Idioms

1. When Richard said something about his brother's surprise birthday party, he "let the cat out of the bag."

Richard gave his brother a cat for his birthday. Richard revealed a secret. Richard's brother is celebrating his birthday.

2. Mr. Evans was "in the doghouse" with his wife because

he spent all day Sunday watching football instead of helping her clean the house.

Mr. Evans enjoys watching football. Mr. Evans is going to build a doghouse for his dog.

Mrs. Evans is angry with her husband.

3. When George asked Karen how she knew that William was

getting married, she said that she "heard it straight from the

horse's mouth." William told Karen that he was getting married. Karen and William are getting married. George told Karen that he was getting married.

4. When I clean my house today, I can also

rearrange the furniture. That way, I can "kill two birds with one stone."

I have a lot of time to clean the house. I can do two things at the same time. I can rearrange the furniture after I clean the house.

5. David moved to the countryside because

living in the city had become such a "rat

race."

David moved to the countryside because there were too many rats in the city. David was stressed out by the hectic pace of life in the city. David thought that the city was too dangerous.

6. Even though Mrs. Jensen is no "spring chicken," she still enjoys swimming and running every day.

Mrs. Jensen is not young, but she enjoys exercising. Mrs. Jensen doesn't eat chicken. Mrs. Jensen is training for a marathon race.

7. The news that he had been accepted by the University was "music

to Mike's ears."

Mike is going to study music at the university. Mike received some very good news. Mike enjoys listening to music.

8. Wayne doesn't know for sure what he's

going to do tomorrow. He'll "play it by ear."

Wayne will listen to his friend tomorrow. Wayne will make a definite plan for tomorrow. Wayne won't make a definite plan for tomorrow.

9. When Robert met his girlfriend after a long separation, he told her that she was a "sight

for sore eyes."

Robert told his girlfriend that he was happy to see her. Robert told his girlfriend that his eyes were sore. Robert told his girlfriend that she had pretty eyes.

10. Jack told his wife to "keep her eyes peeled" for a gas

station because they were almost out of

gas.

Jack told his wife that they were out of gas. Jack told his wife to look at the gas station. Jack told his wife to look for a gas station.

11. The way that Cindy was fired from her job "left a bad taste in

her mouth."

Cindy ate some strange food. Cindy was fired because she said something rude. Cindy had some bad feelings about being fired.

12. When I told my mom I would be home around 2 am, "she had a cow!"

My mom bought a baby cow.My mom is really strange. My mom was really upset.

13. Jean: How did you know it was my birthday today? Susan: Oh, "a little birdie told me!"

Jean told Susan it was her birthday. An unnamed person told Susan about Jean's birthday. Susan told Jean it was her birthday.

14. Oh, "he's such a scaredy cat! "He won't get on any fast ride.

Sam's brother is afraid to ride the roller coaster.Sam's brother is a cat. Sam's brother didn't go to the roller coaster.

15. When the telephone salesman told me I could buy some

concert tickets for only $10.00 if I gave him my credit card number, it" seemed a little

fishy to me," so I hung up the phone.

I thought the telephone salesman smelled like a fish and I didn't like that. I thought the phone salesman was a dangerous fish and he scared me. I thought the phone salesman was dishonest and I felt suspicious of him.