English Idioms Relating to Personality Worksheet
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English idioms relating to PERSONALITY - CHARACTER - DESCRIPTIONS OF PEOPLE The apple of your eye. If somebody is the apple of your eye, this means that you like them very much: "My grandson is the apple of my eye". A bad egg To refer to someone as a bad egg means that they cannot be trusted. "I don't want my son to be friends with Bobby Smith. Bobby's a bad egg." Have something on the brain If you have something on the brain, you think or talk about it constantly. "Stop talking about golf. You've got golf on the brain!" A fat cat To refer to a rich and powerful person as a fat cat means that you disapprove of the way they use their money or power. Like chalk and cheese . Two people who are like chalk and cheese are completely different from each other. A chip off the old block They resemble one of their parents in appearance, character or behaviour. "James is a chip off the old block - he reacts exactly the same way as his father." As cool as a cucumber . A person who is as cool as a cucumber is a person who is not anxious, but relaxed and non-emotional. On edge . A person who is "on edge" is anxious or nervous. Sour grapes . To say that someone's attitude is "sour grapes" means that they are making complaints or accusations because they are jealous. Get the hang of something When you get the hang of an activity, you now know how to do it correctly. Hard as nails A person who is as hard as nails is someone very unsympathetic who does not seem to care about others. A dark horse . If you refer to a person as a "dark horse", you mean that they are secretive, or that little is known about them. Jack of all trades. A "jack of all trades" is a person who can do many different things but is not very good at any one of them. All mouth and no trousers This is said of someone who talks a lot about doing something but never actually does it. "He keeps saying he's going to resign and travel around the
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Materials from an ESOL lesson focusing on Idioms of personality
Transcript of English Idioms Relating to Personality Worksheet
English idioms relating to
PERSONALITY - CHARACTER - DESCRIPTIONS OF PEOPLE
The apple of your eye. If somebody is the apple of your eye, this means that you like them very much: "My grandson is the apple of my eye".
A bad egg To refer to someone as a bad egg means that they cannot be trusted. "I don't want my son to be friends with Bobby Smith. Bobby's a bad egg."
Have something on the brain If you have something on the brain, you think or talk about it constantly. "Stop talking about golf. You've got golf on the brain!"
A fat cat To refer to a rich and powerful person as a fat cat means that you disapprove of the way they use their money or power.
Like chalk and cheese. Two people who are like chalk and cheese are completely different from each other.
A chip off the old block They resemble one of their parents in appearance, character or behaviour. "James is a chip off the old block - he reacts exactly the same way as his father."
As cool as a cucumber. A person who is as cool as a cucumber is a person who is not anxious, but relaxed and non-emotional.
On edge. A person who is "on edge" is anxious or nervous.
Sour grapes. To say that someone's attitude is "sour grapes" means that they are making complaints or accusations because they are jealous.
Get the hang of something When you get the hang of an activity, you now know how to do it correctly.
Hard as nails A person who is as hard as nails is someone very unsympathetic who does not seem to care about others.
A dark horse. If you refer to a person as a "dark horse", you mean that they are secretive, or that little is known about them.
Jack of all trades. A "jack of all trades" is a person who can do many different things but is not very good at any one of them.
All mouth and no trousers
This is said of someone who talks a lot about doing something but never actually does it. "He keeps saying he's going to resign and travel around the world, but he's all mouth and no trousers!"
A pain in the neck. If you refer to a person as a "pain in the neck", you think they are very irritating or annoying.
It runs in the family This refers to a physical or moral characteristic that is common to many members of a family "Black hair and blue eyes - the combination runs in the family."
Talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey This expression is used to describe a very talkative person. "It's difficult to end a conversation with Betty. She could talk the hind leg off a donkey!"
A wet blanket A person who is a wet blanket is so boring or unenthusiastic that they prevent other people from enjoying themselves. "Come on! Don't be such a wet blanket!"
The apple of your eye
A bad egg
Have something on the brain
A fat cat
Like chalk and cheese
A chip off the old block
As cool as a cucumber
On edge
Sour grapes
Get the hang of something
Hard as nails
A dark horse
Jack of all trades
All mouth and no trousers
A pain in the neck
It runs in the family
Talk the hind legs off a donkey
A wet blanket
Please make your own sentences
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