IDIOMS

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IDIOMS
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What is an idiom?
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• An idiom is a combination of words that has a
  meaning that is different from the meanings of
  the individual words themselves

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• It can have a literal meaning in one situation
  and a different idiomatic meaning in another
  situation. It is a phrase which does not always
  follow the normal rules of meaning and grammar.

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Example of an IDIOM

• To sit on the fence can literally mean that one
  is sitting on a fence. I sat on the fence and
  watched the game.
• However, the idiomatic meaning of to sit on the
  fence is that one is not making a clear choice
  regarding some issue. The politician sat on the
  fence and would not give his opinion about the
  tax issue.

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• Many idioms are similar to expressions in other
  languages and can be easy for a learner to
  understand. Other idioms come from older phrases
  which have changed over time.
• To hold one's horses means to stop and wait
  patiently for someone or something. It comes from
  a time when people rode horses and would have to
  hold their horses while waiting for someone or
  something."Hold your horses," I said when my
  friend started to leave the store.

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• Other idioms come from such things as sports that
  are common in the United Kingdom or the United
  States and may require some special cultural
  knowledge to easily understand them.
• To cover all of one's bases means to thoroughly
  prepare for or deal with a situation.
• It comes from the American game of baseball where
  you must cover or protect the bases.
• I tried to cover all of my bases when I went to
  the job interview.

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IDIOM QUIZ

• Please take out a sheet of paper and your pen.
• Let us check your knowledge on IDIOMS.

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Idiom Quizzes - Money

• My sister's husband is (in good financial
  condition) after many financial problems last
  year. (a) cooking the books (b) betting his
  bottom dollar (c) back on his feet (d) bringing
  home the bacon

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IDIOM QUIZ

• I spent my (last small amount of savings) on a
  ticket for a basketball game. (a) bottom dollar
• (b) cold hard cash
• (c) money to burn
• (d) kickback

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IDIOM QUIZ

• My father worked hard all of his life (earning
  the family living).
• passing the buck
• paying through the nose
• stone broke
• bringing home the bacon

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IDIOM QUIZ

• I decided to (sell all of my belongings) and go
  and work overseas.
• (a) strike it rich
• (b) cash in my chips
• (c) put in my two cents
• (d) tighten my belt

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IDIOM QUIZ

• 4. The teacher (got no response) from the
  students when she asked the question to the
  class.
• (a) took attendance
• (b) filled in the blanks
• (c) drew a blank
• (d) cracked a book

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IDIOM QUIZ

• 5. My sister was a (person who loved books)
  during most of her childhood. (a) school of
  thought (b) bookworm (c) teacher's pet (d)
  copycat

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IDIOM QUIZ

• 6. I worked hard all weekend to (write out a
  paper quickly) for my history class. (a) crank
  out a paper (b) meet the requirements (c) pass
  with flying colors (d) brainstorm

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IDIOM QUIZ

• 7. I was supposed to go to school but I decided
  (not to go).
• to learn by rote
• (b) to live in an ivory tower
• (c) to have my nose in a book
• (d) to play hooky

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IDIOM QUIZ

• 8. The junior salesperson was (in charge) during
  the meeting.
• (a) driving a hard bargain
• (b) getting the message
• (c) dragging her heels
• (d) calling the shots

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IDIOM QUIZ

• 9. There is a lot of (anger) between my friend
  and myself.
• (a) new blood
• (b) bad blood
• (c) flesh and blood
• (d) blood, sweat, and tears

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IDIOM QUIZ

• My supervisor (suddenly became angry at me) when
  I was late for the meeting.
• (a) jumped down my throat
• (b) jumped out of her skin
• (c) took my breath away
• (d) risked her neck

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IDIOM QUIZ

• 11. The girl was (very pleased) that she was
  chosen to represent her class at the competition.
  
• (a) blacked out
• (b) tickled pink
• (c) green with envy
• (d) out of the blue

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IDIOM QUIZ

• 12. Even though Mrs. Jensen is no "spring
  chicken," she still enjoys swimming and running
  every day.A. Mrs. Jensen is not young, but she
• enjoys exercising.B. Mrs. Jensen
  doesn't eat chicken.C. Mrs. Jensen is training
  for a marathon
• race.

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Idioms

• 13. The news that he had been accepted by the
  University was "music to Mike's ears."A. Mike
  is going to study music at the
• university.B. Mike received some very
  good news.C. Mike enjoys listening to music.

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Idioms

• 14. The way that Cindy was fired from her job
  "left a bad taste in her mouth."A. Cindy ate
  some strange food.
• B. Cindy was fired because she said
• something rude.C. Cindy had some bad
  feelings about
• being fired.

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Idioms

• 15. When Robert met his girlfriend after a long
  separation, he told her that she was a "sight for
  sore eyes."a. Robert told his girlfriend that
  he was
• happy to see her.B. Robert told his
  girlfriend that his eyes
• were sore.C. Robert told his
  girlfriend that she had
• pretty eyes.

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Idioms

• 16. When Richard said something about his
  brother's surprise birthday party, he "let the
  cat out of the bag."A. Richard gave his brother
  a cat for his
• birthday.B. Richard revealed a
  secret.C. Richard's brother is celebrating his
• birthday.

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http//www.idiomconnection.com

• For idiom quizzes

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• the green light

• My supervisor has read my proposal. Now I have
  the green light to start the project. (Like a
  green traffic light, which gives permission to
  start.)

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• in black and white

• The boss said well have a raise next year, but I
  dont know whether to believe her or not.
• If only it were in black and white!
• (Writing is black and white, if you have
  something in writing it's like a contract.)

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• in the red

• The companys in the red. Its got a lot of debt
  and is having difficulty covering its expenses.
  (Red ink was traditionally used to show negative
  numbers in accounts.)

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• out of the blue

• The news of that fast-food shop closing came out
  of the blue. No one was expecting it. We all
  thought it was doing well. (Like something
  falling from the blue sky.)

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• to cost an arm and a leg

• Im not coming with you to XXX department Store.
  Everything there costs an arm and a leg. With my
  kind of salary, I cant afford to buy anything
  there. (Costs an arm and a leg means it's very
  expensive.)

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• a long face

• You didnt invite Cathy to your wedding? No
  wonder she walked out with such a long face. (A
  long face means an unhappy expression.)

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• to keep the ball rolling

• Lets keep the ball rolling. Were off to a good
  start with a successful bid, but weve still got
  a lot of work to do.
• (A football idiom - to get start the ball
  rolling means to start the match.
• To keep the ball rolling means to continue
  working.)

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• on the ball

• Arlenes an excellent supervisor. She really
  knows how to organize things and get things done.
  Shes really on the ball.
• (Another football idiom. On the ball means to be
  in control of the situation.)

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IDIOMS IN THE WORKPLACE

• a pain in the neck

• an annoying or bothersome person or event
• The customer is a pain in the neck and is always
  complaining about something.

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General Idioms

• wet behind the ears inexperienced and naive.
• "Don't include Chris as part of the bargaining
  team.He has just startedworking here and is
  still too wet behind the ears."

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General Idioms

• until you're blue in the face forever.
• "You can talk until you're blue in the face, but
  I won't change my mind."
• Note This expression is used in the same way as
  "until hell freezes over."

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Idioms

• under the weather ill sick unwell.
• "Ted was feeling under the weather yesterday, so
  he decided not to go to work.

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Idioms

• nuke heat in a microwave.
• "If your coffee's cold, just nuke it for about a
  minute.

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General Idioms

• nosh snack.
• "There's plenty in the refrigerator if you want
  something to nosh on."

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Idioms

• wishy-washy uncommitted without an opinion of
  one's own.
• "Don't be so wishy-washy. Tell us how you really
  feel."

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• at the eleventh hour at the last minute almost
  too late.
• "Yes, I got the work done in time. I finished it
  at the eleventh hour, but I wasn't late.

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Idioms

• antsy restless impatient and tired of waiting.
• "I hope Katy calls soon. Just sitting around and
  waiting is making me antsy.

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Idioms

• do a bang-up job do a very good job do very
  well at something.
• "Have you seen Frank's home page? He did a
  bang-up job with it.

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General Idioms

• drop someone a line write to someone.
• "I haven't written to my parents for a long time.
  I'd better drop them a linetoday or tomorrow."

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ANSWERS

• A
• D
• B
• C
• B
• A
• D
• D

• 9. B
• 10. D
• 11. B
• 12. A
• 13. B
• 14. C
• 15. A
• 16. B

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Redundant Phrases
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Redundant Phrases

• The (color) yellow.
• Please (repeat) that again.
• (actual) experience
• (advance) planning
• (advance) reservations
• (advance) warning
• all meet (together)
• (armed) gunman

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Redundant Phrases

• at (12) midnight
• at (12) noon
• autobiography (of my life)
• (awkward) predicament
• (baby) boy was born
• (basic) fundamentals

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Redundant Phrases

• cheap (price)
• (close) proximity
• cold (temperature)
• commute (back and forth)
• consensus (of opinion)

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Redundant Phrases

• (difficult) dilemma
• each (and every)
• (empty) space
• (end) result
• estimated (roughly) at
• filled (to capacity)
• (free) gift
• (frozen) ice

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Redundant Phrases

• (general) public
• green (in color)
• join (together)
• (natural) instinct
• never (at any time)
• (pair of) twins
• (past) experience

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Redundant Phrases

• (poisonous) venom
• reason is (because)
• (regular) routine
• (small) speck
• (suddenly) exploded
• surrounded (on all sides)

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Pleonasms

• These redundant expressions are called pleonasms.

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GROUP ACTIVITY

• Group Activity Into Nine ( 9) Groups.
• Converse with each other using redundant phrases
  in the conversation.
• Pick a representative to present in front. Use
  at least 10 redundant phrases

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TITLES
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Quiz

• Correct or Not Correct?
• My name is Ms Arroyo and I am meeting Mr
  Fernandez later at 4 PM.

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Titles with Proper Names

• Titles that come immediately before or after
  proper names generally take periods.
• Examples
• -If you see her, please tell Ms. Ramirez that I
  called.
• -Have you heard from Dr. Montero today?
• -Today I have an appointment with Theresa
  Parrocho, Ph.D.

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• Correct or Not ?
• I have a meeting with Mr. on Monday a.m.

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Do not abbreviate such titles when they do not
accompany a proper name

• Not Did you go to see the Dr. yesterday?
• Can I help you, Mr.?
• But Did you go to see the doctor
• yesterday?
• Can I help you, mister?

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However, the abbreviations for academic degrees
can be used alone when not used as a part of a
title

• My brother will receive his Ph.D. in May
• Will you complete your M.A. this year?

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Do not repeat titles or abbreviations at the end
of a name if one or the other appeared at the
beginning of the name

• Not I will be taking the course from Professor
  Cubia, Ph.D.
• But The operation will be completed by Dr.
  Irvin Yap.
• Or The operation will be completed by Irvin
  Yap. M.D.

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Expressions of time are likewise frequently
accompanied by the abbreviations a.m. and p.m.

• Examples The plane will arrive at approximately
  7 p.m.
• Such abbreviations should not be used
  without specific date or time designations.

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Expressions of Time

• Not We have a meeting this p.m. to discuss your
  promotion.
• Not Let us meet tomorrow a.m.
• But We have a meeting this afternoon.
• Let us meet tomorrow morning.

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Thank you....