual has happened.
“You just had big news yesterday, let the dust settle and don’t make any decisions yet.”
88. Clear as mud
This idiom means that something is not clear at all, not easy to understand.“
“He’s a great scientist, but I find his explanation of bacteria and microbes as clear as mud.”
89. As cold as stone
This means being very cold and unemotional.
“In the Victorian times, many women were told to suppress their feelings and, thus, appeared as cold as stone.”
90. Between a rock and a hard place
This means to be in difficulty, or faced with a choice between two unsatisfactory options.
“I can understand why she couldn’t make up her mind about what to do. She’s really between a rock and a hard place.”
Other English expressions with a similar meaning are:
the lesser of two evils
between the devil and the deep blue sea
Hobson’s choice
91. Nip something in the bud
This means to stop a bad situation from becoming worse by taking action at an early stage of its development.
“When the kid shows the first signs of misbehaving, you should nip that bad behavior in the bud.”
92. Barking up the wrong tree
This means doing something that won’t give you the results you want.
“If you think she’s going to lend you money, you’re barking up the wrong tree. She never lends anyone anything.”
93. Out of the woods
This means the situation is still difficult but it’s improved or gotten easier, or the hardest part of something is over.
“The surgery went very well and he just needs to recover now, so he’s officially out of the woods.”
94. Can’t see the forest for the trees
This means to be unable to see the whole situation clearly because you’re looking too closely at small details.
“He’s worried because the flowers haven’t all arrived, but everyone says the wedding has been perfect and beautiful. He just can’t see the forest for the trees.”
95. To hold out an olive branch
This means to offer to make peace (with a rival or enemy).
“After years of rivalry with her cousin, she decided to hold out an olive branch and go have fun together.”
96. Beat around the bush
This means to spend a long time getting to the main point of what you’re saying, especially because it’s embarrassing.
“I don’t have much time, so stop beating around the bush and tell me what actually happened.”
Section 2
Exercise
The following dialogues are samples of idiom-filled conversations between a doctor and patient:
Doctor: “Well, I see you're still alive and kicking.”
Patient: “Pardon me, sir? I am not kicking anyone!”
Doctor: “Just out of curiosity, does hypertension run in your family?”
Patient: “I don't have any family members named 'hypertension,' and we certainly don't run.”
Doctor: “Very well. You're fit as a fiddle!”
Patient: “What does a fiddle have to do with anything?”
