In this part of our Legal English lesson (related to Environmental Law) we tackle the topic of Idioms; particularly, idioms on "Animals".

1. IDIOMS
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. ANIMAL IDIOMS.
SEMINARIO DE INGLES JURIDICO I, II Y III.
UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CUYO SEDE SAN
LUIS.
ADELA PEREZ DEL VISO.
2020 setiembre.

2. IDIOMS

3. IDIOMS ARE ONE TYPE OF FORMULAIC
EXPRESSIONS.
Idioms are fixed combinations of words, whose
meaning is often difficult to guess from the
meaning of EACH INDIVIDUAL WORD.
Ex: “I PUT MY FOOT IN IT the other day, at
Linda´s house. I asked her if she was going to
marry Simon”.
It has a non-literal or idiomatic meaning.
-----------------------------------------
Idioms are often based on everyday things and
ideas. For example, the human body:
“Mark and Alice don´t see eye-to eye. “
(do not agree with each other).

4. HOW CAN I USE IDIOMS?
MANY IDIOMS ARE QUITE INFORMAL, SO USE THEM CAREFULLY.
You Will need to understand a lot of idioms if you want to read English
fiction, newspapers or magazines, or understand TV shows and songs.
People use idioms for humour or to comment on themselves, other people
or situations
You Will sound more natural and fluent if you can use idioms in everyday
conversation or informal writing.
Be careful not to use too many, though!
Mind the Word order of idioms,which is FIXED, usually. Ex: Idiom: “safe
and sound”. It is not “sound and safe”.

5. IDIOMS ON NATURE AND ANIMALS…
TREVOR AND SUE ARE SO ARROGANT…
Yes. They think they´re the cat´s whiskers
(better than everyone else)
THIS COVID SITUATION IS SO UNFAIR!!
I know! It´s a dog´s life !!
(hard and unpleasant life)
I Will not use the car, but I don´t want you to use it either.
DON´T BE SUCH A DOG IN THE MANGER !

6. IDIOMS ON NATURE AND ANIMALS…
FLOG A DEAD HORSE (HORRIBLE!)
You´re flogging a dead horse, trying to persuade Kim to move
house again.
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE´S MOUTH.
I know Juan is going to work in Moskow!
I got it straight from the horse´s mouth!
UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME:
YOU CAN ARGUE UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME, but I Will
never agree! (“for ever”)

7. WHEN PIGS FLY…
• "When pigs fly" is a way of saying that
something will never happen.

8. WHEN PIGS FLY…
The idiom is apparently derived from a centuries-old Scottish
proverb, though some other references to pigs flying or pigs with
wings are more famous.
At least one appears in the works of Lewis Carroll:
"Thinking again?" the Duchess asked, with another dig of her sharp
little chin.
"I've a right to think," said Alice sharply, for she was beginning to feel
a little worried.
"Just about as much right," said the Duchess, "as pigs have to fly ..."
— Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 9.[5]

9. When pigs fly…
• Definición de when pigs fly
• when pigs fly
• If you say 'when pigs fly' after someone has said
that something might happen, you
are emphasizing that you think it is very unlikely.
• [humorous, informal, emphasis]When would they be
hired again? Perhaps, as the saying goes, when
pigs fly.

10. EXERCISES.
a) She thinks she looks really good in that new
dress, doesn´t she?
Yes! She thinks ………………………………………..
b) Things are pretty hard for you at the momento, I
guess. Yes! It´s ……………………………………..
c) Her husband is so, so selfish! He never shares
anything…
Yes! He has a real ……………………………………………..

11. EXERCISES.
a) He ´s flogging a dead ……………….., trying to
revive that old idea.
b) Luc Will argue with you about that, until the
………………………………come home.
REPLACE:
a) I hate your neighbours´selfish attitude …
b) We can discuss it for a very long time.
c) Sally Will never pass the exam.
d) I really Heard the story from a Witness. I know it
directly

12. IDIOMS

13. THANK YOU !!
Questions??
adelamperezdelviso@gmail.com
September 2020.
Universidad Católica de Cuyo. S L