Idioms 1-10 Flashcards
What does ‘to be under the weather’ mean?
If someone says to you ‘I’m feeling under the weather’ what could you reply?
Sentirse enfermo o indispuesto.
‘I hope you feel better soon’ (Espero que te mejores)
What is the English idiom for:
Sentirse enfermo o indispuesto
To feel under the weather.
What does ‘the ball is in your court’ mean?
‘Depende en ti’. La decisión es tuya y alguien está esperando a que te decidas.
What is the English idiom that means someone is waiting for you to make a decision?
The ball is in your court
What does ‘to let the cat out of the bag’ mean?
Irse de la lengua
Por ejemplo: Si le contaras a alguien algo sobre la fiesta sorpresa que le van a hacer. El secreto se ha desvelado.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘irse de la lengua’? (2)
‘To spill the beans’ or ‘to let the cat out of the bag’.
What does ‘to break a leg mean?’
Desear suerte a alguien.
(For example if someone is going to take an exam, you can wish them luck by saying ‘break a leg’.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘Desear suerte a alguien’?
‘Break a leg’
What is the meaning of ‘to pull someone’s leg’?
If you know that someone is ‘pulling your leg’, what could you reply?
Name other examples of this idiom. (3)
Hacer una broma pesada. (Esta frase la deberían aprender todos aficionados a las bromas pesadas).
‘Pull the other one’
‘Are you taking the piss?’ (Rude slang)
‘Are you taking the Michael?’
‘Are you laughing at me?’
What is the English idiom for ‘Hacer una broma pesada’
To pull someone’s leg.
What does ‘sat on the fence’ mean?
No tienes claro de qué lado estás con respecto a un tema.
What English idiom means ‘No tener claro de qué lado estás con respecto a un tema’?
To sit on the fence
What does ‘through thick and thin’ mean?
Significa que apoyarás a la otra persona pase lo que pase, en los buenos momentos y en los malos.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘que apoyarás a la otra persona pase lo que pase, en los buenos momentos y en los malos’?
Through thick and thin.
For example, ‘I’ll support Luis through thick and thin’.
What does ‘once in a blue moon mean’?
Rara vez.
Se usa para describir algo que no ocurre con frecuencia.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘para describir algo que no ocurre con frecuencia’?
Once in a blue moon
For example, Luis likes eating a curry once in a blue moon.
What does ‘it’s the best thing since sliced bread’ mean?
Es muy, muy bueno.
For example, ‘learning English is the best thing since sliced bread’
What is the English idiom meaning ‘Es muy, muy bueno’?
It’s the best thing since sliced bread.
What does ‘to take it with a pinch of salt’ mean?
No te lo tomes demasiado en serio.
For example ‘Luis says he likes flying’. Reply: ‘well, you can take that with a pinch of salt’.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘No tomarlo demasiado en serio’?
To take it with a pinch of salt.
What does ‘come rain or shine’ mean?
Pase lo que pase
For example ‘I’ll pick you up from the station, come rain or shine’.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘Pase lo que pase’ ?
Come rain or shine.
What does ‘to go down in flames’ mean?
Fracasar estrepitosamente.
For example ‘that exam went down in flames, I should have learnt my English idioms’.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘Fracasar estrepitosamente’?
To go down in flames.
What does ‘you can say that again’ mean?
Eso es cierto.
For example ‘Luis hates exams’, the reply could be ‘you can say that again!’
What does ‘to see eye to eye’ mean?
Estar totalmente de acuerdo.
For example ‘Luis and I always see eye to eye when it’s time to have a vermouth’
(Can also be used in the negative, for example ‘Luis and I never see eye to eye over the benefits of eating lettuce’.
What does ‘to jump on the bandwagon’ mean?
Seguir una moda.
Cuando alguien empieza a hacer algo porque está de moda o lo hace solamente porque queda bien.
For example ‘those trousers don’t suit her at all, she’s just jumping on the band wagon’.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘Seguir una moda’.
To jump on the band wagon.
What does ‘as right as rain’ mean?
To what question might you reply ‘I’m as right as rain’?
Perfecto
‘ How are you?’
What is the English idiom meaning ‘perfecto’, or ‘estar bien’?
To be ‘right as rain’.
What does ‘to beat around the bush’ mean?
Evitar decir algo.
Por ejemplo si no quieres expresar tu opinión o contestar con sinceridad.
‘Luis, stop beating around the bush, tell me if you want to take the dog for a walk!’
What English idiom means ‘Evitar decir algo’.
To beat around the bush.
What does ‘to hit the sack’ mean.
Irse a la cama.
I’m exhausted, I’m going to hit the sack.
What English idiom means ‘Irse a la cama’?
To hit the sack.
What does ‘to miss the boat’ mean?
Es demasiado tarde.
Cuando dejes pasar una oportunidad o una fecha límite.
For example, ‘I missed the boat getting a discount on that language course’.
What English idiom means ‘es demasiado tarde’?
To miss the boat.
What does ‘by the skin of your teeth’ mean?
A duras penas.
‘Phew, I passed that exam by the skin of my teeth!’
What is the English idiom meaning ‘a duras penas’.
By the skin of your teeth.
What is the English idiom meaning ‘Estar totalmente de acuerdo’?
To see eye to eye.
What does ‘to spill the beans’ mean?
Descubrir el pastel, contarlo todo.
For example, ‘come on, what did the neighbours say? Spill the beans’
What is the English idiom meaning ‘Descubrir el pastel, contarlo todo’
To spill the beans
