IDIOMS AND

PHRASES
 IDIOMS

 Expressions or small groups of words standing together that

cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words
but that have a separate meaning of their own.
IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH MAKES YOU
FEEL AWKWARD?
 Sam: Learning to rollerblade isn’t easy. I keep falling
down!
 Sarah: I know, it’s so hard! It feels like a fish out of
water.

I feel awkward
or
uncomfortable,
usually in a new
situation
MONEY
MATTERS..!!!
 Sam: I really want to buy that cool hat. But I’m completely
broke.
 Sarah: Would you like to borrow some money?

 Sam: That’d be great. I promise, I’ll pay you back later.

I am out of money!!! I
have no money.
 DIVIDED ON SOMETHING???
 Sarah: Hey, Sam! Remember, you need to let us know by
tomorrow if you’re going to go on the class trip with us.
 Sam: That’s right. I’m still up in the air. I need to figure out
my work schedule first and see if they’ll let me have a few
days off work.
 Sarah: I see. Well, let us know. I hope you can come!

Undecided or indefinite,
usually because often other
matters should be decided
first
 I’M HAPPY TODAY
 Sam: Sarah, why are you so happy today?
 Sarah: Well, I made a perfect score on my English
test. I also won first prize in an English writing
contest and received a $100 prize. So yes, I’m a happy
camper today.

I am happy and
cheerful!!!
 SIT
TIGHT!!!
 Sarah: Sam, are you okay? What happened?!
 Sam: I fell down the stairs and now my leg really hurts.

 Sarah: Sit tight! I’ll go call ambulance.

Can’t move!
Sarah has asked
me to sit at one
place.
 DO YOU IGNORE
PEOPLE???
 Sarah: I ran into Sallie yesterday and we had a nice
conversation at the coffee shop, catching up with each other.
 Sam: Oh, really? Last time I saw her, she gave me the cold
shoulder. I couldn’t figure out what I had done to make her
angry.
 Sarah: Well, it probably doesn’t help that you are dating her
best friend.

 to
show no interest
 in someone or
 something, to
ignore
 PRACTICE
EXERCISE

 a)       Lives up to reputation           

 b) second to none     
 c) hive of activity         
 d) clean as whistle
 e)      Had the time of our lives.                
  f) icing on the cake               
 g) paint the town red

This is a city as __________________. Especially on Saturdays this place is a

______________. Weather of this place is really good and when the monsoon
arrives, it is just like _____________. Once I decided to visit my aunt living in this
city and from the time of my arriving till leaving, this place _____________. One
fine evening, me and my aunt’s daughter decided to __________ and had our
dinner at Lake Club. Service in the restaurant was perfect and the food was
______________. On that day, we both _____________. Symbol of this city
denotes "the hand to give and the hand to take; peace and prosperity, and the unity
of mankind.”
 ANSWER
S
This is a city as __________________(clean as whistle). Especially on Saturdays
this place is a ______________(hive of activity). Weather of this place is really
good and when the monsoon arrives, it is just like _____________(icing on the
cake) Once I decided to visit my aunt living in this city and from the time of my
arriving till leaving, this place _____________. (lives up to reputation). One fine
evening, me and my aunt’s daughter decided to __________ (paint the town red)
and had our dinner at Lake Club. Service in the restaurant was perfect and the food
was ______________ (second to none). On that day, we both _____________ (Had
the time of our lives). Symbol of this city denotes "the hand to give and the hand to
take; peace and prosperity, and the unity of mankind.”
 PHRASES
A phrase is a short group of words that people often use as a way of saying
something.

Phrases do not have a fixed meaning.

Example:

keep on = to continue
keep on = not to remove something
take off = remove
take off = leave
 SOME COMMONLY USED PHRASES
  Long time no see! – When you have missed a friend or a close family member, you can ask them this question.

What have you been up to? –Pose this phrase and seek more clarification on their life, business work or school.

Can’t complain – It is like saying that things could be worse, but you’re glad they are not. 

How do you know? – When someone has told you something that you didn’t expect to hear from them.

That’s a good one - that’s a good joke! In addition, when someone gives a sarcastic comment, answer or
exclamation, you can say ‘that’s a good one’.

 Its very kind of you! – This phrase is common where friends and colleagues do something out of the ordinary for
one another.  

Thank you anyway – It shows that you recognize someone’s effort even if it did not yield the desired results. 

 Thank you in advance! –When you thank someone in advance, it is an expression of your eagerness to have the
task done, and they will put efforts to complete it. 

No worries – This statement shows that you are okay with whatever proposition, result or situation there is. 
On adding a preposition or adverb to the verb, the meaning
of the verb changes completely and forms a phrasal verb.

Phrasal verb Meaning Example

look for search/seek He is looking for his keys

look up to have a great deal of respect His father is his model. He is

for a person the person he looks up to.

look forward to await eagerly/anticipate with She is looking forward to

pleasure visiting Paris.

look up to try to find a piece of She didn't understand the

information by looking in a word. So she looked it up in
book or on a computer: her dictionary
An Intransitive phrasal verb cannot be followed by an object.

 Example: He suddenly showed up.

“show up” cannot take an object.

 Tony’s car broke down.

 Jane grew up in a small town.

A Transitive phrasal verb is followed by an object.

 Example: I made up the story.

"story" is the object of "make up"

 Are you writing down these notes?

 I haven’t called Mr. Wilson back.
Separable Phrasal Verbs:
 If a phrasal verb is separable, it means you can separate the two words and
put the direct object in the middle.
Example: TURN OFF
 Please turn off the TV.
 Please turn the TV off.

when to separate phrasal verbs

 You can separate the verb and the particle when the object consists of just a
few words.
Example: Mr. Wilson called off his appointment. OR
Mr. Wilson called his appointment off.
 When the direct object is the specific name of a thing or person, it can be
located after the phrasal verb or in the middle:
Example: I threw away the old pizza. OR
I threw the old pizza away.
When not to separate phrasal verbs

 You cannot separate the verb and the particle when the
object is longer than four words.

Example:

Mr. Wilson called off his 3:30 appointment with Dr. Smith.

Mr. Wilson called his 3:30 appointment with Dr. Smith off.
(incorrect)
 USE A PHRASAL VERB FROM THE LIST
TO REPLACE THE WORDS UNDERLINED.
came across looked after
getting at looked into
getting over running into
heading for running through
joined in took after

a. A special committee investigated the government's actions, but found nothing wrong.
b. Everyone said that Richard was just like his father.
c. If things go on like this, the company is going in the direction of disaster!
d. Our neighbour took care of our cats while we were away.
e. When a man at the front started shouting, everyone else did the same.
f. I found this article while I was doing my project.
g. Listen carefully, the teacher is explaining the details again.
h. Maria is slowly recovering from her illness.
i. I don't understand what she is trying to say.
j. I keep meeting Harry in the library.
 ANSWERS
a. looked into
b. took after
c. heading for
d. looked after
e. joined in
f. came across
g. running through
h. getting over
i. getting at
j. running into