Lesson 18: English Idioms from

Violence and Death

Introductory Quiz
Guess the correct meaning of each idiom from the context. It's OK if you get a lot of
answers incorrect - the important part is to do your best in trying to figure it out!

Question 1

I hate going to the dentist, but I have a really bad toothache - so I'm going to have to
bite the bullet and make an appointment.

If you "bite the bullet," it means you...

A need to have a minor medical or dental procedure

B have to do something quickly
C make yourself do something difficult or unpleasant

Question 2

My family was against homeschooling my daughter, but I stuck to my guns because I

thought it would give her the best educational experience.

If you "stick to your guns," it means you...

A make a permanent decision

B remain firm in your convictions
C verbally attack other people

Question 3

I really can't talk on the phone right now. It's 4 PM and I'm under the gun to finish
writing a report before I leave for the day.

If you are "under the gun," it means you are...

A anti-social
B not feeling well
C under pressure

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Question 4

Can we put an end to poverty in the world within the next twenty years? It's certainly
possible, but I think it's a long shot. It would require a level of international
collaboration that we just don't have.

If something is a "long shot," it means that it...

A has a very low probability of success

B requires a large number of people to make changes
C will take a long time

Question 5

Fifteen dollars for a sandwich in an airport is highway robbery, but I bought it

anyway because I was really hungry.

"Highway robbery" is...

A a task you hate doing

B a ridiculously high price
C something illegal

Question 6

Helping victims of abuse recover is often an uphill battle, but it's also some of the
most rewarding work I do as a psychologist.

An "uphill battle" is something...

A difficult and filled with obstacles

B impossible to do without professional training
C positive for society

Question 7

Having internet on my cell phone is a double-edged sword - it's really convenient

and yet it also makes it hard to completely disconnect from my work on evenings and
weekends.

If something is a "double-edged sword," it...

A has a good side and a bad side

B is necessary for everyday life
C often makes you annoyed

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Question 8

My sister invited me out for a chat over coffee and then dropped a bombshell: she's
leaving her husband and moving to another country with her kids.

To "drop a bombshell" means...

A do something that could be dangerous

B tell a shocking or upsetting piece of news
C try to escape a bad situation in life

Question 9

Every time I give Barbara a suggestion for resolving the problem, she just shoots it
down. I don't think she really wants a solution; it seems like she just wants to complain
about it.

If you "shoot down" an idea, you...

A criticize or reject it
B implement it immediately
C write it on paper

Question 10

My girlfriend is a fashion designer who is always following the newest trends. She
wouldn't be caught dead wearing last year's styles.

If someone "wouldn't be caught dead" doing something, it means the person...

A could lose their job because of it

B is desperate to try it
C would never do it

Question 11

The last movie in the trilogy comes out tomorrow. I'm dying to see it - the first two
movies were incredible!

If you are "dying to" do something, it means you...

A are afraid of doing it

B aren't permitted to do it
C really want to do it

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Question 12

Have you seen the new English teacher? He's a dead ringer for Brad Pitt! All the
women are hoping to be in his class next semester.

A "dead ringer" is...

A a big fan
B a sexy person
C an exact duplicate

Video Explanation
#1 - bite the bullet = make yourself do something difficult or unpleasant

A bullet is a piece of ammunition used in a gun. It is believed that in the

past, when soldiers on the battlefield had to have surgery without
anesthesia, they bit a bullet to help them endure the pain - so today the
idiom "bite the bullet" means to force yourself to do something you don't
want to do - or something you have been delaying for a long time.

#2 - stick to your guns = remain firm in your convictions

If a soldier is being attacked by enemies, but he "sticks to"

(stays with) his gun instead of running away, he is being firm
and courageous. The expression "stick to your guns" therefore
means to remain firm in your beliefs or opinions, even when
other people are attacking you and pressuring you to change.

#3 - under the gun = under pressure

If someone was pointing a gun at you and telling you to do something,

then you would definitely be under a lot of pressure to get the task
done! This is why "under the gun" means "under pressure" - often
under the pressure of a time limit.

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#4 - a long shot = has a very low probability of success

It's very difficult to shoot a target that is a long distance away - so anything with a low
probability of success is called a "long shot."

#5 - highway robbery = a ridiculously high price

In the Middle Ages, thieves and bandits often robbed caravans on the road or highway.
These robberies were often very lucrative for the thieves. Today, the expression
"highway robbery" is used to describe when an extremely high price is charged for
something that is not worth so much money. Another phrase for this situation is "it's a
rip-off."

#6 - an uphill battle = difficult and filled with obstacles

If there are two armies fighting a battle, but one side is trying to
advance uphill, it will be more difficult for them to succeed. This is
why the idiom "uphill battle" is used to describe any process that
is difficult and has many obstacles or challenges that could slow or
prevent success.

#7 - it's a double-edged sword = it has a good side and a bad side

Each "side" of a sword is called an edge. The sword has two edges, so you
need to be careful - one side could cut your enemy, but the other side
could cut you. The expression "double-edged sword" therefore means
something with both an advantage and a disadvantage.

#8 - drop a bombshell = tell shocking or upsetting news

Bombshell is another word for bomb. When a bomb explodes, it causes a

lot of damage. So if you drop a bombshell in conversation, it means you
say something that could shock or upset people, or something that could
have widespread negative consequences.

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#9 - shoot down = criticize or reject

This idiom comes from trying to shoot down enemy

planes. If you shoot down someone's ideas or suggestions,
it means you criticize their ideas or reject them
immediately.

#10 - wouldn't be caught dead = would never do it

This idiom is simply a way to exaggerate the fact that you would NEVER do something -
usually something that would embarrass you. For example, if there is a boy who is very
masculine and doesn't like anything pink or "girly," you could say "he wouldn't be
caught dead playing with a Barbie doll."

#11 - I'm dying to = I really want to

This is a very common phrase used to emphasize how much you want to do something.
You can use dying to + verb or dying for + noun:

I'm dying to see the new movie. = I really want to see the new movie.
I'm dying for a drink of water. = I really want a drink of water

#12 – a dead ringer for someone = an exact duplicate

This idiom has an interesting origin. The word "dead" in English is sometimes used to
mean "exact, precise, or perfect."For example, if you say someone is "dead right" or
"dead wrong," it means they are exactly right or exactly wrong. If you say you are "dead
certain" about something, it means you are perfectly certain.

Now what about the word "ringer"? Well, in horse racing in the 19th century, people
sometimes substituted one horse for another identical horse - to deceive the people who
were making bets on the result of the race. The substitute horse, which looked identical
to the original horse, was called a "ringer."

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So if you say that one person is "a dead ringer for" another person, it means that they
have a very similar or almost identical physical appearance.

You’ve finished Lesson 18!

Take the practice quiz and try the writing exercises – and log in tomorrow for Lesson 19.

Practice Quiz
Question 1

I'm _____________ buy a washing machine - I'm sick and tired of washing my
clothes by hand.

A biting the bullet

B dying to
C shooting down

Question 2

There was a big uproar when the pastor's 16-year-old daughter _________________
that she was pregnant.

A dropped the bombshell

B stuck to her guns
C wouldn't be caught dead

Question 3

My favorite baseball team doesn't have very strong players this year. Of course, I'm still
hoping they'll win the championship, but it's ____________.

A a double-edged sword
B a long shot
C highway robbery

Question 4

Working as a journalist means you're always ____________, because the next issue of
the newspaper needs to go out tomorrow, no matter what.

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 A a dead ringer
B biting the bullet
C under the gun

Question 5

I worked for hours on perfecting my proposal, but the manager didn't even consider it -
he just ____________ immediately.

A fought an uphill battle

B shot it down
C was dying to do it

Question 6

The politician ______________ regarding the controversial law despite opposition

from many leaders in his own party.

A dropped a bombshell
B made a long shot
C stuck to his guns

Question 7

Having a lot of friends can be ________________ - it's great to be popular, but I get
so many invitations to parties and weddings that I can't go to all of them.

A a double-edged sword
B a dead ringer
C under the gun

Question 8

Two years after the divorce, I finally got partial custody of the kids, but it was
______________ - my wife's lawyers fought me every step of the way.

A a long shot
B an uphill battle
C shot down

Question 9

My house has needed a new coat of paint for years, but I haven't had time to do it myself
- so last week I ____________ and just hired a painter.

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 A bit the bullet
B had a double-edged sword
C was dying to do it

Question 10

My mother is very sensitive about the fact that she's overweight. She
_______________ in a bikini.

A is a dead ringer for

B was dying to wear
C wouldn't be caught dead in

Answers
1) B

2) A

3) B

4) C

5) B

6) C

7) A

8) B

9) A

10) C

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Speaking / Writing Exercises
1. When was the last time you bit the bullet?

2. Describe a situation when you stuck to your guns.

3. What is something you believe to be a "long shot"?

4. Is there anything you "wouldn't be caught dead" doing?

5. Write one thing that you are dying to do (and why you are so eager to do it).

If you want correction / feedback, you can either e-mail me your writing at
help@espressoenglish.net or leave me a voice mail message:
www.speakpipe.com/espressoenglish

Image Sources:

‫צלניק‬
imagerymajestic, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Bonus Onus
Matt Morgan from Alameda
Larinha2015

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