C LEVEL IDIOMS HANDOUT SET 3
IDIOMS PHRASAL VERBS
TO KEEP SOMETHING UP YOUR SLEEVE: To have a
secret idea or plan which you can use to gain an
advantage over other people
- John was smiling to himself all through
the meeting, I'm sure he keeps something up his sleeve.
DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH:
Don't make plans based on future events
that might not happen.
- When my mom heard that I was
preparing my campaign before even being nominated, she
warned me, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
TO AVOID SOMEBODY LIKE THE PLAGUE:
To consciously stay away from someone or sth.
- I didn't do my homework my last night,
so I'm avoiding my teacher like the plague.
YOU CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS:
You can't teach someone who is set in their ways to
change their behavior.
- Good luck getting grandpa to start going to yoga
with you. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
CAN’T MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF SOMETHING:
Cannot understand someone or something at all; cannot
make any sense of someone or something
- I've been working with the new software for hours,
but I still can't make head or tail out of it.
DAILY EXPRESSIONS
GET THROUGH WITH: To bring something to an end;
complete something
- You can go outside as soon as you get through
with your homework.
WALK OUT ON: To abandon or leave someone
- I can't believe you would even consider walkin
g - Love does nothing for me because I don't
out on your family when they need you the most!
TALK BACK: To respond to someone rudely or
inappropriately
- The servants were not supposed to talk back t
o
their masters.
LOOK UP TO:
To view someone with respect and admiration
- Everyone in the class looked up to the teacher.
GET AWAY WITH:
To do something and escape its consequences.
- You'll never get away with cheating,
one of your teachers is bound to figure it out.
WELL-OFF: Having more money than other
people, or enough money to live comfortably
- There should be some safeguards to
protect less well-off people who live on fixed,
low incomes.
IT DOES NOTHING FOR ME: Used to say that
you are not interested in something
believe in love, except in the case of you and your
new boyfriend.
JUST AROUND THE CORNER:
It is going to happen very soon
- With summer just around the corner,
there couldn’t be a better time to treat your
home to a bright new look.
HOW DREADFUL: Used to express how
extremely bad, unpleasant, or distasteful
something is
- A: Sindy failed her math class for the
third time.
- B: How dreadful!
(AS A) RULE OF THUMB:
A suggested method or guideline;
an approximation
- As a rule of thumb, seedlings should be
planted around the end of May.