2. What do idioms mean?
Idioms are fun and useful
expressions that usually can't
be understood by defining the
separate words.
Idioms need to be memorized
as a whole.
4. Most idioms come
from ancient literature
or even classic films.
Many idioms originated
as quotations from
well-known writers
such as Shakespeare.
Learning the
backgrounds of idioms
can help you to
remember them.
The Origin of IdiomsThe Origin of Idioms
5. ➲Idioms should be used in proper
situations. They enrich our
speech and increase our
vocabulary.
➲The grammar and the
vocabulary of the idioms are
fixed, and if we change them,
we lose the meaning of the
idiom.
6.
In different languages we can meet the same idioms. SoIn different languages we can meet the same idioms. So
Russians and Estonians say 'a drop in the sea'.Russians and Estonians say 'a drop in the sea'.
Some idioms may be used in a slightly different form inSome idioms may be used in a slightly different form in
different varieties of English.different varieties of English.
Thus the idiom 'a drop in the ocean' in British andThus the idiom 'a drop in the ocean' in British and
Australian English becomes 'a drop in the bucket' inAustralian English becomes 'a drop in the bucket' in
American EnglishAmerican English.
8. full of beans = have a lot of silly
energy
The girl
was full of
beans on
the beach.
9. keep one's
head above
water = have
just enough
money to live
It's hard to keep
my head above
water with all of
these medical
bills.
10.
down to earth = natural or real
Lucy is really down to earth for a woman with so much
money.
out of the woods = clear of danger
The doctor said my heart is doing better, but I'm not out
of the woods yet.
wear the trousers = be in charge, make the rules
By the look of things, the kids wear the trousers in this
household.
break a leg! – good luck! (to speak about sport)
Today's the big game. Break a leg!
have the blues = be depressed or sad
I always have the blues during the winter time.
11. catch red handed =
catch someone in
the act of doing
something wrong
or illegal
The girl was caught red handed stealing biscuits.
12. face the music =
stand up to a
pleasant
consequences
I stayed out all
night. When I
eventually got
home I had to face
the music from my
parents.
13. Check how you understand English idioms!Check how you understand English idioms!
1. It's raining cats and
dogs, so
a) take an umbrella.
b) keep your pets aside.
c) watch out for falling
animals.
14. 2. When I heard the poem, some
of the lines rang a bell and
a) sounded very beautiful.
b) I thought I'd heard it
somewhere before.
c) some of them beat a drum.
15. 3. During3. During the dogthe dog
days in summerdays in summer
a) I have some
problems with my
boss.
b) I wear light
clothes because
it's very hot.
c) people are
allowed to come to
the beach with
their dogs.
16. 4. Helen is only4. Helen is only aa
fair-weatherfair-weather
friendfriend. That's why. That's why
a) we got out only
when the
weather is fine.
b) she is the
person who I
can trust.
c) I can't rely on
her in difficult
situations.
17. 5. Mike and Kate
decided to tie the
knot because
a) it had become
undone.
b) they loved
one other.
c) they needed
to save money.
18. 6. I've dotted the i's and crossed the t's,
so there
a) shouldn't be any mistakes.
b) will be a few mistakes.
c) will be lots of mistakes.
19. 7. If you address to7. If you address to aa
big cheesebig cheese, you, you
shouldshould
a) speak to him as if
he is a VIP.
b) ask him what sort
of cheese he likes.
c) advice the person
to do sport in order
to lose weight.
20. 8. I was feeling
under the weather,
so
a) I took my
umbrella with.
b) next time I
should listen to
weather forecast.
c) I went back to
bed.
21. 9. If someone is pulling my leg it means that
a) he's massaging it.
b) we are doing gymnastics.
c) he's joking.
