2. WHAT IS AN IDIOM?
An idiom is a common word or phrase with a culturally
understood meaning that differs from what its composite words'
denotations would suggest. For example, an english speaker would
understand the phrase "kick the bucket" to mean "to die" – and also to
actually kick a bucket
Prepared by: Marites B.
Villamayor
3. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
•Let’s understand John’s story by
understanding the meaning of the idioms
used.
•Try to give your own interpretation.
4. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
John is an incredibly accomplished and successful
businessman. As such, he is quite popular as a mentor. He
enjoys showing young professionals the ropes.
show someone the ropes= to explain and show by
example how something is done
properly
5. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
The first thing he says is that his career has certainly
not always been smooth sailing.
smooth sailing = an easy life with no problem
6. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
In fact, he learned a number of lessons
along the way. "First and foremost," John said
"don't believe that success is ever mana from
heaven."
mana from heaven = surprise riches
7. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
He said that everyone he had met had a
similar rags to riches story, and that a lot of
hard work had gone into the success.
from rags to riches
= from poor to rich
8. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
"If you have too many irons in the fire, you'll
certainly miss out on real opportunity" he
continued.
have too many irons in the fire= to do too many things
9. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
"I've seen people as busy as a bee who never
really seem to do anything" he pointed out. The
more I thought about this advice, the more I
understood what he was saying.
as busy as a bee = very busy (also busy as a
beaver)
10. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
If you put on your thinking cap, you'll realize that it's
impossible to really concentrate if you have to worry about fifty
different things.
put on one's thinking cap = to concentrate
11. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
Another important lesson was that it's important to know
which side your bread is buttered on
know which side
one's bread is
buttered on
= to understand what is most
important for oneself
12. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
• and make sure to give that activity your full attention. In
other words, you need to ride the gravy train.
ride the gravy
train
= to make money by doing
something that is already proven
to be successful
13. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
• Don't start looking for new challenges if everything is
working out for the best!
work out for the
best
= to end with the best possible
result
14. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
• John stressed that the most important ability of any
successful entrepreneur was to have the presence of mind to
not only take advantage of an opportunity
have the presence of
mind to do something
= to be aware and able to grasp
an opportunity
15. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
• but also to keep your eye on the ball.
keep one's eye on
the ball
= to concentrate and continue
doing well
16. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
• Some people are quick on the uptake, but then they get
bored.
quick on the uptake = to understand very quickly
17. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
• It's important to be consistent, but not spread yourself
too thin.
spread oneself too
thin
= to do too many things
18. JOHN’S KEY TO SUCCESS
• Finally, make sure to never show your hand to your
opponents. In any case, that's how to be successful according
to John.
show one's hand = to show others what
advantages you have in a
situation
19. • smooth sailing = an easy life with no problems
know which side one's bread is buttered on = to understand
what is most important for oneself
ride the gravy train = to make money by doing something that is already
proven to be successful
keep one's eye on the ball = to concentrate and continue doing well
mana from heaven = surprise riches
from rags to riches = from poor to rich
show someone the ropes = to explain and show by example how something
is done properly
as busy as a bee = very busy (also busy as a beaver)
Idioms Used in the Story
Let’s remember.
20. • work out for the best = to end with the best possible result
quick on the uptake = to understand very quickly
have the presence of mind to do something = to be aware
and able to grasp an opportunity
show one's hand = to show others what advantages you have in
a situation
put on one's thinking cap = to concentrate
spread oneself too thin = to do too many things
have too many irons in the fire = to do too many things
Idioms Used in the Story
Let’s remember.
22. 1. My friend is as ________________ these days. He never gets time to
relax.
2. We've been lucky in life. It's been _____________ since the very
beginning.
3. I'm sure the situation will improve. It will _________________.
4. You need to ____________________ for this problem. It requires a lot
of concentration.
5. Alan ___________________ during the negotiations for the business
deal.
6. Franklin went from ________________ in his life. He started with
nothing and ended up a very rich person.
7. Some artists are lucky and have a huge hit early in life. Then they
______________________ for many years afterwards.
8. My boss _________ me ______________ at work because it was my
first week.
24. 1. busy as a bee
2. smooth sailing
3. work out for the best
4. put on your thinking cap
5. showed his hand
6. rags to riches
7. ride the gravy train
8. showed me the ropes
