Idioms Flashcards
To turn over a new leaf
so to ‘turn over a new leaf’ means to turn the page and start a new chapter of your story. You’re trying to move on from something negative. For example, I’ve been feeling very inactive. I’ve never managed to get into going to the gym, but in 2025 I’m going to turn over a new leaf and get fit
can’t go wrong with
if you want to make a suggestion, and say that it’s guaranteed to succeed, or at least very likely to succeed, you can say ‘you can’t go wrong with’.
if you were looking for the perfect Christmas party idea, would you agree that you can’t go wrong with karaoke?
Do smth by the book
I mean that we follow the rules exactly, without improvising
Examples
I know when some people are cooking, they just, like, throw any old ingredients in there and make it up as they go along, but I like to do it by the book and follow the recipe.
make a rod for your own back
We use it to say that you do something that will cause you problems in future, like volunteering for too much work
I offered to make a cup a tea at work the other day, and now I’ve really made a rod for my own back. I have to make the morning tea every day.
fall on stony ground
we use it to say that a suggestion or idea is either unpopular or just ignored, like all my suggestions just now.
Examples
I told my son he needed to be home before dark on his bike. That fell on stony ground – he really wasn’t happy.
A school near me has banned smartphones and it’s really fallen on stony ground – everyone is annoyed.
fertile ground
to describe a place where it is easy for ideas to develop.
We could say that a good manager helps to create fertile ground for ideas. A successful university might be fertile ground for innovative research.
Make my skin crawl
if something makes our skin crawl, it means you have the sensation of horrible insects crawling over your body
My brother changes his bed sheets about three times a year. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.
off the scale
we use ‘off the scale’ to say something goes beyond what is expected, and it’s usually used in a positive way.
Oh yes, I remember passing my driving test. The sense of achievement afterwards, it was just off the scale. It felt amazing
Stomping ground
Stomping ground’ means a place you live in or spend a lot of time in
Examples
I went to the local pub with my brother at the weekend. It was our stomping ground back in the day.
Wow! Imagine seeing you here! I didn’t know you lived near here. This is my stomping ground.
an uphill task
So, an uphill task is something that’s difficult and takes a lot of energy
Examples
Sorting out my unread emails is such an uphill task. As soon as I delete the ones I haven’t read, more come in.
dip your toe into something
dipping your toe into something here means to start something slowly and gradually
Examples
I really like reading romance novels, but I think I might dip my toe into true crime and read one of those next.
I’ve always done ballet, but I’ve decided to dip my toe into tap, and I’m starting a class next week.
take the wheel
To take control of a situation.
Examples
When I worked as a teacher, I often had to cover classes of teachers that were suddenly sick. I just had to take the wheel and teach without being able to prepare anything in advance.
ham-fisted
having strength, but no precision or skill, as if you are hitting things with a big piece of meat. Things get broken, rather than fixed if you’re ham-fisted.
Examples
So, I was drawing yesterday with a pencil, and I broke it ‘cos I’m really ham-fisted, and then I borrowed another one from my friend, but I broke that one as well!
I wanted to learn the piano, but I’m too ham-fisted. I just kept hitting the wrong keys.
Deep your toe into smth
dipping your toe into something here means to start something slowly and gradually.
Peaks and troughs
Ups and downs, highs and lows
Examples
My boyfriend is self-employed, and he doesn’t have any work at the moment, but it’s peaks and troughs. Something’ll come up soon.
