IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

An idiom (Latin: idioma, “special property”, f. Greek: idiōma, “special phrasing”, f. Greek: idi

os, “one’s own”) is an expression, word, or phrase that has figurative meaning — its
implication comprehended only through common use; whereas the literal definition of the idiom, itself,
does not communicate its meaning as a figurative usage.

In linguistics, idioms are usually presumed to be figures of speech contradicting the principle
of compositionality; yet the matter remains debated. an “idiom” as words collocated that became
affixed to each other until metamorphosing into a fossilized term. This collocation — words commonly
used in a group — redefines each component word in the word-group and become an idiomatic
expression. The words develop a specialized meaning as an entity, as an idiom. Moreover, an idiom
is an expression, word, or phrase whose sense means something different from what the words
literally imply. When a speaker uses an idiom, the listener might mistake its actual meaning, if he or
she has not heard this figure of speech before.[3] Idioms usually do not translate well; in some cases,
when an idiom is translated into another language, either its meaning is changed or it is meaningless.
Idioms might be the most difficult language for a learner of a new language.

An idiom is generally a colloquial metaphor — a term requiring some foundational knowledge,

information, or experience, to use only within a culture, where conversational parties must possess
common cultural references. Therefore, idioms are not considered part of the language, but part of the
culture. As culture typically is localized, idioms often are useless beyond their local context;
nevertheless, some idioms can be more universal than others, can be easily translated, and the
metaphoric meaning can be deduced.

SOME USEFUL IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

AGREE TO - a proposal; a thing, or an action

LIVE IT UP - have a good time by spending a
lot of money.
BACK AWAY - retreat or go backwards

MAKE UP - stop being angry with someone

COME AROUND - become conscious, wake
They are always arguing, but they MAKE UP
again very quickly.
DRIVE UP - make something increase.
EASE OFF - reduce pressure.
OPEN UP - start to talk freely about something
FALL FOR - be attracted to somebody, fall in
She hates to OPEN UP and discuss her
love.
feelings.
GIVE UP ON - lose faith in or stop believing in
something or someone.
PULL OFF - manage to do something difficult
or tricky
HOLD UP - delay when traveling.

RING OFF - finish a phone conversation

ON BEHALF OF - representing on the part of.

IRON OUT - remove small problems or

SHOOT UP - increase quickly
irregularities.
TAKE DOWN - make notes or write down in
full
KEEP AT - continue with something difficult.
ZIP BY - pass quickly
 Business Idioms
Across the board (including everyone or
everything)
Bang for the buck (value for the money
spent)
Close out (sell the whole of something, sell all
the goods)
Deliver the goods (succeed in doing well
what is expected)
Face value (the official worth or trust of
something)
Gain ground (go forward, make progress)
Heads will roll (someone will be punished)
In the black (successful or making money)
Jack up (make a price higher)
Keep track of - (keep a count or record, stay
informed)
Make a go of (produce good results, succeed)
Number-cruncher (an accountant, someone
who works with numbers)
On hand (in one’s possession, ready)
Piece of the action (a share in the activity or
the profits of something)
Red ink (debt (red ink on a financial
statement)
Sell like hotcakes (sell very quickly)
Take a nosedive (collapse, fail, decrease in
value)
Write off (remove from a business record,
cancel a debt)
Colloquial Expressions
Be my guest (do as you wish)
Bend someone’s ear (talk about a matter at
tedious length)
Caught dead, wouldn’t be (would have
nothing to do with; detest)
Fair enough (that’s reasonable, I agree)
Fast track (a situation involving high pressure,
competition, and, especially, rapid success or
advancement)
Foot the bill (pay the bill, settle the accounts)
For crying out loud (an exclamation of anger
or exasperation)
Get the hang of it (learn the proper way of
doing, using or handling something; acquire
the knack of something)
The works (everything, the full range of
possibilities).
Think big (be ambitious)
Whole nine yards (everything that is relevant;
the whole thing)
You name it (everything one can think of)