Idioms Flashcards
Sorry but I can’t watch the game with you tonight, I have to ______________. I have a huge exam next week!
(Idiom, means to study)
Sorry but I can’t watch the game with you tonight, I have to hit the books. I have a huge exam next week!
Literally, hit the books means to physically hit, punch or slap your reading books. However, this is a commonly used expression among students, especially American college students who have a lot of studying to do. It simply means “to study,” and is a way of telling your friends that you’re going to study.
“It’s time for me to __________, I’m so tired.”
(Idiom, means to go to bed)
“It’s time for me to hit the sack, I’m so tired.”
Just like the first idiom, the literal meaning of this would be physically hitting or beating a sack (a large bag usually used for carrying things in bulk such as flour, rice or even soil). But actually 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.
“Jake, you should really come to the party tonight!”
“You know I can’t, I have to hit the books (study).”
“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?”
“Pretty girls? Oh all right, you’ve ___________, I’ll come!”
(Idiom, means that someone has done a great job of convincing you to do something you might not have wanted to to do.)
“Jake, you should really come to the party tonight!”
“You know I can’t, I have to hit the books (study).”
“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?”
“Pretty girls? Oh all right, you’ve twisted my arm, I’ll come!”
To twist someone’s arm literally means to take a person’s arm and turn it around, which could be really painful if you take it exactly word-for-word. 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.
Idiom
to drop things often
have butterfingers
Idiom:
I don’t particularly appreciate it when Jim helps me. He _____ ______________!
You are right. He drops everything he carries.
I don’t particularly appreciate it when Jim helps me. He has butterfingers!
You are right. He drops everything he carries.
Idiom:
very similar
two peas in a pod
Idiom:
Those kids are like ___ ____ __ _ ___!
You are right. They have the same appearance and character.
I can never tell one from another.
Those kids are like two peas in a pod!
You are right. They have the same appearance and character.
I can never tell one from another.
Idiom:
in a difficult situation
in a jam
Idiom:
We are __ _ ___ now, because the boss has told us to change everything in the presentation!
No way! How could he put us in such a difficult situation?
We are in a jam now, because the boss has told us to change everything in the presentation!
No way! How could he put us in such a difficult situation?
Idiom:
an additional benefit to something positive
the icing on the cake
Idiom:
How was your birthday party?
It was a great day but meeting my old school friend was just the ___ _____ __ ___ ____.
You are right. That was a bonus.
How was your birthday party?
It was a great day but meeting my old school friend was just the icing on the cake.
You are right. That was a bonus.
Idiom:
an issue that makes everyone feel uncomfortable
Hot potato
Idiom:
Politicians rarely deal with ___ ________ like poverty.
Well, no wonder they don’t want to make a difficult decision that will make everybody angry.
Politicians rarely deal with hot potatoes like poverty.
Well, no wonder they don’t want to make a difficult decision that will make everybody angry.
Idiom:
I can’t believe Harry caught the golden snitch again!
Me neither! I guess anything can happen ___ __ __ ___ ___.
Clearly!
(very rarely)
I can’t believe Harry caught the golden snitch again!
Me neither! I guess anything can happen once in a blue moon.
Clearly!
Idiom:
very rarely
once in a blue moon
Idiom:
Hey, guys, what just happened?
Harry forgot to practice his spell and __ __ ___ ___ ____ during professor Snape’s class.
Ouch! Poor Harry.
(to fail completely)
Hey, guys, what just happened?
Harry forgot to practice his spell and went down in flames during professor Snape’s class.
Ouch! Poor Harry.
Idiom:
to fail completely
go down in flames
Idiom:
Ron, why are you smiling so nervously?
I am not smiling. I am not nervous.
Ohhh! It’s because Hermione is standing there! You always get ____ ___ ___ ____ when you see her.
(I am very nervous)
Ron, why are you smiling so nervously?
I am not smiling. I am not nervous.
Ohhh! It’s because Hermione is standing there! You always get butterflies in your stomach when you see her.
Idiom:
I am very nervous
butterflies in my stomach
Idiom:
Why aren’t you saying anything, Ron? ___ ___ ____ _____?
No, I forgot the right spell!
As always. Let’s go ask Hermione.
(can’t you speak?)
Why aren’t you saying anything, Ron? Cat got your tongue?
No, I forgot the right spell!
As always. Let’s go ask Hermione.
Idiom:
can’t you speak?
cat got your tongue?
Idiom:
Do you think Tom will ask me out this time?
No, he’ll ______ ___. He always loses his courage.
True. I guess I’ll have to ask him out myself.
Do you think Tom will ask me out this time?
No, he’ll chicken out. He always loses his courage.
True. I guess I’ll have to ask him out myself.
Idiom:
to back out because of fear
Chicken out
Idiom:
Come on! I know you are hiding something. ____ ____ ______!
I can’t. I promised not to tell.
Haha! I’ll wait. You can’t keep secrets for too long.
Come on! I know you are hiding something. Spill the beans!
I can’t. I promised not to tell.
Haha! I’ll wait. You can’t keep secrets for too long.
Idiom:
to reveal a secret
Spill the beans
Idiom:
You look so tired. What’s going on?
haven’t been sleeping much.
I’ve been ______ ___ _______ ___ to finish a work project.
Oh. I hope you get some sleep soon!
You look so tired. What’s going on?
haven’t been sleeping much.
I’ve been burning the midnight oil to finish a work project.
Oh. I hope you get some sleep soon!
Idiom:
to study or work until late hours
burn the midnight oil
Idiom:
The show is starting! And it’s my first performance! I am so nervous!
You’ll do amazing, honey. ____ _ ___!
Thank you! I’ll wave at you from out there.
The show is starting! And it’s my first performance! I am so nervous!
You’ll do amazing, honey. Break a leg!
Thank you! I’ll wave at you from out there.
Idiom:
good luck!
break a leg!
I:
I love my job, but working 10 hours a day is __ ________.
I agree. That’s challenging.
(a difficult or unpleasant situation)
I love my job, but working 10 hours a day is no picnic.
I agree. That’s challenging.
I: a difficult or unpleasant situation
No picnic
I:
Why are you so upset?
Our team lost last night.
It was disappointing, but there is no point _____ ____ _______ ______. You can’t change it now.
(to be unhappy about what cannot be undone)
Why are you so upset?
Our team lost last night.
It was disappointing, but there is no point crying over spilled milk. You can’t change it now.
I: to be unhappy about what cannot be undone
Cry over spilled milk
I:
A lot of what they say on TV may not be entirely accurate.
You are right. My recommendation would be to ____ it ____ _ ____ _____.
(to evaluate something with doubt)
A lot of what they say on TV may not be entirely accurate.
You are right. My recommendation would be to take it with a grain of salt.
I: to evaluate something with doubt
take with a grain of salt
I:
How many grandchildren does she have?
Just one. And she is extremely fond of her.
Oh, I see. She is the ____ ___ ___ ____
(loved or favored person)
How many grandchildren does she have?
Just one. And she is extremely fond of her.
Oh, I see. She is the apple of her eye.
I: loved or favored person
apple of one’s eye
I:
I want Mike to help me with this project, but he says he ___ ___ ___ __ ___ now.
I see. He has some more important things to do and doesn’t want to waste time on your question.
(to have more important things to do)
I want Mike to help me with this project, but he says he has bigger fish to fry now.
I see. He has some more important things to do and doesn’t want to waste time on your question.
I: to have more important things to do
have big fish to fry
