Common Idioms Definitions

It cost me an arm and a leg to take Very expensive

my trip to Australia.
I was over the moon when he Extremely pleased or
asked me to ma him. happy
You are taking your IELTS test next Doing or starting something
week??Aren't you jumping the gun too early
You've only just started stud in
He comes round to see me once Happening very rarely
in a blue moon.
He's got a chip on his shoulder. Feeling inferior or having a
grievance about
something
I reckon getting a band 7 in IELTS Very easy
will be a piece of cake! I'm very
good at English.
The money sent by comic relief to A very small part of
help poverty in Africa is just a drop something much bigger
in the ocean. They need far more
than this.
Getting a low score the first time Something positive that
I took IELTS was a blessing in isn't recognized until later
disguise. It forced me to study
extremely hard so I got a much
better score the next time.
I bumped into Jenny in town the Meeting someone you
other day. It's a small world. would not have expected
to

Common Idioms Definitions

Oh well, I got 5.5 in IELTS again. When an attempt to do
Back to the drawing board! something fails and it's
time to start all over again
using different methods
I hate my job so much I can't bare Having two very bad choices.
going to work, but if I quit I don't (note: stuck/caught can be
think I can get another job. I'm omitted)
really stuck I caught between a
rock and a hard place.
I have to bite my tongue so I don't Wanting to say something
say what I really think of him! but stop in yourself.
Come on, cut to the chase. We Leave out all the
haven't got all day! unnecessary details and just
et to the oint
Are you putting all of your savings Putting all of ones resources
into that company? Don't put all into one possibility
our eggs in one basket.
Try not to worry about it. Every Believing that every bad
cloud has a silver lining. situation has a positive side
/ eventually leads to
something good
It was difficult when I moved To become comfortable in
to another country but I what you are doing
eventually found my feet.
My parents are very fixed in their Not wanting to change
ways. They won't start using the from the normal ways of
internet. doing thing something.
I think he got up on the wrong To refer to someone who is
side of the bed this morning. He having a bad day
is in a terrible mood.
My mother will always go the extra Doing much more than is
mile to help people. required when doing
something

Common Idioms Definitions

I think you've hit the nail on the Say exactly the right thing
head. That's the reason he didn't
get the job.
Today's going so badly. If it's not one When everything seems to
thing, it's the other. be going wrong
I just said it in the heat of the Saying or doing something
moment. I was angry. I know suddenly without thinking
I shouldn't have. about it
Keep an eye on him. I think he may Watch someone or
cheat in the exam. something carefully
Have you heard? John down the Died
road has kicked the bucket.
I don't want to argue with him Avoid a conflict
again. It's better to beat around
the bush.
I told him what gift you have Tell someone something
bought him for his birthday. Sorry, that you were not
I didn't mean to let the cat out of supposed to
the bag
Don't tell her what you really think Hurt or upset someone
of her if she's helping you with your who is helping you
English! Don't bite the hand that
feeds you.
I'm not sure which party he is Not making a firm decision
going to vote for. He's sitting on between different choices
the fence.
Everything she does is very over the Excessive
top. She can't just have a few drinks

Common Idioms Definitions

Let's keep studying for Continuously doing
IELTS. Practice makes effect. something to improve
Don't get upset about what he said. Joking around
He's just pulling our leg
Sorry but I think I'll take a rain To decline an offer that you
check on that. will take u later
As a rule of thumb, I don't study at Principal that is strictly
weekends. I spend the time with adhered / kept to
my family.
I can smell a rat. He said he has a To sense that something is
PhD but he can't even remember not right
which university he studied at.
She's the spitting image of her To look exactly like someone
mother. else
The ball's in your court now. Telling someone it's now
What are you going to do? their turn to make a decision
Unfortunately I think he'll be For a very long time
studying for IELTS until the cows
come home. His English is very
poor.
It was all tongue-in-cheek. He Something said in humour
didn't really mean what he said. rather than seriously
She's feeling under the weather Unwell
today so she won't be going to work.

Common Idioms Definitions

We've had some big disagreements Things from the past that
over the years, but it is all water under are not important
the bridge now. We get along. anymore
You are what you eat so it's better to If you eat bad food, you'll
have a healthy diet. be unhealthy, if you eat
good food, you'll be
healthy
You can't judge a book by its The belief that outside
cover. I need to get to know him appearances do not
before I decide what he is like. reveal what someone or
something is real/ like
We're really working against the clock Not having enough time to
now. We must hurry up. do something
Why are we bothering? We're flogging Attempting to
a dead horse. Our online business is continue with
making no money, so we should move something that is
on and do something else. over and finished
I bent over backwards to help him. Doing all you can to help
I hope he realize it. someone
So you have the IELTS test Good luck
today?? Break a leg
Ok, I'm playing devil's advocate here, To put forward a side in
but if hacking is legalized, isn't it more an argument that may not
likely young people will do it? be your own in order to
show the counter-
argument / ensure all
sides are discussed
Hold your horses! We haven't won Telling someone who
anything yet. is getting ahead of
 themselves to wait/
be patient

She is driving me up the wall. She Annoying or irritating

won't stop talking somebody