ENGLISH IDIOMS

1. What did you get up to at the weekend?
Idiom: to get up to
Means: to do
Use: to ask about activities
Circumstances: Usually used to ask about the things someone did in a time period – at
the weekend, at work today
Note: The subject is nearly always a person or group of people. This form is mainly
used in questions. When replying to the question it is common to list the things you did
– often using the simple past and adding your opinion as to how much you liked or
disliked what you did.
A negative reply is possible and ‘much’ can be used: ‘I didn’t get up to much.’
Some examples:
A) What did you get up to at the weekend? B) We went skiing in the mountains. Had a
great time too.
A) What did they get up to on holiday? B) Sounds as though they had a terrible time. It
rained the whole two weeks.
Your turn:
Think about some people you know:
Ask yourself this question: What did (Person) get up to at the weekend? eg What did
Mario get up to at the weekend?
You could write the replies. Then think of another four people you could ask.
Advanced usage: I hope to be getting up to a lot this weekend. We’ve got some friends
coming to stay.
I have got a lot on at the moment.
Idiom: to have a lot on
Means: to be very busy, to have lots to do

2. Use: to refer busy periods, parts of the day or month, etc
Circumstances: To indicate that someone is busy at this time
Note: The subject is nearly always a person or group of people, often used with ‘at the
moment.’ A negative form is possible and ‘not much’ can be used: ‘I haven’t got
much/a lot on at the moment’
Some examples:
I’m sorry, I can’t come on Tuesday. I’ve got a lot on that day. How about Wednesday?
James hasn’t got much on at the moment. He is waiting for the new project to start.
Your turn:
Think about some people you know:
(name of person) is has got a lot on. He’s (what – verb)+(when)
Think of another four examples.
When someone says he/she has a lot on, be patient with them!
I haven’t got much on at the moment. July is always a quiet time for me.
July 20, 2006 at 12:05 pm Leave a comment
I have got a lot in the pipeline.
Idiom: to be in the pipeline, to have (got) something in the pipeline
Means: being prepared, being worked on but not ready yet
Use: A business idiom used to refer to projects or plans for events or things that are not
ready yet
Circumstances: To indicate that you have plans or are planning something
Note: When used with ‘to be’ – the expression is often a confirmation ‘Yes, it is in the
pipeline’. ‘It’ refers to the thing being prepared which was mentioned by the person
asking a question.
Some examples:

3. We have lots of interesting products in the pipeline. At least one will be launched this
winter.
Are you going to add a small business consultancy service? – Yes, it’s in the pipeline.
We will make an announcement shortly.
Your turn:
Think about your company or the government’s plans:
(name of company/the government) has lots of plans in the pipeline. It’s going to
(what)+(when)
Think of another four examples.
This blog has many more examples of idioms in the pipeline!
July 20, 2006 at 11:34 am Leave a comment
Are you on the ball?
Idiom: to be on the ball
Means: to be familiar with something, up to date, in control
Use: to refer to people and their level of knowledge and capacity to react to situations
Circumstances: To indicate that someone knows a lot about a subject
Note: This expression is often a compliment and implies that someone is intelligent and
efficient. Often used with ‘really’.
Some examples:
Don’t worry, John’s really on the ball. He’ll sort out the problems very quickly.
Maria’s not really on the ball. She keeps on making too many silly mistakes.
Your turn:
Think about some people you know:
(name of person) is really on the ball. He knows lots about…….
Think of another four examples.
When you say someone is on the ball, you can explain what they know about or how
quickly they will act.

4. ‘On the ball’ is actually a sports expression, from football I believe. If someone is on
the ball in a sport, they are in control.
June 29, 2006 at 12:23 pm 1 comment
Are you dead against smoking?
Idiom: to be dead against something
Means: to be disagree with an idea
Use: to refer to ideas and activities
Circumstances: When you disagree with an idea in a meeting or a discussion
Note: this expression expresses strong disagreement
Some examples:
I'm dead against lowering our prices. Our margins are already too low.
The boss is dead against employing another programmer. He thinks we have too many.
Your turn:
Think about some situations at work or in your country:
(name of person) is dead against……….. beacause……….
Think of another four examples.
When you are dead against something, say why and give some alternatives.
June 13, 2006 at 11:42 am 1 comment
You are dead right! Idioms are difficult.
Idiom: to be dead right

5. Means: 100% correct
Use: to agree with people.
Circumstances: Informal. Used in meetings, discussions and general conversation
Note: the opposite of dead right can be dead wrong
Some examples:
You are dead right about his idea. It just will not work.
He is dead right. Our products are not competitive.
Your turn:
Think about situations.
(name of person) is dead right about………….. Explain why.
Think of another four examples.
You cannot be dead right all the time!
June 13, 2006 at 11:41 am 4 comments
Is your head in the clouds?
Idiom: someone's head is in the clouds
Means: a person is always having unrealisitic ideas and thoughts
Use: to refer to people's characters
Circumstances: It is not a compliment and is used when you talk about someone you
know
Note: the opposite of down to earth Often used with 'have' – to have your head in the
clouds.
Some examples:
John's head is in the clouds again. He's talking about winning the lottery.
Tom has his head in the clouds. The client will never accept Tom's proposal.

6. Your turn:
Think about some people you know and complete this sentence:
(name of person) head is in the clouds. Explain why.
Think of another four examples.
It's is better to be down to earth than to have your head in the clouds!
June 6, 2006 at 12:03 pm 11 comments
Are you down to earth?
Idiom: to be down to earth
Means: to be balanced and reasonable
Use: to refer to people's characters
Circumstances: It is often a compliment used when you talk about someone you know
Note: Often used with 'very'. Can be used as an adjective – She's a very down to earth
person.
Some examples:
Let's speak to Sally about this. She is very down to earth, so she will give us a good
answer.
Tom is not very down to earth. He's always having silly ideas.
Your turn:
Think about some people you know and complete this sentence:
(name of person) is (not) very down to earth.
Think of another four examples.
It's is better to be down to earth than to have your head in the clouds!
June 6, 2006 at 8:40 am 1 comment

7. Are you too big for your boots?
Idiom: to be too big for your boots
Means: to be arrogant
Use: to refer to arrogant people
Circumstances: Someone is acting arrogantly and you are annoyed.
Note: Often used with 'to be getting' or 'has got'
Some examples:
That customer is getting too big for his boots. He wants everything now. Someone
should tell him that is his not our only customer.
Jim has got too big for his boots. It's that promotion he got last month. He's acting like
he's a king.
Your turn:
Think about some people you know and complete this sentence:
(name of person) is getting to big for his boots. – Say why or what caused this.
Think of another four examples.
Now, if you want, use the comments system to write some of your own examples and
I'll tell you if they are OK or not.
I hope I don't get too big for my boots as a result of all the great feedback you are all
going to give me!
June 6, 2006 at 8:30 am 3 comments
I’m in your good books

8. Idiom: to be in someone's good/bad books
Means: to be popular or unpopular with someone
Use: to refer to temporary situations
Circumstances: Someone or you has done something good or bad. This makes another
person feel good or bad about you.
Note: Often used with 'at the moment'
Some examples:
I'm in my wife's good books at the moment. I bought her a new car last Saturday. It's a
sports car and she has always wanted something sporty.
Jim's in the boss's bad books at the moment. He lost one of the company's most
important clients.
Your turn:
Think about you and complete this sentence:
I'm in _________'s (name of a person) good/bad books at the moment because I ______
Think of another four examples.
Now complete this:
(name of a person) is in my good/bad books at the moment. He/she
_________________
Think of another four examples.
Now, if you want, use the comments system to write some of your own examples and
I'll tell you if they are OK or not.
I hope I'm in your good books now!