Quite often in English speech one can hear phrases or expressions that confound any foreigner for whom English is not his native language. These are idioms, or phraseology, which for English-speaking people are an integral part of daily communication. And if you decide to tighten your knowledge of English, pay attention to the 20 idioms that occur in English speech quite often. Some of them will make you smile.
20 Common Idioms
A Chip on Your Shoulder
No, that does not mean that a fragment of something fell on your shoulder. “To have a chip on one’s shoulder” means resentment for a past failure, as if passing through a destroyed building, a fragment from him remained with a man for many years.
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
This idiom means something akin to when you bite off a huge piece of a sandwich and as a result you can not move your jaws to chew it. That is, take on more than what you can handle successfully. For example, your consent to create 10 sites per week, while usually you can only do 5.
You Can not Take It With You
The meaning of this idiom is that you can not take anything with you when you die, so do not constantly deny yourself everything, saving money, or saving things for a special occasion. You Can not Take It With You encourages you to live now, because eventually your things will survive.
Everything But the Kitchen Sink
This expression means that almost everything was packed / taken / stolen. For example, if someone says “The thieves stole everything but the kitchen sink!” This means that the thieves stole everything they could carry with them. In fact, it’s very difficult to lift and carry a shell with you.
Over My Dead Body
This phrase most of us will understand. An idiom that has the same meaning as the Russian expression “Only through my corpse.”
Tie the Knot
The meaning is to get married. The phrase has remained from tradition to connect the newlyweds with a ribbon to their lives were fastened together for many years.
Do not Judge a Book By Its Cover
Literally this phrase can be translated as “do not judge the book by its cover”. It is used in cases where they want to explain that things are not always what they seem at first glance, and even if the first impression was not positive, sometimes one more chance should be given.
When Pigs Fly
Akin to our phrase “when the cancer on the mountain whistles”, only with another hero. Idiom means “never.”
A Leopard Can not Change His Spots
The meaning of the phrase: “you are what you are.” A person can not change who he really is in the depths of his soul, since a leopard can not change the pattern on his own skin.
Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve
That is, express your emotions freely, as if your heart were outside the body.
Bite Your Tongue!
Another great phrase is “bite your tongue” (soft expression). Used when a person is recommended to calm down. He keeps up with the next idiom.
Put a Sock In It
And this expression is more abrupt – it means “shut up”. The idea is clear – if you shove a sock into your mouth, a person will not be able to talk. Probably, it is used when the previous idiom did not work.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
The point is that if several dogs after a fight peacefully sleep, it is better to leave them alone. The idea is – do not stir up old disputes / hot topics, as they can start a quarrel again.
Foam at the Mouth
Describes the condition when a person hisses and growls with foam in his mouth, like a rabid dog. Our analogue is “to be furious.”
A Slap on the Wrist
Means very gentle punishment. The slap on the wrist will not cause much pain, but it will be a good deterrent again to misbehave.
You Are What You Eat
Idiom, the literal translation of which reliably fixed in our language. “You are what you eat”.
It’s a Piece of Cake!
Means that it’s incredibly easy. What could be easier than eating a piece of cake?
It Takes Two to Tango
The point is that one person can not dance tango. So, if something happened in a case in which 2 people took part, and two are responsible for the result.
Head Over Heels
Idiom means “to be incredibly joyful and in a cheerful mood, especially in love (a close meaning is” falling in love with the ears “). How to get down from the hill on wheels, fly upside down.
An Arm and a Leg
A great phrase, which means too much price for anything. When the price is so high that you have to sell part of your body to yourself to allow it.
Do you like idioms?
Personally, I adore idioms, because with their help you can “dig” in the language and get acquainted with the peculiarities of the people who came up with these strange expressions. I often draw in my head a picture of what this or that idiom means, and next to it is a picture of a literal translation. In addition to the fact that often the results raise the mood, this method also helps visually memorize new expressions and then use them in speech.
Is there anything to supplement? Write your favorite (or not) idioms in the comments.
