20 Idioms – Learn them, use them and spice up the way you speak!

1. Cool as a cucumber
Meaning: calm and composed, especially in stressful situations
Example: She was as cool as a cucumber during her job interview.

2. Hold your horses
Meaning: wait a minute; be patient
Example: He still has to shower before we can leave — hold your horses.

3. Kick the bucket
Meaning: to die
Example: Many people want to travel the world before they kick the bucket.

4. Blue in the face
Meaning: exhausted from great, generally futile, effort
Example: You can beg until you’re blue in the face, but you’re not having ice cream for dinner.

5. Head in the clouds
Meaning: oblivious or having unrealistic ideas
Example: He has his head in the clouds if he thinks he can pass his test without studying.

6. Dead as a door nail
Meaning: to be completely devoid of life
Example: I forgot to water my flowers, and now they’re as dead as a door nail.

7. Piece of cake
Meaning: very easy to do or accomplish
Example: She was nervous about her driving test, but it ended up being a piece of cake.

8. Out of the blue
Meaning: randomly or unexpectedly
Example: My grandmother came to visit out of the blue.

9. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: raining extremely heavily
Example: We can’t go to the park today because it’s raining cats and dogs.

10. Cat got your tongue
Meaning: unable to speak or think of something to say.
Example: You’re being very quiet. Cat got your tongue?

11. It’s all Greek to me
Meaning: something incomprehensible or hard to understand.
Example: I’ve tried learning the rules to basketball, but it’s all Greek to me.

12. Pardon my French
Meaning: please excuse my profanity
Example: Pardon my French, but I’ve had a hell of a day.

13. Under the weather
Meaning: feeling slightly unwell
Example: Billy stayed home from school today because he was under the weather.

14. Chew the fat
Meaning: have a long, leisurely conversation; make small talk; gossip casually
Example: After running into a childhood friend, we chewed the fat over a cup of coffee.

15. Neck of the woods
Meaning: a specific neighborhood or area
Example: That man used to be my neighbor. He’s from my neck of the woods.

16. Thick as thieves
Meaning: very close friends
Example: My teammates and I are as thick as thieves.

17. Throw a wrench in the works
Meaning: create an obstacle that makes something more difficult
Example: She threw a wrench in the works by bringing a guest to my wedding without asking.

18. Pot calling the kettle black
Meaning: be hypocritical; criticize someone for something you’re guilty of
Example: You think I’m messy? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

19. When pigs fly
Meaning: something that is unlikely to happen, often said mockingly
Example: Doctors will recommend all-dessert diets when pigs fly.

20. Put a sock in it
Meaning: telling someone to stop talking or be quiet
Example: The whole movie theater can hear you whispering so put a sock in it.
July 6, 2020
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Monique Strydom

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Flag
English
globe
South Africa
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341
Speaks:
Afrikaans
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English
Native
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I’m a qualified and registered ESL teacher from South Africa. English is my native language and I’m also fluent in Afrikaans and basic sign language. I feel that the online platform is a great opportunity for children and adults to learn from the comfort of their homes. It’s also an amazing way to get to know people from all over the world. I have many years of teaching experience in a physical class and online. During my time as a teacher I have taught English to foreign students and also to their parents, to help them better their language support to the learners at homes. I am qualified to teach students from all ages, language levels and backgrounds. I'm familiar with many online teaching platforms, applications and technological soft- and hardware. I’m a dedicated, passionate teacher who thrives to give learners the needed confidence to believe that they can learn, despite the barriers they may face. I’m a firm believer that in the process of educating someone, it should a...
Flag
English
globe
South Africa
time
341
Speaks:
Afrikaans
Native
,
English
Native
,
German
I’m a qualified and registered ESL teacher from South Africa. English is my native language and I’m also fluent in Afrikaans and basic sign language. I feel that the online platform is a great opportunity for children and adults to learn from the comfort of their homes. It’s also an amazing way to get to know people from all over the world. I have many years of teaching experience in a physical class and online. During my time as a teacher I have taught English to foreign students and also to their parents, to help them better their language support to the learners at homes. I am qualified to teach students from all ages, language levels and backgrounds. I'm familiar with many online teaching platforms, applications and technological soft- and hardware. I’m a dedicated, passionate teacher who thrives to give learners the needed confidence to believe that they can learn, despite the barriers they may face. I’m a firm believer that in the process of educating someone, it should a...
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