Idiom: a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
Every language has its own collection of wise sayings. They offer advice
about how to live and also transfer some underlying ideas, principles
and values of a given culture / society.
These sayings are called "idioms" - or proverbs if they are longer.
These combinations of words have (rarely complete sentences) a
"figurative meaning" meaning, they basically work with "pictures".
Commonly used idioms and sayings (in everyday conversational English), can also help ELLs to speak English by learning English idiomatic expressions. But that by no means means they are only within the English language:
Example: 缘木求鱼这个成语讲的是爬到树上去捉鱼。比喻方法不对，达不到目的。
in Mandarin means "climbing a tree to catch a fish will help you achieve nothing".
A very famous one in English is that "it's raining cats and dogs", which means it is raining very heavily. Although the exact reason for this idiom's origins are unclear, two possible explanations are given here:
- The first: with 16th century European peasant homes frequently being
thatched, animals seeking shelter from the elements would fall out
during heavy rains. - The second: that drainage in 17th century Europe was typically poor so they would, during heavy rains, disgorge any of the animal corpses that had accumulated in them.
Now for your challenge! Who can find the most interesting, unique, or clever idiom? You must also provide the explanation for the idiom's origins.
A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned
ReplyDeleteLeft in the dust
ReplyDeleteAdd insult to injury
ReplyDeleteHit the sack
ReplyDeleteEat the dirt (A horse riding term for when you fall off)
ReplyDelete1.Broke his ankles!
ReplyDelete2.He's on Fire!
3.Splash! (When someone makes a three-pointer)
4.Their choking!(When someone is winning, but theyre letting the other team get back in the game, e.g. the Knicks against the Celtics in the 2013 playoffs)
5.Carrying the team.
6. From downtown!
7.There is a sniper in the building!(when someone randomly falls(flops)
8. Dunk Party
1.Bullet! (Powerful shot)
ReplyDelete2.Sniper!(Far goal)
3. Any day now
They got creamed/crushed/destroyed/demolished
ReplyDeleteElvis is leaving the building. (He's not actually leaving, just heading backstage to a different room)
ReplyDeleteBeat around the bush
ReplyDeleteBarking up the wrong tree
Barrel of monkeys
Heard it from the grapevine
A leopard can't change its spots
Speak of the devil
Piece of cake
Let the cat out of the bag
Takes two to tango
Give the benefit of doubt
ReplyDeleteCry over spilt milk
Costs an arm and a leg
Burn the midnight oil
Best thing since sliced bread
A penny for your thoughts
don't count your chickens before your eggs have hatched
ReplyDelete守株待兔
ReplyDeleteA house divided against itself cannot stand
ReplyDelete-Abraham Lincoln
A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush:
ReplyDeleteA Blessing In Disguise:
Something good that isn't recognized at first.
A Chip On Your Shoulder:
A Dime A Dozen:
Anything that is common and easy to get.
A Doubting Thomas:
A Drop in the Bucket:
A very small part of something big or whole.
A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted:
A Leopard Can't Change His Spots:
.
A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned:
By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words:
A Piece of Cake:
A task that can be accomplished very easily.
A Slap on the Wrist:
A Taste Of Your Own Medicine:
When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.
A Toss-Up:
Actions Speak Louder Than Words:
It's better to actually do something than just talk about it.
Add Fuel To The Fire:
Against The Clock:
Rushed and short on time.
All Bark And No Bite:
All Greek to me:
Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read, speak, or understand any of the Greek language would be.
All In The Same Boat:
An Arm And A Leg:
Very expensive. A large amount of money.
An Axe To Grind:
Apple of My Eye:
Someone who is cherished above all others.
As High As A Kite:
At The Drop Of A Hat:
Willing to do something immediately.
Back Seat Driver:
Back To Square One:
Back To The Drawing Board:
Baker's Dozen:
Barking Up The Wrong Tree:
Beat A Dead Horse:
Beating Around The Bush:
Bend Over Backwards:
Between A Rock And A Hard Place:
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:
Bite Your Tongue:
Blood Is Thicker Than Water:
Blue Moon:
Break A Leg:
Buy A Lemon:
Can't Cut The Mustard :
Cast Iron Stomach:
Charley Horse:
Chew someone out:
Chip on his Shoulder:
Chow Down:
Close but no Cigar:
Cock and Bull Story:
Come Hell Or High Water:
Crack Someone Up:
Cross Your Fingers:
Cry Over Spilt Milk:
Cry Wolf:
Cup Of Joe:
Curiosity Killed The Cat:
Cut to the Chase:
Dark Horse:
Dead Ringer:
Devil's Advocate:
Dog Days of Summer:
Don't count your chickens before they hatch:
Don't Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth:
Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket:
Doozy:
Down To The Wire:
Drastic Times Call For Drastic Measures:
Drink like a fish:
Drive someone up the wall:
Dropping Like Flies:
Dry Run:
Eighty Six:
A certain item is no longer available. Or this idiom can also mean, to throw away.
Elvis has left the building:
The show has come to an end. It's all over.
Ethnic Cleansing:
Killing of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive scale.
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining:
Be optomistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
Everything But The Kitchen Sink:
Almost everything and anything has been included.
Excuse my French:
Please forgive me for cussing.
Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.
Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.
F
Feeding Frenzy:
An aggressive attack on someone by a group.
Field Day:
An enjoyable day or circumstance.
Finding Your Feet:
To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.
Finger lickin' good:
A very tasty food or meal.
Fixed In Your Ways:
Not willing or wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.
Flash In The Pan:
Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.
Flea Market:
A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive goods.
Flesh and Blood:
This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can refer to someone's family.
Flip The Bird:
To raise your middle finger at someone.
Foam at the Mouth:
To be enraged and show it.
Fools' Gold:
Iron pyrites, a worthless rock that resembles real gold.
French Kiss:
An open mouth kiss where tongues touch.
From Rags To Riches:
To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.
Fuddy-duddy:
An old-fashioned and foolish type of person.
part 2
ReplyDeleteFull Monty:
This idiom can mean either, "the whole thing" or "completely nude".
Funny Farm:
A mental institutional facility.
G
Get Down to Brass Tacks:
To become serious about something.
Get Over It:
To move beyond something that is bothering you.
Get Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed:
Someone who is having a horrible day.
Get Your Walking Papers:
Get fired from a job.
Give Him The Slip:
To get away from. To escape.
Go Down Like A Lead Balloon:
To be received badly by an audience.
Go For Broke:
To gamble everything you have.
Go Out On A Limb:
Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/something.
part 3
ReplyDeleteGo The Extra Mile:
Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.
Good Samaritan:
Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation, and no thought of a reward.
Graveyard Shift:
Working hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping.
Great Minds Think Alike:
Intelligent people think like each other.
Green Room:
The waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a tv or radio show.
Gut Feeling:
A personal intuition you get, especially when feel something may not be right.
H
Haste Makes Waste:
Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.
Hat Trick:
When one player scores three goals in the same hockey game. This idiom can also mean three scores in any other sport, such as 3 homeruns, 3 touchdowns, 3 soccer goals, etc.
Have an Axe to Grind:
To have a dispute with someone.
He Lost His Head:
Angry and overcome by emotions.
Head Over Heels:
Very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love.
Hell in a Handbasket:
Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.
High Five:
Slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture.
High on the Hog:
Living in Luxury.
Hit The Books:
To study, especially for a test or exam.
Hit The Hay:
Go to bed or go to sleep.
Hit The Nail on the Head:
Do something exactly right or say something exactly right.
Hit The Sack:
Go to bed or go to sleep.
Hocus Pocus:
In general, a term used in magic or trickery.
Hold Your Horses:
Be patient.
I
part 4
ReplyDeleteIcing On The Cake:
When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.
Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools:
You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.
If It's Not One Thing, It's Another:
When one thing goes wrong, then another, and another...
In Like Flynn:
To be easily successful, especially when sexual or romantic.
In The Bag:
To have something secured.
In The Buff:
Nude.
You copied it off a site. How did I know? It's just a coincidence that it's in the same format when I searched up "best idioms". With some off them left out.
DeleteHere is a great source of idioms from around the world (courtesy of TedTalk site). http://blog.ted.com/2015/01/20/40-idioms-that-cant-be-translated-literally/
ReplyDelete