Idioms and Phrases English

Be chicken Meaning: Coward. If you are chicken, you are not brave enough to do something.

Example: "Why won't you dive in? Are you chicken? (Don't be chicken!)"

Rule of thumb: if you hear someone say as a rule of thumb, they mean that it's a general unwritten rule for whatever they're talking about. These rules of thumb are not based on science or research, and are instead just a general principle. For example, there's no written scientific rule that you must add oil to boiling water when cooking pasta, but it's a rule of thumb and is practiced by most people so the pasta won't stick to the bottom of the pan.

"As a rule of thumb you should always pay for your date's dinner." "Why? There's no rule stating that!" "Yes, but it's what all gentlemen do."

(To) Sit tight: if a person tells you to sit tight they want you to wait patiently and take no action until you hear otherwise.

"Mrs. Carter, do you have any idea when the exam results are going to come out?" "Who knows Johnny, sometimes they come out quickly but it could take some time. You're just going to have to sit tight and wait."

(To) Hit the books: It simply means "to study," and is a way of telling your friends that you're going to study. It could be for a final exam, a mid-term test or even an English exam.

"Sorry but I can't watch the game with you tonight, I have to hit the books. I have a huge exam next week!"

(To) Pitch in: it means to contribute (give) to something or someone or to join in. So if your dad tells the family that he wants everyone to pitch in this weekend and help clear the backyard, it means he wants everyone to join in on the efforts to clear the yard and get things done quicker.

"What are you going to buy Sally for her birthday?" "I don't know I don't have much money." "Maybe we can all pitch in and buy her something great." The above conversation suggests that every one of Sally's friends should contribute a little bit of money so they can afford to buy her a bigger and better present together.

(To) get cold feet: to suddenly become too frightened to do something you had planned to do, especially something important like getting married.

1. "We're getting married next Saturday - that's if Trevor doesn't get cold feet! I'm worried she may be getting cold feet about our trip to Patagonia." 2. "The Government is getting cold feet about the reforms".

Beat around the bush: Avoid or delay talking about something unpleasant or embarrassing If you beat around the bush, you don't say something directly to someone because you are worried about his/her reaction and don't want to upset him/her. Some people also say " beat about the bush. "

Example: 1. Don't beat around the bush! Tell me what exactly you want. 2. Let's not beat around the bush anymore. You'd better do this project over. It's not acceptable to us.

Be a piece of cake: Meaning: To be very easy If something is a piece of cake, it is very easy to do.

Example: A: How was the driving test yesterday? Did you pass? B: Of course! It was a piece of cake.

(To) Stab someone in the back: to stab someone in the back means to hurt someone who was close to us and trusted us by betraying them secretly and breaking their trust. We call the person who does this a back stabber.

"Did you hear that Sarah stabbed Kate in the back last week?" "No! I thought they were best friends, what did she do?" "She told their boss that Kate wasn't interested in a promotion at work and Sarah got it instead." "Wow, that's the ultimate betrayal! No wonder they're not friends anymore."

(To) split hairs: If you say that someone is splitting hairs, you mean that they are making unnecessary distinctions between things when the differences between them are so small they are not important.

"Don't split hairs. You know what I'm getting at."

(To) Keep your chin up: Did you just have a massive fight with your friend? Did you fail your English finals? Did your team lose the final match? Did you lose your job? If you answered "yes" to any of the questions, then you're probably feeling sad and a little depressed, right? In this situation, a supportive friend might tell you to keep your chin up. When they tell you this, they're showing their support for you, and it's a way of saying "stay strong," you'll get through this. Don't let these things affect you too badly.

"Hey, Keiren, have you had any luck finding work yet?" "No, nothing, it's really depressing, there's nothing out there!" "Don't worry, you'll find something soon, keep your chin up buddy and don't stress."

(To) Cut to the chase: When somebody tells you to cut to the chase it means that you've been talking too long and haven't gotten to the point. When a person uses this idiom, they are telling you to hurry up and get the important part, without all the details. Be careful how you use this idiom, because if used while talking to someone like a college professor or your boss, it's rude and disrespectful. If you're speaking to a group of people, like your employees, and say I'm going to cut to the chase, it means that there are a few things that need to be said but there's very little time, so you'll skip to the important parts so everyone understands.

"Hi guys, as we don't have much time here, so I'm going to cut to the chase. We've been having some major problems in the office lately."

(To) Get over something: Imagine having a really difficult time, like breaking up with your girlfriend or boyfriend—it's hard. But eventually once time passes and you no longer think about your ex, it means that you've gotten over him/her, you no longer worry about it and it no longer affects you in a negative way. It's also possible to get over an illness too, which would mean that you've fully recovered.

"How's Paula? Has she gotten over the death of her dog yet?" "I think so. She's already talking about getting a new one."

(To) Face the music: It means to "face reality" or to deal with the reality of the situation and accept all the consequences good or bad (but mostly bad). Perhaps you've been avoiding something because you feel unsure or scared of the outcome. Maybe you lied to your teacher and she discovered the truth and now you have to face the music and accept the punishment.

"I can't understand why I failed math." "You know you didn't study hard, so you're going to have to face the music and take the class again next semester if you really want to graduate when you do."

(To) stay put: 1. If you stay put, you remain somewhere. 2. to refuse to leave; keep one's position 3. to remain in the same place or position

1. Just stay put with the suitcases, while I go and find a cab. 2. He was forced by his condition to stay put and remain out of politics. 3. Nigel says for the moment he is very happy to stay put in Lyon. 4. Lots of people are asking themselves whether they should go for another job now and lose their redundancy or just stay put and hope for the best.

(To) Lose your touch: to lose your touch actually means that you lose your ability or talent you once had when dealing with things, people or situations. We use this when you're usually good at a certain skill or talent, but then things start to go wrong.

"I don't understand why none of the girls here want to speak to me." "It looks like you've lost your touch with the ladies." "Oh no, they used to love me, what happened?"

(To) Hit the sack: to hit the sack means to go to bed, and you'd use this to tell your friends or family that you're really tired, so you're going to sleep. Instead of saying hit the sack you can also say hit the hay.

"It's time for me to hit the sack, I'm so tired."

(To be) Up in the air: if someone tells you that things are up in the air it means that these things are uncertain or unsure; definite plans have not been made yet.

"Jen have you set a date for the wedding yet?" "Not exactly, things are still up in the air and we're not sure if our families can make it on the day we wanted. Hopefully we'll know soon and we'll let you know as soon as possible."

(To) Find your feet: If you find yourself in a new situation, for example living in a new country and having to get used to a new college, you could say I'm still finding my feet. It means that you're still adjusting and getting used to the new environment.

"Lee, how's your son doing in America?" "He's doing okay. He's learned where the college is but is still finding his feet with everything else. I guess it'll take time for him to get used to it all."

(To be) Under the weather: If you're feeling under the weather, you're not your usual self and could be feeling a little sick. The sick feeling is nothing serious; perhaps it's just extreme tiredness from studying too much, or having a bad headache because you're starting to get the flu.

"What's wrong with Katy, mom?" "She's feeling a little under the weather so be quiet and let her rest."

(To) Blow off steam: If you're feeling angry, stressed or are experiencing some strong feelings and you want to get rid of them so you feel better again, you will blow off steam by doing something such as exercise to get rid of the stress.

"Why is Nick so angry and where did he go?" "He had a fight with his brother, so he went for a run to blow off his steam."

(To) Look like a million dollars/bucks: If someone tells you that you look like a million bucks, you should take it as a huge compliment because it means you look absolutely fabulous and really attractive. While sometimes we use this English idiom for guys, it's more commonly used to compliment females. And while some of your female friends may look beautiful every day, you should save this English idiom for when they've really made an effort and it's a special occasion, like prom or a wedding.

"Wow, Mary, you look like a million dollars/bucks this evening. I love your dress!"

(To be) On the ball: If you're on the ball it means that you're very quick to understand certain things, very prepared for something or react quickly (and correctly) to a situation. For example, if you're planning your wedding that is still one year away from now and you've almost finished with all the planning already, you're definitely on the ball because not many people are that prepared!

"Wow, you've already finished your assignments? They are not due until next week, you're really on the ball. I wish I could be more organized."

(To) Ring a bell: means that somebody has mentioned something that sounds familiar to you, perhaps you've heard it before. In other words, when someone says something that you believe you've heard in the past, alarm bells start ringing and you try to remember how or why that name or place sounds familiar.

"You've met my friend Amy Adams, right?" "Hmmm, I'm not sure, but that name rings a bell. Was she the one who went to Paris last year?"

The Bottom Line Meaning: The most important factor in a situation or a decision to consider. If you say the bottom line is xxxx, you mean xxxx is the most important or critical fact you want others to consider. Note: The original meaning of the bottom line is the final line of an accounting report of a company or an organization. That line shows how much money the company/organization has earned or lost during a particular period of time.

Example: After a long heated discussion, the manager finally said, "The bottom line is, we have a limited budget and simply can't continue this project any longer." I've heard enough of your excuses. What's the bottom line?

Be the apple of someone's eye: Meaning: Be loved very much by someone. If someone is the apple of your eye, you think he/she is very important to you, and you love him/her very much. This idiom is used especially when someone is loved by an older member of his/her family.

Example: Erika is Mark's only granddaughter, and she's the apple of his eye. Sarah's only son was the apple of her eye.

Eat out Meaning: Eat a meal in a restaurant. If you eat out, you go out and eat a meal in a restaurant instead of eating at home.

Example: I don't want to cook tonight. Why don't we eat out? He is a single student and eats out a lot.

Beat it Meaning: Go away immediately. If you say "Beat it" to someone, you tell him/her to leave quickly because he/she is annoying. This is an impolite command.

Example: I guess we should beat it before she comes back. "This is not your place. Beat it!" (This is not a polite way to ask someone to leave.)

Bring the house down (Bring down the house) Meaning: Make people (audience) excited, laugh, or enjoy a lot while performing or making a speech If you, your performance, or your speech brings the house down, your performance or speech is so good that the audience enjoys it a lot, becomes excited, applauds (clap their hands), or laughs a lot.

Example: Sarah is a musical genius. Her performances always bring the house down. The Prime Minister brought the house down when he made his monumental speech in 1965. He's a very poor actor. Instead of bringing down the house, he always empties it.

Bite off more than one can chew Meaning: To try to do something that is too difficult If you bite off more than you can chew, you try to do more than you are able to.

Example: She has bitten off more than she can chew again. She has agreed to finish 3 very difficult projects by the end of this year. Do your best. Do whatever you can, but don't bite off more than you can chew.

Bug someone Meaning: Bother someone If someone/something bugs you, he/she/it annoys you.

Example: That's enough! Stop bugging me. Don't ask me anymore. He's always talking too loud in the office. It really bugs us.

(To) Twist someone's arm: If your arm has been twisted it means that someone has done a great job of convincing you to do something you might not have wanted to to do. And if you manage to twist someone else's arm it means that you're great at convincing them, and they've finally agreed to do something after you've been begging them.

Tom: Jake you should really come to the party tonight! Jake: You know I can't, I have to hit the books (study). Tom: C'mon, you have to come! It's going to be so much fun and there are going to be lots of girls there. Please come? Jake: Pretty girls? Oh all right, you've twisted my arm, I'll come!