Illustrated american idioms
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FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to use the appropriate Idiom or
synonymous expression In the following situations.
1. DISGUST AT A FRIEND
(a) who won't go water skiing with you
(b) who changes his or her mind about taking flying lessons with you
(c) who won't stand up for his or her rights as a taxpayer
2. DISAPPOINTMENT AT YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER
(a) who doesn't want to explore a cave with you
(b) who refuses to spend the night In a haunted house with you
(c) who decides not to learn to ride horses because of the fear of falling off
3. ANNOYANCE OR ANGER AT YOURSELF
(a) because you didn't finish a course In deep-sea diving
(b) because you have a fear of water and can't learn to swim
(c) because you changed your mind about becoming a policeman (policewoman)
(to) CLOWN AROUND
DEFINITION: To act or behave like a clown; to act silly; to not pursue a task with
the intention of succeeding
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• My roommate Is seldom serious about anything. He's always clowning around.
(Paraphrase: Ha acts silly most of the time.)
• The team began to clown around and soon lost the game. (Paraphrase: They lost because
they didn't take the game seriously.)
RELATED EXPRESSION
MESS AROUND = To engage In Idle or purposeless activity
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to think of times when they
preferred to clown around or mess around rather than to be serious or apply
themselves to a task.
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to decide which of the following could be
examples of clowning or messing around.
1. Two boys throwing water on each other rather than washing their father's car.
2. A group of young people wandering around the beach of a resort town.
3. Three men playing cards Instead of cleaning the building they are supposed to clean.
4. Four people playing golf together on Sunday afternoon.
5. A farmer planting corn all day long on a very hot day.
6. A group of boys performing a number of physical feats to make a group of girls laugh.
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(to) COME OUT OF ONE'S SHELL
DEFINITION: To stop being shy or bashful, withdrawn
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• We finally got Frank to come out of his shell and talk to some people at the party. (Paraphrase: We
finally got him to stop being shy and to enter into conversation.)
• Lorraine was such a shy girl that no one could draw her out of her shell. (Paraphrase: Others could
not get her to talk.)
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to discuss ways to draw an extremely
bashful person out of his/her shell.
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to decide which of the following needs to
come out of his/her shell.
1. A girl who always avoids looking directly at persons speaking to her.
2. An elderly man who Is afraid to meet other people because he thinks that no one likes to talk to
old people.
3. An enthusiastic young man who likes to move around In a crowd of people talking, telling Jokes,
etc.
4. A single man who would like to meet a nice girl and perhaps get married but who Is too shy to
talk to women.
5. A salesman who travels to many cities, who frequently meets with the presidents of large
corporations, and who thoroughly enjoys his work.
6. A student who needs help with his studies but who is extremely reluctant to ask teachers for
help.
(to) COOK UP
DEFINITION: To plan and organize; to invent; to make up ILLUSTRATIVE
SENTENCES
• I have to cook up an excuse for being late to work. (Paraphrase: I have to invent an excuse for
my tardiness.)
• All of the members of the staff were cooking up a scheme to get an extra holiday. (Paraphrase:
They were planning and organizing a way to have another holiday.)
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to cook up a scheme to deal with the
following.
1. A traffic ticket for speeding that will bring a reprimand from your father.
2. Entrance to a movie theater without paying.
3. A low grade on the last test in English, that may prevent you from passing.
4. Desire for a fob promotion.
5. Failure to attend the celebration of your father and mother's wedding anniversary.
6. Need for enough money to take a vacation trip.
7. Refuse/ of a friend to accompany you to a popular restaurant where you have planned a surprise
party for him/her.
8. Arranging to meet a person of the opposite sex in whom you have a romantic Interest.
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(to) CRY OVER SPILLED MILK
DEFINITION: To cry or complain about something that has already happened;
be unhappy about something that has no remedy, unhappy
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• What's done is done/ The window Is broken and nothing can be done about It. As Mother always
says: "There's no use crying over spilled milk."
(Paraphrase: There is no reason to be unhappy about a broken window since being unhappy won't
repair the window.)
• After he lost his billfold, Bill's father told him not to cry over spilled milk. (Paraphrase: He told him
not to be sorry over something that was lost.
RELATED EXPRESSIONS
MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT - To accept responsibility for one's own
actions and the accompanying bad results
FACE THE MUSIC = To go through trouble or danger, usually because of one's
own actions; accept one's punishment
TAKE ONE'S MEDICINE = To accept punishment without complaining
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to use the idiom and related expressions to
express the following.
1. ANGER. Begin the utterance with
(a) It's your mistake not mine! You'll just have to-----
(b) I didn't drop that cake, you did-and you'll have to-----
(c) You've certainly made a mess! When Mother comes, you'll have to —
2. SYMPATHY. Begin the utterance with
(a) I'm sorry you did that, but now you'll-----
(b) I sympathize with your concern, but there's no use —
(c) It's too bad that Sam did what he did because now he'll....
3. PERSUASION. Begin the utterance with
(a) I believe you'll feel better about the matter if you just —
(b) I hope that you finally see your mistake and are willing to —
(c) I finally persuaded my brother that he —
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students which of the following situations might
cause one to CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.
1. A misplaced pocketbook or purse.
2. A broken engagement to be married.
3. A promotion and raise in salary at one's fob.
4. A reprimand from one's boss for failure to do a job correctly.
5. A missed opportunity to win a lot of money In a contest.
6. A lost package of chewing gum.
7. A pair of broken eyeglasses.
8. A gift on one's birthday that Is not pleasing.
9. A mislaid book that one is reading.
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(to) CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE TO SPITE ONE'S FACE
DEFINITION: To make things worse for oneself because of anger or frustration,
usually at someone else.
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
When Ed's mother wouldn't let him play his new jazz records late at night, he cut off his nose
to spite his face by breaking them,
(Paraphrase: Ed only hurt himself by breaking his record*.)
When his father refused to let him take his dog to the beach on the family vacation trip,
Steve got mad, refused to go on the trip, and so cut off his nose to spite his face.
(Paraphrase: Steve hurt only himself by missing the vacation trip.)
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to describe three situations
In which someone expresses anger or frustration In such a way that his or her
reaction only results In making matters worse.
DEAD TO THE WORLD
DEFINITION: Fast asleep ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• My brother didn’t 't get to bed until three In the morning and was still dead to the world at noon.
(Paraphrase: He was fast asleep.)
• Harry was lying on the sofa dead to the world and missed seeing the game on television.
(Paraphrase: He was sleeping very soundly.)
SYNONYMOUS EXPRESSIONS: OUT LIKE A LIGHT, ZONKED OUT
Fast asleep; sound asleep
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students (1) to describe situations In which " It is
permissible or preferable to be out like a tight, dead to the world, or
zonked out and (2) situations In which it is Imperative to be wide
awake.
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Describe the fast asleep state of the following: using
the idiom or a synonymous expression.
1. Harry too* two steeping pills before going to bed. He's________________________
2. The children were so tired from playing that they climbed up on the bed and were soon
3. "I was worn out," Mary said, "I got In bed at midnight and didn't get up until three o'clock the next
afternoon. I was_____________________________for___________________________hours!"
4. Oblivious to everything around him, the soldier lay sleeping, _________while the battle raged on.
5. Dad was --------------------------------------------during all the speeches. He says they put him to sleep.
6. Some of the inexperienced hikers soon tired and we passed three or four
--------------------------------------------along the trail.
7. I was --------------------------------------------and didn't hear the telephone ring at all.
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DOWN IN THE DUMPS
DEFINITION: Dejected; gloomy; sad or discouraged
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• After their team lost the game, both the players and the tans were down In the dumps. (Paraphrase:
Everybody was dejected after the loss of the game.)
• The bad news had a negative effect on her and she became more down In the dumps as the day
passed.
(Paraphrase: She became progressively discouraged after hearing the bad news.)
RELATED EXPRESSION
DOWN IN THE MOUTH = Defected; discouraged
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to describe those happenings or
situations that most cause them to be down in the dumps or mouth.
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to complete the following sentences.
1. Mary was down In the dumps all day because her boy friend
2. "Why is Jim so down in the mouth?"
"He lust heard that his car__________________________
3. Alter Jerry had lost_________________, he was really down In the dumps.
4. The more they listened to________________ the more down In the mouth they became.
5. After the doctor told him_________________, Mark was down in the dumps the rest of the week.
6. "Don't get down In the dumps just because your friend_________________________
7. As soon as we looked at________________________, we were down in the dumps.
8. My boss was down In the mouth all day yesterday because six
employees________________________.
EAGER BEAVER
DEFINITION: A person who is always eager to work or do anything above what is
necessary, sometimes to win the favor of a superior.
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• Jack Is such an eager beaver. He a/way* helps the teacher after school. (Paraphrase: Ha likes to do
extra work after school to please his teacher.)
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• Rachel will get a promotion next year because she's such an eager beaver. (Paraphrase: She will
get a better Job because she works harder than other employees.)
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to describe some eager beavers that they
know or have known.
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to decide which of the following might be
called eager beavers.
1. A girl who likes to spend most of her time reading Instead of doing her school homework or
helping her mother with the housework.
2. A young bus/ness executive who spends his evenings going to night school to /earn a new
profession, who works part-time In a local drugstore to earn extra money, and who hopes to form his
own company before he Is 30 years old.
3. A middle-aged man who retires from his fob and then begins to learn a new trade so that he can
join with Ms brother-in-law in forming a corporation specializing In computer equipment
4. A housewife, whose children have all grown up and moved away from home, who decides to
finish her university studies and get her degree. She plans to work part-time at a local department
store to help earn enough money for university expenses but at the same time care for her house
and husband.
5. A group of six young people who spend their vacation swimming at the beach, going to parties,
spending money sent by their parents, and, In general, enjoying a lazy life In the sun.
FLAT BROKE
DEFINITION: Having no money ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• She gambled all of her savings away and It now flat broke. (Paraphrase: She doesn't have any
money left)
• Bill can't lend us any money. He's flat broke. (Paraphrase: He doesn't have any money to lend.)
to be (stone) broke — to be penniless
But we're less broke than we were. I could borrow a dress from May Turner. He sobered up. "Stone broke, "
he said.
SYNONYMOUS EXPRESSIONS
DEAD BROKE STONE BROKE
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to give examples from experience of
being flat, dead, or stone broke and the reasons why they arrived at that state.
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to describe how it feels to be flat, dead, or
stone broke.
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to complete the following sentences.
1. I can't go to the_________because I'm flat broke.
2. We spent all our savings on_________and now we're dead broke.
3. My father can't_________because he's stone broke.
4. After losing_________, they arrived home flat broke.
5. Mother explained that she couldn't_________because she was dead broke.
6. He's the kind of gambler who_________because he's always stone broke.
7. "I'm sorry. I'm flat broke. The_________just took all my cash."
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GET A WORD IN (EDGEWAYS)
(to) GET A WORD IN or (to) GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE
(EDGEWAYS)
DEFINITION: To have an opportunity to speak when other people are talking
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• Mrs. Harris talked on and on and Joan couldn't get a word In edgewise. (Paraphrase: Joan
didn't have a chance to talk.)
• Mrs. Harris finally stopped talking and Joan had a chance to get a word In. (Paraphrase:
Joan finally got a chance to say something.)
SYNONYMOUS EXPRESSIONS To say openly what one thinks
HAVE ONE'S SAY
SPEAK ONE'S PIECE
SAY ONE'S PIECE
HAVE ONE'S DAY IN COURT
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to use the idiom and synonymous
expressions to express the following:
1. COMPLAINT. End the utterance with
(a) and / didn't even ...
(b) she wouldn't let me ...
(c) I never had a chance to ...
2. EXPECTATION. Begin the utterance with
(a) I hope that ...
(b) / suppose that ...
(c) I expect that ...
3. DETERMINATION. Begin the utterance with
(a) They'd better let me ...
(b) / told him to ...
(c) I've decided to ...
4. CONCESSION. Begin the utterance with
(a) Why don't you let ...?
(b) It's time for ...
(c) Will you allow me ...?
(to) GET HOLD OF
DEFINITION 1: To get possession of ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
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• Somehow they got hold of some dynamite and blew up the bridge. (Paraphrase: They got
possession of some dynamite.)
• Don't let the baby get hold of that medicine! It might make him sick. (Paraphrase: Don't allow
the baby to get his hands on the medicine.)
RELATED EXPRESSION
GET (LAY) ONE'S HANDS ON - To get possession of
DEFINITION 2: To find a person in order to speak to him ILLUSTRATIVE
SENTENCES
• / needed to talk to Dr. Taylor, but I couldn't get hold of him. (Paraphrase: I couldn't find Dr. Taylor
so I could talk to him.)
• Fred spent several hours on the phone trying to get hold of a mechanic to fix his car. (Paraphrase:
He had a hard time finding a mechanic.)
RELATED EXPRESSION
GET IN TOUCH WITH = To reach someone to talk with him
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to prepare short dialogues of the
following situations, using the idiom or related expressions.
1. You are desperate. Your son has cut his hand badly and you have called your doctor's office. His
nurse tells you that he's at the hospital. You explain to her that you have to talk to him. She gives
you the telephone number at the hospital. When someone at the hospital answers the phone, you
give the name of your doctor and explain how Important it Is for you to speak with him.
2. You are a high school chemistry teacher. Some small children are going to visit your class. You
explain to your assistant (one of your students) how he or she must be careful not to let any of the
children get possession of chemicals such as the acids In bottles.
3. You are sitting in your living room. As you look out the window, you see your cat trylng to get a
baby bird in a tree. You tell your son to prevent the cat's doing so.
4. There is a knock on the door. You go and it's your friend, Tom. You are surprised and explain to
him that you have been trying to reach him for two days. He replies that he has also been trying to
reach you for two days!
(to) GET IT ALL TOGETHER
DEFINITION 1: To collect one's composure under pressure, in controll
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• After the accident, Pete got it all together and began to Joke about his bad luck. (Paraphrase: Pete
regained his composure and self-confidence.)
^ The dancing couple slipped and tell, but quickly got It all together and continued the dance.
(Paraphrase: Even though they had fallen, the couple continued a* If nothing had happened.)
DEFINITION 2: To be in full control of one's thinking; to have a clear
purpose in mind
to pull oneself together — to recover one's normal self-control or balance
No, no, my dear: you must pull yourself together and be sensible. I am in no danger — not the least in the
world.
She cleared her throat, pulled herself together and pertly addressed the man-servant. Pennington suddenly
pulled himself together. He was still a wreck of a man, but his fighting spirit had returned in a certain
measure.
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
Randy is the kind of guy who knows where he's going and what he wants to do. He's got It all
together.
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(Paraphrase: Randy is a cool, level-headed person with a plan of action.) • Susan really has got It all
together. She's never bothered by Insults.
(Paraphrase: Susan Isn't easily upset.) To stay calm when there is trouble or danger.
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to use the Idiom and synonymous
expressions to express the following:
1. ENVY. Begin the utterance with
(a) You amaze me ...!
How do you do It .,.?
(c) You're fantastic ...!
2. COMFORTING ADVICE. Begin the utterance with
(a) Don't panic. ...I
(b) No need to worry ...
(c) You had better ...
3. ANGER. Begin the utterance with
(a) You have to .. .1
(b) Was that any way to behave ...?
(c) Why didn't you ...?
GET IT IN THE NECK
(to) GET IT IN THE NECK
or (to) CATCH IT IN THE NECK
DEFINITION: To be blamed or punished
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCE
Esther got It In the neck because she forgot to turn off the car lights
(Paraphrase: She was punished for the damage to the car battery.)
I really caught It In the neck because I didn't put the fire out.
(Paraphrase: I was scolded for not putting out the fire.)
to get it in the neck - To receive heavy censure or punishment is colloquially speaking.
Any one that worries you, my dear, will get it in the neck from me, and you can be sure of that.
She hadn't half been wanting to see him get it in the neck from someone without being able to answer
back.
You don't know what's going on. You sit here in Paris and send home yards of silk and cases of cognac
while we get it in the neck.
SYNONYMOUS EXPRESSIONS To be scolded or punished
GET IT
CATCH
GET WHAT'S COMING TO ONE = To receive the good or bad that one deserves
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to use the idiom and synonymous
expressions to express the following:
1. WARNING. Begin the utterance with
(a) Be careful ...
(b) You're going to ...
(c) Don't do that or .../
2. INQUIRY. Begin the utterance with
(a) When did ...?
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(b) Why did ...?
(c) Do you think that ...?
INFERENCE. Begin the utterance with
(a) She'll probably ...
(b) I expect that ... „_
(c) If he does that ...
OBSERVATION. Begin the utterance with
(a) They're going to ...
(b) She deserves to ...
(c) That's the reason that ...
(to) GET ONE'S GOAT
DEFINITION: To make someone angry, annoyed, or disgusted
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• It really got Mr. Robert's goat when he had to wait two hours to get his plane tickets.
(Paraphrase: He was annoyed at the long delay.)
• The clerk's arrogant attitude got my goat. (Paraphrase: I was angry because of the way the
clerk acted.)
to get one's goat — to annoy, to exasperate
"You only say that, Daddy, to get my goat." "And only because your goat is so easy to get."
What's wrong with England is Snobbishness. And if there's anything that gets my goat it's a snob
SYNONYMOUS EXPRESSION
BUG = To annoy
FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ask students to name or list five things that frequently
get their goat or bug them.
GET SET
(to) GET SET
DEFINITION: To get ready (to start) ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCES
• The runners stood still until the official raised his gun and said: "On your mark. Get set. Go!" And
off they dashed.
(Paraphrase: They were ready to start the race at the signal from the official.)
• We are getting set for a long, cold winter. (Paraphrase: We are preparing for a long winter.)
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