IDIOMS ENGLISH 5 SECOND PART

25. MISS THE BOAT

Meaning: miss the chance.

Example: Peter wanted to enter the drawing competition, but he was too late to enter,
and he missed the boat.

26. IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO

Meaning : Certain actions or activities cannot be performed alone – they  need two people to
participate, both people involved in a situation are equally responsible for it

Example: You want to play that game, you need a partner who will play with you. It takes
two to tango.

27.CHEW THE FAT

 To waste your time talking.

 Example: Mary loves to chew the fat. I don’t like wasting my time

28. PIECE OF CAKE

 Something that is easy to understand or accomplish.

 Example: “My math homework last night was a piece of cake! I finished it ten
minutes.”

29. APPLE OF YOUR EYES

Meaning: someone very precious or dear.

Example: Every kid in the world is the apple of their parents’ eye(s).

30. A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE

 When someone receives the same treatment, usually negative, that they gave
someone else.
 Example: “That kid is always beating up other kids on the playground. I wish
someone would give him a taste of his own medicine.”

31. A HOT POTATO

Meaning: a controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to

deal with.
Example: The subject of bullying and fighting in my school is a hot potato.
 32. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

Meaning: very rarely.

Example: I go to visit my grandfather only once in a blue moon; he lives in a
remote farm house.

33. A BED OF ROSES

Meaning: easy option.

Example: Taking care of my younger sister is no bed of roses; she is very silly.

34. RAINING CATS AND DOGS

Meaning: raining very heavily.

Example: I wanted to go to play outside, but it was raining cats and dogs
yesterday.

35.WHEN PIGS FLY

Meaning: something that will never happen or is impossible.

Example: William will keep quiet only when pigs fly.

36. DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

Meaning: one who presents a counter argument

Example: Hey Jack! You’re always playing devil’s advocate! Give it a rest and
mind your own business.

37. BAPTISM OF FIRE

- The idiom baptism of fire refers to a very difficult first experience someone
undergoes.
- My first day as the manager of the restaurant was a real baptism of fire.

38. BE IN SOMEBODY'S SHOES

- To be in the situation that another person is in.

- I wouldn't like to be in Nancy's shoes. She'll have a lot of problems with her
boss.

39. BREAK A LEG

 Something you say to someone you want to wish luck on.

 Example: “Is tonight your big performance? Break a leg!”

40. BARKING DOG SELDOM BITES

Also: All bark and no bite
 Being verbally threatening, but unwilling to do anything significant.
 Example: “He keeps threatening to shut down our paper after we ran that article
about him, but I don’t think he will. In my opinion, he’s all bark and no bite.”

41. CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER

 When someone is upset about something that happened a while ago.

 Example: “He has a chip on his shoulder from years of being bullied as a kid.”

42. CREAM OF THE CROP

The best of the best. To be the best of something, it ranges from sports
to school, to just being awesome

This particular group is probably the cream of the crop of the last few
years,

43. EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

It means that you should never feel hopeless because difficult times always lead to
better days. Difficult times are like dark clouds that pass overhead and block the sun

- I found a new job after all and I like this one much better than the last!
- You see Michael; every cloud has a silver lining.”

44. FALL HEAD OVER HEEL in love (with someone)

To fall deeply in love with someone, especially suddenly.

Roger fell head over heels in love with Maggie, and they were married within the
month.

45. GO THROUGH THE ROOF

If someone goes through the roof or hits the roof, they suddenly become very angry,
and usually show their anger by shouting at someone.

Mom will go through the roof when she finds out we disobeyed her again.

46. DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKEN BEFORE THEY HATCH

You shouldn’t make plans that depend on something good

happening before you know that it has actually happened

She wanted to buy a dress in case someone asked her to the dance, but I told
her not to count her chickens before they hatched.
 47. BETTER LATE THAN TOMORROW
It means that doing something late is better than not doing it at all.
This phrase is often said to someone who has not completed a task on time as a way of
both admonishing them and encouraging them.

The secretary: “Sorry I was late for the meeting today; I got stuck in traffic.”
The boss: “That's okay; better late than never.”

48. COLD DAY IN HELL

An event that will never happen. Something improbable (synonym when pigs fly)

- It'll be a cold day in hell before I return her calls.

- It'll be a cold day in hell before I accept her apologies.

49. NEVER PUT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO

TODAY

Don’t delay or hesitate to do something if you can finish or accomplish it today.

Son: "I've just got one more short assignment and then I'll be finished with my
homework, but I think I'll wait until Sunday to do it."
Mother: "You'll enjoy your weekend more if you do it now. Remember, never put off
until tomorrow what you can do today!"