Basic Idiom (Group 4)

Using Idiom Accurately

Presented By:
 Adrian Afdha
 Rizvalinda Syahnas
 Ulfa Rostika
 Utari Ananda
 Witri Nur Ilahi
 A. Getting The Key Words
Right
 You say that rising unemployment figure are just the tip of the iceberg [a
small part of a much bigger problem], NOT the top of the iceberg.
 You said that the state is responsible for its citizens’ welfare from the cradle
to the grave [from birth to death], NOT from the cradle to the coffin.
 If you want to talk about people that you do not know or that you so not think
are important, you can say Tom, Dick, and / or Harry could do that job,
NOT every Tom and Jerry.
 If you pay for something yourself, you pay for it out of your own pocket, NOT
out of your own wallet.
 If someone is in a bad mood, you can say they are like a bear with a sore
head, NOT like a bear with a sore throat.
 When you remember the past nostalgically, you talk about the good old
days, NOT the good old time.
 To say that someone or something will not exist for much longer, you can say
their days are numbered, NOT their days are counted.
 To talk about limiting someone’s freedom, you can use the idiom to clip
someone’s wings, NOT to cut someone’s wings.
 B. Getting The Details Right

Using idiom accurately also means getting even the little words exactly
right.

 You must not add articles where they are not needed: Someone has a
spirit of adventure [enthusiasm for adventurous activities], NOT spirit
of an adventure. You must not leave out articles either: fashion can be
describe as up-to-the-minute [new], NOT up to minute.
 Take care with preposition too: Someone can be at a loss for words [not
know what to say, NOT at a loss of words.
 Make sure that you use singular and plural forms correctly too: You talk
about a couple tying the knot [getting married (informal)], NOT tying
the knot.
 Word order is very important too: You can be sick and tired of
something [angry and bored], NOT tired and sick of it.
ERROR WARNING!!!

Translating idiom word for word can

cause problems. For example, we
make a mountain out of a molehill
[make a small difficulty seems like a
serious problem], NOT make an
elephant out of mouse. Always
check in a good dictionary before
translating an idiom from your own
language.
 LESSON 4
N Idiom Meaning Example
o.
1. to take part in to be involved in, to o Martin was sick and could not take part in
participate in (also: to be in on) the meeting yesterday.
o I didn't want to be in on their argument,
so I remained silent.
2. at all to any degree (also: in the o Larry isn't at all shy about expressing his
least) opinions.
o When I asked Donna whether she was
tired, she said, "Not in the least. I'm full of
energy."
3. to look up to locate information in a o Ellen suggested that we look up Lee's
directory, dictionary, book, etc. telephone number in the directory.
o Students should try to understand the
meaning of a new word from context before
looking the word up in the dictionary.
4. to wait on to serve in a store or o A very pleasant young clerk waited on
restaurant me in that shop.
o The restaurant waitress asked us, "Has
anyone waited on you yet?
N Idiom Meaning Example
o.
5. at least a minimum of, no fewer (or o I spend at least two hours every night on
less) than my studies. o Mike claims that he drinks at
least a quart of water every day.
6. so far until now, until the present This idiom is usually used with the
time (also: up to now, as of present perfect tense.
yet) o So far, this year has been excellent for
business. I hope that the good luck
continues.
o How many idioms have we studied in this
book up to now?
o As of yet, we have not had an answer
from him.
7. to take a walk, to go for a walk, stroll, hike, o Last evening we took a walk around the
stroll, hike, etc. etc. park.
o It's a fine day. Would you like to take a
stroll along Mason Boulevard?
o Let's take a hike up Cowles Mountain this
afternoon.
8. to take a trip to go on a journey, to travel o I'm so busy at work that I have no time to
take a trip. o During the summer holidays,
the Thompsons took a trip to Europe.
PRENTICE
N Idiom Meaning Example
o.
10 to think over to consider carefully before o I'd like to think over your offer first. Then
. deciding can we talk it over tomorrow?
o You don't have to give me your decision
now. Think it over for a while.
11 to take place to occur, to happen according o The regular meetings of the committee
. to plan take place in Constitution Hall.
o I thought that the celebration was taking
place at John's house.
12 to put away to remove from slight, to put o Please put away your papers before you
. in the proper place open the test booklet.
o John put the notepad away in his desk
when he was finished with it.
 IDIOMS ABOUT KNOWING AND
UNDERSTANDING
N Idiom Meaning Example
o.
1. blind you with If someone tries to blind you When you ask Tim for a simple explanation,
science with science, they confuse you he blinds you with science.
with their knowledge by using
difficult or technical words.
2. brains behind Someone who is the brains The police have arrested a man believed to
something behind a project or action is be the brains behind the bank robbery.
the person thought to have
planned and organized
everything.
3. can't make If you can't make head or tail Amy's message was so confusing.  I
head or tail of of something, you can't couldn't make head or tail of it!
understand it at all.
4. Chinese If something is very When he tried to explain the rules of the
arithmetic complicated or difficult to game to me, it was like Chinese arithmetic!
understand, it is said to be
like Chinese arithmetic.
5. common When information is well- You didn't know the intern was Jack's son?
knowledge known to everyone It thought it was common knowledge.
(particularly in a community or
N Idiom Meaning Example
o.
6. get someone's If you get someone's drift, you I didn't understand every word but I got the
drift understand in a general way drift.
what they are trying to say.
7. ignorance is This means that if you don't I didn't know our neighbor was an escaped
bliss know about a problem or prisoner until the police arrived - ignorance
unpleasant fact, you won't is bliss!
worry about it.
8. lost the plot If a situation becomes so His instructions were so long and confusing
confusing that you are unable that I just lost the plot!
to understand what is
happening or what you are
supposed to do, you lose the
plot.
9. miss the point If you miss the point you fail to Sam missed the point.  It's not the job
understand the essential part that's the problem, it's the amount of work
of what has been said. it involves for one person.
10 out of your If you are out of your The level of the class was too high for me,
. depth depth, you are unable to so very quickly I felt out of my depth.
understand a subject or deal
with a situation because it is
too difficult for you.
THANK YOU