English Today

British Idioms

Idioms

a drop in the ocean 

If an amount is a drop in the ocean, it's a very small portion of the amount that's needed.

a new lease of life 

If someone has a new lease of life, they have a new enthusiasm for living.

a piece of cake 

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If you say that something is a piece of cake, you mean that it is extremely easy.

a zebra crossing 

A zebra crossing is a pedestrian crossing that is marked on the road with painted black and white stripes.

an axe to grind (2) 

If you have an axe to grind, you have a strong opinion about something and you express this opinion whenever you can.

another string to your bow 

If you have another string to your bow, you have another way of making a living.

at a loose end 

If you're at a loose end, you have nothing to do.

can't see the wood for the trees 

If you can't see the wood for the trees, you can't see the whole situation clearly because you're looking too closely at small details, or because you're too closely involved.

come a cropper - Informal

If you come a cropper, you fall over, or you make a mistake which has serious conse

via www.englishclub.com

Flow and Fly

A. FLOW - FLOWED - FLOWED

1. move along smoothly

Rivers flow into the sea.

Traffic flows.

Tears flowed from her eyes.

Prosperity flows out from the country.

2. hang down loosely (usually of hair or clothes)

Her shiny hair was flowing down her back.

3. be the result of

Progress flows from hard work.

 

B. FLY - FLEW - FLOWN

1. move through the air as a bird does

We're flying to London tomorrow morning.

Birds shouldn't live in a cage. They should fly free in the sky.

2. move quickly, rush along

The door flew open.

Mary flew down the stairs to meet her friends.

Time flies!

C. IDIOMS WITH FLY

1. fly high = be ambitious

He's been flying high ever since he graduated from university.

2. The bird has flown = the person wanted has left or escaped

It's no use looking for the thief any more. The bird has flown.

3. as the crow flies = in a straight line

It's only 10 miles from here as the crow flies.

4. go fly a kite = used to tell someone who is annoying you to go away

I've had enough of this conversation. Go fly a kite!

5. the feathers fly = cause fighting / an argument

The feathers will fly when your father finds out that you've been playing truant again!

6. when pigs fly = used to say that something will never happen.

A- I've lent John some money but he promised to pay me back soon.

B- Sure! When pigs fly!

Heart Idioms and Proverbs

A. IDIOMS

1. a bleeding heart
someone who shows too much sympathy for everyone The anti-hunting campaigners are just a bunch of bleeding hearts who don't understand the countryside.

2. a heart of gold
a kind and generous character He plays the part of a tough cop with a heart of gold.
Opposite of: a heart of stone

3. at heart
(a) as what someone cares about the most Your academic adviser should have your best interests at heart. I'm an English teacher at heart but also a writer. 
(b) in the most basic way He was at heart a conservative man.

4. somebody, eat your heart out!  (humorous)
something that you say which means that you or someone you know can do something better than a person who is famous for doing that thing I'm taking singing lessons. Celine Dion, eat your heart out!

5. break someone's heart
to cause someone great emotional pain. It just broke my heart when Tom ran away from home. Sally broke John's heart when she refused to marry him.

6. somebody's heart sinks
if someone's heart sinks, they start to feel sad or worried He looked at the huge pile of work on his desk and his heart sank.

7. to your heart's content
if you do something enjoyable to your heart's content, you do it as much as you want to The pool is open all day so you can swim to your heart's content.

8. somebody's heart is in their mouth
if someone's heart is in their mouth, they feel extremely nervous My heart was in my mouth as I walked onto the stage.

9.in your heart of hearts
if you know something in your heart of hearts, you are certain of it although you might not want to admit it I knew in my heart of hearts that something was wrong, but I just wasn't ready to deal with it. Do you believe in your heart of hearts that things will get better?

10. know/learn something (off) by heart
if you know or learn something, especially a piece of writing, by heart, you know or learn it so that you can remember it perfectly He's my favourite poet. I know several of his poems by heart

11. pour your heart out
to tell someone your secret feelings and worries, usually because you feel a strong need to talk about them (often + to ) I'd only met him once, and here he was, pouring out his heart to me.

12. one's heart misses a beat and one's heart skips a beat
Fig. one's heart flutters or palpitates; one has a strong emotional reaction. Whenever I'm near you, my heart skips a beat. When the racehorse fell, my heart missed a beat.

13. young at heart
having a youthful spirit no matter what one's age.  I am over 70 but I still feel young at heart.

14. tear your heart out
to make you very sad Your article on the death of those students tore my heart out.

15. one's heart goes out to someone
one feels great sympathy for someone. My heart goes out to the grieving family. Let your heart go out to those who are suffering, and pray for their improvement.

B. PROVERBS

1. wear your heart on your sleeve
to make your feelings and opinions obvious to other people John's always worn his heart on his sleeve, so there's no doubt who he'll be supporting.

2. A heavy purse makes a light heart.
If you have plenty of money, you will feel happy and secure. Everyone in the office is especially cheerful on payday, since a heavy purse makes a light heart.

3. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
You will like someone or something better if that person or thing is far away. Ever since Carla's boyfriend moved away, she can't stop thinking about him. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

4. Cold hands, warm heart.
People whose hands are usually cold have kind and loving personalities. Nancy: I don't like holding hands with Joe. His hands are so cold. Jane: Cold hands, warm heart.

5. way to a man's heart is through his stomach
If you want a man to love you, you should feed him good food. Sue: I want Keith to notice me, but he doesn't even know I'm alive. Mother: Invite him over and cook him a good meal. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

6. What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.
You cannot be upset by something you do not know about. When Robbie cracked his mother's favorite vase, he simply turned the cracked side toward the wall. "What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over," he thought.

7. It is a poor heart that never rejoices. and It is a sad heart that never rejoices.
Even a habitually sad person cannot be sad all the time. (Sometimes used to indicate that a habitually sad person is happy about something.) Jill: I've never seen Sam smile before, but today, at his retirement party, he smiled. Jane: It is a poor heart that never rejoices.

8. Home is where the heart is.
People long to be at home.; Your home is whatever place you long to be. I've had a lovely time visiting you, but home is where the heart is, and I think it's time I went back. If home is where the heart is, then my home is my parents' old house. I've never loved my own apartment the way I love their place.

9. Faint heart never won fair lady.
 A timid suitor never won his lady. (Used to encourage boys or men to be bold in courting women.) Bill: I'd really like to go out with Alice, but what if she says no? Alan: You won't know till you ask her. Faint heart never won fair lady. Don't be so shy about talking to Edith. Faint heart never won fair lady.

10. let your heart rule your head
to do something because you want to rather than for practical reasons Don't let your heart rule your head. If you lend him that money you'll never see it again.

Easily Confused Words 4

VOCABULARY

1. toy / game / ride

toy = a child's plaything

The children were playing with their toys in the garden.

My son is 4 years old and loves toy cars.

game = form of play with regulations

He usually plays a great game at chess

The children are playing Noughts and Crosses - they just love this game.

What's your favourite board game? ~ Monopoly. 

ride = what you ride on at an amusement park

When we visited Eurodisney, we went on all the rides. They're exciting! 

Useful Expressions

to toy with something = not to think seriously about it

He toyed with the idea of buying a boat

to beat / play someone at their own game =to beat someone or fight back against them by using the same methods as they do

Jackie decided to play Dean at his own game and left without paying the bill.

to give someone a rough ride = make things difficult or unpleasant for someone in authority

The journalists gave the Prime Minister a pretty rough ride. 

3. coarse / course

coarse = not refined

You must never use coarse sugar to make a cake.

course = (a) movement, direction

The ship changed its course due to the strong winds.

(b) series of lessons

We have just completed an advanced course in English

Useful Expressions

in due course = in the natural order of things

Ann will get married in due course

in the course of time = as time goes by

Everything went wrong between Brian and Maggie in the course of time.

4. house / home

house = the building

Our house is not very big but it's comfortable and we love it!

home = the family environment

I met Jenny on my way home NOT on my way to my house

Useful Expressions

make yourself at home (spoken) =tell someone who is visiting you that they should feel relaxed as if they were at their own home

Make yourself at home while I get some coffee.

be on the house = if drinks and meals are on the house, you don't have to pay for them because they are provided free by the owner of the bar or restaurant.

Customer : Can I have the bill, please?

Waiter: Here you are, Sir. Your coffees are on the house. 

Easily Confused Words 3

VOCABULARY

Here are a few pairs of words which are easily confused:

1. clothes / cloth

clothes = what people wear to cover their body

What kind of clothes do you feel most confident in ?

I love casual clothes like jeans and T-shirts.

cloth =  (a) material made by weaving for special purposes

a dish-cloth, a floor-cloth etc

    (b) the clerical profession as shown by the clothes worn

A certain respect is due to the cloth. ( = to the priests)

2. look at / watch

look at = set your eyes at a certain direction

Look at this picture! Isn't it beautiful?

watch = keep the eyes on something moving

Juanita watches TV in the afternoon

Did you watch the game last night?

We were watching the children play while chatting in the garden.

3. last / latest

last = coming at the end

When was the last time you saw him?

latest = most recent

Ann always follows the latest fashion trends.

Did you hear the latest news about the hijackers?

4. remember/remind

(a) remember to do something = not to forget to do sth

Did you remember to call John before leaving the office?

(b) remember doing something = not to forget having already done sth in the past

I remember meeting her at a party last summer.

remind of / about / to = cause someone to remember

Hearing that song always reminds me of a certain night in Santa Cruz. (=the song brings back the memories of that night)

NOT hearing that song remembers me of .....

Will you remind me about that important appointment?

Corinne reminds me of myself when I was her age.

BUT : I remember Corinne wearing a floral dress when I first met her.

He reminded me to call John before leaving the office (=he asked me to remember to do so)

Useful Expressions

remember me to someone = ask someone to give a greeting from you to someone else = say hi

Please remember me to your mother

Special Difficulties

TIME IDIOMS

In the blink of an eye

   If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens nearly
  instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it.
  "The pickpocket disappeared in the blink of an eye." 

 Cut it/things fine 

  If you cut it/things fine, you leave barely enough time to do something.
  "You're counting just an hour between the airport and the train station. That's cutting things a bit fine isn't it?" 

 A day late and a dollar short  

 If something is a day late and a dollar short, it comes too late and
  is not good enough.
  "They offered me an internship when I'd already found a job - a day late and a dollar short!" 

 At the drop of a hat 

   If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately and
  without hesitation
  "I've got great friends.  They're ready to help out at the drop of a hat." 

 At the eleventh hour 

   If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens when it is almost too late, or at the last possible moment.
  "Our team won after they scored a goal at the eleventh hour." 

 Five o'clock shadow

  This expression refers to a patch of stubble on the face of a man
 who hasn't shaved for at least a day.
 "He looked tired and had a five o'clock shadow." 

 In the interim

   Something that happens in the interim takes place during a
  period of time between two events.
  "I won't have the apartment until next month. In the interim I'm
  staying at a local hotel." 

 Just around the corner 

  If something is just around the corner, it will happen very soon.
  "With spring just around the corner, the new collection should begin
  to sell." 

 Never in a million years 

   This expression means "absolutely never"
  "I will never in a million years understand why Anne married Bob." 

 Living on borrowed time 

  This expression refers to a period of time after an illness or accident
  which could have caused death.
  " After heart surgery, some patients say they're living on borrowed time." 

 Make up for lost time

   If you make up for lost time, you increase your efforts or work harder
  to complete something or meet a deadline.
  "Progress has stopped because of bad weather, but we are determined
  to make up for lost time." 

 Nick of time 

  If something happens in the nick of time, it happens at the last minute, when it is nearly too late.
  "The child was standing in front of the open window.  His mother arrived in the nick of time." 

 Once in a blue moon 

  Something that happens once in a blue moon is something
  that happens rarely or hardly ever.

"Bill visits his grandmother once in a blue moon" 

 Play for time 

  If you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage.
  "He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would decrease." 

 Pressed for time  

 If you're pressed for time, you have hardly enough time to do something so you must hurry.
  "Sorry. I can't talk to you now - I'm a bit pressed for time." 

 A race against time 

  If someone is in a race against time, they have to work very quickly
  in order to do or finish something before a certain time. 

 Sign of the times 

  This expression refers to something that shows the nature of today's
  society.
  "The rising level of violence is a sign of the times." 

 Stand the test of time 

  If something stands the test of time, people continue to find it valuable or useful after many years.
  "The teaching method has stood the test of time.  It is still used in
  schools today." 

 Time on your hands. 

   If you have time on your hands, you have a lot of free time, usually more than you need or want.
  "Since he retired, Bill has too much time on his hands.  He should take up a hobby!" 

 Time of your life 

  If you have the time of your life, you enjoy yourself very much.
  "The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland." 

 Time is ripe   

 If the time is ripe for something, it is the right moment to do it.
  "He sold his business when the time was ripe." 

 Time on your side  

 If you have time on your side, you can afford to wait before doing
  or achieving something.
  "He didn't succeed this time, but he's young enough to try again. 
   He's got time on his side. " 

 In one's own sweet time 

  If you do something in your own sweet time, you take as long as
  you please to do it, in spite of the orders or wishes of others.
  "OK, I'll do it - but in my own sweet time!"

Special Difficulties

  

 

 

LOVE IDIOMS

 

 

Falling in love

 

catch someone's eye = to be attractive to someone: "The shy man at the back of the class caught my eye."

 

to fancy someone  = to find someone attractive: "My friend fancies you!"

 

to have a crush on someone = to only be able to think about one person: "When I was at school, I had a crush on a film star."

 

to have a soft spot for someone = to have a weakness for someone: "She has a soft spot for Richard - he can do anything!"

 

to have the hots for someone = to find someone very attractive: "She's got the hots for the new office manager."

 

to go out with someone = to date someone: "They've been going out together for years!"

 

to go steady = to go out with someone: "They've been going steady since their first year at university."

 

to fall for someone = to fall in love: "He always falls for the wrong types!"

 

to fall head over heels for someone = to completely fall in love: "He fell head over heels for her."

 

to be lovey-dovey = for a couple to show everyone how much they are in love: "They're so lovey-dovey, always whispering to each other and looking into each other's eyes."

 

to have eyes only for = to be attracted to one person only: "He's dropped all his old friends, now that he has eyes only for Susie."

 

to be the apple of someone's eye = to be loved by someone, normally an older relative: "She's the apple of her father's eye."

 

to be smitten by someone = to be in love with someone: "I first met him at a party and from that evening on, I was smitten."

 

a love-nest = the place where two lovers live: "They made a love-nest in the old basement flat."

 

to be loved-up  = to exist in a warm feeling of love: "They are one loved-up couple!"

 

to be the love of someone's life = to be loved by a person: "He has always been the love of her life."

 

Types of love

 

puppy love = love between teenagers: "It's just puppy love - you'll grow out of it!"

 

cupboard love = love for someone because they give you food: "I think my cat loves me, but it's only cupboard love!"

 

Getting married

 

to get hitched: "They're getting hitched next Saturday."

 

to tie the knot: "So when are you two tying the knot?"

 

If it goes wrong…

 

to go through a bit of a rough patch = when things are not going well: "Since the argument, they've been going through a bit of a rough patch."

 

to have blazing rows = to have big arguments: "We had a blazing row last night."

 

can't stand the sight of someone = to not like someone: "She can't stand the sight of him any more!"

 

to call it a day = to agree that the relationship has ended: "We decided to call it a day."

 

to be on the rocks = a relationship that is in difficulty: "Once she moved out, it was clear their marriage was on the rocks."

 

to have a stormy relationship = a relationship with many arguments: "I'm glad we don't have a stormy relationship."

 

a love-rat = a man who betrays his girlfriend / wife: "He's had affairs with three different women - he's a complete love-rat."

 

Sayings

 

Marry in haste, repent at leisure = if you marry too quickly, you have the rest of your life to regret it!

 

Love is blind = when you love someone, you can't see their faults

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder = beauty is subjective

 

Let your heart rule your head = allow your emotions to control your rational side

 

Wear your heart on your sleeve = show other people how you are feeling

Easily Confused Words 1

 

EASILY CONFUSED WORDS

1. flat / level

flat = unbroken surface, even

Amsterdam is flat, that's why many people ride their bikes to work

level = degree, standard

I've just taken up an advanced level course in English

2. disposal / disposition

disposal = being available or getting rid of something

Madonna has a considerable amount of money at her disposal.

He has made a good disposal of his property by selling it at a high price.

disposition =

a. arrangement - an attractive disposition in a shop window

b. nature or character

He is a man with a humorous disposition

c. wish, tendency

There was a general disposition to go on a school trip.

3. worthy / valuable

worthy = not mean, deserving your respect and admiration

Mr Pitt is kind and generous. He is such a worthy man.

valuable =

- worth a lot of money - a valuable piece of jewellery

- very helpful - I greatly appreciate your valuable advice

- important because there isn't enough = I'd hate to waste your valuable time.

4. lay / lie

lay - laid - laid

1. put on a surface, place

Don't lay your hands on my shoulder!

Tom laid his legs on a chair.

2. produce (of birds)

Hens lay eggs NOT born eggs

3. get rid of

Although she had been honest, she was unable to lay his doubts.

lie - lay - lain = to be at rest or in a resting position

He lay in the sun all day, that's why he got sunburnt.

The book lay open on the table.

lie - lied - lied = not to tell the truth

I would never lie to you!

PROVERBS 

Let sleeping dogs lie = avoid discussing problems that are likely to cause trouble

Find out how the land lies = learn how matters stand, what the state of affairs is