Idioms & phrases

2. • Idioms were coined to communicate a specific and usually
quite precise meaning for which there is no exact word. The
clever or creative ones tend to be memorable, and what’s
memorable gets repeated in meme-like fashion.
• Every language has its own idioms and expression and the
English language has plenty of phrases that is useful to learn.
• Idioms are words or phrases that aren’t meant to be taken
literally and usually have a cultural meaning behind them.
• Most of the English idioms you hear are offering advice’s but
also contain some underlying principles and values.
• Phrases are a group of words that work together to
communicate an element of speech. They are
very important because they allow you to communicate
better, through both written and spoken language.

3. • As you’ve probably noticed idioms help us express the exact
same idea in a more efficient and creative way. And let’s not
forget that idioms are not just a shorter way to say the same
thing, they truly enrich our language , usually they add
concise precision that alternative wording doesn’t have.
Sometimes they’re the only expression for that exact idea.

4. • The meaning of an idiom
generally depends on the
specific context in which it
is used. When someone in
America tells you to ‘break a
leg’, for example, they aren’t
saying that in a literal sense,
but instead are wishing you
good luck, usually before a
performance. Similarly, if
someone asks you to ‘think
outside the box’, they mean
that you should use a
different approach than
what you might normally do.

5. • You may encounter idioms most often in spoken or written
conversation. Idioms can help improve your conversational
skills because it shows native speakers that you understand the
cultural meaning and context behind the idiom you’re using.
This can help you feel more comfortable and confident with your
conversational abilities the more you practice it during
your English language learning courses.
• Native speakers often use idioms more than someone who is
new to the language, simply because they are more familiar
with them and know the context in which they should be
used. Therefore, when you use an idiom, you sound more like
a native speaker.
•

6. • ‘When pigs fly’ – something that will never happen.
“When pigs fly she’ll tidy up her room.”

7. • ‘You can’t judge a book
by its cover’ – to not
judge someone or
something based solely
on appearance.
“I thought this no-
brand bread would be
horrible; turns out you
can’t judge a book by
its cover.”

8. • – this means that the person you’re just talking
about actually appears at that moment.
“Hi Tom, speak of the devil, I was just telling
Sara about your new car.”

9. • If your heart is
in your mouth,
you feel very
excited, worried
or frightened.
• My heart was in
my mouth when I
walked into her
office

10. • . To miss an opportunity
• Example: He waited far too long to get a good deal.
Most good ones are gone now. He missed the boat.

11. • If you’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea,
you’re caught between two undesirable alternatives.
• Example: If you support your son, your business partner will
be hurt, and vice versa. You’re caught between the devil and
the deep blue sea.

12. • If you say that someone
or something is not your
cup of tea, you mean that
they’re not the kind of
person or thing you like.
• Example: Sales is not my
cup of tea.

13. • – to solve two problems at once.
“By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds
with one stone. I got to go away but also spend
time with him.”

14. • If you’re like a fish out of water in certain situation,
you feel awkward because you haven’t experienced
that situation before.
• Example: I was like fish out of water when I moved
to the capital from my hometown.

15. • Like a cat on hot tin
roof
-. In an uneasy or
nervous state
• Example: Waiting for
the result of my
medical tests, I was
like a cat on hot tin
roof.

16. • . To harm one’s own
cause inadvertently
• Example: He shot
himself in the foot in
the interview by
disclosing too much
personal information.

17. • To destroy something that gives you lot of money
to get immediate returns
• Example: Thomas killed the goose that laid the
golden eggs when he sold off his business before
setting up another.

18. • On top of the world -Extremely happy
• Example: I was on top of the world after landing the
job I so badly wanted.

19. • ‘– to describe exactly what is causing a situation or
problem.
“He hit the nail on the head when he said this
company needs more HR support.”

20. • Make a fresh beginning
forgetting what
happened, usually bad,
in the past
• Example: Relations
have not been great
between the two
countries, but it’s time
to start from a clean
slate.

21. • If you wash your dirty
linen in public, you
discuss those matters
in public which should
have been kept private.
• Example: The two
brothers went public
accusing each other of
fraud, washing dirty
linen in the public in
the process.

22. • 1 – “HANG IN THERE.”
• If someone is having difficulties or experiencing a bad situation, telling them to hang in
there means “keep trying; don’t give up; be patient and things will eventually get better.”
• #2 – “MY NEW JOB ROCKS! / RULES!”
• Saying something rocks or rules means it’s really great, awesome, wonderful.
• #3 – “THE NEW TECHNOLOGY BLEW ME AWAY.”
• If something blows you away, it means it completely amazed you. Another way to say it
is “I was blown away by the new technology.”
• #4 – “I MISSED THE BOAT ON THAT ONE.”
• If you miss the boat, it means you are too late to get an opportunity, so you lose the
chance to participate.
• #5 – “WE GOT OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.”
• To get off on the wrong foot means to start something in a bad way. It is often used
when two people meet for the first time and have some sort of misunderstanding or
disagreement, or their first impression of each other was not a nice one.

23. • #6 – “EVERYBODY WAS FREAKING OUT.”
• To freak out means to panic or become very upset or agitated.
• #7 – “I HAVEN’T DONE THIS IN A LONG TIME. I’M RUSTY.”
• You can say you’re rusty when you used to have good skills or ability to do
something, but you haven’t done this activity in a long time. Now you’re not
as good at it, because you are out of practice.
• #8 – “THINGS ARE STILL UP IN THE AIR.”
• The expression up in the air means that plans are still undecided or
uncertain; nothing is confirmed.
• #9 – “WE ALL HAVE TO PITCH IN.”
• To pitch in means to join an effort and help with something, usually a project
that has multiple people working on it.
• #10 – “I’M BEAT. TIME TO HIT THE SACK.”
• Saying you are beat is a slang way to say you’re tired, and hit the
sack means to go to bed

24. • 1. My friend, quite shy, was like _____ in the party.
• A. Shooting from the hip
• B. A fish out of water
• C. A white elephant
• D. A bolt from the blue
• 2. The applicant _____ by contacting the admissions team too
often.
• A. Shot from the hip
• B. Called a spade a spade
• C. Belled the cat
• D. Shot himself in the foot

25. • 3. He was _____ after standing first in his school in class 12
exam.
• A. On top of the world
• B. Off the mark
• C. Extremely happy
• D. Like a cat on hot tin roof
• 4. The two friends fell out of each other and _____.
• A. Washed their dirty linen in the public
• B. Threw up their hands
• C. Indulged in wild-goose chase
• D. Had their work cut out

26. • 5) I can’t afford this purse! It _______. I won’t be
able to pay my rent!
6) His birthday was supposed to be a surprise! I
can’t believe you _____. Now he knows!
7) Ha! John has been promising to paint the house
for five years…. Maybe when _______.
8) Yeah, it’ll _______. I need to sign some papers at
Jenny’s school anyway so i’ll pick her up for you
too.

27. • 1 B. A fish out of water
• 2 D. Shot himself in the foot
• 3 A On top of the world
• 4 . A Washed their dirty linen in the public
• 5 ‘To cost an arm and a leg’– something is very expensive.
“Fuel these days costs and arm and a leg.”
• 6. ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ – to accidentally reveal a secret.
“I let the cat out of the bag about their wedding plans.”
• 7. ‘When pigs fly’ – something that will never happen.
“When pigs fly she’ll tidy up her room.”
• 8. ‘To kill two birds with one stone’ – to solve two problems at once.
“By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got
to go away but also spend time with him.”