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Academic Idioms

A and B

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Ace in the Hole Secret Reserve of Strengthphrase comes from the reserve card in a poker game.

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Albatross aroundOne’s Neck

Burden to Be Bornphrase comes from Coleridge's poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner

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Achille’s Heel

Vulnerability

phrase comes from the Greek myth of Achilles.

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Cost an Arm and a Leg

Be Very Expensive

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Put on theBack Burner

Make Something Less Important

the back burner on the stove is usually smaller and out-of-the-way

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Back to Square One

Start Over at Beginning

phrase comesfrom boardgames

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Bad Mouth

Speak Badlyof Someone

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Bark Up Wrong Tree

Look in theWrong Direction

phrase comesfrom hunting with

dogs

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Let’s Practice

incorrect correct

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Reading skills are my ace in the hole for getting good grades.

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Reading skills are my ace in the hole for getting good grades.

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After I moved to America, I had to go back to square one in school.

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After I moved to America, I had to go back to square one in school.

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I love cleaning house, so it’s an albatross around my neck!

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I love cleaning house, so it’s an albatross around my neck!

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I hate cleaning house, so it’s an albatross around my neck!

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Disrespect for others in the classroom is my Achilles’ heel. It just drives me crazy!

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Disrespect for others in the classroom is my Achilles’ heel. It just drives me crazy!

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I am working on my new book every day. I had to put it on the back burner to get ready for the spring semester.

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I am working on my new book every day. I had to put it on the back burner to get ready for the spring semester.

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I cannot work on my new book right now. I had to put it on the back burner to get ready for the spring semester.

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It is not nice to bad mouth others behind their backs.

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It is not nice to bad mouth others behind their backs.

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Housing in California is so cheap that it costs an arm and a leg!

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Housing in California is so cheap that it costs an arm and a leg!

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Housing in California is so expensive that it costs an arm and a leg!

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Watching the movie instead of reading the book is sure barking up the wrong tree to get a good test grade.

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Watching the movie instead of reading the book is sure barking up the wrong tree to get a good test grade.

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