You can
do it: #3
•
•
An idiom is a group of words whose meaning
must be known as a whole because it cannot be
learned from the meaning of the same words
used separately.
There is a problem when you cannot look up
individual words in a dictionary and find the
meaning. That’s what you usually do with
unfamiliar words. With idioms, you must
learn the whole group of words.
It is really valuable to recognize idioms when
you hear them or read them. Knowledge of
idioms is essential for understanding spoken
English.
People use them all the time instead of more
formal ways of expressing themselves. You will
hear them often in movies, on TV, in songs, and
through people’s everyday language use.


Idioms add life and vitality to language.
Without idioms, language can be correct, but it
may be very dull.
When you are able to use idioms comfortably
in your own speech and writing, then you have
achieved a higher level of mastery and fluency
in the language.
•
•
•
Here is a sample of 30 commonly-used idioms
in 10 groups.
The dialogues show what kind of situation an
idiom may be used in. After each dialogue, an
equivalent of each missing idiom is provided to
help you.
There’s a short test handout at the end (with
answers).
TIME
every other day
• once and for all
• better late than
never
•


My car is very unreliable. It breaks
down ____________. (every second day, very often)
The concert started 10 minutes after
it was supposed to. Oh well,
___________________________.
(it’s preferable to start late than not take place at all)

Tell that telephone sales person
_______________, I don’t want to
buy anything.
(one final time)
TIME
(the answers)
•
•
•
every other day
better late than
never
once and for all



Tell that telephone sales person
ONCE AND FOR ALL, I don’t
want to buy anything.
My car is very unreliable. It
breaks down EVERY OTHER
DAY.
The concert started 10 minutes
after it was supposed to. Oh
well, BETTER LATE THAN
NEVER.
BEING
REALISTIC
means
business
• we’ll cross that
bridge when
we come to it
• beggars can’t
be choosers

•
Maybe the economy will crash
on the day we graduate, but
_______________________.
(let’s deal with that problem when it comes)


You can tell by the look on
that wrestler’s face, he
_________. (is serious)
My apartment is really
horrible, but it’s cheap.
_____________________. (when
you’re desperate, you take what you can get)
BEING
REALISTIC (the
answers)
•
•
•
means
business
we’ll cross that
bridge when
we come to it
beggars can’t
be choosers



Maybe the economy will crash
on the day we graduate, but
WE’LL CROSS THAT
BRIDGE WHEN WE COME
TO IT.
You can tell by the look on that
wrestler’s face, he MEANS
BUSINESS.
My apartment is really horrible,
but it’s cheap. BEGGARS
CAN’T BE CHOOSERS.
BEING
CRITICAL
few and far
between
• fly-by-night
• I wouldn’t
put it past him

•

It’s a real ______________ company.
They’ll take your money, but do a
poor job. (disreputable and unreliable )
He said he would come to our party,
but ___________________ to forget.
(I wouldn’t be surprised at his mistakes)

The days when my mother doesn’t
call me are
____________________.(rare)
BEING CRITICAL
(the answers)
•
•
•
few and far
between
fly-by-night
I wouldn’t put
it past him



It’s a real FLY-BY-NIGHT
company. They’ll take your
money but do a poor job.
He said he would come to our
party, but I WOULDN’T PUT
IT PAST HIM to forget.
The days when my mother
doesn’t call me are FEW AND
FAR BETWEEN.
ENCOURAGING
OR PRAISING

You are so determined, I knew
you would succeed. After all,
__________________________.
(if you really want to do something, you can)
•I’ll
keep my fingers
crossed
•nothing ventured,
nothing gained
•where there’s a will,
there’s a way




I hope your mother gets better.
__________________________.
(I will hope for good luck).
It’s OK to invest even though
you’re not 100% sure you can
profit. __________________.
(if you don’t take a chance, you won’t get anything)
ENCOURAGING
OR PRAISING
(the answers)
•
•
•
I’ll keep my
fingers crossed
nothing ventured,
nothing gained
where there’s a
will, there’s a way



You are so determined, I knew
you would succeed. After all,
WHERE THERE’S A WILL,
THERE’S A WAY.
I hope your mother gets better.
I’LL KEEP MY FINGERS
CROSSED.
It’s OK to invest even though
you’re not 100% sure you can
profit. NOTHING
VENTURED, NOTHING
GAINED.
MONEY
MATTERS
•lost
his shirt
•on a shoestring
•it was a steal


I leased this beautiful apartment
for only $500 a month.
______________. (a super bargain, very cheap)
Wei took all his savings to
Casino Niagara, but
_____________________. (lost
everything)

We have almost no money, but
we’re used to living
______________. (with very limited cash)
MONEY
MATTERS
(the answers)
•
•
•
lost his shirt
on a shoestring
it was a steal



I leased this beautiful apartment
for only $500 a month. IT WAS
A STEAL.
Wei took all his savings to
Casino Niagara but LOST HIS
SHIRT.
We have almost no money but
we’re used to living ON A
SHOESTRING.
ANGER OR
FRUSTRATION
•up


in arms
•told
them where
to get off
When I see my landlords, I’ll
_____________________about
the big increase in the rent.
(tell them I’m angry)

•give
them a piece
of my mind

All the tenants are ________
about increased costs with no
improvements. (protesting)
I was so angry I went to see these
cheats last week and really
_______________________.
(let them know how angry I am)
ANGER OR
FRUSTRATION
(the answers)
•up

in arms

•told
them where to
get off
•give
them a piece
of my mind

When I see my landlords, I’ll
GIVE THEM A PIECE OF MY
MIND about the big increase in
the rent.
All the tenants are UP IN
ARMS about increased costs
with no improvements.
I was so angry I went to see these
cheats last week and really TOLD
THEM WHERE TO GET OFF.
SURPRISE
well, what do
you know
• took the wind
out of their sails
• taken aback

•


I was___________________
when that nice woman shouted at
me. (shocked, surprised))
You just won $1 million?
__________________(expression of disbelief)
I told them the test would be really
difficult, and that _____________
___________ (deflated them, ended their positive feelings)
SURPRISE
(the answers)
• what do you
know
• took the wind
out of their sails
• taken aback



I was TAKEN ABACK when that
nice woman shouted at me.
You just won $1 million? Well,
WHAT DO YOU KNOW!
I told them the test would be
really difficult, and that TOOK
THE WIND OUT OF THEIR
SAILS.
TRIPLETS
•right,

She invited ________________.
to her party. (everybody and anybody)
left, and
centre
•cool, calm, and
collected
•every Tom, Dick,
and Harry

Although everyone else was
scared, she stayed
__________________________.
(composed, self-possessed)

Broken glass was
__________________________
when the window was smashed.
(everywhere, all over the place)
TRIPLETS
(the answers)
• She
invited EVERY TOM, DICK,
AND HARRY to her party.
•right,
left, and
centre
•cool, calm, and
collected
•every Tom, Dick,
and Harry
• Although everyone else was
scared, she stayed COOL, CALM,
AND COLLECTED.
• Broken glass was RIGHT, LEFT
AND CENTRE when the window
was smashed.
SOCIAL
LIFE
remember me to
• gate crasher
• sends her
regards

My mom ______________to
you. She says you have been
very nice to our family.
(asked me to give
you her best wishes)
•

When you go back to your
family, ____________ your
mom. She’s a good friend.
(say hello
to her for me)

I’ve never met that guy who
got drunk at the class party. I
think he was a ___________
(someone who wasn’t invited)
SOCIAL LIFE
(the answers)
remember me to
• gate crasher
• sends her
regards

My mom SENDS HER
REGARDS to you. She says you
have been very nice to our family.
•


When you go back to your family,
REMEMBER ME TO your mom.
She’s a good friend.
I’ve never met that guy who got
drunk at the class party. I think he
was a GATE CRASHER.
SPORTS
•throw

in the
towel
•threw a curve
•kick some ideas
around
The class wanted to meet with
the teachers and
_______________________
on how to improve courses. (have
an open discussion to bring out new ideas)

The teachers’ refusal to
discuss the problems
___________at the students.
(caused an unexpected problem)

Some students wanted to
_________________ and quit
immediately. (give up, abandon their efforts)
SPORTS

(the answers)
some ideas
around
The class wanted to meet with
the teachers and KICK SOME
IDEAS AROUND on how to
improve courses.
•kick

•throw
in the towel
•threw
a curve

The teachers’ refusal to discuss
the problems THREW A
CURVE at the students.
Some students wanted to
THROW IN THE TOWEL
and quit immediately.
LET’S SEE IF WE KEPT YOU ON YOUR TOES.
HAVE SOME FUN. TAKE THE HANDOUT TEST.
IF YOU PASS, GOOD FOR YOU.
IF YOU DON’T, IT MAKES SENSE FOR YOU TO
WORK ON …