What Are Idioms?
Idioms are words that are used frequently in all sorts
of verbal and written communication.
To truly learn and understand a new language, it is
absolutely necessary to become familiar with the idioms
used in that language. The meaning of any idiom has to
be learned because the literal meaning might not make
sense.
Keep your chin up
In hot water
On the back burner
I put baseball practice on the back burner
while I studied for the test.
Put your best foot forward
Hit the books
Cool as a cucumber
Piece of cake
Wade through
Butterflies in my stomach
With us both sick, we are in the same
boat
An arm and a leg
“Hold your horses!”
Pulling someone’s leg
When Uncle Bert said he use to be a
pirate, he was just pulling my leg.
Spill the beans
Get off someone’s back
Turn over a new leaf
Cissy promised to turn
over a new leaf and
keep her room clean
from now on.
All thumbs
When it comes to sewing, I’m all thumbs.
Break a leg
Get up on the wrong side of the bed
Evan was so grumpy, I knew he must have
gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.
Go out on a limb
Tongue-tied
Turn the house upside down.
I just want you to know you're not my
first choice for the job, so if you're in
over your head, please tell me.
Quit dragging
your feet.
The presenter would like to thank Barbara
Young and Rosa Contreras for their very
valuable contributions to this project.
Most of the examples in this presentation
come from Understanding Idioms Teaching
Cards by Lakeshore, a copy of which is
owned by and available at the ESL Tutoring
Center.