IDIOMS

1
IDIOMS
You can do it 3
2
DEFINITION

• An idiom is a group of words whose meaning must
  be known as a whole because it cannot be learned
  from the meaning of the same words used
  separately.
• There is a problem when you cannot look up
  individual words in a dictionary and find the
  meaning. Thats what you usually do with
  unfamiliar words. With idioms, you must learn
  the whole group of words.

3
WHY LEARN IDIOMS FOR RECOGNITION?

• It is really valuable to recognize idioms when
  you hear them or read them. Knowledge of idioms
  is essential for understanding spoken English.
• People use them all the time instead of more
  formal ways of expressing themselves. You will
  hear them often in movies, on TV, in songs, and
  through peoples everyday language use.

4
WHY USE THEM YOURSELF?

• Idioms add life and vitality to language.
  Without idioms, language can be correct, but it
  may be very dull.
• When you are able to use idioms comfortably in
  your own speech and writing, then you have
  achieved a higher level of mastery and fluency in
  the language.

5
THIS PRESENTATION

• Here is a sample of 30 commonly-used idioms in 10
  groups.
• The dialogues show what kind of situation an
  idiom may be used in. After each dialogue, an
  equivalent of each missing idiom is provided to
  help you.
• Theres a short test handout at the end (with
  answers).

6
TIME

• My car is very unreliable. It breaks down
  ____________. (every second day, very often)
• The concert started 10 minutes after it was
  supposed to. Oh well, ___________________________
  . (its preferable to start late than not take
  place at all)
• Tell that telephone sales person
  _______________, I dont want to buy anything.
• (one final time)

• every other day
• once and for all
• better late than never

7
TIME (the answers)

• Tell that telephone sales person ONCE AND FOR
  ALL, I dont want to buy anything.
• My car is very unreliable. It breaks down EVERY
  OTHER DAY.
• The concert started 10 minutes after it was
  supposed to. Oh well, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

• every other day
• better late than never
• once and for all

ANSWERS
8
BEING REALISTIC

• Maybe the economy will crash on the day we
  graduate, but _______________________. (lets
  deal with that problem when it comes)
• You can tell by the look on that wrestlers face,
  he _________. (is serious)
• My apartment is really horrible, but its cheap.
  _____________________. (when youre desperate,
  you take what you can get)

• means business
• well cross that bridge when we come to it
• beggars cant be choosers

9
BEING REALISTIC (the answers)

• Maybe the economy will crash on the day we
  graduate, but WELL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE
  COME TO IT.
• You can tell by the look on that wrestlers face,
  he MEANS BUSINESS.
• My apartment is really horrible, but its cheap.
  BEGGARS CANT BE CHOOSERS.

• means business
• well cross that bridge when we come to it
• beggars cant be choosers

ANSWERS
10
BEING CRITICAL

• Its a real ______________ company. Theyll take
  your money, but do a poor job. (disreputable and
  unreliable )
• He said he would come to our party, but
  ___________________ to forget. (I wouldnt be
  surprised at his mistakes)
• The days when my mother doesnt call me are
  ____________________.(rare)

• few and far between
• fly-by-night
• I wouldnt put it past him

11
BEING CRITICAL (the answers)

• Its a real FLY-BY-NIGHT company. Theyll take
  your money but do a poor job.
• He said he would come to our party, but I
  WOULDNT PUT IT PAST HIM to forget.
• The days when my mother doesnt call me are FEW
  AND FAR BETWEEN.

• few and far between
• fly-by-night
• I wouldnt put it past him

ANSWERS
12
ENCOURAGING OR PRAISING

• You are so determined, I knew you would succeed.
  After all, __________________________.(if you
  really want to do something, you can)
• I hope your mother gets better.
  __________________________.
• (I will hope for good luck).
• Its OK to invest even though youre not 100
  sure you can profit. __________________.
• (if you dont take a chance, you wont get
  anything)

• Ill keep my fingers crossed
• nothing ventured, nothing gained
• where theres a will, theres a way

13
ENCOURAGING OR PRAISING (the answers)

• You are so determined, I knew you would succeed.
  After all, WHERE THERES A WILL, THERES A WAY.
• I hope your mother gets better. ILL KEEP MY
  FINGERS CROSSED.
• Its OK to invest even though youre not 100
  sure you can profit. NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING
  GAINED.

• Ill keep my fingers crossed
• nothing ventured, nothing gained
• where theres a will, theres a way

14
MONEY MATTERS

• I leased this beautiful apartment for only 500 a
  month. ______________. (a super bargain, very
  cheap)
• Wei took all his savings to Casino Niagara, but
  _____________________. (lost everything)
• We have almost no money, but were used to living
  ______________. (with very limited cash)

• lost his shirt
• on a shoestring
• it was a steal

15
MONEY MATTERS (the answers)

• I leased this beautiful apartment for only 500 a
  month. IT WAS A STEAL.
• Wei took all his savings to Casino Niagara but
  LOST HIS SHIRT.
• We have almost no money but were used to living
  ON A SHOESTRING.

• lost his shirt
• on a shoestring
• it was a steal

ANSWERS
16
ANGER OR FRUSTRATION

• When I see my landlords, Ill ____________________
  _about the big increase in the rent.
  __________________.
• (tell them Im angry)
• All the tenants are ________
• about increased costs with no improvements.
  (protesting)
• I was so angry I went to see these cheats last
  week and really _______________________.(let them
  know how angry I am)

• up in arms
• told them where to get off
• give them a piece of my mind

17
ANGER OR FRUSTRATION (the answers)

• When I see my landlords, Ill GIVE THEM A PIECE
  OF MY MIND about the big increase in the rent.
• All the tenants are UP IN ARMS about increased
  costs with no improvements.
• I was so angry I went to see these cheats last
  week and really TOLD THEM WHERE TO GET OFF.

• up in arms
• told them where to get off
• give them a piece of my mind

ANSWERS
18
SURPRISE

• I was___________________ when that nice woman
  shouted at me. (shocked, surprised))
• You just won 1 million? __________________(expre
  ssion of disbelief)
• I told them the test would be really difficult,
  and that _____________
• ___________ (deflated them, ended their
  positive feelings)

• well, what do you know
• took the wind out of their sails
• taken aback

19
SURPRISE (the answers)

• I was TAKEN ABACK when that nice woman shouted at
  me.
• You just won 1 million? Well, WHAT DO YOU KNOW!
• I told them the test would be really difficult,
  and that TOOK THE WIND OUT OF THEIR SAILS.

• what do you know
• took the wind out of their sails
• taken aback

ANSWERS
20
TRIPLETS

• She invited ________________. to her party.
  (everybody and anybody)
• Although everyone else was scared, she stayed
  __________________________. (composed,
  self-possessed)
• Broken glass was __________________________ when
  the window was smashed. (everywhere, all over the
  place)

• right, left, and centre
• cool, calm, and collected
• every Tom, Dick, and Harry

21
TRIPLETS (the answers)

• She invited EVERY TOM, DICK, AND HARRY to her
  party.
• Although everyone else was scared, she stayed
  COOL, CALM, AND COLLECTED.
• Broken glass was ALL OVER THE PLACE when the
  window was smashed.

• right, left, and centre
• cool, calm, and collected
• every Tom, Dick, and Harry

ANSWERS
22
SOCIAL LIFE

• My mom ______________to you. She says you have
  been very nice to our family. (asked me to give
  you her best wishes)
• When you go back to your family, ____________
  your mom. Shes a good friend. (say hello to her
  for me)
• Ive never met that guy who got drunk at the
  class party. I think he was a ___________
  (someone who wasnt invited)

• remember me to
• gate crasher
• sends her regards

23
SOCIAL LIFE (the answers)

• My mom SENDS HER REGARDS to you. She says you
  have been very nice to our family.
• When you go back to your family, REMEMBER ME TO
  your mom. Shes a good friend.
• Ive never met that guy who got drunk at the
  class party. I think he was a GATE CRASHER.

• remember me to
• gate crasher
• sends her regards

ANSWERS
24
SPORTS

• The class wanted to meet with the teachers and
  _______________________ on how to improve
  courses. (have an open discussion to bring out
  new ideas)
• The teachers refusal to discuss the problems
  ___________at the students.
• (caused an unexpected problem)
• Some students wanted to _________________ and
  quit immediately. (give up, abandon their
  efforts)

• throw in the towel
• threw a curve
• kick some ideas around

25
SPORTS (the answers)

• The class wanted to meet with the teachers and
  KICK SOME IDEAS AROUND on how to improve courses.
• The teachers refusal to discuss the problems
  THREW A CURVE at the students.
• Some students wanted to THROW IN THE TOWEL and
  quit immediately.

• kick some ideas around
• throw in the towel
• threw a curve

ANSWERS
26
LETS SEE IF WE KEPT YOU ON YOUR TOES. HAVE
SOME FUN. TAKE THE HANDOUT TEST. IF YOU PASS,
GOOD FOR YOU. IF YOU DONT, IT MAKES SENSE FOR
YOU TO WORK ON
IDIOMS