LEARN SOME IDIOMS
Pull the wool over someone’s eyes: deceive
e.g. Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes: I wasn’t born yesterday.
Meet someone halfway: compromise
e.g. He settled the agreement with her by meeting her halfway.
First and last: above all; under all circumstances
e.g. She was an accomplished pianist first and last.
Poop out: tire out
e.g. The marathon race pooped me out; I could hardly walk.
Make as if: pretend
e.g. You made as if you enjoyed the film, but you really didn’t.
Drop the other shoe: do the expected
e.g. They are now separated. Soon they will drop the other shoe, and file for a divorce.
Lead someone astray: cause someone to do something wrong or illegal
e.g. If you are always in the company of lawbreakers, you may be easily be led astray.
Hit like a ton of bricks: surprise or shock
e.g. The sudden resignation of the President hit the people like a ton of bricks.
Go the distance: do the whole thing
e.g. This is a long, complicated project. To succeed, you must go the distance.
For a song: inexpensive
e.g. You can get this on the Internet for a song.
Abide by: accept and follow
e.g. If you wish to become a citizen of the United States, you must abide by U.S. immigration laws.
Full of crap: talking nonsense all the time
e.g. I don’t like your friend; he’s full of crap.
Make good money: earn a lot of money
e.g. I hope to make good money out of this book.
Lead someone astray: cause someone to do something wrong or illegal
e.g. If you are always in the company of lawbreakers, you may be easily be led astray.
Pass the hat: collect money for
e.g. He is always passing the hat for something.
Hit the nail on the head: do exactly the right thing
e.g. Your remark hit the nail on the head; that was precisely the solution to the problem.
Give someone or something a wide berth: keep someone or something at a distance.
e.g. That dog is very fierce. We’d better give it a wide berth.
e.g. Your Mom is in a foul mood; give her a wide berth.
All at sea: confused
e.g. The lawyer was all at sea when he read the two conflicting reports of the incident.
Odd man out: atypical person or thing
e.g. Everybody has a partner, and you are an odd man out because you don’t have one.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
e.g. Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes: I wasn’t born yesterday.
Meet someone halfway: compromise
e.g. He settled the agreement with her by meeting her halfway.
First and last: above all; under all circumstances
e.g. She was an accomplished pianist first and last.
Poop out: tire out
e.g. The marathon race pooped me out; I could hardly walk.
Make as if: pretend
e.g. You made as if you enjoyed the film, but you really didn’t.
Drop the other shoe: do the expected
e.g. They are now separated. Soon they will drop the other shoe, and file for a divorce.
Lead someone astray: cause someone to do something wrong or illegal
e.g. If you are always in the company of lawbreakers, you may be easily be led astray.
Hit like a ton of bricks: surprise or shock
e.g. The sudden resignation of the President hit the people like a ton of bricks.
Go the distance: do the whole thing
e.g. This is a long, complicated project. To succeed, you must go the distance.
For a song: inexpensive
e.g. You can get this on the Internet for a song.
Abide by: accept and follow
e.g. If you wish to become a citizen of the United States, you must abide by U.S. immigration laws.
Full of crap: talking nonsense all the time
e.g. I don’t like your friend; he’s full of crap.
Make good money: earn a lot of money
e.g. I hope to make good money out of this book.
Lead someone astray: cause someone to do something wrong or illegal
e.g. If you are always in the company of lawbreakers, you may be easily be led astray.
Pass the hat: collect money for
e.g. He is always passing the hat for something.
Hit the nail on the head: do exactly the right thing
e.g. Your remark hit the nail on the head; that was precisely the solution to the problem.
Give someone or something a wide berth: keep someone or something at a distance.
e.g. That dog is very fierce. We’d better give it a wide berth.
e.g. Your Mom is in a foul mood; give her a wide berth.
All at sea: confused
e.g. The lawyer was all at sea when he read the two conflicting reports of the incident.
Odd man out: atypical person or thing
e.g. Everybody has a partner, and you are an odd man out because you don’t have one.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
LEARN SOME IDIOMS
Through thick and thin: through good times as well as bad times
e.g. Don’t worry! I’ll stick by you through thick and thin.
Inch along: move very slowly
e.g. Business was inching along because of the economy.
You bet: yes, of course
e.g. “Are you hungry?” “You bet!”
Above and beyond: more than is required
e.g. Asking the employees to work extra hours but without paying them is above and beyond their loyalty.
Vested interest: a personal stake
e.g. He showed a vested interest in his uncle’s business.
Act one’s age: behave maturely
e.g. Stop behaving like a teenager! Act your age.
Under one’s own steam: by one’s own effort
e.g. He cannot succeed under his own steam; he needs the support of his family.
As easy as pie: very easy
e.g. Cooking a turkey is as easy as pie.
On one’s toes: be alert
e.g. A policeman has to be on his toes all the time when he is on duty.
Set great store by someone or something: have high
e.g. His parents set great store by his performance; they expected him to win the piano competition.
On pins and needles: anxious; in suspense
e.g. He was on pins and needles until he heard the outcome of the surgery.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
Through thick and thin: through good times as well as bad times
e.g. Don’t worry! I’ll stick by you through thick and thin.
Inch along: move very slowly
e.g. Business was inching along because of the economy.
You bet: yes, of course
e.g. “Are you hungry?” “You bet!”
Above and beyond: more than is required
e.g. Asking the employees to work extra hours but without paying them is above and beyond their loyalty.
Vested interest: a personal stake
e.g. He showed a vested interest in his uncle’s business.
Act one’s age: behave maturely
e.g. Stop behaving like a teenager! Act your age.
Under one’s own steam: by one’s own effort
e.g. He cannot succeed under his own steam; he needs the support of his family.
As easy as pie: very easy
e.g. Cooking a turkey is as easy as pie.
On one’s toes: be alert
e.g. A policeman has to be on his toes all the time when he is on duty.
Set great store by someone or something: have high
e.g. His parents set great store by his performance; they expected him to win the piano competition.
On pins and needles: anxious; in suspense
e.g. He was on pins and needles until he heard the outcome of the surgery.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau