Race against time

Meaning:

• If something is a race against time, it is a rush to beat a deadline.
• If you race against time, you hurry to beat a deadline.

Example sentence:

Don't disturb me tonight. I'm in a race against time to finish my project before the deadline.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last have to race against time? Did you finally make it?
2. How do you feel when you are in a race against time? Give as many adjectives as possible.
3. What advice would you give to someone who doesn't want to be in a race against time?
4. In what situations do you usually race against time?

Weed something out

Meaning: 

When you weed something/someone unwanted or undesirable out, you get rid of them. You remove someone or something unwanted or undesirable from a group or collection.

Example sentence:

We must do our best to weed out this kind of immoral behaviour. It can't be tolerated in modern society any more.

Questions for you to answer:

1.      What do you think needs to be weeded out from modern society?

2.      What kind of misbehaviour should be weeded out from schools?

3.      Why do people want to get rid of weed?

4.      Try to come up with as many synonyms for weed out as possible.

Rotten apple spoils the barrel

Meaning:

• A bad person influences everyone he or she comes into contact with, making them bad too.

Example sentence:

This boy is the rotten apple that spoils the barrel. He doesn't do his homework and skips a lot of classes. The other kids think it's all right. Of course, they tend to do the same.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you know anyone who is considered the rotten apple that spoils the barrel?
2. What adjectives would you use to describe such a person?
3. In what situations is such a person dangerous?
4. Can you think of situations when a rebellious person can be helpful and beneficial?

Come on in, the water's fine!

Meaning:

• This expression is used to tell someone that an activity is safe, enjoyable, profitable, etc., and to encourage them to participate. It is a way of encouraging someone to begin something.

Example sentence:

I'm sure you'll like it. Don't be afraid. Come on in, the water's fine.


Questions for you to answer:

1. In what situations would you use this idiom?
2. What do you think is the literal meaning of this idiom?
3. Look at the picture. Which boy is saying: Come on in, the water's fine!?
4. What are some other ways of encouraging somebody to participate in something?

Room to swing a cat

Meaning:

• If there is not room to swing a cat in a place, that place is very small.

Example sentence:

Oh dear! This flat is so tiny. There's not enough room to swing a cat! Where will we put all our furniture?



Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you lived in a place where there was not enough room to swing a cat?
2. How do you feel in places where there's not enough room to swing a cat?
3. Would you prefer a tiny place just for yourself to a spacious place that you had to share with your flatmate?

Show one's teeth

 Meaning:

• To act in an angry or threatening manner, to show that you are angry and prepared to defend yourself

Example sentence:

I'm a very calm person but I really had to show my teeth when Martin offended my girlfriend.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you often tend to show your teeth? In what situations?
2. How would you describe someone who often shows their teeth?
3. What should one do not to make other people show their teeth?
4. When did you last show your teeth? Why was it and what did you do?
5. What do you think this idiom alludes to?

To learn a/your lesson

Meaning:

• To understand something or learn something useful about life because of an unpleasant experience.

Example sentence:

Did you like our summer job? - Oh, no! I didn't. It was boring and hard work. But I learned a lesson; now I know that it's not easy to earn money and I am grateful to my parents they support me while I study.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you think people should go through unpleasant experience and failures? Why/not?
2. When did you last learn a/your lesson?
3. Do you remember a situation when you taught somebody a lesson?

Time to call it a night.

Meaning:

• It's time to quit one's activities for the night.

Example sentence:

Ok guys, it's almost midnight and I'm getting up at five tomorrow. I guess it's time to call it a night and go home.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When you are at a party, at what time do you usually say It's time to call it a night?
2. Do you know people who never say It's time to call it a night and never want to stop partying?
3. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
4. When do you think it's time to call it a night for a 16-year-old teenager? (on school days and at weekends)

Sell somebody on something

Meaning:

• To persuade someone to buy something or give support to an idea.

Example sentence:

You don't need to sell me on the idea that we need a new computer because I know we don't. We bought two laptops last month.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever been completely sold on an idea?
2. In what professions must people be good at selling others on various ideas?
3. Can you resist when somebody is trying to sell you on an idea?

Crash the gate

Meaning:

• Gain admittance, for example to a party or concert, without being invited or without buying the tickets. 

Example sentence:

I didn't have the tickets for the Rolling Stones concert but I managed to crash the gate and got inside.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever crashed the gate and got to a concert without paying?
2. Has anyone ever managed to crash the gate and got to a party of yours without being invited?
3. Have you ever been prevented from crashing the gate?

Music to my ears

Meaning:

• This is something pleasing to hear about, a welcome sound to someone; news that someone is pleased to hear.

Example sentence:

Hearing about my son's latest success was music to my ears.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Can you think of a piece of news you recently heard that was music to your ears?
2. What kind of information is generally music to your ears?
3. What kind of music is your favourite?

Be full of beans

 Meaning:

• A person who's full of beans is energetic, vigorously active, and vital.

Example sentence:

I've never seen him tired or bored. He's always full of beans even though he's nearly 80. I don't know how he does it!


Questions for you to answer:

1. When are you usually full of beans?
2. Can you think of a person who's always full of beans?
3. Why do you think small children are always full of beans?
4. How does this idiom refer to be as fresh as a daisy?

Have green fingers

 Meaning:

• If you have green fingers (or a green thumb) you are very good at gardening and looking after flowers and plants, you are good at keeping plants healthy and making them grow.

Example sentence:

I don't know how my mother does it; her garden always looks beautiful and her plants are just gorgeous - unlike me, she must have green fingers.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Would you say you have green fingers?
2. Do you know anybody who has green fingers?
3. Do you believe that people are born with green fingers or that you can learn how to look after plants and your garden?
4. What does 'green' refer to in this idiom?

Put your feet up

Meaning:

• To relax and do very little

Example sentence:

I've been really busy over the past couple of days and I need some rest. I'll just put my feet up and do nothing for a while.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you put your feet up after a long day at work or do you keep working at home?
2. How would you describe a person who can never put their feet up?
3. What are the benefits of putting up one's feet from time to time?
4. When did you last feel you deserved to put your feet up?
5. Do you ever feel guilty when you put your feet up?

Lost in translation

Meaning:

• This idiom refers to a word or phrase, or sometimes even an action, which, when removed from its original context, can no longer be fully understood.

Example:

Make sure that vital information is not lost in translation. Be clear and straightforward when communicating with your colleagues.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you remember a situation when you felt that something was lost in translation?
2. Do you think that when translating poetry, some ideas can be lost in translation? If so, what must the translator do to avoid this?
3. What should people do to prevent their words from being lost in translation?
4. Have you seen the movie called Lost in Translation?

Out of place

 Meaning:

• If you feel out of place, you don't feel comfortable or suitable for a particular situation. You feel awkward and unwelcome.

Example sentence:

I loved the party but I kind of felt out of place because I didn't know anybody there.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last feel out of place?
2. Look at the picture. Who might feel out of place?
3. How does this idiom refer to be like a fish out of water?

Hats off

Meaning:

• This is something that you say when you want to express your admiration for someone.

Example sentence:

Hats off to your flawless English. Where did you study?


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last hear somebody say: Hats off. You did well!
2. When did you last say 'Hats off' to somebody.
3. In what situations would you use this idiom?
4. What do you think is the origin of the idiom? Do people literally take their hats off to express their admiration?

The good old days

 Meaning:

• If people talk about the good old days, they mean a time in the past when they believe life was better.
• This idiom refers to past times remembered with nostalgia.

Example sentence:

The kids are so lazy nowadays. It's not like back in the good old days when we had to work hard and help our parents every day.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you believe past times were better? Why/not?
2. Why do you think people use this cliché?
3. Do you know anybody who drives you crazy because they use this idiom too often?

Be as clear as crystal

Meaning:

• Something that is as clear as  crystal is very clear, transparent or easy to understand.

Example sentence:

The stream was once as clear as crystal but now it's muddy and it stinks.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last swim in a lake or pond that was as clear as crystal?
2. Complete the sentence: It's as clear as crystal that the government...
3. What time of the day is your mind as clear as crystal?
4. Do you remember a night as clear as crystal? What was it like?

Water under the bridge

Meaning:

• If a problem or an unpleasant situation is water under the bridge, it happened a long time ago and no one is upset about it now.

Example sentence:

I know he hurt you once but it's all water under the bridge. Try to forget and go on.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Is there anything you could have done differently but it's just water under the bridge now?
2. Are you a person who tends to worry about problems that are water under the bridge?
3. Try to explain the idiom. What do water and bridge actually represent?

Be in somebody's good books

Meaning:

• If you are in someone's good books, they are pleased with you because you did something positive for them.

Example sentence:

I'm glad I'm in my teacher's good books because she can be really unpleasant if she doesn't like a student.


Questions for you to answer:

1. What must people do to stay in your good books?
2. Who is not in your good books at the moment?
3. Do people get in your good books just because they compliment you?

Put a spanner in the works

 Meaning:

• When you put a spanner in the works, you do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding

Example sentence:

I'm working hard but I feel some people are putting a spanner in the works because they don't want me to succeed.  


Questions for you to answer:

1. Has anybody put a spanner in the works in order to prevent your plans from succeeding?
2. Have you ever deliberately put a spanner in the works and prevented an activity from succeeding?
3. What actions, deeds or circumstances can put a spanner in the works and prevent somebody from getting a good job, for example?
4. How does this idiom relate to close the door on something?

Snowed under

Meaning:

• If you are snowed under, you are exceptionally busy, overworked.

Example sentence:

I'm very sorry but I can't help you with your homework; I'm snowed under with my own work at school.


Questions for you to answer:

1. How do you feel when you are snowed under with work?
2. What do you do first when you find out you are snowed under? Do you have a technique that helps you solve the problem? Do you panic or do you start setting priorities and making plans?
3. How would you describe a person who likes to be snowed under with work?

It's always darkest just before the dawn

Meaning:

• This proverb means that when things are extremely bad, it may signal that they are about to get much better.
• We say this when we want to imply that there is hope, even in the worst of circumstances.

Note: You can also say: The darkest hour is just before the dawn.


Example sentence:

I know you are going through a difficult period of your life but be an optimist : It's always darkest just before the dawn.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When was the darkest hour for you? Can you remember a situation which looked desperate but finally improved?
2. Can you think of any other idioms where light, sun rays or the sunshine represent something positive?
3. How does this proverb relate to Every cloud has a silver lining?

At the drop of a hat

Meaning:

• Immediately; instantly; on the slightest signal or urging
• Suddenly, without any planning and for no obvious reason

Example sentence:

I'd definitely like to join you. Just say the word and I'll be there at the drop of a hat.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you usually do things at the drop of a hat or do you procrastinate?
2. How would you describe a person who does what other people want at the drop of a hat?
3. Do you know anybody who does things at the drop of a hat and later thinks about the consequences?

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Meaning:

• This is something that you say to tell someone that you will not worry about a possible problem but will deal with it if it happens.

Example sentence:

I know this might cause us a lot of trouble and it will be a lot of extra work, but there's no need to worry now; we'll see when the project is launched. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you often worry about possible problems before they actually happen?
2. What adjectives would you use to describe a person who worries too much about possible problems?
3. How does this idiom relate to "Don't count your chickens (before they're hatched)"?

 

Be as hard as nails

 Meaning:

• When somebody is as hard as nails, they have no feelings or sympathy for other people.

Example sentence:

Why don't you tell your partner about your true feelings? - I can't. She would never understand it because she's as hard as nails.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you know anybody who's as hard as nails? What adjectives would you use to describe the person?
2. Do you think it's sometimes necessary to be as hard as nails? In which situations?
3. When did you last have to be as hard as nails, or at least pretend so?  

 

Without/beyond a shadow of a doubt

Meaning:

• If something is true without/beyond a shadow of a doubt, there is no doubt that it is true.
• You are certain of it without the smallest amount of doubt.

Example sentence:

Are you sure this is going to work? It looks suspicious. - Yes, I'm certain - without a shadow of a doubt.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Can you think of any hypotheses that were recently proved without a shadow of a doubt?
2. Are you usually certain of things without a shadow of a doubt or are you rather suspicious and sceptical?
3. Are there any people you can trust without a shadow of a doubt?

Let's get the/this show on the road.

Meaning:

• You say this in order to tell people you want to start an activity or a journey

Example sentence:

Good. It's almost finished and we'll soon be able to get the show on the road. The application should be launched in two weeks' time.

Questions for you to answer:

1. Is there an activity or a journey you'd like to start?
2. Think of a plan of yours (a project, business, presentation). What do you have to do before you get the show on the road?
3. What might prevent you from getting the show on the road?
4. What happens after you get the show on the road?

How do you like them apples?

Meaning:

• This is something that you say when you want to call attention to a small personal triumph, especially when you have done something better than someone else has.
• Or you say this to show you are surprised or disappointed by something that has happened.

Example sentence:

You thought I wouldn't make it but I've just won the prize! So how do you like them apples?


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last feel that you did better than someone and wanted to call 'How do you like them apples'?
2. Can you invent a plausible theory about the origin of the phrase? What about this explanation?
3. What's interesting about the idiom from the grammatical point of view?

Fly into the face of danger

Meaning:

• If you fly into the face of danger, you take great risks; you threaten or challenge danger, as if danger were a person.

Example sentence:

Last night I literally flew into the face of danger; I tried to hitch a lift for the first time in my life, even though I'm scared of meeting people I don't know.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Are you the type of person who often flies into the face of danger?
2. When did you last fly into the face of danger? Describe your feelings.
3. Why do you think people deliberately want to experience dangerous situations such as bungee jumping?

Pave the way

Meaning:

• To prepare the way with something for someone
• To make progress or development easier.

Example sentence:

I was very nervous before the presentation but my colleague paved the way with and introduction, which made me feel more relaxed.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Has anybody ever paved the way for your success?
2. When performing, do you feel more relaxed when somebody paves the way with an introduction or do you prefer to start yourself?
3. Do you think parents should pave the way for their children? If yes, how?

The first 100 idioms - Revision Test

 

This is a revision test for those who've been learning with me. One click will always take you to the correct answer.

 

 

A bird's-eye -----

A blue-eyed -----

A bone of -----

A drop in the -----

A ----- ceiling

A ----- of cake

A ray of -----

All along the -----

All in ----- piece

As the -----is bent, so is the tree inclined

Backseat -----

Be as fresh as a -----

Be ----- comfort

Be dead in the -----

Be ----- the soup

Be like a fish out of -----

Be like watching ----- grow

Be on ----- nine

Be ----- the ball

Be on the expensive -----

Be on the wrong -----

Be the bee's -----

Beat about the -----

Beauty is in the eye of the -----

Better (to be) ----- than sorry

Blossom ----- something

Bottle up -----

----- the ice

Brick and -----

Build ----- in the air

Burn the candle at both -----

Can't see the ----- for the trees

Charity begins at -----

Church ain't out till they ----- singing

Clip someone's -----

Close/shut the ----- on something

Dig some ----- up (on someone)

Dump work ----- someone

Every cloud has a silver -----

Everything's coming up -----

Face the ----

----- blue

Fine feathers make fine -----

----- peanuts

Frame -----

----- the axe

Go ----- the roof

Hang someone out to -----

Have ----- (in one's stomach)

It is better to wear out than to ----- out.

Katie bar the -----

Know something like the palm of one's -----

Let things -----

Light at the end of the -----

Little ----- have big ears

----- hay

Mouse that has but one ----- is quickly taken

Nip something in the -----

No matter how you ----- it...

Not be the only pebble on the -----

On ----- legs

One step at a -----

One's sunset ------

Out ----- the blue

----- a barrel

Paper over the -----

Peg someone ----- something

Pretend/say that black is -----

Pull the ----- on somebody

Reinvent the -----

Rose-tinted -----

Run into a stone -----

Run off in all -----

Say something in a ----- way

Scrape the bottom of the -----

----- red

See the glass (as) -----empty/full

Sell somebody ----- the river

Shake a -----!

Shed ----- on

Someone's train of -----

Spring to -----

Stand up and be -----

Stone the -----!

----- at nothing

Take care of number -----

The bigger they are, the harder they -----.

The ----- is always greener on the other side

The sky is the -----

There is no royal ----- to learning

There's no rose without a -----

There's safety in ------

Think the sun rises and ----- on someone

----- the wire

Up hill and down -----

Wake up and smell the -----

Window of -----

Wine and ------(somebody)

Wouldn't want to be in someone's -----

Zero -----

Blossom into something

Meaning:

• If ideas, concepts or people blossom into something, they develop into something (usually positive).

Example sentence:

Time passes so quickly. I haven't seen your little son for quite a while but it seems he's blossomed into a handsome young man.



Questions for you to answer:

1. What should parents do to help their children to blossom into independent and autonomous people?
2. What should politicians do to make their country blossom into a prosperous economic power?
3. Has any of your ideas blossomed into something very successful?
4. Can you think of a place that has recently developed into something amazing?

Face the music

Meaning:

• If you have to face the music, you have to receive punishment and accept the unpleasant results of your actions.

Example sentence:

Ok. You're trying to tell me that you've just destroyed your father's brand new car. I'm afraid you'll have to tell him and face the music.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last have to face the music? How did you feel?
2. How would you describe someone who's never willing to face the music?
3. Do you believe that small kids should always face the music for what they do?
4. Why is it sometimes difficult to face the music?

Not be the only pebble on the beach

Meaning:

• You say this to tell somebody that he or she is not the only person who is important in a situation or in a group.

Example sentence:

I'm fed up with you wanting to be in the centre of attention all the time but don't forget; you're not the only pebble on the beach.


Questions for you to answer:

1. What adjectives would you use to describe a person who thinks he or she is the only pebble on the beach?
2. What adjectives would you use to describe someone who's the opposite?
3. Do you have a similar idiom in your native language?

Someone's train of thought

Meaning:

• This is someone's pattern of thinking or sequence of ideas; what one was just thinking about.
• It's a series of connected thoughts.

Example sentence:

I'm sorry but I'm not following your train of thought now. What do you mean? Can you be more exact?


Questions for you do answer:

1. Have you recently been puzzled by someone's train of thought? When was it?
2. Is there anybody who usually has a totally different train of thought and that's why you don't understand them?
3. What happens if somebody interrupts your train of thought?
4. Can you read somebody's train of thought from their facial features?
5. What helps you keep your train of thought when you are working on a demanding task?

Rose-tinted glasses

Meaning:

• If someone looks at something through rose-tinted glasses, they only see the pleasant parts of it. They see the things in a more positive light than they really are.

Example sentence:

Wake up and stop looking at your boyfriend through rose-tinted glasses. He's not what he pretends to be.


Questions for you to answer:

1. What happens if someone finally takes off rose-tinted glasses?
2. Have you ever looked at somebody/something through rose-tinted glasses?
3. How does this idiom refer to see the glass half full?

Be as fresh as a daisy

Meaning:

• To be full of energy and enthusiasm, to feel well, rested, and alert

Example sentence:

How can I possibly feel as fresh as a daisy at four o'clock in the morning? All I want is SLEEP!



Questions for you to answer:

1. What usually makes you feel as fresh as a daisy?
2. Can you remember a moment when you didn't feel as fresh as a daisy but you desperately needed to?
3. Do you know anybody who looks as fresh as a daisy all the time, regardless of the circumstances?

There's safety in numbers

Meaning:

• If people do something difficult or unpleasant together, they are stronger.

Example sentence:

You could work on the project on your own but it a really difficult task; it's better to ask your colleagues to help you out. You know, there's safety in numbers.

 

Questions for you to answer:

1. Would you feel safer watching a horror at the cinema with lots of other people or alone at home?
2. Can you think of any animal species that behave as if they knew there's safety in numbers?
3. Do you prefer working on difficult tasks in big teams because you think there's safety in numbers?
4. In which situations is this idiom particularly relevant?

Be like a fish out of water

Meaning:

• If you are/feel like a fish out of water, you feel awkward because you are not familiar with a situation or because you are very different from the people around you.

Example sentence:

I shouldn't have gone to the party. I didn't like the people and there was nobody to talk to - I was like a fish out of water.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Are you an introvert or extrovert? Do you often feel like a fish out of water?
2. When were you last like a fish out of water?
3. How would you help somebody who's feeling like a fish out of water? Do you know any good icebreakers?
4. What should one do not to be like a fish out of water?

See red

Meaning:

• If you see red, you are very angry.

Example sentence:

Her mother saw red when Jane told her about her bad grades at school.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Why do you think red colour is associated with anger? What other feelings is it associated with?
2. How do people behave when they see red?
3. What usually makes you see red?
4. When did you last make somebody see red?