Expressions+In+English+I

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 * THESE ARE THE COMMON PHRASES THAT CAN BE HEARD VERY OFTEN FROM ENGLISH SPEAKERS IN DAILY BASICS:**
 * Silly Billy
 * Home sweet home [[image:home-sweet-home.jpg width="200" height="200" align="right"]]
 * Thumbs up!
 * Mark my word
 * Mind your own business
 * Let bygones be bygones
 * What on earth are you doing
 * I'm dying (for something)
 * I don't have a clue
 * I'm on cloud nine
 * Fingers crossed
 * Once in a blue moon
 * Over the moon
 * Back to square one[[image:bad-hair-day-indeed.jpg width="234" height="257" align="right"]]
 * It's a nightmare
 * Break a leg
 * Speak of the devil
 * Read between the lines
 * Head over heels
 * I'm having a bad hair day
 * Don't push your luck
 * For goodness sake!
 * I beg your pardon?
 * Get a life!
 * Here we go again
 * I'll catch up with you later
 * I'll rip you to pieces
 * Have it your way
 * Thanks a bunch[[image:4_Thumbs_Up.jpg width="264" height="162" align="right"]]
 * I want to have a cat nap
 * Hang on a minute
 * You gotta be kidding me?
 * What's up?
 * I'm outta here!
 * How's everything?

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==An idiom is a group of words that has a special meaning apart from its literal meaning. Idioms also refer to the practice of using certain prepositions following some verbs, nouns and adjectives. Idiomatic expression can be found in the daily speech of native speakers of English, on the radio, in novels, newspaper and magazine articles rather than in formal writing. Idioms can be short or long but, as a general rule, they cannot be change. ==

E.g:

 * A burning question - a matter having to be dealt with at once; an urgent / important matter
 * A feather in one's cap - a deserved honour that one is proud of
 * A storm in a teacup - a big fuss made over a small; trivial event
 * (To be) free and easy - cheerful and unworried; casual
 * Rough and ready - simple; without comfort; not exact
 * King and queen
 * Stuff and nonsense
 * A happy-go-lucky person - a careless person; someone who does not think or plan carefully
 * A run-of-the-mill job - an ordinary; unexciting job; not special

E.g:

 * As big as an elephant
 * As poor as a church mouse


 * An ass/donkey - a stupid person
 * As easy as A.B.C. / as pie
 * As honest as a mirror
 * As rotten as an egg
 * As pale as ghost

E.g:

 * **A man:** may **//climb//** a mountain, **//dig//** a garden; **//read//** a book, **//pay//** a bill, **//save//** money
 * **Water:** **//runs//, //freezes//,** **//moistens//** earth, **//feeds//** plants
 * **Sounds made by people:** babies cry, coo, cry weep, scream, etc.
 * **Sounds made by animals:** bees hum, cows moo, flies buzz, etc.
 * **Sounds made by objects:** cameras clicks, clouds thunder, tires screech, etc.

E.g:

 * Confident of (success)
 * Delighted with (the gift)
 * Loyal to (the government)
 * Suspicious of ( a person)
 * Thankful to ( a person); for (a benefit)

E.g:

 * **Around:** around the world, country
 * **Beneath:** beneath notice, contempt, dignity
 * **Up:** to go upstairs, to walk up a hill, to swim up the river, to go up country
 * At the end of
 * In the hope of
 * With the intention of

E.g:

 * Approve of (an application)
 * Belong to (someone)
 * Escape from ( a place)
 * Suffer from (an illness)
 * Vote for / against (a motion)

[[image:Panda_Love_by_mAd_ArIsToCrAt-1-9.jpg width="313" height="110"]]
E.g:
 * Again and again: repeatedly; continually; very often
 * Far and away: very much
 * On and on: without stopping
 * Out and out complete: thorough; total
 * To and fro: backward and forwards; from side to side
 * Up and about: on one's feet, up again after illness

[[image:Panda_Love_by_mAd_ArIsToCrAt-1-14.jpg width="314" height="111"]] [[image:black-sheep-w300h3001.jpg width="180" height="180" align="right"]]
E.g:
 * To be armed to the teeth: fully armed or protected
 * To be double-faced: insincere
 * To speak one's mind: to be frank and honest
 * A black sheep: a bad character who disgrace his family
 * A white-collar job: an office job; indoor work

[[image:Panda_Love_by_mAd_ArIsToCrAt-1-15.jpg width="314" height="111"]]
E.g:

[[image:ec_4892_1251367789.post.jpg width="205" height="205" align="right"]]

 * To act the goat: to behave foolishly and childishly


 * To get down to work: to start on the task in hand


 * To have an axe to grind: to have a selfish motive for doing something
 * To pick to pieces: to analyze critically
 * To disturb the apple cart: to disturb the routine, the pattern of something


 * A hungry man is an angry man
 * A penny saved is a penny gained
 * Charity begins at home
 * Every clouds has silver lining
 * Fine feathers make fine birds
 * Make hay while the sun shines
 * When the cat's away, the mice will play


 * Do you know that idiomatic expressions are actually divided into** ** two groups ? The first group is for expressions that are based on body parts while the second group is** **f****o****r idiomatic expressions based on colours. Sounds fun right? We have prepared lots of idiomatic expressions that are exciting and commonly use in our daily life.Continue reading if you wish to find out more about these idioms.**



To be the apple of someone’s eye Meaning: A person or thing that is loved more than the other E.g.: “My grandson is **the apple of my eye**.”

To have eyes in the back of one's head Meaning: To say that someone has eyes in the back of their head means that they are very observant and notice everything happening around them. E.g.: "You need **eyes in the back of your head** to look after young children."

To keep an eye on somebody/ something Meaning: To take care of somebody/ something and make sure that they are not harmed/ damaged, etc. E.g.: Tom and Jerry have asked their neighbours **to keep an eye on their house** while they are away for vacation.

There is more to somebody/ something than meets the eye. Meaning: Something/ someone is more complicated, difficult or interesting than you might think at first. E.g.: Jeanie told her colleagues that she simply sold her shares, but they think **there's**
 * more to it than meets the eye**.

In the blink of an eye Meaning: Something that happens nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it. E.g: The pickpocket disappeared **in the blink of an eye.**



To be double-faced/ two-faced Meaning: To be insincere/ a person who says nice things about people when they are with them, but bad things about them to other people. E.g.: Have you seen what he wrote about us? He seemed so nice when we spoke on the phone - what a **two-faced** guy!

Somebody’s face is like thunder/ Somebody has a face like thunder Meaning: Somebody who looks very angry. E.g.: When Dad is really angry, he **has a face like thunder**!

To put on a brave face Meaning: Pretend that you feel cheerful and confident when you do not E.g.: Joon **put** **on a brave face** even at the worst of times.

Face to face with something Meaning: In a situation where you need to accept that something is true and deal with it E.g: He was at an early age **brought face to face** with the horrors of war.

To face the music Meaning: H aving to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions. E.g: He was caught stealing. Now he has **to face the music**.

Hand in glove with somebody Meaning: Two or more people who are in collusion, or work in close association E.g.: After the match, it was discovered that he was **hand in glove** with the referee.

To lend a hand Meaning: To help somebody with something. E.g.: I went over to his house to see if I **could lend a hand**.

Get your hands dirty Meaning: To become involved in all aspects of your job, including work that is physical, unpleasant or less interesting. E.g.: Her willingness to **get her hands dirty** won the respect and approval of the whole team.

A free hand Meaning: T he opportunity to make your own decisions, especially in a job E.g.: My boss has given me **a free hand** in the choice of agent.

All hands on deck Meaning: Everyone helps or must help, especially when there's a lot of work to be to done in a short amount of time E.g.: As the opening day approached, it was **all hands on deck** to have everything ready in time.

Have a big mouth Meaning(s): To be bad at keeping secrets/ to talk too much, especially about your own abilities and achievements E.g.: Her classmates do not like to be her friends because she **has a big mouth**.

My lips are sealed Meaning: Used when you promise not to reveal somebody’s secret to other people E.g.: “I promise I won't tell anyone. **My lips are sealed**!”

To Keep your mouth shut Meaning: To not talk about something to somebody because it is a secret or because it will annoy/upset them E.g.: I have warned them **to keep their mouths shut** about this.

Down in the mouth Meaning: unhappy, discouraged or depressed E.g.: You look a bit **down in the mouth**. What's the matter?

Lick/smack one 's lips Meaning(s): excited about something and are eager for it to happen./ To move your tongue over your lips, especially before eating something good E.g.: They were **smacking their lips** at the idea of the money they were going to make.

 To have a skeleton in the cupboard/closet Meaning: To have a guilty secret that is shocking, embarrassing, etc that has happened to you/your family E.g.: Politicians can't afford **to have any skeletons in the closet** these days. Their enemies are sure to find them.

Throw someone a bone Meaning: To give somebody a small part of what they want as a way of showing you want to help them, without offering them the main thing they want E.g.: The old man can't help very much but Bill **throws him a bone** now and then to keep him happy.

All skin and bone Meaning: Extremely thin E.g.: After trekking in the Himalayas, he was **all skin and bone.**

A bone of contention Meaning: A matter or subject about which there is a lot of disagreement E.g.: The salaries have been agreed on, but opening on Sundays remains **a bone of contention**.

Make no bones about (doing) something Meaning: To be honest, open and not hesitating about doing something E.g.: He **made no bones** about telling her exactly what he thought about her.



To keep one’s fingers crossed Meaning: If you keep your fingers crossed, you hope that something will be successful E.g.: I'm doing my driving test tomorrow. **Keep your fingers crossed** for me.

To have a finger in every pie Meaning: involved in many activities, interests. E.g.: For information about the town development project, you should talk to John. He **has a finger in every pie**.

To keep your finger on the pulse Meaning: Constantly aware of the most recent events or developments E.g.: A successful investor **keeps his finger on the pulse** of international business.

To work your fingers to the bone Meaning: To work very hard E.g.: He deserves his success; he **worked his fingers to the bone** when he started the business.

Thumbs up/ down Meaning: To show that something is accepted/ rejected or that it is/not a success E.g.: Their proposals were given the **thumbs down**.

To have your head in the clouds Meaning: To be thinking about something that is not connected with what you are doing. E.g.: He doesn't listen to the teacher - he's got his **head in the clouds** all the time To lose your head Meaning: To become unable to act in a calm/sensible way E.g.: If you're in a government office and an official is making life difficult for you, try not **to lose your head**. It won't help if you shout at them.

Head over heels in love Meaning: Loving somebody very much E.g.: Toni’s only interest at the moment is Maria. He's **head over heels in love** with her.

To have one's head screwed on Meaning: A person who is sensible and realistic. E.g.: Don't worry about him. He's adventurous but he's **got his head screwed on**.

To wet the baby's head Meaning: This expression means to have to drink to celebrate the birth of a baby E.g.: When his first child was born, Tom invited his colleagues to a local bar **to wet the baby’s head**.

To keep someone’s nose to the grindstone Meaning: To work hard for a long period of time without stopping E.g.: Mary **kept her nose to the grindstone** while her friends were out enjoying themselves.

To look down your nose at somebody/something. Meaning: To treat something or somebody with contempt, or consider them inferior. E.g.: Intellectuals often **look down their noses** at amusement parks and such.

To keep your nose clean Meaning To avoid doing anything wrong: E.g.: Since leaving prison, he has managed **to keep his nose clean**.

To follow one's nose Meaning: To be guided by your sense of smell /To go straight forward/ To act according to what seems right or reasonable E.g.: The station is at the end of the road - just **follow your nose**.

It's no skin off my nose Meaning: To use this expression means that you don't care if something happens. E.g.: **It's no skin off my nose** if he doesn't accept the invitation. I don't care one way or another.

To pull someone's leg Meaning: To tease somebody by telling them something that is not true. E.g.: Of course I'm not going to buy a sports car. I was just **pulling your leg**!

Not having a leg to stand on Meaning: To be in a situation where you are unable to proof/ explain why something is reasonable E.g.: Three people testified against him. He **didn't have a leg to stand on**.

Break a leg Meaning: To wish somebody good luck E.g.: Today's the big game, right? **Break a leg!**

To bring something to its knees Meaning: To badly affect an organization, etc. so that it can no longer function. E.g.: The strikes **brought the industry to its knees**.

The bee’s knees Meaning: An excellent person or thing. E.g.: “Jong Hun thinks he's **the bee's knees**.” means that Jong Hun has a high opinion of himself.

To smile/grin/beam from ear to ear Meaning: To be smiling a lot, etc. because you are happy about something E.g.: Lola **smiled from ear to ear** once she heard about the news.

Music to your ears Meaning: News/ information that you are very pleased to hear E.g.: The decision to restore the old building is **music to my ears**

Go in one ear and out the other Meaning: To make sure that you are aware of all that is happening and being said E.g.: Tim had **his ear to the ground**, hoping to find out about new ideas in computers.

To keep your ear to the ground Meaning: A matter or subject about which there is a lot of disagreement E.g.: The salaries have been agreed on, but opening on Sundays remains **a bone of contention**

To be up to your years in something Meaning: To have a lot of something to deal with E.g.: They are **up to their ears** in work.





Meaning - Envy Origin - Green is a colour associated with sickness, possibly because people's skin takes on a slightly yellow/green tinge when they are seriously ill. Green is also the colour of many unripe foods that cause stomach pains.
 * [[image:438125u6elm6y98k.gif]]The green-eyed monster**

The phrase was used by, and possibly coined by, Shakespeare to denote jealousy, in The Merchant of Venice, 1600:

Portia: How all the other passions fleet to air, As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair, And shuddering fear, and // **green-eyed** // jealousy! O love, Be moderate; allay thy ecstasy, In measure rein thy joy; scant this excess. I feel too much thy blessing: make it less, For fear I surfeit.

In Othello, Shakespeare also alludes to cats as green-eyed monsters in the way that they play with mice before killing them.

Iago: O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is // **the green-eyed monster** // which doth mock The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!

 Meaning - The blood that which flows in the veins of old and aristocratic families. Origin - A literal translation of the Spanish 'sangre azul', attributed to some of the oldest and proudest families of Castile, who claimed never to have intermarried with Moors, Jews, or other races. The expression probably originated in the blueness of the veins of people of fair complexion as compared with those of dark skin.
 * [[image:438125u6elm6y98k.gif]]Blue blood**

That was certainly the understanding in the 19th century, and there seems little reason to doubt it. In 1834 Maria Edgeworth published 'Helen', which reiterates that opinion:

"[Someone] from Spain, of high rank and birth, of the sangre azul, the // **blue blood** //."

[|Blue Blood]



Meaning - A worthless or disgraced member of a family. Origin - The first record of 'black sheep' in a derogatory sense that I can find in print is from Charles Macklin's The man of the world, a comedy, 1786:
 * [[image:438125u6elm6y98k.gif]]A black sheep**

"O, ye villain! you - you - you are //**a black sheep**//; and I'll mark you."

It isn't entirely clear why black sheep were selected to symbolize worthlessness. Possibly it is just the linking of black things with bad things, which is a long standing allusion in English texts - black mood, black looks etc. It may also be because shepherds disliked black sheep as their fleeces weren't suitable for dying and so were worth less than those of white sheep.

There is also a contradictory long-standing English country tradition that black sheep are omens of good fortune. The Folk-Lore Record, 1878, included this piece:

"We speak figuratively of the one black sheep that is the cause of sorrow in a family; but in its reality it is regarded by the Sussex shepherd as an omen of good luck to his flock."

Other 19th and 20th century references from Somerset, Kent, and Derbyshire agree with this view that black sheep indicate good luck; others say the opposite. Charles Igglesden, writing on Shropshire beliefs, in or about 1932, gave the opinion that black sheep were considered unlucky and added that the only way to avoid the bad luck is to cut their throats before they can 'baa'.



Meaning - A burdensome possession; creating more trouble than it is worth. Origin - White (albino) elephants were regarded as holy in ancient times in Thailand and other Asian countries. Keeping a white elephant was a very expensive undertaking, since the owner had to provide the elephant with special food and provide access for people who wanted to worship it. If a Thai King became dissatisfied with a subordinate, he would give him a white elephant. The gift would, in most cases, ruin the recipient.
 * [[image:438125u6elm6y98k.gif]]A white elephant**

References to Indian and Thai veneration of white elephants dates back to at least the early 17th century. The first reference in English to the idiomatic meaning of the term 'white elephant' comes in 1851 G. E. Jewbury's Letters, 1892:

"His services are like so many // **white elephants** ,// of which nobody can make use, and yet that drain one's gratitude, if indeed one does not feel bankrupt."



Meaning - Become angry; lose self-control. Origin - The colour red has many associations - heat, heated emotions and violence, communism, a sign of warning (as in traffic lights etc), ripeness (in fruit etc), the colour representing the British Empire on maps and, of course, blood. It is widely thought that 'see red' derives from the sport of bull-fighting and the toreador's use of a red cape to deceive the bull.
 * [[image:438125u6elm6y98k.gif]]To see red**

The phrase is known from the early 20th century and so is easily predated by the ancient sport, and more to the point, the knowledge of bull-fighting parlance in English-speaking countries, which dates from the mid-18th century.

That proposed derivation is backed up by the existence of the earlier phrase - 'like a red rag to a bull'. This is found in Charlotte Mary Yonge's novel The pillars of the house, 1873 "Jack will do for himself if he tells Wilmet her eyes are violet; it is like a red rag to a bull."

Bulls can't actually see in colour and are attracted by the waving of the cloth rather than the redness. That doesn't detract from the red cape theory as the origin of this phrase however.

There is an alternative possible derivation. The phrase may be an adaptation of an earlier American expression - 'to see things red'. That is unconnected to bull-fighting and alludes to a state of heightened emotion when the blood rises and we become angry - what these days is more often referred to as 'the red mist'. The earliest known example of this is in Jerome K. Jerome's Three men on the bummel, 1900:

"I began, as the American expression is, // **to see things red** //."

'See red' itself is found in print the following year. Lucas Malet, the pseudonym of Charles Kingsley's daughter Mary St. Leger Harrison, wrote the romance The history of Sir Richard Calmady in 1901, which included this line:

Happily violence is shortlived, only for a very little while do even the gentlest persons 'see red'.



Meaning - A coward. Origin - The term 'yellow-belly' is an archetypal American term, but began life in England in the late 18th century as a mildly derogatory nick-name. Grose's A provincial glossary; with a collection of local proverbs etc, 1787, lists it:
 * [[image:438125u6elm6y98k.gif]]Yellow-belly**

"Yellow bellies. This is an appellation given to persons born in the Fens, who, it is jocularly said, have // **yellow bellies** //, like their eels."

The usage wasn't limited to the Lincolnshire Fens. In the same year, Knight's Quarterly Magazine (London) published an account of life in the the Staffordshire Collieries. It began by describing the region as "a miserable tract of country commencing a few miles beyond Birmingham" and went on to recount a lady's attempts at guessing the nick-name of a local resident - Lie-a-bed, Cock-eye, Pig-tail and finally Yellow-belly.

 Meaning - In perfect condition, especially of health. Origin - The general usage of this phrase has altered somewhat since it first entered the language. We now usually see it with the specific meaning of 'the pink of condition', i.e. in the best possible health. It is tempting but, as it turns out, misguided, to assume an association between 'the pink of condition' and the healthily glowing pink cheeks of new-born babies or energetic sportsmen/sportswomen and the like.
 * [[image:438125u6elm6y98k.gif]]In the pink**

The earliest citations of 'in the pink' are from the 16th century and, at that time, the meaning was 'the very pinnacle of something', but not necessarily limited to health. The earliest example that I can find of pink being used with that meaning is from 1597 Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, 1597: Mercurio: Why, I am the very pinke of curtesie.

The earliest citation I've found for 'in the pink' is from Leigh's Kensington Gardens, 1720: "'Tis the Pink of the Mode, to marry at first Sight: - And some, indeed, marry without any Sight at all." The 'pink of the mode', i.e. the acme of excellence of fashion, was a common early usage and continued to be used throughout the 19th century, as here from Thackeray, 1840: "In the very pink of the mode."

Dickens, in his Letters, 1845, demonstrates the difference from our current usage: "Of all the picturesque abominations in the World, commend me to Fondi. It is the very pink of hideousness and squalid misery." It isn't until the 20th century that we find the phrase in the 'pink of condition' form that is currently used, in the Kynoch Journal, 1905: "Makers may dispatch explosives from the factory //**in the pink**// of condition."




 * ACTIVITY 1:** CROSSWORD PUZZLE


 * OBJECTIVE:** TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE COMMON IDIOMS AND THE GROUPS.


 * STEPS:** FIND THE IDIOMS ACCORDING TO ITS MEANING IN THE CROSSWORD:

1. He is **thick in the head**. 2. His comments **threw a wet blanket** on the discussion. 3. Jack was **hard up** to pay his rent. 4. They were **beat after three days of hard work**. 5. A _ letter word is one that is considered rude or vulgar. 6. If you understand immediately what someone is trying to say, they might say to you "Got it in _." 7. As _ as a daisy. 8. As _ as a bell. 9. As _ as a mule. 10. As _ as the hills.




 * ACTIVITY 2**: CHARADES


 * OBJECTIVE**: EXPOSING THE STUDENTS IN A NEW AND FUN WAY TO EXPRESS IDIOMS.


 * STEPS**: THE CLASS IS DIVIDED INTO 2 GROUPS AND EACH GROUP HAVE TO SEND 1 MEMBER TO THE FRONT OF CLASS AND HE/SHE WILL BE GIVEN ONE IDIOM TO CHOOSE FROM A BOX AND HE/SHE WILL DEMONSTRATE IT ONLY BY EXPRESSING WITH THE BODY. NO WORDS ARE ALLOWED AND THE REMAINING MEMBERS HAVE TO GUESS THE IDIOM.


 * ACTIVITY 3:** EXERCISE


 * OBJECTIVE:** TO SEE WHETHER THE STUDENTS REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IDIOMS.


 * STEPS:** STUDENTS WILL BE GIVEN QUESTIONS. BELOW ARE THE QUESTIONS. ANSWER EVERY QUESTIONS.

1. A man "after my own heart" means _. __a.__ liking the same things as me b. looks like me c. follows me

2. To "call it a day" means. a. to quit b. it becomes evening c. to say good morning

3. To "make off with" means to _. a. leave behind b. kiss c. steal

4. To "screw up" is to __. a. do it perfectly b. make a mess c. go higher and higher

5. If you are "stuck up", you are__. a. snobbish b. in trouble c. problematical

6. If it is "par for the course", it is __. a. typical b. very good c. terrible

7. If you get a "head start", you__. a. are the winner b. are lost c. begin before the others

8. "Fat chance" means _ __. a. very lucky b. no possibility c. unlucky

9. To "nose around" is to__ _. a. be difficult b. explore c. lose

10. "Razzle dazzle" is ___. a. a fancy display b. an unusual event c. something impossible