IDIOMS

-EXIST IN EVERY LANGUAGE. AN IDIOM IS A WORD OR PHRASE THAT IS NOT TAKEN

LITERALLY, LIKE “BOUGHT THE FARM” HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PURCHASING REAL
ESTATE, BUT REFERS TO DYING. IDIOM ALSO REFERS TO A DIALECT OR JARGON OF A
GROUP OF PEOPLE. EITHER IN A CERTAIN REGION OR A GROUP WITH COMMON INTEREST,
LIKE IN SCIENCE, MUSIC, OR BUSINESS.

COMMON IDIOMS
--COMMON IDIOMS THAT REFER TO PEOPLE INCLUDE:
1. A CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER—MEANS YOU ARE HOLDING A GRUDGE.
2. HIGH AS A KITE—MEANS YOU ARE DRUNK OR ON DRUGS.
3. SICK AS A DOG—MEANS YOU ARE VERY ILL.

IDIOMS THAT REFER TO YOUR ACTIONS WOULD BE:

1. RUB SOMEONE THE WRONG WAY- MEANING TO ANNOY OR BOTHER.
2. JUMP THE GUN- WOULD MEAN TO BE DOING SOMETHING EARLY.
3. PAY THE PIPER- MEANS YOU NEED TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOU
ACTIONS.

EXAMPLES:
1. A HOT POTATO- SPEAK OF AN ISSUE
2. A PENNY OF YOUR THOUGHTS- A WAY OF ASKING WHAT SOMEONE IS
THINGKING.
3. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORD- PEOPLE’S INTENTIONS CAN BE JUDGED
BETTER BY WHAT THEY DO THAN WHAT THEY SAY.
4. AT THE DROP OF A HAT- WITHOUT ANY HESITATION; INSTANTLY
5. BACK OF THE DRAWING BOARD- WHEN AN ATTEMPT FAILS AND IT’S TIME TO
START ALL OVER.
6. BALL IS IN YOUR COURT- IT IS UP TO YOU MAKE THE NEXT DECISION OR STEP.
7. BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE- LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE. / ACCUSING THE
WRONG PERSON.
8. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS- ALL THE ADVANTAGES
9. BLESSING IN DISGUISE- SOMETHING GOOD THAT ISN’T RECOGNIZE AT FIRST.
10. CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO STOOLS- WHEN SOMEONE FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO ALTERNATIVES.
11. COST AN ARM AND A LEG- THIS IDIOMS IS USED WHEN SOMETHING IS VERY
EXPENSIVE.
12. CUT CORNERS- WHEN SOMETHING IS DONE BADLY TO SAVE MONEY.
13. DEVIL’S ADVOCATE- TO PRESENT A COUNTER ARGUMENT.
14. ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING- THE SHOW HAS COME TO AN END. IT’S ALL OVER.
15. FAR CRY FROM- VERY DIFFERENT.
16. GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT- BELIEVE SOMEONE’S STATEMENT, WITHOUT
PROOF.
17. JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON- JOIN A POPULAR TREND OR ACTIVITY.
18. KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE- TO ACCOMPLISH TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AT
THE SAME TIME.
19. MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT-- COME TO POINT- LEAVE OUT DETAILS.
20. NOT A SPARK OF DECENCY- NO MANNERS
21. NOT PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK- SOMEONE WHO LACKS INTELLIGENCE.
22. ON THE BALL- WHEN SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS THE SITUATIONS WELL.
23. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON- HAPPENS VERY RARELY.
24. PICTURE PAINTS THOUSANDS WORDS- VISUAL PRESENTATION IS FAR MORE
DESCRIPTIVE THAN WORDS.
25. PIECE OF CAKE- A JOB, TASK OR OTHER ACTIVITY THAT IS VERY EASY OR
SIMPLE.