An idiom is a phrase or

expression that typically presents

a figurative, non-literal meaning
attached to the phrase;
but some phrases become
figurative idioms while retaining
the literal meaning of the phrase.
“I tried to get my son to tell me about his new
girlfriend, but it was like talking to a brick
wall.”
“You never listen to me when you’re watching
football. It’s like talking to a brick wall!”

If talking to someone is like talking to a

brick wall, it means the person is not
listening to anything you are saying.

to be like talking to a
brick wall
“He already told you no; don’t beat a dead horse.”
(first definition)

Stop asking for him to sell his collection. You’re

just beating a dead horse. 
(second definition)

to beat a dead horse

It means you (a) continue to talk about something
that has already been discussed or decided on, or
(b) waste your time on something that is never
going to happen. 
to beat around the  bush
If you beat around the bush, you avoid or
delay talking about a subject directly.

“Stop beating around the bush and answer my

question.”

“My boss gives direct criticism. She

doesn’t beat around the bush at all.”
 “It’s usually best to bite your tongue
instead of getting into political
conversations at work.”

“I had to bite my tongue to keep my bad

comment from coming out.”

to bite one’s tongue

If you bite your tongue, you stop yourself from
saying something that will likely get you in
trouble.
1. Like I said last week, our trip to Vancouver is on hold
until next year, so stop ________________ and asking
me about it.
2. I wanted to tell him exactly what I thought of him, but
I had to __________.
3. Talking to you when the TV is on is
like_______________________.
4. Don't , _______________ come straight to the point! 

beating a dead horse beat around the bush

talking to a brick wall bite my tongue
The fact that he doesn't want to come
is beside the point - he should have been
invited.
Brian didn't like it, but that was beside the
point.

If something is beside the point, it means it is

irrelevant or off topic.

beside the point

“The bottom line is that you need to be
putting aside some money for retirement.”

“The bottom line is, if this guy really

loves you, he will find it in himself to
accept you.”

bottom line
The bottom line is the most important fact to
consider.
to butter someone up
If you butter someone up, you flatter that
person (usually because you want
something from that person).

“Are you just trying to butter me up, or do you

really think it looks like I’ve lost weight?”

“I think he's buttering me up because he needs

someone to drive him to the airport tonight.”
 “I think an honest apology will help
clear the air.”
“Ignoring the issue isn’t going to
make it go away. You need to talk
about it and clear the air.”

to clear the air

If you clear the air, you make a situation less
tense by speaking openly and honestly.
1.  I asked my supervisor to meet so I could _________ about my
recent absences.
2. Percy was always ___________the boss, so he was surprised when
he failed to get a promotion.
3. If our flight is late, we will miss our connection. That's
the _____________.
4. Your weekend plans are ______,let's get back to the topic at hand.

beside the point clear the air

bottom line buttering up
“On my last day at work, I’m going to get some
things off my chest. It’ll be good to tell people
how I really feel.”

“There’s something I have to get off my chest.

How come you didn’t invite me to your
wedding?”

If you get something off your chest, you

confess something or criticize/complain
about something or someone.

to get something off

one’s chest
“I saw the look on his face, and I got the message that
he wanted to be left alone.”

“When she didn’t respond to my texts, I got the

message. She wasn’t interested.”

to get the message

If you get the message, you are able to infer
what someone is trying to communicate to you.
to get to the point
If you get to the point, you arrive at the most
important point of what you want to say.
A variation of this expression is 
come to the point.

Quickly get to the point of your letter and

don't be long winded.

Express your appreciation specifically

and get to the point.
 “Teams play well when their star players
are on the same page with their
coaches.”

“Parents must be on the same page

when it comes to disciplining their
children.”

on the same page

If you are on the same page with someone, the
two of you are in agreement about something.
1. The confusion arose because they were not________.
2. I can see that something's upsetting you, so why don't
you _________ and tell me what it is.
3. He gave her an angry look, hoping she'd________.
4. Let me __________. I don't think you'll pass this exam
unless you work harder.  

get it off your chest get the message

get to the point on the same page

“I thought we had agreed to meet at 8:30, but
my friend thought it was 9:30. We got our
wires crossed.

“I think we got our wires crossed. That story

wasn’t about Bryan, it was about Brett.”

If you get your wires crossed with someone, you

have a misunderstanding with your listener—you
understand one thing, and your listener
understands another.

to get one’s wires

crossed
“A joyful date to keep in mind and make
a note of, is when a birthday comes
around to you.”
“Please keep in mind that there will be a
lot of traffic tonight because of the
football game.”

to keep in mind
If you keep something in mind, you are aware of
it and consider it. A variation of this expression
is to bear in mind.
to keep/stay in touch
If you keep in touch with someone, you
maintain contact with that person.

“Do you keep in touch with many of your

friends from high school?”

“I use Facebook to keep in touch with my

family and other relatives.”
 “My daughter’s teacher is very good at
keeping us posted on her progress at
school”

“I’m glad your mother’s surgery went

well. Please keep me posted on how
she’s doing.”

to keep someone
posted
If you keep someone posted, you provide that
person with updated information about a certain
topic.
1. Please _________, Practice makes perfect!
2. Somehow we got our _________  because I'd written
the 23rd in my diary and Jen had the 16th.
3. I'll _________ during our drive up so you'll know
exactly when we'll arrive.
4. I ____________ with my parents by emails.
 
wires crossed keep in mind
keep in touch keep you posted
“I can tell something is on your mind. Tell me
about it.”

“Our English teacher gives us a few minutes

at the end of each class to talk about what’s
on our mind.”

If something is on your mind, it means that you

are thinking about that thing.

on one’s mind
“Are you pulling my leg, or did you really
meet Jungkook?”

“I panicked when he said the test was

tomorrow, but then I realized he was just
pulling my leg.”

to pull someone’s leg

If you pull someone’s leg, you playfully try to
get that person to believe something that isn’t
true.
to put someone on the spot
If you put someone on the spot, you make
that person spontaneously answer a
difficult question.

“One of my students always puts me on the

spot by asking difficult grammar questions.”

“You should get the interview questions in

advance. You don’t want the interviewer to put
you on the spot.”
 “Bad news spreads like wildfire.”

“The story about the scandal spread like

wildfire. By lunchtime, everyone in the
company had heard about it.”

to spread like wildfire

If something spreads like wildfire,
it spreads very quickly.
1. You look worried—what's ___________?
2. The virus had ________through the team.
3. You’re not serious! Stop_________!
4. The interviewer’s questions really put him_________.  

on your mind pulling my leg

on the spot spread like wildfire