IDIOMS AND PROVERBS

ALPHABETICALLY AND WITH PICTURES

To see the idioms and pictures click on the index at the top of each slide

For example, click on A-E if you want to read and see examples and pictures of idioms starting in A,B,C,D and E.

Remember….

Origins of the proverb ROME WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY -- "Invoked when a task is too

big to be accomplished quickly, this familiar saying was originally a French proverb, 'Rome was not made all in one day,' which was recorded in 'Li Proverbe au Vilain' (c. 1190). The English version did not appear until three centuries later, when it was included first in Richard Taverner's translation of 'Erasmus' Adages' as 'Rome was not buylt in one day,' and then a year later in John Heywood's 'A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of all the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue' as 'Rome was not bylt on a daie (quoth he) & yet stood Tyll it was fynysht.' 'Rome was not built.' was subsequently quoted or adapted by." many others. From "Wise Words and Wives' Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and Folk Sayings Olde and New" by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon Books, New York, 1993). Page 158.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Origin of :nothing ventured nothing gainedNOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED - " You can't

get anywhere unless you're willing to take a risk. The saying dates back to Chaucer (c. 1374) and is similar to the late fourteenth century French proverb: Qui onques rien n'enprist riens n'achieva (He who never undertook anything never achieved anything) The proverb was included in John Heyword's collection of proverbs in 1546. First cited in the United States in 'Letters and Papers of Cadwallader Colden . It takes varying forms: Nothing ventured, nothing lost, nothing ventured, nothing won, etc. ." From the "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).

IDIOMS- A- EA- E http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/stu

dent/idioms/idiomsmain.html

A- B-a bad apple-be a piece of cake-be all ears-be the apple of someone’s eye-beat around the bush- Bite off more than one can chew- The bottom line- Be broke- Bug someone- Butterflies in someone’s stomach

C- Can’t make head nor tail (out) of

something/someone- Catch someone’s eye- Be chicken- Cold feet- Couch potato- Be down in the dumps

D and E- Drive someone up the wall

- Eat one’s word

F – Jhttp://humanities.byu.edu/elc/stu

dent/idioms/idiomsmain.html

F - JFall in love with Feel like a fish out of water

G Get over somethingGet up/wake up on the wrong side

of bedGive someone a handGo nuts

Be glued to somethingGrab a biteH Hit the bookA hand-me-downHere you go/areHit the ceiling/roofHit the nail on the head

Hold one’s horsesIBe in a pickleBe in the same boatIt’s easier said than doneBe in hot waterIt’s about time

K- O--http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.htmlKeep an eye on

sthg/someoneKill timeLet someone knowMake ends meetBe on the tip of

someone’s tongueOnce in a blue moonOut of the blueOut of the frying

pan and into the fire

P-Thttp://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.htmlPop the questionPlay it by earPull someone’s legPut all your eggs in one basketPut yourself in someone’s shoes

R- Race against the clock/timeRead between the linesRings a bell to someoneSSee the lightSo far so good

TTake it easyThat makes two of usThat’s thatTime will tellBe tongue-tiedThe tip of the icebergTurn your back on (someone)

U-ZBe under pressureUp in the airWWear one’s heart on one’s sleeveWhen it rains, it poursWhen pigs flyYYou can say that again

Exercise- try to guess the idiom represented in each picture

PROVERBS- A-Z

A-E-http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.html

F-Jhttp://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.html

LIST OF PROVERBS http://humanities.byu.edu/elc/student/idioms/idiomsmain.html

Keys to idioms exercise-1. one in a blue moon2. to be caught red-handed3. To be all ears4. To bug someone5. To beat around the bush6. To pop the question7. To kill time8. To be like fish out of water9. To go nuts10. To get cold feet11. To eat your words12. To drive someone up the wall13. To catch someone’s eyes14. out of the blue

Resources from: English Language Cyber CenterEnglish Idioms and ProverbsOther resources

◦Interactive games: http://www.autoenglish.org/idioms/commonidioms/commonidioms.html

Common idioms exercisesInteractive matching activityhttp://www.autoenglish.org/idiom

s/commonidioms/commonidioms.html

Essential idioms◦http://www.autoenglish.org/jungle.ht

ml#Essential_◦Time expressions◦http://www.autoenglish.org/idioms/id.

time.pdf