fun expressions

3. Horror movies make my

flesh crawl. They are so scary
and creepy.
4. They were at each 1. Don’t hold your breath.
other’s throats all day long. 2. We never see eye to eye. A class trip to Bora Bora is
What were they arguing We just agree to disagree not going to happen.
about?

5. Let’s play it by ear and 6. He gave me the cold 7. I was pulling my hair out
see how we feel about that shoulder. He completely because I couldn’t
later. ignored me. assemble that stupid
bookcase.
8. I hope I get that job.
9. He bent over backwards
Cross your fingers!
to help me. I was so
grateful for his assistance. 11. Can’t talk right now.
10. He risked his neck- I’ve got a frog in my throat.
saving that boy from
drowning. 12. She rolled her eyes
when Jason (the nerd)
boasted about how cool
and popular he was-again! 13. He never lifts a finger.
14. That’s a heart-breaking He doesn’t do a single thing
story- What a tragedy! for anyone.
15. His Uncle Phil is dead
from the neck up. He’s
really dumb! 16. I have a gut feeling that
he’s lying about not taking 17. I heard a hair-raising
money from the register. scream - panicked and ran
for the nearest exit.

18. His new music video is 19. My lips are sealed. I’ll 20. I can’t think now. I’ve
mind blowing wait ‘til you never tell another soul your got a splitting headache.
hear it. It’s awesome. secret.

21. I got cold feet and

didn’t ask her to the dance. 23. That director had two
22. Don’t waste your hit movies- back to back.
breath- your parents won’t
26. He washed his hands of 24.Stop splitting hairs.
ever let you go to the heavy
the whole matter. He Those two things are
25. Construction work is metal concert.
doesn’t like to get involved. almost the same.
back-breaking- do you
really want to become a 28. Stop pulling my leg.
27. That new supervisor is a
builder? That can’t be true. You’re
thorn in my side- always
joking.
making endless demands.
29. That’s an eye-popping
exhibit of futuristic flying
machines.
30. I hate his guts. He’s
such a rotten guy. So mean! 31.. That music is ear-
splitting. Turn it down,
please. I’m going deaf.
32. That is never going to
34. A Ferrari Testarossa
happen. Over my dead
costs an arm and a leg. For
body. 35. The new recruit got a
33. I put my foot in my millionaires only.
tongue -lashing from the
mouth when I called my
36. I had to bite my tongue drill sergeant because he
new girlfriend by my old
so I wouldn’t call my boss a couldn’t follow directions.
girlfriend’s name.
moron- and get fired.

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 *Explain the meaning of each card and give examples of its usage*

They were at each What makes your If you see eye to eye-
other’s throats. flesh crawl? that means?

Don’t hold your breath? Let’s play it by ear. He gave me the cold
shoulder.

I was pulling my I rolled my eyes.

hair out.
I hate his guts.

She risked her neck to I’ve got a frog in He never lifts a finger.
save that boy.
my throat.

heart-breaking. I have a gut feeling that…

He bent over
backwards.

He’s dead from the neck up. My lips are sealed. I’ve got a splitting
headache.

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 hair raising mind-blowing back to back

back-breaking work costs an arm and a leg I put my foot in my mouth.

She’s a thorn in my side. I got a tongue-lashing eye-popping/My eyes

popped out of my head.

He washed his hands of ear-splitting Don’t pull my leg. Stop

the matter. pulling my leg.

Stop splitting hairs. Hair- Don’t waste your breath.

splitting He got cold feet.

Cross your fingers. Over my dead body. Bite your tongue. I bit my
tongue.

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 Almost all these humorous expressions are used by English speakers every single day- that’s
how common they are. These are all based on parts of the body. A 2-page mini-glossary- in
numerical order- with explanations follows.

1.Don’t hold your breath. 1.Don’t stop breathing. An event is not likely to happen- so
relax and stay cool.
2. See eye to eye 2. It means that we agree. Can be used in the negative.
3. makes my flesh crawl 3. Something is very creepy, frightening, makes your very
flesh very uncomfortable- if not scared
4. They were at each other’s throats. 4. They were fighting with words- yelling at each other-
unlikely to be actually fighting.
5. Let’s play it by ear. 5. Let’s not plan anything. Let’s see how things go- if we are
in the mood to do something.
6. the cold shoulder 6. He/She turned away from me and ignored me. So, he/she
doesn’t like me or is mad at me.
7. I was pulling my hair out. 7. Not really pulling our hair out. It means that we are very
frustrated that something cannot be solved or completed.
8. Cross your fingers. I’ll cross my fingers. 8. This is a sign of good luck.
9. She bent over backwards. 9. He did far more than was necessary- went out of his way
to be helpful, kind etc.
10. He risked his neck. 10. He risked his life doing something that was so dangerous
it could have killed him.
11. I have a frog in my throat. 11. I can’t speak clearly- I need to clear my throat.
12. We were rolling our eyes. 12. We moved our eyes upwards when something is
ridiculous or unbelievable.
13. She never lifts a finger. 13. She never does a thing. She is very lazy.
14. That was a heart-breaking story. 14. Your heart breaks into pieces over a tragic event.
15. She’s dead from the neck up. 15. This means that one’s brains do not function- therefore
the person is very stupid.
16. I have a gut feeling that 16. Your guts are your intestines- if you feel it there- your
feelings are usually correct.
17. A hair-raising movie. 17. So frightening that your hair stands on end (if only it
could).
18. A mind-blowing movie 18. Something that is so fantastic your mind blows up with
happiness.
19.My lips are sealed. 19. I cannot tell the secret because my lips are taped and
sealed together like an envelope.
20. I have a splitting headache. 20. I have a terrible headache- my head hurts so much is
might split (divide) into 2 pieces.

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21. I got cold feet and (didn’t do something.) 21. I chickened out- I backed out of doing something.
22. Don’t waste your breath. 22. Don’t bother speaking about something that is
impossible or unlikely.
23. back to back 23. One after the other- two of anything in a row.
24.stop splitting hairs 24. Make an unnecessary distinction between two
similar things, discuss unimportant details
25. back-breaking 25. extremely tiring- exhausting work
26. washed his hands of 26. He-she wanted nothing more to do with a matter-
even if it’s important.
27. thorn in my side 27. Something that bothers or irritates you- like a
thorn (sharp piece of a rose)
28.stop pulling my leg 28. Stop joking! You are exaggerating.
29. eye-popping 29. So fantastic to look at that your eyes pop out.
30. hate his guts 30. If you hate someone’s intestines- you really hate
who he/she is. A strong form of hate.
31. ear-splitting 31. So loud it could cause your ears to break into
pieces
32. over my dead body 32. Absolutely never!
33. put my foot in my mouth 33. To say something embarrassing or shocking
without meaning to.
34. cost an arm and a leg 34. Extremely expensive- you’d have to pay for it with
parts of your body (joke)
35. bite my tongue 35. You bite your tongue to prevent yourself from
saying something hurtful or embarrassing.
36. I got a tongue lashing. The sergeant gave the 36. Lash means to whip. Someone whipped you with
corporal a tongue lashing. their tongue- they yelled very loud at you for a mistake
or a serious error.

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