Idioms

Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that are either grammatically unusual, as in, “Long time, no see!”, or their meaning cannot be taken literally, as in, “It’s raining cats and dogs!” This expression does not mean that cats and dogs are falling from the sky, but it is a metaphorical […]


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Make A Note Of

Write down as to remember; or, remember. For Example: I’ll make a note of the fact that the tires are low. Shakespeare used this term in a slightly different form in The Two Gentlemen of Verona(2:7): “Go with me to my chamber to take a note of what I stand […]


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Barking Up The Wrong Tree

This is an especially humorous English phrase because of the word “bark” being used in the same phrase with the word “tree.” While “bark” is a word for the outer layer of a tree, the “barking” here actually refers to the action of a dog barking. When a dog chases […]


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At The Drop Of A Hat

This is an English phrase that is used to say that only the slightest movement is necessary to start a process or activity. It is used to indicate that a person needs very little motivation to cause them to do something. For Example: “When I win the lottery I will […]


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Easy As Pie

This common phrase has basically the same meaning as the previous phrase. It refers to a task or activity being as easy to accomplish as enjoying a piece of pie. For Example: “Algebra is as easy as pie.”


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A Piece Of Cake

This is a common phrase that is used to say that a task is relatively easy. When someone is doing something that is as easy as enjoying <strong>a piece of cake</strong>, it is really easy. This is often used as a boastful exaggeration when a person is trying to make […]


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Hold Your Horses

This is a common phrase that is spoken to ask someone who is in a hurry to slow down or stop for a moment. It is a reference to a person driving a vehicle that is pulled by horses. “Holding” the horses means to stop the horses and wait. For […]


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Eyes Are Bigger Than Stomach

The phrase does not literally mean that a person’s eyes are actually bigger than the person’s stomach. It basically means that a person has ordered more food than they are actually able to reasonably eat. For Example: The phrase is common with children because they may often order more food […]


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Jumping Ship

It is usually used when talking about quitting a project or situation that seems too challenging to complete. For Example: It can be used when talking about a person: “He is jumping ship on the project.” This would basically mean the person is quitting the project. It can also be […]


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Steer Clear

This is a phrase that is conceptually related to driving a vehicle. The phrase is essentially saying to avoid a certain person, place, or thing. This is similar to avoiding obstacles when using the steering wheel while driving a car. For Example: The phrase can be used as a suggestion: […]


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On The Ball

Essentially means to stay attentive and focused on a task. This can be used in various ways. One example would be: “He is really on the ball since he started eating salad every day.” Another common way of using “<strong>On the ball</strong>” is to suggest that a person should “Stay […]


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News To Me

This is a relatively common English phrase used to state that something new and surprising has just been heard by a person speaking. For Example: Imagine a headline on a newspaper. The phrase is commonly stated in ways similar to this: “He moved to Hawaii?! It’s news to me!”


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Pedal To The Metal

This is a really intriguing English phrase that likely sounds rather ridiculous when it’s first heard. The phrase is actually based on driving an automobile. The concept is that of pushing the gas pedal in an automobile to the metal floor (under the carpet), causing the automobile to go as […]


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Leap Of Faith

This English phrase may sound rather daring and it likely should. It is usually used to refer to an act of bravery on some level. The act of bravery being spoken about may be relatively small. If so, then the phrase is used somewhat humorously. For Example: “He took a […]


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Like An Open Book

This is an English phrase that is used to describe a person who is very open and not hiding anything. It can be used to describe a person or something about a person. For instance: “He is like an open book.” Another possibility is: “His personal affairs are <strong>like an […]


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