Bottle up feelings

Meaning:

• If you bottle up your feelings, you hold them within; you avoid saying something you feel strongly about.

Example sentence:

There's no point in bottling up your feelings. Talk to someone about it.




Questions for you to answer:

1. What can happen to people who often bottle up their feeling?
2. Do you think men have a tendency to bottle up their feelings more than women do?
3. In some situations it's better to bottle up your feelings. Can you think of any examples?

Peg someone as something

Meaning:

• If you peg someone as something or have someone pegged as something, you think of someone in a certain way, but you may not be right.

Example sentence:

Before I got to know him, I had him pegged as an arrogant and malicious guy. But he's not like that at all.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you often peg people as something before you get to know them?
2. Have you ever had anyone pegged as something and then discovered that you were terribly wrong?
3. Based on what do people often peg others as something?

Break the ice

Meaning:

• When you try to break the ice, you try to become friends with someone or initiate a conversation.
• You make people who have not met before feel more relaxed and comfortable with each other.
• You get something started.

Example sentence:

When I come to the classroom, I always try to break the ice with a few jokes. The students are then more willing to participate in the lesson.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Are you the one who breaks the ice when you meet somebody for the first time?
2. What are the best 'icebreakers' when you want to start a conversation?
3. Do you always react positively to someone who tries to break the ice with you?

Nip something in the bud

Meaning:

• If you nip something in the bud, you put an end to something before it develops; it usually refers to something negative, dangerous and undesirable.

Example sentence:

I think our son has started dating the girl next door. I don't like this. We'll have to nip this romance in the bud.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Think of situations in which you believe it's desirable to nip something in the bud.
2. How may 'nipping something in the bud' relate to someone's freedom?
3. Why do people sometimes have to destroy flowers before they bloom?

Think the sun rises and sets on someone

This lovely picture was taken by my father at 5 am.
Because I'm too lazy to get up so early :-)

Meaning:

• We say this about someone who is the most important person in the world for us.

Example sentence:

Her father is so proud of her and he just thinks the sun rises and sets on her. It will be very difficult for him when she leaves home.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever watched a beautiful sunrise? How did you feel?
2. Where can you watch the most glorious sunsets?
3. Do you think that the sunset and sunrise look alike? If not, what's the difference?
4. Is there anybody in your life who you think the sun rises and sets on?

Be dead in the water

Meaning:

• If something is dead in the water, it has failed, and it is unlikely that it will be successful in the future.

Example sentence:

I wanted to go to a disco with my friends last night but as soon as my parents found out, all my plans were dead in the water.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever had any interesting ideas that ended up dead in the water?
2. Have you recently heard about any promising technologies or researches that might not end up dead in the water?
3. Under what circumstances may a debate or an argument stop dead in the water?

For peanuts

Meaning:

• If you get or do something for peanuts, you get it or do it for nearly nothing; for very little money.

Example sentence:

Stop working for peanuts! You deserve more for what you do.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever had to work for peanuts?
2. Where can you get things for peanuts?
3. What's the best thing you ever got for peanuts?
4. In some parts of the world people (and even children) have to work for peanuts. What do you think about this?

Wouldn't want to be in someone's shoes

Meaning:

• When you say this, you mean that you would not change places with someone who is in a bad situation.

Example sentence:

Did you hear about Michael? He lied to his wife and now she wants to divorce him. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes now.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you remember a situation in your life when you felt you wouldn't want to be in someone's shoes?
2. Think of some famous people and what you read about them, for example in tabloid press. Think of a recent incident when you thought: 'I wouldn't want to be in his/ her shoes'.
3. How would you describe the shoes in the picture? Would you want to be in those shoes? :-) 

Say something in a roundabout way

Meaning:

• When you say something in a roundabout way, you imply something without actually saying it; you speak indirectly and use circumlocution.

Example sentence:

Wow! Did he finally say he loved you? - Well, he did but in a roundabout way. He said he'd like to stay with me forever.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you always speak directly or do you sometimes have to say things in a roundabout way? In what situations?
2. What might be the reasons why people say things in a roundabout way?
3. What can happen when somebody speaks in a roundabout way about something very important?
4. Is it always good to speak directly?

Fine feathers make fine birds

Meaning:

• This proverb means that if you dress elegantly, people will think you are elegant.

Example sentence:

She never wears anything cheap - only designer clothes, even though she's not financially well-off. But as she says: 'Fine feathers make fine birds'.


Questions for you to answer:

1. This proverb is often used ironically. Why do you think so?
2. Do you believe that it is important what you wear on certain occasions, or are you a free spirit?
3. Have you ever got into trouble because of inappropriate clothes?

See the glass (as) half empty/full

Meaning:

• If you see the glass as half empty, you believe that a situation is more bad than good.
• If you see the glass as half full, you believe that a situation is more good than bad.

Example sentence:

John and Mary are so different; he always sees the glass as half empty while she is an eternal optimist.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you usually see the glass as half full or empty?
2. Look at the glass in the picture. Under what circumstances might someone see the glass as half empty? And who would see the glass as half full?
3. What would you say to somebody who keeps looking at the glass as half empty?
4. Do you remember a situation when you looked at the glass as half empty while other people saw the glass as half full?

Zero tolerance

Meaning:

• The policy or practice of not tolerating undesirable behaviour.
• It means that certain actions will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Example sentence:

As far as drugs are concerned, there is a zero tolerance policy at our school. The student will automatically be excluded.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you think zero tolerance policies promote an atmosphere of safety?
2. What should not be absolutely tolerated at schools? Bullying, harassment or school violence?
3. Have you ever experienced any zero tolerance policies? Did you agree with them?

Reinvent the wheel

 Meaning:

• When you reinvent the wheel, you discover how to do something that has already been discovered.

Example sentence:

Don't waste your energy, John. You're only reinventing the wheel. We've already got twenty fast food restaurants here.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever tried to reinvent the wheel? What was it?
2. Do you think it is possible to reinvent the wheel and still be successful?
3. Can you think of an example of reinventing the wheel which finally became even more successful than the 'original wheel'?

Wine and dine (somebody)

Meaning:

• When you wine and dine somebody, you entertain them expensively.
• When you are wined and dined, you are given an expensive meal and wine.

Example sentence:

It was a lovely holiday. We were wined and dined every night and the accommodation was luxurious too.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you like to be wined and dined when you are at a birthday party?
2. When you go on the first date, do you like to be wined and dined or do you prefer to prepare a meal yourself.
3. When were you last wined and dined? How did you feel?

Be the bee's knees

Meaning:

• You use this to express how good something is.
• It is something excellent and outstanding.

Example sentence:

Have you tried their coffee? It's the bee's knees; it's the best quality and it tastes amazing!



Questions for you to answer:

1. What things you've recently seen, heard or tasted were the bee's knees?  
2. The origin of this phrase is not unequivocal. What are your suggestions?
3. If you came across the expression in a spoken version, what might you confuse it with?

Under the wire

Meaning:

• If you do something under the wire, you do it just barely in time or on time.

Note: The origin of this expression is in horse-racing. Before the days of cameras, a wire strung across the track above the finishing line helped stewards decide which horse came in first.


Example sentence:

I got up late, missed the bus but I finally arrived at the conference just under the wire.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do  you tend to finish things just under the wire?
2. What are the dangers of doing things just under the wire?
3. The wire in the picture is called 'barbed wire'. What is it used for and what associations does it suggest to you?

It is better to wear out than to rust out.

Meaning:

• This proverb means that it is better to remain active and wear out until you die than to do nothing just because you are old.

Example sentence:

My grandmother can barely walk but she keeps doing all the housework herself even though she doesn't have to. She always says: 'It is better to wear out than to rust out'.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Would you agree that elderly people should remain active or should they finally take a rest at a certain age?
2. Why do objects rust at all?
3. What happens to people when they 'rust out'?

Have butterflies (in one's stomach)

Meaning:

• When you have butterflies in your stomach, you feel very nervous.
• You have a nervous feeling in your stomach, for example before an important event or in danger.

Example sentence:

I was so nervous before my first performance - my knees were shaking, my mouth was dry and there were butterflies in my stomach.



Questions for you to answer:

1. In which situations do you have butterflies in your stomach?
2. What do you think this physical feeling is caused by?
3. Can you do anything to stop having butterflies in your stomach?
4. Do you think it can sometimes be advantageous to have butterflies in your stomach before an important event?

Up hill and down dale

This pic was taken by my beloved son.
Because I didn't have a camera on me.

Meaning:

• If you travel up hill and down dale, you travel all over an area.
• It also means to do something strenuously and persistently.

Example sentences:

When I was in America, I travelled up hill and down dale with only a backpack.

I promise I will support you up hill and down dale on this issue.



Questions for you to answer:

1. When you travel to a foreign country, do you like travelling up hill and down dale or do you only visit one place and stay there?
2. Is there any place in the world you would like to travel up hill and down dale?
3. In which country do you think this picture was taken and in which season of the year?

Little pitchers have big ears

Meaning:

• This English expression refers to little children who like to listen to adult conversations and can understand a lot of what they hear.

Example sentence:

Be careful. Little Johnie is in his bedroom next door and he might hear everything we say. You know, little pitchers have big ears.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Did you like to listen to your parents' conversations when you were a little child?
2. Did you feel your parents tended to avoid certain topics while you were present?
3. Do you think parents should talk about everything when the child is around?

Hang someone out to dry

Meaning:

• If you hang somebody out to dry, you defeat or punish them.
• It also means that you get someone into trouble, by making them take the blame for a bad situation.
• You abandon someone who is in need or in danger, for example a colleague.

Example sentence:

Once I find out who's vandalized my house, I swear I'll hang them out to dry.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever hung someone out to dry for something?
2. When were you last hung out to dry?
3. What do you think this expression alludes to? The picture might help.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

There's no rose without a thorn

Meaning:

• This proverb means that to enjoy a beautiful or pleasant thing, you must sometimes endure something difficult, or even painful.

Example sentence:

It's a well-paid job and I get on very well with my boss. What I don't like is that I often have to work long hours. Well, there's no rose without a thorn.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Why do roses have thorns on them?
2. What would be roses like without thorns?
3. What are difficult and painful situations for in human life?

Pretend/say that black is white

Meaning:

• If you say that black is white, you say the opposite of what is true.
• You lie because you think it's to your advantage.

Example sentence:

She's a clever girl but she is so submissive at times. She'll even believe you if you say that black is white because she wants you to like her.



Questions for you to answer:

1. How do you think this image represents the idiom? Why was this picture chosen at all?
2. What is in the picture?
3. In some countries and regimes people are told that black is white and they believe it. Why do you think it is so?
4. Have you ever read George Orwell's 1984? How does the book relate to this 'black is white' idiom?

Clip someone's wings

Meaning:

• If you clip someone's wings, you restrain them; you reduce or put an end to their privileges and limit their freedom.

Example sentence:

If you come home late again I promise that your father and I will have to clip your wings. I think you have too much freedom.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Did/do your parents and teachers often have to clip your wings?
2. In what situations do parents usually have to clip their children's wings?
3. Does this expression also have a literal meaning?

Mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken

Meaning:

• You should not depend on just one thing because if it fails, you will not have any alternatives. You should always have 'plan B' in reserve.  

Example sentence:

He's a fantastic sportsman and he's doing very well now but unfortunately, he's decided to quit school. But what will he do when he gets older? Mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Can you think of any situations where this idiom/proverb is relevant?
2. Are you the type of person who likes to have more 'holes' in reserve or do you tend to always depend on one thing?
3. On the other hand, what are the dangers of having too many 'holes'?

Be on cloud nine

Meaning:

• If you say you are on cloud nine, you are very happy.

Example sentence:

I could see that she was on cloud nine when she learned the news. But I wasn't so happy.



Questions for you to answer:

1. When were you last on cloud nine?
2. In what situations are you on cloud nine?
3. What can this 'nine' refer to? Why would anyone want to give clouds numbers?

Stone the crows!

Meaning:

• You say this when you are very surprised and/or annoyed.

Example sentence:

What? He finally got married? Stone the crows! I can't believe it!



Questions for you to answer:

1. When were you last so surprised that you wanted to cry: 'Stone the crows!'
2. What are the top three situations in which you would use the idiom?
3. Why do you think anyone would like to stone the crows? This might take you to the origin of the phrase.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Meaning:

• Each person has their own opinion about what or who is beautiful. What one finds ugly, another may find very attractive.

Example sentence:

Personally, I don't think she's very pretty but my brother finds her gorgeous. Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.


Questions for you to answer:

1. People say that beauty is not only what we can see? Can you elaborate on this?
2. Do people from different parts of the world have the same opinions about who is beautiful? Can you think of an example?
3. Why is physical beauty so important nowadays? What does is say about people?

The grass is always greener on the other side

Meaning:

• People tend to believe they would be happier in a different set of circumstances.
• You think that what other people have is better than what you have.

Example sentence:

You think that your best friend is in a perfect relationship and you sometimes feel envious. But don't forget that the grass is NOT always greener on the other side of the fence.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Why do you think people believe that the grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence)?
2. What should you do to make you grass green? Literally and metaphorically.
3. How do people feel when they think that the grass is always greener on the other side?

Beat about the bush

Meaning:

• When you beat about/around the bush, you avoid answering a question, avoid talking about a difficult or embarrassing subject, or speak indirectly.
• It also means to stall or to waste time.

Example sentence:

There's no need to beat about the bush. Just answer my question and we can go on.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you tend to beat about the bush when discussing embarrassing matters?
2. When somebody keeps beating about the bush, do you stop them or listen patiently till they tell you what's on their mind?
3. Why do you think politicians often tend to beat about the bush?

Be on the wrong track

Meaning:

• If you are on the wrong track, you are doing things which will probably cause you to fail.
• It means that you think in a way that is likely to lead to an incorrect result.

Example sentence:

At first John tried to solve all his problems using physical force and violence. It was his partner who had to show him that he was on the wrong track.



Questions for you to answer:

1. What should you do when you realize that you are on the wrong track?
2. What will happen if a train gets on the wrong track?
3. When were you last on the wrong track? Did you realize it yourself or did somebody have to tell you?
4. Where do you think this track leads?

Everything's coming up roses

Meaning:

• You say this when a situation is successful in every way - when everything is just excellent.

Example sentence:

I'm so excited! We've finally got a new house, my husband's found a wonderful job, my daughter's just graduated....everything's coming up roses.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Would you say that everything's coming up roses for you now?
2. Do you remember a period of your life when everything was coming up roses?
3. What does a rose represent for you?

A bird's-eye view

Meaning:

• A view from high above
• A hasty look at something, a brief survey lacking details

Example sentences:

Brno looks wonderful from a bird's-eye view.



The book provides a bird's-eye view of some of the methods but it doesn't go into much detail so I'll get another one.


Questions for you to answer:

1. What was the most exciting thing you've seen from a bird's-eye view?
2. Do you like looking at things from a bird's-eye view?
3. Do you think that it's necessary to get a bird's-eye view of the most important historical events?

Sell somebody down the river

Meaning:

• If you do something which harms someone or disappoints someone's expectations.
• If you do something that hurts someone who trusted you.  
• If you betray somebody  in order to get an advantage for yourself.

Example sentence:

We were a good team and I trusted him like nobody else but once he found out he could get the contract for himself he immediately sold me down the river.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you sold anybody down the river?
2. Have you ever been sold down the river?
3. The English also say: 'to send somebody up the river'. Would you say that these two idioms have the opposite meaning? Consult a dictionary if necessary.

There is no royal road to learning

Meaning:

• Learning anything requires a lot of work and effort.

Example sentence:

Why don't you attend some of the lectures? You can't just copy other people's notes and think that you'll pass your exams. There is no royal road to learning.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you believe this idiom is true or do you think that you can achieve big things with just a bit of luck?
2. Would you describe the road in the picture as 'royal'?
3. What would be the opposite of 'royal' road in this sense?
4. When trying to learn something, do you usually travel on 'royal roads'?

A ray of sunshine

Meaning:

• Someone or something that makes you feel happy and hopeful, especially in a difficult situation.

Example sentence:

My wife is such a ray of sunshine for me. She's always helpful, sensitive and considerate to me when I most need it.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Who's your 'ray of sunshine'?
2. Has anybody ever told you 'You are such a ray of sunshine for me'?
3. Do you think this idiom is similar to 'light at the end of the tunnel'?
4. How does the picture make you feel?

Church ain't out till they quit singing

Meaning:

• Things have not reached the end.
• There is still a chance that a situation can change.

Example sentence:

Don't be so pessimistic. We can still win the match. Church ain't out till they quit singing.


Questions for you to answer:

1. When did you last say to somebody something like 'Church ain't out till they quit singing'? Why was that?
2. Can you think of another idiom meaning the same?
3. Where and when do you think this idiom originated? Just your own ideas :-)

Light at the end of the tunnel

Meaning:

• It's something which makes you believe that a difficult or unpleasant situation will end.
• It's the end of a difficult period or situation.  

Example sentence:

It's been a very difficult period lately and I can see no light at the end of the tunnel now. But I still hope things will get better in the end.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever experienced a situation when you could see no light at the end of the tunnel?
2. What  would you say to somebody who seems to see no light at the end of the tunnel?
3. Where do you think this picture was taken and how do you feel about it?

One's sunset years

Meaning:

• One's old age.

Example sentence:

I know you're young now but you should think about financial planning for your sunset years or you'll be broke when you retire.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you think about your sunset years or do you live at the present moment?
2. What are the dangers of thinking too much about one's sunset years?
3. What can happen to people who never think about their sunset years (in terms of money or health)?
4. What can be positive about one's sunset years? What are the negative aspects?

Window of opportunity

Meaning:

• A short period in which opportunity exists.
• In this period of time you must either act or your opportunity is missed.

Example sentence:

I can feel that a window of opportunity is opening here for me. I have to act quickly and apply for this wonderful job or somebody else will get it.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever missed an open window of opportunity?
2. Can you see any open windows of opportunity for you at the moment?
3. What are the windows of opportunity in your country now?
4. How would you describe the photo in relation to the idiom?  

Build castles in the air

Meaning:

• If you build castles in the air, you make plans that have very little chance of happening.
• You daydream and hope for things that may never come true.

Example sentence:

Stop building castles in the air and start doing something sensible.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you know anyone who often builds castles in the air?
2. Do you build castles in the air or do you plan everything step by step and work hard on your success?
3. Can 'building castles in the air' be an important step in making a successful life?
4. What do you have to do to make your 'castles in the air' real?

Every cloud has a silver lining

Meaning:

• It is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, even if it's unpleasant, difficult or even painful.
• You can benefit from every bad thing that happens to you.
• Every bad situation has some good aspect to it.

Example sentence:

I know we've lost all our money but we can always start again. Every cloud has a silver lining.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Are you a pessimist or an optimist?
2. Who would use this proverb - a pessimist or an optimist?
3. Why is the word 'cloud' used in this idiom? What does it represent?
4. What is 'silver lining' a metaphor for?

Wake up and smell the coffee

Meaning: 

• You say this to tell someone that they should try to understand the true facts of a situation or that they should give more attention to what is happening around them.
• We use this idiom when someone doesn't realise what is really happening or is not paying enough attention to events around them.

Example sentence:

Come on, Dave. Stop dreaming about becoming a celebrity. Wake up and smell the coffee. Just enjoy the things you've got now.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Has anybody ever told you "Wake up and smell the coffee"?
2. Have you ever had to say "Wake up and smell the coffee"?
3. Think of some situations in which you would say "Wake up and smell the coffee".

 

Burn the candle at both ends

Meaning:

• You stay up late at night and get up early in the morning because you are very busy and have to work hard.
• You work long hours without rest.  
• It means exhausting your energy by leading a hectic life.

Example sentence:

No wonder Ann has ended up in hospital with a nervous breakdown. She's been burning the candle at both ends for too long.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you know anybody who often tends to burn the candle at both ends?
2. Have you ever had to burn the candle at both ends? When was it?
3. What can happen to you if you burn the candle at both ends for too long?
4. Is it sometimes necessary to burn the candle at both ends?

Can't see the wood for the trees

Meaning:

• You are so concerned with details that the larger problem, situation or point is missed.
• You are unable to understand what is important in a situation because you are giving too much attention to details. 
• You are too close to a situation. You need to step back and get a little perspective.

Example sentence:

Jane can't often see the wood for the trees. Last night she was so concerned with what to wear for the party that she didn't even notice that her husband wasn't feeling well.




Now some questions for you to answer:

1. When was the last time you couldn't see the wood for the trees?
2. When can't people usually see the wood for the trees?
3. What do you have to do when you can't see the wood for the trees?
4. What would you say to somebody who can't see the wood for the trees?