What are Idioms & Phrases?
- Idiom: A group of words with a figurative meaning different from their literal meaning.
Example: “Break the ice” = Start a conversation. - Phrase: A small group of words that expresses a specific meaning.
Example: “In the nick of time” = Just in time.
Common Categories of Idioms & Phrases
1. Body Parts
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Cost an arm and a leg | Very expensive | “This car costs an arm and a leg.” |
| Cold feet | Lose courage | “He got cold feet before the interview.” |
| Pull someone’s leg | Tease/joke with someone | “I’m just pulling your leg!” |
2. Animals
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal a secret | “She let the cat out of the bag.” |
| Crocodile tears | Fake sadness | “Stop crying crocodile tears!” |
| Black sheep | Odd one out in a family/group | “He’s the black sheep of the family.” |
3. Time
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Once in a blue moon | Very rarely | “He visits once in a blue moon.” |
| Beat the clock | Finish something quickly | “We beat the clock to submit the file.” |
| Turn back the clock | Return to the past | “I wish I could turn back the clock.” |
4. Emotions
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| On cloud nine | Extremely happy | “She’s on cloud nine after her promotion.” |
| Hit the roof | Get very angry | “Dad hit the roof when I broke the TV.” |
| Face the music | Accept punishment | “You’ll have to face the music now.” |
5. Food
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Piece of cake | Very easy task | “The exam was a piece of cake!” |
| Spill the beans | Reveal a secret | “Don’t spill the beans about the party!” |
| Cry over spilled milk | Complain about something irreversible | “Stop crying over spilled milk!” |
6. Nature
| Idiom/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Under the weather | Feeling ill | “I’m feeling under the weather today.” |
| Every cloud has a silver lining | Bad situations have a positive side | “Don’t worry; every cloud has a silver lining.” |
| Raining cats and dogs | Heavy rain | “It’s raining cats and dogs outside!” |
Sample Questions
- “Spill the beans” means:
a) Cook food b) Reveal a secret c) Break something d) Clean a mess
Answer: b) Reveal a secret - Which idiom means ‘very expensive’?
a) Hit the roof b) Cost an arm and a leg c) Cold feet d) Piece of cake
Answer: b) Cost an arm and a leg
Commonly Confused Idioms
- “Bite the bullet” (face hardship) vs. “Beat around the bush” (avoid the topic).
- “Break a leg” (good luck) vs. “Pull someone’s leg” (tease).