Popular Idioms

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Popular Idioms
By Jesse McElrath
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Introduction

• The English language has thousands of idioms.
  Idioms are expressions that have hidden meanings.
  You cant tell what idiomatic expressions mean
  by taking the words within them literally. So,
  you have to understand something about the people
  or community in which idioms are used to really
  understand them. How many of my favorite idioms
  do you understand?

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In the Doghouse

• Keith was really in the doghouse when he forgot
  to bring home his social studies book.
• In the doghouse means in lots of trouble. It may
  even mean someone may get punished.

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Follow Your Nose

• When I asked my teacher the way to the library,
  she said, Follow your nose!
• Follow your nose means go straight ahead.

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Hang In There

• I was thinking about quitting when I heard my
  coach shout, Hang in there! You can do it!
• Hang in there means to not give up trying.

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Add Fuel to the Fire

• When Kate talked back to the principal, he said,
  Now, Kate, dont add fuel to the fire.
• Add fuel to the fire means to make things worse.

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Quiet as a mouse

• Becky was quiet as a mouse when she sneaked out
  of bedroom.
• Extremely quiet--doesn't talk much.

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Raining cats and dogs!

• My mom said its raining cats and dogs outside.
• It is raining very hard.

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Jumping through hoops.

• The government sometimes makes us jump through
  hoops.
• Going through a lot of unnecessary trouble to
  please someone. 

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Put your foot in your mouth.

• Be careful, you dont want to put your foot in
  your mouth.
• To say the wrong thing.

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Sharp as a tack.

• He is as sharp as a tack.
• He is extremely smart.

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Running against the clock.

• He had to turn in his paper which was due before
  5 p.m. on Friday.  He was running against the
  clock.
• To have a tight deadline.

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Monkey Around

• I wish that he would be more serious.  He just
  wants to monkey around.
• To handle something very casually to do
  something without a real purpose to play around.

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Grow on trees

• Money doesn't grow on trees.
• You have to work for something (like money)  to
  get it. You can't just go out and accidentally
  find it.

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Time flies

• Time flies when you're having fun.
• To feel that very little time has passed when
  actually a lot of time has gone by.

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The grass is always greener on the other side.

• The grass is always greener on the other side.
• What you don't have always looks better than what
  you have.

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A lightbulb went off

• Susan was wondering what she was going to present
  at the meeting, and then a lightbulb went off and
  she knew what she would present.
• To get an idea.

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Straddling the fence

• He cannot make up his mind whether or not to buy
  stocks right now. He is straddling the fence
• To have trouble coming to a decision.

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Time is running out

• Time is running out to turn in homework, you
  better and get it done.
• It's almost too late.

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A penny saved is a penny earned.

• A penny saved is a penny earned.
• Even small amounts of money are worth saving.

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When fish fly

• I'll believe politicians when fish fly.
• Something that will never happen.

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Hit the nail on the head

• You hit the nail on the head.
• To describe something accurately or exactly.

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Like trying to find a needle in the haystack.

• Sometimes trying to find something on the
  worldwide web is like trying to find a needle in
  the haystack.
• Difficult to find or uncover.

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What a small world!

• I went to California on vacation. While I was
  there,  I met a new friend who was from my
  hometown.  What a small world!
• A coincidence in a distant place--usually in
  meeting someone who knows a friend or relative of
  yours or who is from the same place you are.

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Don't cry over spilled milk.

• Don't cry over spilled milk.
• Don't worry about things  you have done that you
  can't change.

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A money pit

• Their business is a money pit.
• It is losing a lot of money with little hope for
  profit.

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On pins and needles

• He's on pins and needles.
• He's waiting anxiously or nervously.

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Moving at a snail's pace

• He's moving at a snail's pace.
• He is moving very slowly.

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All your eggs in one basket

• Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
• Diversify. Try many types of things--not just one.

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Broken Heart

• She has a broken heart.
• She is very sad.

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Going around in circles.

• He's going around in circles.
• He isnt getting anything accomplished.

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If the shoe fits, wear it.

• I know you don't like it when your mother calls
  you lazy, but if the shoe fits, wear it.
• If the description is correct, accept it.

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Can you think of any more idioms?