IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION MEANING SENTENCE

Missing the bus was a blessing in

A misfortune that later turns out
a blessing in disguise disguise because I avoided the heavy
to be good or advantageous.
rain.
Apples are a dime a dozen during
a dime a dozen Something common.
harvest season.
The math test was a piece of cake—I
a piece of cake Something is very easy.
finished it in 10 minutes!
back to the drawing To start over because something Our project didn’t work, so we’re back
board failed. to the drawing board.
To avoid talking about something Stop beating around the bush and tell
beat around the bush
directly. me the truth.
Better to arrive late than not to I finally finished my homework that is
better late than never
come at all due today—better late than never!
To get something over with I didn’t want to apologize, but I had to
bite the bullet because it is inevitable; do bite the bullet and say sorry.
something hard
bite the hand that feeds To act unkindly towards someone You shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds
one who helps you. you by being rude to your parents.
You’ll do great in the play tonight—break
break a leg Good luck; do your best
a leg!
We finished all the tasks, let’s go home
call it a day Stop working on something.
and call it a day.
He’s too chicken-hearted to watch
chicken-hearted Timid; easily scared
horror movies.
My uncle is close-fisted and never
close-fisted One who is stingy.
shares his snacks.
A serious political struggle After their fight, the two friends were in a
between two countries, which cold war for days.
cold war does not actually result in
fighting; Not talking but still angry
at each other.
The Louis Vuitton designer bag costs an
costs an arm and a leg Something is very expensive.
arm and a leg!
cut somebody some Don't be so critical; be a little I was late because of traffic—please cut
slack forgiving me some slack!
Doing something poorly in order The builders cut corners, so the house
cutting corners
to save time or money. wasn’t safe.
A person who competes No one expected him to win the race—
successfully against another he was the dark horse!
dark horse
although little is known about
him.
She was down in the dumps after losing
down in the dumps Feeling sad or depressed.
her phone.
Sensible and realistic; humble Our teacher is kind and down-to-earth.
down-to-earth
and practical
easy does it Be careful and move slowly. Easy does it! Don’t drop the glass.
I didn’t make the team, but now I have
every cloud has a silver There is good in every bad
more time to study—every cloud has a
lining situation.
silver lining.
That tale about catching a giant fish
fish story An unlikely story; an untrue tale.
sound like a fish story.
He flew off the handle when someone
fly off the handle To become suddenly angry.
broke his toy.
flying colors With great success.; did very well She passed the test with flying colors.
The party got out of hand when too
get out of hand Get out of control.
many people showed up.
get something off your To talk about something that has I feel better after getting that off my
chest been bothering you. chest.
 Work better; start being If you want good grades, you need to get
get your act together
organized or responsible. your act together.
give someone the benefit I don’t think he meant to hurt you—let’s
Trust what someone says
of the doubt give him the benefit of the doubt.
The project went down in flames
go down in flames To fail spectacularly
because they didn’t work together.
Vian always goes the extra mile to help
go the extra mile To make an extra effort
her classmates.
A person with natural skill in My grandmother has a green thumb—
green thumb
making plants grow. her garden is beautiful!
Be patient; do not give up; stay I know the exam is hard but hang in
hang in there
strong there—you can do it!
Paul paid for the toy in hard cash, not
hard cash Actual money; not a cheque
with a card.
To be exactly right about You hit the nail on the head—that’s
hit the nail on the head
something exactly the problem!
I’m so tired. I’m going to hit the sack
hit the sack To go to bed; go to sleep
early tonight.
Something is certain to happen We studied hard, so the quiz is in the
in the bag
or be achieved bag.
Since she got promoted, she’s living in
in the fast lane A life filled with excitement
the fast lane.
Just follow the recipe—it’s not rocket
it's not rocket science It's not complicated
science!
By walking to school, I get exercise and
kill two birds with one Get two things done with a single
save money—killing two birds with one
stone action
stone!
Question which suggests the The teacher asked a leading question to
leading question
answer guide us to the answer.
To not hold someone responsible Mom let me off the hook and didn’t
let someone off the hook
for something punish me for the broken vase.
James let the cat out of the bag and
let the cat out of the bag To reveal a secret
spoiled the surprise party.
To make a long story short, we missed
make a long story short Tell something briefly
the bus and had to walk.
It's too late; missed a chance or You missed the boat—you can’t join the
miss the boat
opportunity contest now.
An escape, which nearly failed; We had a narrow escape when the car
narrow escape
barely avoided danger. stopped just in time.
Success requires hard work or You must work hard to get stronger—no
no pain, no gain
effort. pain, no gain!
Out-of-date; no longer That game is old hat—I’ve played it
old hat
fashionable many times before.
Yanna was on cloud nine after winning
on cloud nine Feeling very happy.
first place in the contest.
Alert, smart, or quick to You must be on the ball to keep up in
on the ball
understand things science class.
We only eat out once in a blue moon,
once in a blue moon Something that rarely happens
usually on birthdays.
A short speech to encourage Coach Tim gave us a pep talk before the
pep talk
someone game to boost our confidence.
Ania, the new student is a promising
A young person with a bright
promising youth youth—she learns quickly and works
future
hard.
Relax, I’m just pulling your leg—I didn’t
pull someone's leg To joke with someone
really see a ghost.
I know you're upset but try to pull
pull yourself together Calm down
yourself together and focus.
It’s raining cats and dogs—don’t forget
raining cats and dogs Raining very heavily
your umbrella!
 A person who keeps moving and He’s a rolling stone—he never stays in
rolling stone
doesn’t settle down. one place for long.
We don’t always see eye to eye, but
see eye to eye To agree with someone
we’re still friends.
I was sick as a dog last weekend and
sick as a dog Very sick
stayed in bed all day.
I’ve studied three chapters—so far, so
so far so good Things are going well so far
good.
When the person you were just Speak of the devil! We were just talking
speak of the devil
talking about appear about you.
Andrei spilled the beans and told
spill the beans To reveal a secret
everyone about the surprise.
He forgot my birthday again—that’s the
that's the last straw My patience has run out
last straw!
It's your turn to decide or take I gave you my answer—now the ball is in
the ball is in your court
action your court.
With online school, I get the best of
An ideal situation; Enjoying two
the best of both worlds both worlds—learning and staying
good things at the same time
home.
tickled pink Made very happy I was tickled pink when I got your letter.
time flies Time passes very quickly. Time flies when you’re having fun.
My grandfather is 80 but still fit as a
to be fit as a fiddle Very healthy and strong
fiddle.
To make people feel more relaxed We played a game to break the ice at
to break the ice
and comfortable with each other the party.
Sarah Geronimo’s performance brought
to bring down the house To cause loud and long applause
down the house.
I burned the midnight oil to finish my
to burn the midnight oil To work till late at night
project.
Don’t be upset about something It’s just a broken pencil—don’t cry over
to cry over spilt milk
you can’t change. spilt milk.
My brother eats like a horse—he’s
to eat like a horse To have a hearty appetite
always hungry!
She laughed at my idea, but now she’s
to eats one’s words To apologize
eating her words.
To meet the worst; to face Patrick broke the rules, now had to face
to face the music
punishment the music.
My parents footed the bill for my
to foot the bill To pay the bill
birthday party.
To make progress in an Our team is gaining ground in the
to gain ground
undertaking competition.
Don’t get bent out of shape—it was just
to get bent out of shape To get upset
a joke!
To take special trouble to help She went out of her way to help me
to go out of one’s way
someone study for the test.
I was already late, and to make matters
to make matters worse Make a problem worse
worse, I forgot my bag.
Let’s start the ball rolling by picking a
to start the ball rolling To start an activity
topic.
I was so nervous during the speech that I
tongue-tied Speechless
got tongue-tied.
I’m feeling under the weather, so I’m
under the weather Feeling unwell; Sick
staying home today
we'll cross that bridge Deal with the problem when it Don’t worry about the test now—we’ll
when we come to it happens cross that bridge when we come to it.
wet blanket Someone who spoils the fun Don’t be a wet blanket—join the fun!
The old fountain is a white elephant—it
white elephant Something costly but not useful.
costs too much to fix.
wrap your head around Understand something It took me a while to wrap my head
something complicated around algebra.