Intermediate

Idioms – some interesting meanings and histories

down in the dumps (Unit 27)

Long ago the word dump used to mean a state of
sadness or depression. It is no longer used in this sense,
but the word survives in the plural in the expression
down in the dumps. If you are down in the dumps, you
are feeling low or depressed.

lose face (Unit 1)

The most common meaning of face is the front part of
the head, where your eyes, nose, and mouth are. But it
can also be used to mean the visible part or surface of
something, for example the front of a building, or the
right side of a fabric or coin. From this developed the
sense of outward appearance, and then ‘reputation’. So if
you lose face, you lose the respect of other people.

sleep like a log (Unit 32)

a piece of cake (Unit 2)
Eating a piece of cake is a very easy and pleasant
thing to do. If somebody says that something is
a piece of cake, they mean that it’s very easy to do.
You can also say it’s as easy as pie.
A log is a thick, heavy piece of wood, cut from a tree.
A log does not move, so if you sleep like a log, you
sleep a deep and restful sleep, moving around very
little or not at all.

Activity
Complete the sentences with the idioms above. every evening.
to lose face. He’s been working until 7
1. That geography exam was going to be late because he doesn’t want
– I got 100%! 4. Dan won’t tell the boss his report is
down in the dumps.
2. I’ll catch an early flight to New York so I have more time there. 3. What’s wrong Sarah? You look a bit
I anywhere, so I can anywhere, so I can sleep on the plane.
sleep on the plane. I have more time there. I sleep like a log
3. What’s wrong Sarah? You look a bit 2. I’ll catch an early flight to New York so
. cake–I got 100%!
1. That geography exam was a piece of
4. Dan won’t tell the boss his report is going to be late because
Answers
he doesn’t want to .
He’s been working until 7 every evening.