Idiomatic expressions

1. A piece of cake: describes something that’s very easy to do.

Sarah: How was the French exam?

Michael: It was a piece of cake.

Learning how to use a computer is a piece of cake.

2. Rain cats and dogs: raining too much or raining heavily, a lot

I think we are not going to play football in the afternoon because it’s raining cats
and dogs.

I think it’s not safe to drive the car now – it’s raining cats and dogs.

When we were going back home from school, it was raining cats and dogs.

3. Gets on my nerves: to annoy someone, to make someone angry. if someone or

something gets on your nerves, they make you feel annoyed or nervous

Please stop making that noise! It really gets on my nerves.

Who’s pounding on the table?
Stop doing that it’s getting on my nerves.

4. Be on the go. Active or very busy, occupied.

Amanda is always on the go.

I‘ve been on the go all day.

5. Feel blue: To feel sad.

You look like you feel blue. What's wrong?
I felt blue after the exam.
I’m feeling blue today.

I feel blue every time I remember that awful accident.

6. Keep your fingers crossed (ALSO cross your fingers): to wish somebody good luck. Or to
hope for good things to happen to you or someone else. If you are keeping your fingers
crossed, you are hoping for something positive to happen. To hope that things will happen in
the way that you want them to.

I’m going to give my first presentation tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed for me.
I’m having an exam this morning so cross your fingers.
1
Let's keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't rain.

Many people say that the Moroccan team is not going to win the match against Spain but I
am keeping my fingers crossed.

The Bac exams are going to come out tomorrow. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

A: "The championship game is tonight. Are you going to watch it?"

B: "Yeah. My favorite team lost their best player. I don't think they will win."
A: "You never know. They can get lucky."
B: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

7. To cram: to study very hard for an exam over a short period of time.
To study for a test in the last remaining minutes

Sarah: I must go now.

Michael: why?
Sarah: I have to go and cram for the Math test.
Michael: Ok. See you later.

“I’m not ready for my final English test. I’m going to need to cram all night!”

Person I: Did you study, Person II?

Person II: Nope.

Person I: Then why do you have your book out?

Person II: I’m cramming.

8. To be green: untrained , inexperienced

I was very green when I started working there.