Here are some C and D idioms that can be used in academic writing and may be seen in academic texts. Brief practice included. Created by Coleman's Classroom.

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Academic Idioms

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Cast Pearls Before Swine
Give something
precious to the
unappreciative
Comes from the Christian
Bible, Matthew 7:16

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Champ at the Bit
To be impatient
Comes from horses not liking
their bridle bits.

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Choice of Rotten Apples
Have few or
no good choices
Comes from Shakespeare’s
Taming of the Shrew

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Creature Comforts
Luxurious
Possessions
Phrase originated in the 1600s.

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Crocodile Tears
Fake sympathy or grief
for nefarious reasons
Comes from a story about a
crocodile using tears to trap
and then eat the unwary.

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Damn with Faint Praise
Shallow Praise so weak it’s not
really praise at all
Comes from Greek Philosophers

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Dead in the Water
Not Going
Anywhere
Comes from sailing when boat
can’t move from lack of wind.

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Doubting Thomas
Habitual Disbeliever
Comes from Christian Bible, John
20:24-29

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Acting as Devil’s Advocate
Taking the opposite
side of a position
for the sake of argument
Comes from Catholic Church

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Let’s Practice
incorrect correct

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Sometimes I act as a devil’s
advocate in class so my
students can understand
another side of the issue.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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Sometimes I act as a devil’s
advocate in class so my
students can understand
another side of the issue.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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When you give out all
your personal details
online, you are casting
your pearls before
swine.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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When you give out all
your personal details
online, you are casting
your pearls before
swine.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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She believes everything she
reads on the Internet is true.
She is such a Doubting Thomas!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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She believes
everything she reads on
the Internet is true.
She is such a Doubting
Thomas!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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She believes nothing
she reads on the
Internet is true. She
is such a Doubting
Thomas!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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Don’t believe his crocodile
tears about letting you
go. He is only concerned
with his own bottom line.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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Don’t believe his crocodile
tears about letting you
go. He is only concerned
with his own bottom line.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I am making such progress
with my new book so far
this year! I am really dead
in the water right now.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I am making such progress
with my new book so far
this year! I am really dead
in the water right now.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I am making such little
progress with my new book
so far this year! I am really
dead in the water right
now.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I forgot my paper was due
this morning! I can either
not submit it or turn in a
terrible draft. What a
choice of rotten apples!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I forgot my paper was
due this morning! I can
either not submit it or
turn in a terrible draft.
What a choice of rotten
apples!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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My boss just gave me the best
compliment. She is really
damming me with faint praise
right now. I am surely going to
get that promotion!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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My boss just gave me the
best compliment. She is
really damming me with
faint praise right now. I am
surely going to get that
promotion!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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My boss just gave me the
lamest compliment. She is
really damming me with
faint praise right now. I am
never going to get that
promotion!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I can’t save any money
because I like my
creature comforts too
much!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I can’t save any money
because I like my
creature comforts too
much!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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My students enjoy writing
so much that they are
always champing at the bit
to leave class.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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My students enjoy writing
so much that they are
always champing at the bit
to leave class.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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My students enjoy writing
so much that they are never
champing at the bit to leave
class.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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