Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Education and School Idioms Definitions
Education and School Idioms Definitions
A for effort
- the recognition that someone has tried hard to do something even though he or she may not be successful
The students received an A for effort for their work on the class project.
above average
- better or higher than average
The boy's marks were above average in all subjects except history.
as easy as ABC
- very easy
Learning how to use a computer is as easy as ABC for the children.
back to basics
- an approach in education that uses traditional ideas or methods that have been successful in the past
The teacher believes that back to basics is important in her classroom and the parents are happy with the results.
below average
- worse or lower than average
Most members of the class were below average in the math test.
bookworm
- someone who reads a lot
My sister is a bookworm and is always reading a book.
brainstorm (something)
- to try to develop an idea or think of new ideas
The students got into groups to brainstorm ideas for the school play.
- the special cap called a mortarboard and the robe that is worn during academic ceremonies such as graduation
All of the students wore a cap and gown to the graduation ceremony.
copycat
- someone who copies the work of another
The children called the girl a copycat when they saw her copying the test of another student.
count noses
- to count the number of people
The teacher stopped to count noses several times during the field trip.
cow college
- a school where farming or agriculture is studied
My cousin will go to a cow college when he finishes high school.
crack a book
- to open a book to study (usually used in the negative)
I did very well in the course even though I did not crack a book until the last week of classes.
cut class
- to not go to class
I decided to cut class in order to study for my geography test.
draw a blank
- to get no response from someone when you ask him or her a question
The teacher drew a blank when she asked about the boy's plans for the weekend.
eager beaver
- someone who works very hard and is very enthusiastic
The young girl is an eager beaver and always comes to class before the other students.
flunk out
- to fail a course, to fail and then leave school
The boy was very smart but he flunked out of his language class.
goof off
- to waste time
My sister spent most of the week goofing off and was not prepared for her test.
higher education
- education after graduating from high school (usually college or university)
The government has recently invested a lot of money in higher education.
honor roll
- a list of people or students with exceptional achievements
My neighbor was on the honor roll during his last year in high school.
in pen
- written or signed with a pen
The teacher asked the students to make sure that they wrote the essay in pen.
in pencil
- written or signed with a pencil
Ivy League
- a small group of older and famous eastern United States colleges and universities such as Harvard and Yale
and Princeton
Several of the company executives went to an Ivy League school.
off campus
on campus
- located on the grounds of a college or university
There was a bank on campus which many of the students used.
play hooky
- to not go to school when you should
The boys played hooky and went to the video game center for the afternoon.
publish or perish
- university professors often have to publish books or articles in journals or they will not be successful in their
jobs at the university
The university professor wrote many scientific papers. He was forced to publish or perish.
read to oneself
- to read without saying anything so that other people cannot hear you
I spent the morning in the library reading to myself.
school of thought
- a particular way or philosophy of thinking about something
There are many schools of thought about how to learn a foreign language.
show-and-tell
- in the lower grades of elementary school children bring something interesting to show to the rest of the class
The little girl brought in a turtle shell to show-and-tell at school.
show of hands
- a raising of hands in a classroom or other group to vote or see what people think about something
After a show of hands the class voted to go on a field trip next week.
single file
- a line with one person standing behind another person
The students lined up single file before they entered the auditorium.
take attendance
- to record the names of persons who are attending school or something similar
teacher's pet
- the teacher's favorite student
My sister was always the teacher's pet at her school.
three R's
- the three basic skills for a basic education (reading, (w)riting, and (a)rithmetic)
My father studied in a small country school where they studied the three R's.
town-and-gown
- the relations (often bad) between a town and the university and university students who are located in that
town
There were some town-and-gown conflicts when the graduation parties began in the small town.
university of life
- the daily life and work where you learn more than from going to university
My grandfather began to work on the family farm when he was fourteen and learned everything from the
university of life.