Idioms

1. I’m feeling a bit under the _____ today. I think I’m getting a cold.
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2. It was bad car accident, and Martin was really shaken _____ for a few days afterwards.
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3. Our supplier sent us the wrong laptops and we’re going to have to wait another two
weeks to get the ones we ordered. Our supervisor is not a _____ camper right now.
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4. He’s always so calm, but one day he completely _____ off the handle and started
screaming at people.
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5. It was the first time I had ever been interviewed on TV and I really got a _____ out of
it. I can’t wait to do it again.
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6. Liz said she felt like a _____ out of water in Tokyo. She’s used to living in a rural area.
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7. I didn’t want to miss work for three days, but what could I do? I was as sick as a _____.
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8. On the weekend we play football in a local league. After a long week of work, it’s
important to let off a little _____.
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9. Getting some recognition during the meeting really made my _____.
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10. After the first round of layoffs, everyone in the building was a little _____ edge.
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11. On Friday, Kate was still a little jet-lagged. She looked completely spaced _____ at
breakfast.
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12. It’s just a little setback. Don’t get upset about it. Keep your ____ up and work through
it.
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13. Dexter quit smoking and started a new diet. He says he’s turning over a new _____.
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14. This is totally unacceptable. I’m going to call customer service and give them
a _____ of my mind.
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15. When I got my internship, I was disappointed. I’d had my heart _____ on getting an
internship at another company, but it didn’t work out.
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16. You have plenty of money saved for retirement. You could lose half your money in the
stock market and still be _____pretty.
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17. When I found out we lost the contract, I had a sinking _____ in the pit of my stomach.
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18. What’s Mary’s problem today? Did something happen, or did she just get up on the
wrong _____ of the bed?
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19. I had some _____ in my stomach before the presentation, but everything went just fine.
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20. Normally he’s 100% reliable. I don’t know why he’s been so _____ his game lately.
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21. Sometimes I have trouble writing but other times I get _____ the zone and effortlessly
write for hours.
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22. The speaker wasn’t very good and everyone looked bored to _____ during his talk.
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23. It was just a suggestion. You don’t need to bite my ____ off about it.
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24. I don’t think I’m in the _____ for pizza. Let’s order Chinese food instead.
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25. I wonder what Kevin did to offend Jeffrey. Jeffrey gave him the cold _____ this
morning. He didn’t say a word to him.
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26. The Christmas season always puts me in _____ spirits. It’s such a wonderful time of
year.
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27. I waited on hold for almost 20 minutes. It was really trying my ______.
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28. I don’t know if I want to attend the event or not. I’m _____ the fence about it.
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29. I was really bummed _____ about it raining during my vacation, but it was still relaxing.
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30. Did you see the news about the government official who embezzled million of
dollars? The government corruption in this country really makes my blood _____.
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31. I was just trying to give some constructive criticism. You didn’t have to jump down
my _____ like that.
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32. After winning the sales contest, Paula felt on top of the _____.
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33. Most people thought he was guilty. When the not-guilty verdict was announced, many
people were up in _____.
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34. It’s important to seem confident and relaxed. Even if you feel awful about what
happened, don’t hang your _____ in front of your team.
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35. In the waiting room, everyone was on pins and _____ while they waited to hear if Don
would be okay.
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36. Burt was on cloud _____ after he won the new car in the raffle.
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37. I could tell by the angry look on her face that she had a _____ to pick with me.
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38. I’ve never been so happy. I felt like I was walking on _____.
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39. I know the place is a mess, but don’t get all _____ out of shape. I’ll straighten things up
in a minute.
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Idioms about sickness
under the weather – a little bit sick
as sick as a dog – very sick

Idioms about anger

fly off the handle – lose one’s temper very suddenly
give someone a piece of one’s mind – to angrily speak/yell at someone who has done something wrong
bite one’s head off – yell at someone for no reason
try one’s patience – make someone be annoyed or lose their patience
make one’s blood boil – anger someone
jump down one’s throat – yell at or strongly criticize someone
up in arms – upset, outraged
get all bent out of shape – get angry
have a bone to pick – need to talk to someone about something they have done wrong

Idioms about being uncomfortable or nervous

shaken up – troubled, distressed
fish out of water – in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable situation
on edge – tense, nervous
sinking feeling – feeling that something bad is about to happen
butterflies in one’s stomach – nervousness felt in the stomach
on pins and needles – nervous or anxious, usually due to a suspenseful situation

Idioms about sadness

bummed out – sad about a specific issue
hang one’s head – feel ashamed

Idioms about happiness, enjoyment, and other positive feelings

get a kick out of something – really enjoy something
make someone’s day – to make someone happy by saying or doing something that is the best moment of that person’s day
in high spirits – very happy
on top of the world – extremely happy, often as a result of a great accomplishment
walking on air – extreme pride, happiness, and optimism
on cloud nine – extremely happy

Other Idioms about feelings and moods

let/blow off a little steam – do something to release pent up energy/emotions
spaced out – in a disoriented stupor
keep one’s chin up – stay positive in the face of adversity
turn over a new leaf – to make an important change for the better
have one’s heart set on something – to greatly desire something
sitting pretty – in a very good, secure position
get up on the wrong side of the bed – irritated and in a bad mood, often for no reason
off one’s game – performing below one’s normal level
in the zone – in a focused state that results in good performance
bored to tears – very bored
in the mood for – want something at the moment; to feel like something (ex. a certain food, an activity,etc.)
give someone the cold shoulder – ignore someone
on the fence – unable to make up one’s mind
happy camper – content and satisfied (often used in the negative — He’s not a happy camper)