Idiom practice

Here are a number of idiom's you won't have seen in any every day English learning text books.  They are all used in every day conversation between people whose native tongue is English.  Any further questions about the expressions please leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.  Enjoy!  Happy learning. 

Plenty more fish in the sea

I broke up with my long term boyfriend.  Don’t worry Sally, cheer up.  There are “plenty more fish in the sea”.

Keep your chin up

I failed my English test for the second time yesterday.  Keep being positive, “keep your chin up.”

Bored to death

Did you enjoy the movie Adam?  In truth, I was “bored to death”.

Go cold turkey

You look stressed today, is everything okay?  Yeah I am.  After smoking for twelve years I am “going cold turkey” and giving up.  It’s tough!

Two-timer (two-timing)

I am worried about my relationship with my boyfriend.  I think he is “two-timing” me.  Do you think he is a “two-timer?”

Sugar coat

My boss said a lot of good things about me after my first month in my new job in his report.  However I think he is “sugar coating” how he truly feels. 

Butterflies in my stomach

I think I could be falling in love with Daniel.  I get “butterflies in my stomach” every time we go on a date.

Chemistry

I am thinking of getting a divorce from my wife.  We hardly speak to each other in the house and we are always fighting.  There is zero “chemistry” between us anymore.

That ship has sailed

I asked my friend to come camping with me this summer but she has already made plans to go camping with her family.  “I guess that ship has sailed.”

Gob smacked

I was “gob smacked” when I stood next to him.  He was so tall and handsome.  My friends were so jealous when I showed them the picture.

See eye to eye

My brother and I never “saw eye to eye” when we were growing up.  So now we hardly ever talk to each other. 

Jumped on the bandwagon

Back in 2016 everyone suddenly started playing pokemon go, so I “jumped on the bandwagon" and also played the game.  It was great fun.

A blessing in disguise

I was late for my bus today but later that day I heard it crashed, so it was a real “blessing in disguise”.  I was so lucky.

Pins and needles

I have no feeling in my right leg.  I think I have “pins and needles!"

Gone pear-shaped

My open class started so well. However when we played the game at the end the students started being too noisy, it all went “pear-shaped."

 It’s roasting!

Its shorts and t-shirt weather today. The temperature will be 31 degrees.  “It’s roasting” outside.

   
You are on thin ice

I had a terrible day.  First, I was late to class then I had forgotten to bring my homework.  I’m “on thin ice” with my English teacher.

Let’s take a rain check

I would love to come out for some beers but I have a very important exam tomorrow.  “Let’s take a rain check” on those beers.  How about tomorrow night after my exam is finished?

Break the ice

I was so nervous in my new job.  So to “break the ice” with my new co-workers I bought them all coffee after lunch.

Let the cat out of the bag

I am so angry with my brother.  I had planned a surprise birthday party for my Dad but my brother “let the cat out of the bag” and told him.

The elephant in the room

Thank you for coming to my office so quickly.  We have to address “the elephant in the room” first.  Why did you have a fight with James?

On the fence

What’s your opinion on Donald Trump?  I really don’t know.  I am really “on the fence” about him.  I agree with some of his policies but then disagree with others.

Leave no stone unturned

The police “left no stone unturned” when the searched everywhere for the missing young girl.

Splash out

I worked so hard this year my boss rewarded me by giving me a pay raise.  I think I’m going to “splash out” and buy myself a nice new BMW

Two peas in a pod

I have such a good relationship with my best friend Lucy.  We have the same interests, have the same hairstyle and we both like the same boy bands.  We really are like “two peas in a pod."

Let’s grab a bite

I am feeling hungry after the long work out.  “Let’s grab a bite”, what do want to eat?

Fit as a fiddle

Since Tony has been on a strict diet plan he has lost over 8kgs in about six months.  He looks as “fit as a fiddle” these days.

Better late than never

My Christmas presents from my family arrived about two weeks late.  They arrived today, “better late than never!”

Cut to the chase

I wish Luke would just ‘cut to the chase”, his story is so boring, it’s taking forever. ZZZZZ!

No pain, no gain

I feel so tired today but I must still go to the gym and work out.  “No pain, no gain”.

Once in a blue moon

I don’t really like raw fish so I only eat it “once in a blue moon”.

As right as rain

I felt really sick earlier, but after taking some medicine , I feel “as right as rain”.

Speak of the devil

My friend and I were talking about Chris teacher in the coffee shop, when “speak of the devil” Chris walked in.

The best of both worlds

My wife wanted to relax and read and I wanted to go surfing so we went to the beach, it was “the best of both worlds”.

That’s the last straw

I gave the student two chances in class to change his attitude or he will have to wait in the hallway.  But “the last straw” was when he called a classmate a bad name.

By the skin of my teeth

I passed my history test “by the skin of my teeth”.  To pass the test you needed 80 percent or higher.  I passed with 81 percent.  PHEW!

I owe you one

My friend drove me to work today as my car had broken on the highway.  I really “owe him one”. 

Pull yourself together

It’s been three months since you’ve had a job.  “Pull yourself together” and get looking in the job section on the internet or in a newspaper.

Stay tuned for your next English article all about Korean Premier League football star Son Heung-min .  Out on Monday. (May 18th)