BYBYSANJIV KUMARSANJIV KUMAR LecturerLecturer

Govt.sen.sec.school ,Govt.sen.sec.school , Randhawa (Fgs.)Randhawa (Fgs.)

Contents

Definition of Idioms.

Use of Idioms

Queries.

Bibliography.

A group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words e.g. : ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ means to tell a secret by mistake.

(formal) the kind of language and grammar used by particular people at a particular time or place

IdiomsIdioms

In good spiritsIn good spirits

Hurry up!

'ask for it'ask for it to deserve sth bad that happens to

you or that sb does to you

(build) castles in the 'air(build) castles in the 'air

(to have) plans or dreams that are not likely to happen or come true

Part and ParcelPart and Parcel

float / walk on 'airfloat / walk on 'air In seventh heavenIn seventh heaven

to feel very happy

up in the 'airup in the 'air not yet decided : Our travel

plans are still up in the air.

on /off (the) 'airon /off (the) 'air broadcasting or not

broadcasting on television or radio:

(with) arms akimbo(with) arms akimbo

with your hands on your hips and your elbows pointing away from your body

at daggers 'drawnat daggers 'drawn

if two people are at daggers drawn, they are very angry with each other

the apple of sb’s 'eyethe apple of sb’s 'eye a person or thing that is

loved more than any other

you scratch 'my back you scratch 'my back and I’ll scratch 'yoursand I’ll scratch 'yours

(saying) used to say that if sb helps you, you will help them, even if this is unfair to other

bag and 'baggagebag and 'baggage

with all your possessions, especially secretly or suddenly:

the ball is in the ball is in your / sb’s 'courtyour / sb’s 'court

It is your/sb’s responsibility to take action next:

go bananasgo bananas

(slang) to become angry, crazy or silly

put all your eggs in one put all your eggs in one 'basket'basket

to rely on one particular course of action for success rather than giving yourself several different possibilities

to beard the lion in his 'dento beard the lion in his 'den to go to see an important or powerful

person to tell them that you disagree with them, that you want sth, etc.

•blow your own 'trumpetblow your own 'trumpet

to praise your own abilities and

achievements talkingtalking 1919 to to

the dozenthe dozenTo talk without stopping

cool your 'heelscool your 'heels

(informal) to have to wait for sb/sth

it never rains but it it never rains but it 'pours'pours

(saying) used to say that when one bad thing happens to you, other bad things happen soon after

like a cat that’s got the like a cat that’s got the 'cream (BrE) (US like the 'cream (BrE) (US like the

cat thatcat that

got / ate / swallowed the got / ate / swallowed the canary)canary)

very pleased with yourself

lend an 'ear (to lend an 'ear (to sb/sth)sb/sth) to listen in a patient and

sympathetic way to sb Dressed upto the

nines(wearing formal clothes)

at the at the eleventh eleventh

'hour'hour at the last possible

moment; just in time

a 'feather in your capa 'feather in your cap

an action that

you can be proud of

(as) fit as a 'fiddle(as) fit as a 'fiddle

(informal) in very good physical condition

by / in fits and 'starts

frequently starting and

stopping again; not continuously:

gird (up) your gird (up) your 'loins'loins

(literary or humorous) to get ready to do sth difficult:

fools rush 'in (where angels fear to 'tread) (saying) people with little experience try to do the difficult or

dangerous things which more experienced people would not consider doing

be / go out of be / go out of your 'mindyour 'mind

to be unable to think or behave in a normal way; to become crazy:

have your head in have your head in the 'cloudsthe 'clouds

1.to be thinking about sth that is not connected with what you are doing

2.to have ideas, plans, etc. that are not realistic

keep your 'head | keep a keep your 'head | keep a clear / cool 'headclear / cool 'head

to remain calm in a difficult situation

two heads are better two heads are better than 'onethan 'one

(saying) used to say that two people can achieve more than one person working alone

in deep in deep 'waters 'waters

in trouble or difficulty

in black and white

in writing or in print:

there’s little / no there’s little / no 'love lost between 'love lost between

A and BA and B they do not like each other:

get on sb’s 'nervesget on sb’s 'nerves

(informal) to annoy sb

burn the candle at both 'ends

to become very tired by trying to do too many things and going to bed late and getting up early

burn the midnight 'oilburn the midnight 'oil to study or work until late at night

ask, cry, etc. for the 'moon

to ask for sth that is difficult or impossible to get or achieve

once in a blue 'moononce in a blue 'moon very rarely

a snake (in the 'grass)

(disapproving) a person who pretends to be your friend but who cannot be trusted

e.g. The Count of Morcerf was a snake in the grass.

a 'stone’s a 'stone’s throwthrow

a very short distance away: We live just a stone’s throw from the road.

take sth/sb by 'stormtake sth/sb by 'storm

1. to be extremely successful very quickly in a particular place or among particular people

The Indian Cricket team took every body by storm when they beat Australia by 2 -0 in the test series.

a bird’s-eye 'view (of a bird’s-eye 'view (of sth)sth)

a view of sth from a high position looking down

turn 'turtle (of a boat) to turn over completely

while sailing

Selling like hot Selling like hot cakescakes

To make merry To make merry (enjoy)(enjoy)

Numbers upLots of idioms are about numbers. See if you can fill in the missing numbers in these says. What do they mean?

Dressed up to the ______

Talking ___ to the dozen

Once in a ______

Playing ______ fiddle

In _______ heaven

Animal Crackers It’s raining ____ and dogs!

I’ve got a ____ in my throat

Those are just ______tears

He’s taken the -------share

I can smell a ___

To break the ice To be the first to say or do something hoping that others will join you

To have a chip on your shoulder

Describes a person who is angry and defensive or who is always ready to argue or fight

Hold your horses Be patient; wait a minute

Over the hill Old or too old to do something

On cloud nine Very happy or excited

Pulling your leg Teasing you

Common Idioms and their Common Idioms and their meanings:meanings:

•www.funbrain.com/idioms/ has fun idiom games.

•www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/6720/ has an a to z list of idioms with categories and quizzes.

•www.idiomagic.com/dgl is a site about a software program you can buy about idioms.

•http://a4esl.org/q/h/idioms.html is another idioms review site .

•www.english-zone.com/idioms/ has practice quizzes.

•www.idiomsite.com/-history tells where specific idioms originated.

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