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What are idioms?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n At DreyerCoaching.com<\/a>, we do not give our students long lists of vocabulary words and grammar points to memorize; there are more than enough “cram schools” doing that already. Instead, we want to teach “real English,” the way English speakers, especially Americans, actually communicate in real life. And a big part of that is helping our students understand idioms (sayings). Idioms are non-literal sayings that communicate a point or truth. By “non-literal” I mean, the words have a symbolic, rather than a “black-and-white,” meaning. And this is what makes idioms so hard to understand, especially for learners of a new language, but also so interesting. Here is an example. A common English idiom is “It’s raining cats and dogs<\/span>.”<\/strong> Obviously, this does NOT mean cats and dogs are literally falling from the sky during a storm. Instead, it has a symbolic meaning: that the rain is very heavy and severe. To my knowlege, all languages have idioms, and learning them is one of the most fun and rewarding parts of learning a foreign language. I like it because different languages have their own unique ways to express a truth or insight, that one’s native language might not have. For example, today I was teaching a student the idiom “to peter out,” which means “to gradually weaken and end.” I told him Chinese has a saying with a similar meaning: (\u864e\u5934\u86c7\u5c3e<\/span>) <\/strong><\/span>“Tiger Head Snake Tail.” I love that imagery and metaphor! A tiger’s head is ferocious and powerful, while a snake’s tail gradually reduces to nothing. It’s a powerful word-picture of a person or plan that starts with much noise and attention, but eventually peters out to nothing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why are idioms important to learn?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Not only is learning idioms fun, it is also important. Spend much time reading or listening to English, and you will encounter them. Just today I was listening to a podcast<\/a> and heard one of the speakers say she was “worked up,” and I thought to myself: idiom<\/em>! If you only focus on the literal meaning–like cats and dogs falling during a rain storm–they will not make sense. But when you learn the idioms, you will understand what they mean when you see or hear them, and you can start using them in your English speech and writing too! Since idioms are so fun and so important, I make them a priority and have been starting my online classes with an idiom lesson ever since I began teaching ESL online in 2008! I began with idioms starting with “A” and have been going through the alphabet ever since. One of my most loyal students, Ricky in Taiwan, looked back through his old notebooks and discovered that he joined my online class when I was back in the B’s, teaching “by hook or by crook.” Ricky has stayed with me for years, and now we are up in the O’s. Today he learned “Old Wives’ Tales.” <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where do idioms come from?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Since English is a global language with a long, rich history, it takes idioms from many different sources and time periods. Some idioms are thousands of years old (The Midas Touch) while others are recent (be on the same page), which has only been traced back to 1974<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n To help our students improve their English skills, I am starting this list of English idioms, in alphabetical order. Watch Scott teach the idiom “Roughing it” in this video<\/a>. Please come by often to see the new additions! <\/p>\n A<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A big hit<\/strong><\/span> (positive connotation)<\/p>\n Meaning: Something suddenly and wildly popular, often referring to a new show, movie, song, product, or service<\/p>\n Origin: “to hit” can mean to make a successful connection, as in “he hit the ball<\/a>,” so a big hit is a big success.<\/p>\n 1. When the ice cream cone was invented over a hundred years ago, it was a big hit<\/span>, and it still is today. (Learn more about the accidental creation of the ice cream cone at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis here<\/a>.) <\/p>\n 2. The oldest movies were all black and white<\/a>, but the 1939 color films The Wizard of Oz<\/em><\/a> and Gone with the Wind<\/em><\/a> were such big hits<\/span>, most movies since have been in full color. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A house divided against itself cannot stand<\/strong><\/span> (negative connotation)<\/p>\n Meaning: When a family, group, or country is deeply divided, it will not be able to last long…it is headed for a collapse<\/p>\n Origin: This is one of many English sayings that comes from the Bible. This is a direct quotation found in three places in the Bible: Matthew 12:22-28<\/a>, Mark 3:23-30<\/a>, and Luke 11:14-23<\/a>. (Note: when items are repeated in literature, it is considered to be important.)<\/p>\n 1. Abraham Lincoln, running for US Senate in 1858 (two years before the start of the Civil War), quoted the Bible in his now-famous “<\/a>House Divided” speech<\/a>“: “‘A house divided against itself cannot stand<\/span>.’ <\/span>I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave<\/i> and half free<\/i>.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 2. With one daughter going to the University of Virginia<\/a> and another attending rival Virginia Tech<\/a>, Bryan laughed and put a “House Divided”<\/span> license plate<\/a> on his car. <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Penny for your thoughts<\/strong><\/span> (positive connotation)<\/p>\n Meaning: Please tell me what you are thinking; I’d love to know what you are thinking right now (Somewhat rare, old-fashioned saying)<\/p>\n Origin: it dates from 1535<\/p>\n 1. When Debby noticed that Greg appeared lost in thought, she asked him, “A Penny for your Thoughts.”<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Frances noticed that Mike was smiling silently. “A Penny for your Thoughts”<\/span> she asked him, to bring him back from his daydreams. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n An ADHD moment<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A man’s home is his castle<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ace up your (my\/his\/her\/our) sleeve<\/strong><\/span> (usually positive connotation)<\/p>\n Meaning: a secret tool, trick, resource, or method you have to be successful; other people do not know about it (yet)<\/p>\n Origin: Long ago, clothes did not have pockets<\/a> so people kept things in their sleeves. Magicians<\/a> often hide objects in their sleeves. This idiom comes from card games like poker<\/a>. A person who is cheating might have an ace hidden in the sleeve of his shirt. The other players do not know it is there, and the cheater will bring it out at the right time to win the game.<\/p>\n 1. Some people do not understand why Billy gets the best jobs in our office, but Billy has an ace up his sleeve<\/span>: he is married to the boss’ daughter!<\/p>\n 2. If you want to improve your English skills, you can have a GREAT ace up your sleeve<\/span>–join an online English class with DreyerCoaching.com<\/a>! Learn real American English right at your home or office! Find out more here!<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Achilles’ Heel<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Across the board<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Fuel to the Fire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Air your dirty laundry in public<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Afraid of your own shadow<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>(negative connotation)<\/p>\n Meaning: to be very timid and easily scared<\/p>\n Origin: A shadow is dark but harmless. It cannot hurt anyone. So, to be afraid of your own shadow means to have no bravery.<\/p>\n 1. Our dog is a terrible watchdog. She is such a coward, she is afraid of her own shadow.<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Teddy would never want to hurt anyone. In fact, he is afraid of his own shadow. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After the dust settles<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Against the grain<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ahead of the curve \/ Behind the curve<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Albatross around your neck<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n All ears<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n All hands on deck<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n All hat and no cattle<\/strong><\/span> (Texas expression)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All talk and no action<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n All thumbs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n All washed up<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amen Corner<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amen to that!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ants in your pants<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n (It’s like) apples and oranges<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apples to apples<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apple of your eye<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As different as night and day<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the crow flies<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Asleep at the switch<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the drop of a hat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the end of your rope<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n (Not your) Average Joe<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n (An) Ax to grind<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n B<\/span><\/p>\n Babe in the woods<\/p>\n Back in the saddle<\/p>\n Back to square one<\/p>\n Backseat driver<\/p>\n Bad blood<\/p>\n Baker’s Dozen<\/p>\n Bait and switch (also in Chinese!)<\/p>\n Ballpark figure (in the ballpark)<\/p>\n Bark is worse than your bite<\/p>\n Bandwagon (Get on\/ Fall off the bandwagon)<\/p>\n Bark up the wrong tree<\/p>\n Batten down the hatches <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Be on the same page<\/strong> <\/span> (also) Be on the same wavelength<\/strong> Meaning: to be in agreement; to have the same goals or point of view<\/p>\n Origin: When a teacher and student are “on the same page,” they know what is going on in the classroom. When you are on the right wavelength, FM, AM, or TV, you can pick up the correct station.<\/p>\n 1. “Since our Science Fair project is due next week, we need to meet after school today to make sure we’re all on the same page<\/span> about who’s doing what,” Megan told her group-mates. <\/p>\n 2. Before a man and woman agree to get married, they need to be sure they’re both on the same page<\/span> about important issues that will eventually come up in their marriage, like doing household chores, managing money, raising children, etc. Good premarital counseling can help a couple talk through those issues before they become problems later. <\/p>\n 3. Billy and his brother are never on the same page<\/span>; they argue all the time and eventually had to move away from each other.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beat a dead horse<\/p>\n Beat around the Bush<\/p>\n Beat the crowd<\/p>\n Beat your swords into plowshares<\/p>\n Beauty is in the eye of the beholder<\/p>\n Bed of roses<\/p>\n Beef up<\/p>\n Been there, done that, (got the T-shirt)<\/p>\n Beggars can’t be choosers<\/p>\n Behind closed doors<\/p>\n Behind the eight ball<\/p>\n Bells and whistles<\/p>\n Bet your bottom dollar (Hear Frank Sinatra sing that in “Chicago”)<\/p>\n Better half<\/p>\n Better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t know<\/p>\n Between a rock and a hard place<\/p>\n Beware of Greeks bearing gifts<\/p>\n Bingo!<\/p>\n (on the) Big screen<\/p>\n Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush<\/p>\n Birds of a feather flock together<\/p>\n Birthday suit<\/p>\n Bite off more than you can chew<\/p>\n Burn the candle at both ends<\/p>\n Bite the bullet<\/p>\n Bite the dust (from the Bible)<\/p>\n Bite the hand that feeds you<\/p>\n Bite your tongue<\/p>\n Bitten by the bug<\/p>\n Bitter pill to swallow<\/p>\n Black sheep of the family<\/p>\n Bleeding heart<\/p>\n Bless your heart! (chiefly Southern)<\/p>\n Blessing in disguise<\/p>\n Blind leading the blind (from the Bible)<\/p>\n Blood is thicker than water<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n C<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cabin fever<\/span> (negative connotation)<\/p>\n Meaning: the feeling of boredom one feels when one is stuck inside the house for a long time, due to bad weather or illness<\/p>\n Origin: in the 1700s and 1800s, pioneers often lived in cabins, with the nearest neighbors many miles away. During harsh winters, they had to spend lots of time inside their small, rustic homes and were often bored.<\/p>\n 1. “Do you have cabin fever<\/span>?” mom asked me after a few days of rain had kept me cooped up<\/a> indoors. <\/p>\n 2. During the virus epidemic of early 2020, many of our students in Mainland China had cabin fever<\/span> when they were ordered to stay indoors for a long time in an effort to combat the disease.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Call someone on the carpet<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span> (negative connotation)<\/p>\n Meaning: to loudly scold, blame or criticize someone<\/p>\n Origin: In old factory days, workers stood on a hard floor and the only carpet was in the boss’ office. And often, workers were called to the office just to be scolded or corrected, so to be “called on the carpet” means you’re in trouble.<\/p>\n 1. Chuck got called on the carpet<\/span> when we was late to work three days in a row. <\/p>\n 2. No one likes to get called on the carpet<\/span>, so a wise teacher (or parent or boss) knows that correction should normally be done in private, whenever possible, without others watching. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Consider the Source<\/strong><\/span> (negative connotation)<\/p>\n Meaning: When you hear or read something, think carefully who is saying it. (Note: this is often used to cast doubt on what dishonest people say)<\/p>\n Origin: A source is where something comes from, so when someone says or writes something, we should judge if the speaker is honest or not.<\/p>\n 1. Billy says his dog ate his homework today, but consider the source<\/span>: Billy has said that three times this week. His dog must love paper!<\/p>\n 2. Ellen says that new restaurant has terrible food, but consider the source<\/span>; Ellen is such a critical person, nothing is ever good enough for her. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Count your blessings <\/strong><\/span>(positive connotation)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meaning: be thankful for what you have; focus on what you have, not on what you don’t have<\/p>\n Origin: The idea that we all have many blessings, good things, in life, and if we focus on those, and not our sorrows, we will be happier. This saying may come from Psalm 40:5 in the Bible: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lord<\/span> my God,<\/span> <\/p>\n 1. “Mom, I hate school,” Mandy said. “Some of the teachers are mean and there’s too much homework.” Mom replied: “Count your blessings<\/span>: think of all the children in the world who can’t go to school, and will probably never make anything out of their lives!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2. “Count your blessings<\/span>” is such a popular saying, it even inspired the popular hymn<\/a> written in 1897 (read its story here<\/a>) and its 2017 remix<\/a> (story here<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n D<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/span><\/p>\nThis blog post is UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Visit often to see what we have added new.<\/strong>
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<\/strong><\/span> (positive connotation)<\/p>\n
<\/span>no one can compare with you.<\/span><\/span>
You have done many wonderful things.<\/span>
<\/span>You have planned to do these things for us.<\/span><\/span>
There are too many of them<\/span>
<\/span>for me to talk about. New International Readers’ Version (Read in Chinese<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n