LEARNING ENGLISH

AdaTeachesLEARNING ENGLISH

An idiom is an expression that has a figurative meaning unrelated to the literal meaning of the phrase.WHAT IS A IDIOM?

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.

IDIOMS

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.

WHY LEARN IDIOMS FOR RECOGNITION?

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.

WHY USE THEM YOURSELF?

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.

TIMEShes had headaches four days _________________ because of tension about tomorrows Accounting test. (one after another, consecutively)

He handed in that assignment _______________________ because he wanted to take time off.(before, in advance)

Theyll get their grades _____________________, about two weeks from now when processing is complete.(in the usual amount of time)

in due coursein a rowahead of time

TIME (the answers)Shes had headaches four days IN A ROW because of tension about tomorrows Accounting test.

He handed in that assignment AHEAD OF TIME because he wanted to take time off.

Theyll get their grades IN DUE COURSE, about two weeks from now when processing is complete.

in due coursein a rowahead of time

BEING REALISTIC_______________ for you to share your apartment and save money. (it seems reasonable)

_____________________. Theres no easy way for us to complete this work. (lets be realistic)

They party all night and still want top grades, but ____ _________________________________. (they cant have both things)

they cant have their cake and eat it tooit makes senselets not kid ourselves

BEING REALISTIC (the answers) IT MAKES SENSE for you to share your apartment and save money.

LETS NOT KID OURSELVES. Theres no easy way for us to complete this work.

They party all night and still want top grades, but THEY CANT HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.

they cant have their cake and eat it tooit makes senselets not kid ourselves

BEING CRITICALYou cheated and were caught, so ___________ ____________. (you deserve it)

Youd like to win $1 million on the lottery? Well, _________ ______________. (dont expect it to happen quickly)

That teacher works hard, but is unpopular because she _______________________. (annoys other people)

it serves you rightrubs people the wrong waydont hold your breath

BEING CRITICAL (the answers)You cheated and were caught, so IT SERVES YOU RIGHT.

Youd like to win $1 million on the lottery? Well, DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH.

That teacher works hard, but is unpopular because she RUBS PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY.

it serves you rightrubs people the wrong waydont hold your breath

ENCOURAGING OR PRAISINGYou were sick during the exam but got the highest grade. _________________. (congratulations)

_________________ if you didnt get that job. I know you tried hard and learned a lot. (dont worry about it; it doesnt matter)

You find college work hard, but I think youll succeed, so _______________. (dont give up; stay with it)

hang in therenever mindgood for you

ENCOURAGING OR PRAISING (the answers)You were sick during the exam but got the highest grade. GOOD FOR YOU!

NEVER MIND if you didnt get that job. I know you tried hard and learned a lot.

You find college work hard, but I think youll succeed, so HANG IN THERE!

hang in therenever mindgood for you

MONEY MATTERSSteve is ______________ at the mall because his day job doesnt pay a good income. (doing another job in the evenings)

His boss is a _____________and doesnt pay Steve enough. (someone who isnt generous with his money)

Joe fixes cars and sometimes makes good money if he works __________________. (without keeping records or paying taxes)

under the tablemoonlightingcheapskate

MONEY MATTERS (the answers)Steve is MOONLIGHTING at the mall because his day job doesnt pay much money.

His boss is a CHEAPSKATE and doesnt pay Steve enough.

Joe fixes cars and sometimes makes good money if he works UNDER THE TABLE.

under the tablemoonlightingcheapskate

ANGER OR FRUSTRATIONWe __________that teacher as he is so boring.(dislike strongly)

He was _______________when he told us how clever he is. (making me angry)

One thing ___________ is his voice. I hate shouting. (that annoys me)

driving me up the wallthat bugs mecant stand

ANGER OR FRUSTRATION (the answers)We CANT STAND that teacher as he is so boring.

He was DRIVING ME UP THE WALL when he told us how clever he is.

One thing THAT BUGS ME is his voice. I hate shouting.

driving me up the wallthat bugs mecant stand

SURPRISE _______________they didnt recognize their old house. They havent been there for 20 years. (it is not surprising)

Her green hair made him _________________. (pay attention)

He _____________how strange she looks. (finds it difficult to believe)

no wondercant get oversit up and take notice

SURPRISE (the answers)NO WONDER they didnt recognize their old house. They havent been there for 20 years.

Her green hair MADE HIM SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.

He CANT GET OVER how strange she looks.

no wondercant get oversit up and take notice

PAIRSWe learn best ________________, from our mistakes. (by learning while taking action)

Mr. Zhang is the __________ of the candidates, in fact possibly the best qualified. (final but not less important than others)

Before a big decision, ______________. (consider both the advantages and disadvantages)

weigh the pros and conslast but not leastby trial and error

PAIRS (the answers)We learn best BY TRIAL AND ERROR, from our mistakes.

Mr. Zhang is LAST BUT NOT LEAST of the candidates, in fact possibly the best qualified.

Before a big decision, CONSIDER THE PROS AND CONS.

weigh the pros and conslast but not leastby trial and error

SOCIAL LIFEThe boy _____________ by returning my wallet. (helped me)

She forgives me, with _________________. (without regret)

I missed the test when I ____________time. (I forgot about)

did me a good turnno hard feelingslost track of

SOCIAL LIFE (the answers)The boy DID ME A GOOD TURN by returning my wallet.

She forgives me, with NO HARD FEELINGS.

I missed the test when I LOST TRACK OF time.

did me a good turnno hard feelingslost track of

SPORTSYou must make this decision, not her. The ______________________. (its your turn to take action)

Hes a strong leader and will ___________. (make sure theyre ready)

I beat Jo in the last game, so Jo wants ____. (to retaliate, pay me back)

keep them on their toesthe balls in your courtto get even

SPORTS (the answers)You must make this decision, not her. The BALLS IN YOUR COURT.

Hes a strong leader and will KEEP THEM ON THEIR TOES.

I beat Jo in the last game, so Jo wants TO GET EVEN.

keep them on their toesthe balls in your courtto get even

People use idioms to make their language richer and more colorful and to convey subtle shades of meaning or intention. Idioms are used often to replace a literal word or expression, and many times the idiom better describes the full nuance of meaning. Idioms and idiomatic expressions can be more precise than the literal words, often using fewer words but saying more. For example, the expression it runs in the family is shorter and more succinct than saying that a physical or personality trait 'is fairly common throughout one's extended family and over a number of generations.'"

FUNCTION OF IDIOMS

Steve Harvey's Interview with President Obama

cover a lot of ground

to deal with much information and many facts.

29

love somebody to death to feel extremely strong affection for someone

A hot potato Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed

A penny for your thoughts A way of asking what someone is thinking

Actions speak louder than words People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.

Add insult to injury To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation.

An arm and a leg Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.

At the drop of a hat without any hesitation; instantly.

Back to the drawing board When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.

Ball is in your court It is up to you to make the next decision or step

Barking up the wrong tree Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person

Beat around the bush Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.

Best of both worlds All the advantages. Best thing since sliced bread A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.

Bite off more than you can chew To take on a task that is way to big.

Can't judge a book by its cover Cannot judge something primarily on appearance.

Cross that bridge when you come to it Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before

Curiosity killed the cat Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.

Cut corners When something is done badly to save money.

Devil's Advocate To present a counter argument

Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched Don't make plans for something that might not happen

Don't put all your eggs in one basket Do not put all your resources in one possibility.

Drastic times call for drastic measures When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions.

Every cloud has a silver lining Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.

Feel a bit under the weather Feeling slightly ill.

Give the benefit of the doubt Believe someone's statement, without proof.

Hit the nail on the head Do or say something exactly right

Hit the sack / sheets / hay To go to bed

In the heat of the moment Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.

It takes two to tango Actions or communications need more than one person

Jump on the bandwagon Join a popular trend or activity.

Kill two birds with one stone To accomplish two different things at the same time.

Last straw The final problem in a series of problems

Let sleeping dogs lie do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in trouble or complications.

Let the cat out of the bag To share information that was previously concealed

Make a long story short Come to the point - leave out details

Method to my madness An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it.

Miss the boat someone missed his or her chanceThat ship has sailed

Not a spark of decency No manners

Once in a blue moon Happens very rarely.

Picture paints a thousand words A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.

Piece of cake A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple

Sit on the fence This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.

Speak of the devil! This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.

Steal someone's thunder To take the credit for something someone else did.

Take with a grain of salt This means not to take what someone says too seriously.

Taste of your own medicine Means that something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else

Wouldn't be caught dead Would never like to do something

Your guess is as good as mine To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question

Figuratively means metaphorically, and literally describes something that actually happened. The metaphorical, idiomatic, or ironic sense of a word or expression, in contrast to its literal meaning.

figuratively/literally

If you say that a guitar solo literally blew your head off, your head should not be attached to your body. Most of us were taught that figuratively means something other than literal, and that literally means "actually" or "exactly."

Somewhere along the line, literally began to be used as, well, figuratively, like this: But they're also going to create literally a tidal wave of data. (Washington Post) There wasn't an actual tidal wave, just a lot of data. Here are some examples that make word nerds literally smile: Today, protesters literally occupy Wall Street, camping in Zuccotti Park at the heart of New York's financial district. (Washington Post) They're really, actually there. People can literally drown in their own body fluids. (Scientific American) "We literally had fish blood running through the parking lot," he says. (Forbes) Ew, but true.

Figuratively is more imaginative, it's used when you mean something didn't really happen. It's metaphorical, as in these examples with boats and feathers: Besides, figuratively speaking, they are still in the same boat. (Mayne Reid)So Joshas he figuratively put ithad not a feather to fly with. (Burford Delannoy)

Although literally has been horning in on figuratively's turf, they're really not the same, in fact the two words are often go together to complete a picture: Watching a waterfall drowns out literally and figuratively everyday cares. (Seattle Times) "The Piano Lesson" tells a more haunting story, both literally and figuratively. (New York Times)

Will people understand you if you use literally when you mean figuratively? Sure. Most people will recognize that when you say, "The guitar solo literally blew my head off" it was an awesome solo, but your head is, in fact, still on your neck.

Cognitive linguists in particular disagree with the notion that figurative language is derivative or supplementary to literal language and instead argue that figurative language, particularly metaphor and metonymy, reflect the way we conceptualize abstract notions in terms of more concrete ones"

CONTROVERSY

"In France there is a saying 'C'est quoi, ce Bronx?' Literally it means, 'What is this, the Bronx?' Figuratively it means 'What a dump!'"

Eccentric first came into English in 1551 as a technical term in astronomy, meaning 'a circle in which the earth, sun, etc. deviates from its center.' . . . "In 1685, the definition slid from the literal to the figurative. Eccentric was defined as 'deviating from the usual character or practice; unconventional; whimsical; odd,' as in an eccentric genius, an eccentric millionaire. . . . The astronomical meaning of eccentric has only historical relevance today, while the figurative meaning is the commonly recognized one"

Eccentric

Too often you are chasing your own (tale or tail), getting nowhere, and in the process losing all your energy.

Rocco insisted that unlocking both combination locks would be a (peace or piece) of cake.

The governor recommended across-the-(board or bored) cuts in spending.

Everybody has a cross to (bare or bear), and so we might as well get used to it.

Don't hold your (breath or breathe) waiting for your friends to say thank-you.