English, baby!

Idioms!

Date: Jun 07 2007

Lesson

We all know that English speakers use many slangs and idioms in their daily conversation. Some of those expressions we can understand through the context, but there are many cases in which we feel really stupid because we can't understand what they are trying to say. Knowing grammar and vocabulary alone is not enough to make of us fluent speakers, it's good to know some idioms to use in an appropriate situation. That's why I'm writing here some idioms that I learned with their definitions and examples. I hope you enjoy!

1) BITE THE DUST - to fail; to fall to defeat; to die

e.g: No one could believe when Jim bite the dust since he was among the top ten players in the tournament.

2) COUCH POTATO - someone who is not very active and spends a lot of time watching TV

e.g: Many children are becoming couch potatoes from playing video games all day long.

3) DO THE TRICK - to provide what is necessary to get a good result or to have the desired effect

e.g: "A little more salt should do the trick", Mary thought to herself after she tasted the stew she had just cooked for dinner.

4) DRY RUN - a practice or rehearsal of an activity or performance

e.g: In order to make sure everything would go as planned the band decided to make a dry run.

5) GET SOMETHING OFF ONE'S CHEST - to tell someone about something that has been worrying and/or annoying you

e.g: "Why don't you tell me what is bothering you? You will feel a lot better after you get it off your chest." Mick told Jim

6) HEAR THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - to hear news that has been passed from one person to another

e.g: The whole town heard through the grapevine that Melissa was pregnant.

7) IN A NUTSHELL - very briefly; using as few words as possible

e.g: Without long explanations the boss wanted to know the problems, in a nutshell.

8) JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON - to join or to take a popular position or side

e.g: Once the Caribbean became a popular vacation spot, everybody seemed to jump on the bandwagon and want to spend theit vacations there.

9) ONCE IN A BLUE MOON - very rarely; hardly ever

e.g: Harry rrarely visits his in-laes as they live so far away. He only sees them once in a blue moon.

10) ON A SHOESTRING - on a very tight budget

e.g: In order to travel to Europe on a shoestring you need to where the cheap places are.

11) PULL STRINGS - to use your influence to get something

e.g: Roger knows lots of influential people who can pull strings for him.

12) RING A BELL - to remind one of something; to seem familiar

e.g: "Does the name Wally ring a bell?" Dave asked Mark.

13) TAKE A RAIN CHECK - to postpone until a later time

e.g: Sean: How about dinner tonight?

Beth: I'm sorry. I can't tonight. Can I take a rain check?

14) TALK SHOP - to talk about work or business during free time

e.g: No matter where he is the boss always wants to talk shop.

15) WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE - to show one's feelings openly

e.g: Joan has always worn her heart on her sleeve. She cannot hide her feelings.

I hope it can help you improve your speaking!

Comments

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Tony

Pakistan

Thanx a lot! you are really contributor than consumer… Good on you!

arabian

Egypt

Hey Mechy, thanks alot for your efforts, and i am waiting for more so keep it up sweet girl :):):):)

stand by me

Saudi Arabia

thx so much sweety

stand by me

Saudi Arabia

thx so much

baffle

India

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

i will do dry run of it!!!!!!!

alogigi

United States

Thanks a lot

very useful

gracias :-)

alogigi

United States

Thanks a lot

you r so kind to share these with us

gracias

Chentxu

Chile

this things are really helpful! thanks!

tetay

Philippines

i love this!

hoda61

Morocco

thx we are wating for more

Michellita

Brazil

Hehe! Yes DAR, you have to keep some of these idioms in mind… You're not going to memorize all of them at once, but as you use them in your daily conversation, they'll become part of your natural speech.

Thanks for your support! I'm glad you are all enjoying it!