Idioms from Angela's class
(alphabetical)A
A piece of cake
Meaning:
To be very easy
If something is a piece of cake, it is very easy to do.
Example:
A: How was the driving test yesterday? Did you pass?
B: Of course! It was a piece of cake.
A peach
a very nice person
Example:
When I was sick last week, Susan visited me and bought groceries for me. She is a peach.
A lemon
something out of order; something that does not work
Example:
Only one of his inventions turned out to be a lemon.
Their new car turned out to be a lemon.
According to
from, as state by
Example:
According to my dictionary, you are using that word in your essay incorrectly.
About to
about to (do something)
on the point of doing something
Example:
She was about to leave when the phone rang.
All in all
in conclusion
Example:
There were a few problems, but all in all it was a well-organized seminar.
The apple of one's eye
Meaning:
Be loved very much by someone
If someone is the apple of your eye, you think he/she is very important to you, and you love him/her very much.
This idiom is used especially when someone is loved by an older member of his/her family. Example:
Erika is Mark's only granddaughter, and she's the apple of his eye.
Sarah's only son was the apple of her eye.
At heart
Inside
Example:
He sometimes seems quite unfriendly, but at heart he's a good person.
Above all
more than everything else; especially
Example:
I value my freedom above all things.
Sheila does well in all her school subjects, but above all in mathematics. Her math scores are always over 95%.
B
Bite off more than one can chew
Meaning:
To try to do something that is too difficult
If you bite off more than you can chew, you try to do more than you are able to.
Example:
She has bitten off more than she can chew again. She has agreed to finish 3 very difficult projects by the end of this year. Do your best. Do whatever you can, but don't bite off more than you can chew.
Bound to be
going to be
Example:
We are bound to be late if you don't hurry up.
Baloney
the polite form of B.S.
Example:
That's baloney. I saw you take the money with my own eyes.
Bring sth out
to produce something to sell to the public
Example:
They've just brought out a new, smaller phone.
Most automobile companies bring out new models each year.
Bring sb out
to make a shy person happier and more confident
Example:
Chris is very shy, she needs bringing out
Bring sth back
Return ;to return from somewhere with something
Example:
You can bring back the dress as long as you have sales receipt.
you can borrow my car if yo promise the bring it back by six.
Can you bring me back some milk?
Remember;to make someone think about something from the past
Example:
The photos brought back some wonderful memories.
Break sth off
to separate a part from a larger piece, or to become separate
Example:
He broke off a piece of chocolate.
to end a relationship
They've broken off their engagement.
After war began, the two countries broke off diplomatic relations.
Blow out, blow sth out
When sth blows out or you blow it out, it's extinguished.(match, candle, flame, lamp)
Example:
She was not able to blow all the candles out, so I helped her.
Become of sb/sth
If you ask what became of someone or something, you want to know where they are and what happened to them
Example:
Whatever became of that parcel you sent?
And Mickey Adams - I wonder what became of him.
Break in
When you break sth in, you use it until it's comfortable, it works properly or does what it's supposed to do
Example:
It's best to break a new car in by driving it slowly for the first few hundred miles.
I've been breaking the boots in since yesterday noon, and except for some lower shin pressure, they haven't bothered me at all.
C
Catch up
to reach the same quality or standard as someone or something else
Example:
Will Western industry ever catch up with Japanese innovations?
The student was absent from class so long that it took her a long time to catch up.
Can't do without
Example:
As a traveling salesperson, Monica can't do without a car.
D
day in day out
every single day
Example:
During the month of April, it rained day in day out.
His job is boring. He does the same thing, day in, day out.
E
F
Fishy
seeming dishonest or false, mysterious, suspicious
Example:
There's something fishy going on here.
For sure
certainly
Example:
I know for sure that Gene will move back to Washionton D.C. next month.
G
Go around
go round (BE ENOUGH) UK phrasal verb (US go around)
If there is enough of something to go around, there is enough for everyone in a group of people
Example:
We thought that we had bought enough food and drink for the party, but actually there weren't enough to go around.
Are there enough pencils to go round?
Go over
to be received in a particular way; UK phrasal verb; US (go down)
Example:
The teacher's organized lesson always go over well with the students
H
posted by Jacob Chen @ 10:39 PM
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