Common English Idioms

Common English Idioms

24/7: Twenty-four hours a day; seven days a week; all the time; constantly. My little sister irritates me 24/7!

A short fuse: A quick temper. Jamie is known for his short fuse; just a few days ago he screamed at his coach for not letting him play.

A taste of your own medicine: Bad treatment deservedly received for treating other people badly. After constantly being prank-called, Julian decided to give Juan a taste of his own medicine and ordered twenty-seven pizzas to be delivered to Juan’s house.

Butterflies in my stomach: To be nervous. Liam had butterflies in his stomach before he went on stage to play the violin.

By the skin of your teeth:  To just barely get by or make it. Lester made the dance team by the skin of his teeth; you can tell he hasn't been dancing jazz for very long.

Cat got your tongue?: Can’t you speak? (Usually said to embarrass the other person). I just saw you kissing my boyfriend. What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?

Crying wolf: To ask for help when you don't need it. You have cried wolf so many times that no one believes you when you're really hurt.

Cut someone some slack: To not judge someone too harshly. Hey. Cut me some slack. I was really busy with my frog hunting business last week and forgot to call. I'm sorry!

Down for the count: Tired; giving up; unable or unwilling to participate any longer. No, you can’t take my dog for a walk – she’s down for the count after chasing cats all day.

Draw the line: To stop; to know the point where something goes from okay to not okay. Now I draw the line at speaking in front of 34,000 people.

Easier said than done: Not as easy as it appears to be. You want me to come to work at 6:00 AM? Easier said than done!

Every cloud has a silver lining: You can find good in every bad situation. Even though you just got fired, remember that every cloud has a silver lining – at least you don’t have to work for that grouchy boss anymore!

Finding a needle in a haystack: Virtually impossible to find. Trying to get a new job these days is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Fish out of water: To be out of place. Tom felt like a fish out of water at the Star Trek convention his new girlfriend begged him to attend.

Get something off your chest: To talk about something that has been bothering you for a long time; to admit something you have done wrong. I have to get this off my chest – I copied your answers on the Redesigned SAT. Thanks for the 15th percentile score, by the way.

Give it a whirl: To try something. I’ve never gone kite-boarding, but I’m prepared to give it a whirl!

Go down in flames: To fail suddenly and spectacularly. The football player's career went down in flames after the media learned he'd been losing on purpose to settle gambling debts.

Go the extra mile: To make an extra effort. My dentist always goes the extra mile, offering free back massages at the end of a stressful tooth extraction.

Hang in there: Be patient. Wait it out. I know you're struggling right now in school, but just hang in there. It'll get easier. I promise.

In the fast lane: A life filled with excitement. When Curtis turned forty, he decided he needed to live life in the fast lane, so he quit his job as a dentist and decided to tour Europe by motorcycle.

In the nick of time: Almost too late. You gave me that main idea help in the nick of time – my teacher just gave us a quiz on that reading skill and I passed it!

Let the cat out of the bag: Tell a secret. Brady’s surprise party is going to be great if you don’t let the cat out of the bag.

Let the chips fall where they may: To let something happen, no matter if it's good or bad. Look. I'm going to just try out for the cheerleading squad and let the chips fall where they may.

Lose your marbles: To go crazy; insane. Mom has really lost her marbles; she's making me practice writing the Enhanced ACT Essay seven times this week!

Once in a blue moon: Rarely. In Florida, the temperature drops below freezing only once in a blue moon.

Plain as day: Obvious; clear. It’s plain as day that you’re in love with her, so just admit it.

Play second fiddle: To be less important. I hate playing second fiddle to my sister; she always does things better than I do!

Put your foot in your mouth: Saying something you shouldn’t have. Jessica really put her foot in her mouth when she asked about John’s job right after he lost it.

Pull yourself together: Calm down and behave normally. Pull yourself together, man! Sure, your girlfriend just dumped you and then you got hit by a car, but you can't let those things get you down.

Sick and tired: To be bothered or annoyed by. She is sick and tired of her dog chewing up her shoes every day.

Sleep on it: To think about something for a while before making a decision. Don’t tell me whether you’ll move to Texas with me or not today. Sleep on it, and get back to me tomorrow.

Snug as a bug in a rug: Warm and cozy; content. That baby looks as snug as a bug in a rug cuddled up next to his mother.

Step up your game: To start performing better. Listen, Jen. You'd better step up your game if you want to get all A's in Miss Finch's Physics class. She isn't easy!

Stick your nose into something: To interfere. Sharon always sticks her nose into everyone else’s business.

Straight from the horse’s mouth: Directly from the person involved. Listen to the news straight from the horse’s mouth; we’re all getting bonuses this week!

Take it easy: Relax. I know you’re not feeling well, so try to take it easy today.

Tip of the iceberg: The small easily visible part of a larger problem. The fact that Carrie is dating a member of the mafia is just the tip of the iceberg; she’s also smuggling contraband into the country.

To not see the wood for the trees: To be so involved with the details that you don’t get the most important facts. She always argues about the silliest things; it’s like she can’t see the wood for the trees.

Up a creek without a paddle: In an unlucky/bad situation. If you don’t have any money to pay for the repairs we just made to your car, I guess you’re up a creek without a paddle because you can’t have your car back.

You rock!: You are great. Dude. You rock. Thanks for offering to watch my pet iguana all week.

THINK TEEN 2, VOCABULARY, UNIT 1, LESSONS 2, 3 (pp15-21)

·         thrive  - thrived or throve past participle thrived , thrived or thriven) = ευημερώ

·          thrive on something =   με τρέφει το.. She seems to thrive on stress

·         unity  n. /ˈjuː.nɪ.ti/ nενότητα

·         appreciate =εκτιμώ= to value v

·         I/We appreciate..: used when you are thanking someone or showing that you are grateful : We really appreciate all the help you gave us last weekend.

·         [+ -ing verb]: I appreciate your making the effort to come.

->APPRECIATION =εκτίμηση

·         mat / ndoormat χαλάκι

·         tolerance =ανεκτικότητα, ανοχή,αντοχή [≠ intolerance; ↪ to tolerate, tolerance to / of= ability to deal with : nMany old people have a very limited tolerance to cold :My tolerance of heat is considerably greater after having lived in the Far East for a couple of years.

·         ndiversity = 1 the fact of including many different types of people or things

cultural/ethnic/linguistic etc diversity: The curriculum will take account of the ethnic diversity of the population.= Διαφορετικότητα 

·          2.  a range of different people, things, or ideas = variety =ποικιλία - diversity of: a diversity of opinions n

·         Emperor PGauauuαυ= αυτοκράτορας,empire=αυτοκρατορία

·         Foundations: n1.θεμέλια 2 foundation,ίδρυση foundation of a university ίδρυση πανεπιστήμιου , ίδρυμα: charitable foundation φιλανθρωπικό ίδρυμα  lay a foundation = θέτω τα θεμέλια,  foundation stone = θεμέλιος λίθος, foundation cream = (καλλυντική) κρέμα βάσης  ->TO FOUND= ιδρύω

·         lay = / leɪ/ v (laid, laid) βάζω=  to put down=   (παρα) θέτω, αραδιάζω: lay one's cards on the table=  βάζω τα χαρτιά μου στο τραπέζι ,καταθέτω: lay a bet = καταθέτω στοίχημα, ακουμπώ: he laid his hand on my shoulder = ακούμπησε το χέρι του στον ώμο μου, σωριάζω ή ρίχνω κάτω: the storm laid the crops flat= η καταιγίδα έριξε τις καλλιέργειες στο χώμα , στρώνω: lay the table= στρώνω το τραπέζι , lay the paint evenly =απλώνω τη μπογιά στρωτά, προετοιμάζω: lay a fire=  ετοιμάζω φωτιά κτλ. (για πουλιά:) γεννώ αβγά: the cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds' nests = ο κούκος γεννά τα αβγά του σε ξένες φωλιές,have nowhere to lay one's head= δεν έχω που την κεφαλήν κλίναι -> layer =στρώση,επίπεδο

·                  Lie-lied-lied=to tell lies ψεύδομαι: she lies about her age  λέει ψέματα για την ηλικία της, the mirror cannot lie

·         lie  /laɪ/ v (lying, lay, lain )= ξαπλώνω,κείτομαι, to be in or move into a horizontal position on a surface, to lie in bed ,to lie on a beach, to lie on your side A cat lay in front of the fire. He lies awake at night, worrying. The river lies 30km to the south. Βρίσκεται Cambridge United are lying third in the league. Here lies the body of Mary Taylor (= This is where Mary Taylor is buried).

·         brick =τούβλο,brick clay / earth άργιλος (πηλός)  drop a brick  =πετώ κοτσάνα

·         massive=solid, heavy ογκώδης,συμπαγής

·         Fascinating =extremely interesting: a fascinating book.

·         find somebody/something fascinating = συναρπαστικος

·         remarkable=noticeable,extraordinary,αξιοσημείωτος,αξιόλογο, His drawings are remarkable for their accuracy. He's a remarkable man.  ->  To remark =παρατηρώ

·         shallow dome=ρηχός θόλος shallow ≠ deep=βαθύς

·         pier=αποβάθρα, μώλος, στύλος

·         limestone=ασβεστόλιθος

·         arch =αψίδα

·         feature = χαρακτηριστικό ,feature of  An important feature of Van Gogh's paintings is their bright colours., Striped tails are a common feature of many animals.

·         support= στηρίζω, to hold the weight of something, keep it in place, or prevent it from falling: The middle part of the bridge is supported by two huge towers. During sleep, our spine no longer needs to support the weight of our body   -> supporter

·         pillar= κολώνα, στήλη, πυλώνας

·         pillar of society/the community/the church etc: somebody who is an important and respected member of a group, and is involved in many public activities: Mr Fitzwilliam had been seen as a pillar of the community

·         Marble = μάρμαρο: slab of marble = μαρμαρόπλακα  , μαρμάρινος, μαρμαρένιος: marble statue = μαρμάρινο άγαλμα

·         Lining = επένδυση ή επενδυτικό υλικό ,( ενδυμ. )φόδρα: fur lining=  φόδρα από γούνα

·         Be accustomed to=be used to + ing= είμαι συνηθισμένος να

·         awe-inspiring /ˈɔː.ɪnˌspaɪə.rɪŋ/ extremely impressive in a way that makes you feel great respect: a truly awe-inspiring achievement    ->  to inspire, που προκαλεί δέος, θαυμασμό -> inspiration=έμπνευση

·         construction =building,  This website is currently under construction (= is  being created). 

·         vertical ≠ horizontal adj =κάθετος

·         storey (US story) /ˈstɔː.ri/ na level of a building a three-storey house = όροφος

·         Their new house has four storeys including the attic. storeyed adj adj It's a normal two-storeyed house.

·         lean   (leaned / leant, leaned /leant)= γέρνω She leaned forward and whispered something in my ear.

·         install  = to place  =  vεγκαθιστώ: they're installing telephone lines  = εγκαθιστούν τηλεφωνικές γραμμές

·         Halt = to stop moving

·         Identity = ταυτότητα, know somebody's identity, disclose/reveal somebody's identity, hide/conceal somebody's identity, false identity (=when someone pretends to be another person) (a case of) mistaken identity (=when you think someone is a different person) somebody's true identity (=who someone really is) proof of identity (=something that proves you are who you say you are) identity papers/documents (=documents that show you are who you say you are)

·         Declare = δηλώνω (επισήμως ή ρητώς): A state of emergency has been declared. The court declared that Brown's case should be reviewed. ανακηρύσσω Several countries wanted Antarctica to be declared a 'world park'. κηρύσσω: Italy declared war on Greece  = η Ιταλία κήρυξε τον πόλεμο στην Ελλάδα , they declared a strike =  κήρυξαν απεργίαPET

·         Distinctive= having a special quality, character, or appearance that is different and easy to recognize: ευδιάκριτος, σαφής, ευκρινής: distinctive traces of = ευδιάκριτα ίχνη , χαρακτηριστικός: distinctive style = χαρακτηριστικό ύφος

 

·         Spectacular= θεαματικός ,very impressive/extreme: a mountainous area with spectacular scenery , a spectacular success

·         Concrete = σκυρόδεμα, (κν. μπετό(ν))

·         Granite =γρανίτης

·         Soil = (επιφανειακό) έδαφος, χώμα, γη, cultivate the soil = καλλιεργώ τη γη , sandy soil=  αμμώδες έδαφος , μτφ. γεωργία, αγροκαλλιέργεια: son of the soil = αγρότης , (ιδιαίτερη) πατρίδα: native soil = γενέτειρα

·         Tiles= πλακάκια

·         interior= inside, internal, εσωτερικός

·         Multitude = a very large number of people or things: I had never seen such a multitude of stars before.

·         the multitude(s) a large crowd of people = πλήθος,μεγαλος αριθμός: Clamoring multitudes demanded a view of the Pope.

·         Breathtaking =που κόβει την ανάσα, "μαγευτικός": breathtaking beauty =  μαγευτική ομορφιά ,very impressive, exciting, or surprising: The view from my bedroom window was absolutely breathtaking

·         Venue = τόπος διεξαγωγής (αγώνα κτλ.)  a place where an organized meeting, concert etc takes place  sporting/conference/concert etc venue:The first thing to do is book a venue. The band will play (=perform at) as many venues as possible

·         Attempt ( v/n)=  try to do something, especially something difficult ,προσπαθώ/προσπάθεια:In this chapter I will attempt to explain what led up to the revolution , attempted murder/suicide/rape The protesters made no attempt to resist arrest.,  his first unsuccessful attempt to become an MP ,  In an attempt to diffuse the tension I suggested that we break off for lunch.

  at the first/second etc attempt :She passed her driving test at the first attempt.

·          Ιindependence Day= Η ΗΜΕΡΑ ΑΝΕΞΑΡΤΗΣΙΑΣ  -> independent = ανεξάρτητος  ≠ dependent

·         Tthis day in the U.S is celebrated on 4th July