100 IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

1. A BLESSING IN DISGUISE
- A good thing that seemed bad at first
EXAMPLE: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.

2. A PICTURE IS WPRTH A THOUSAND WORDS

- A picture tells a story just as well as, if not better than, a written
words.
EXAMPLE: Please could you scetch out a floorpan? A picture is worth a
thousand words.

3. A PIECE OF CAKE
- Really easy
EXAMPLE: That exam is really easy

4. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

- What someone actually does means more than what they say they will
do
EXAMPLE: I’m going to wait for him to show me he loves me because
actions speak louder than words.

5. ADD INSULT TO INJURY

- To act in a way that makes a bad situation worse.
EXAMPLE: I was late and, to add insult to injury, I forgot my keys.

6. AS CHEAP AS CHIPS
- Really cheap
EXAMPLE: Don’t worry about paying me back they were as ceap as chips.
7. BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE
 - To be wrong about the way to achieve something or the reason for
something
EXAMPLE: I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. Rather than reading the
textbook cover to cover, you should try the SQRRR method.

8. BEAT AROUND THE BUSH

- Avoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable
EXAMPLE: I’m not going to beat around the bush, I hate your boyfriend.

9. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

- It is better to arrive or do something later than expected than to not
arrive or not do semething at all
EXAMPLE: Wow! She fnally turned up! Better late than never!

10.BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW

- To try to do something that is too difficult or too much for you
EXAMPLE: I have bitten off more than I can chew with this 100 idioms video.

11.BITE THE BULLET

- To force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to be
brave in a difficult situation
EXAMPLE: I’m going to bite the bullet and quit my job.

12.BREAK A LEG
- Good luck
EXAMPLE: Break a leg! You’re an amazing actor!

13.BREAK THE ICE

- To make people who have not met each other before feel more related
and comfortable
EXAMPLE: I’ve organized a fun game to help us all break the ice!
 14.TO CALL IT A DAY
- To stop what you are doing because you think you have done enough
or do not want to do anymore
EXAMPLE: I’m exhausted I think I’m going to call it a day!

15.COST AN ARM AND A LEG

- To be very expensive
EXAMPLE: That coat looks like it cost you an arm and a leg.

16.CUT CORNERS
- To do something in the fastest, easiest or cheapest way
EXAMPLE: This report is of poor quality, I think the author may have cut some
corners.

17.CUT SOMEBODY SOME SLACK

- To give someone additional freedom
EXAMPLE: Because it was the last day of class, the teachers cut the students
some slack.

18.DON’T GIVE UP UP YOUR DAY JOB

- Used for telling somebody that you don’t think they’re very good at
something
EXAMPLE: Your drum solo was very entertaining, but don’t give up the day
job!

19.PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

- To depend for success on a single person or plan
EXAMPLE: I’m applying for several jobs because I don’t want to put all of my
eggs in one basket.
 20.EASY DOES IT
- Used to tell someone to do something carefully and slowly
EXAMPLE: Easy does it! Don’t spill the paint!

21.EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

- Every negative has a positive
EXAMPLE: Every cloud has a silver lining after being made redundant I fond
my dream job!

22. GET A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE

- Get treated the way you’ve been treating other people
EXAMPLE: The nasty prison warden got a taste of his own medicine after being
thrown in jail.

23. TO GET OUT OF HAND

- To become a difficult to control
EXAMPLE: Over Christmas our spending got a little out of hand.

24. TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM

- To get rid of a wish or emotion, especially a negative one, by allowing
yourself to express it
EXAMPLE: I went and bought that dress I was thinking about all day I had to
get it out of my system!

25. TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER

- To start to organize yourself so that you do things in an effective way
EXAMPLE: My desk is a complete mess. I need to get my act together.
26. TO GIVE SOMEONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
- To decide that you will believe someone, even if you are not sure that
what they’re saying is true
EXAMPLE: She said she was late because her train was cancelled, and we gave
her the benefit of the doubt.

27.TO GIVE SOMEONE THE COLD SHOULDER

- To ignore someone
EXAMPLE: I think Sally is giving me the cold shoulder!

28. TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

- To start planning something agin because the first plan failed
EXAMPLE: Well that didn’t work! Let’s go back to the drawing board.

29. GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT

- Be patient
EXAMPLE: Stop rushing me! Good things come from to those who wait.

30. HANG IN THERE

- Said as a way to tell people to not give up hope, even through
difficulties
EXAMPLE: Final exams are tough, but hang in there and it’ll be ok.

31.TO HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

- To get something exactly right
EXAMPLE: You’ve hit the nail on the head that is the route we should have
taken!

32. TO HIT THE SACK

- To go to bed
EXAMPLE: I’m tired, Do you mind if I hit the sack?

33.IGNORANCE IS BLISS
- You’re better off not knowing
EXAMPLE: I could ask my boss if she’s planning to fire me, but ignorance is
bliss.

34. IN A NUT SHELL

- In the fewest possible words
EXAMPLE: In a nutshell, everything went wrong.

35. IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE

- You’re just bad as I am
EXAMPLE: You’re such a gossip! It takes one to know one!

36.IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE

- Used to say that you don’t think something is very difficult or hard to
understand
EXAMPLE: I don’t understand how you can’t work out how to use washing
machine! It’s not rocket science!

37.TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON

- To join an activity, trend or opinion that has become popular
EXAMPLE: I’ve jumped on the bandwagon and downloaded Fortnight.

38.TO KEE ONE’S CHIN UP

- To keep one’s spirit high
EXAMPLE: I’m trying to keep my chin up after receiving that rejection letter.

39.TO KILL TWO BIRD WITH ONE STONE

- Get two things done with single action
EXAMPLE: We could kill two birds with one stone by stopping off at the
bakery on the way from the butcher’s.

40. TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED

- Try every possible course of action in order to get something done
EXAMPLE: He left no stone unturned in his search for his natural mother.

41. TO LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE

- To leave a situation as it is, in order to not make it worse.
EXAMPLE: I think we should let sleeping dogs lie and avoid confronting her
about her issues.

42. TO LET SOMEONE OFF THE HOOK

- To allow (someone who has been caught doing something wrong or illegal) to
go unpunished
EXAMPLE: This is the third time you’ve been caught speeding and I don’t
think they’re going to let you off the hook.

43. TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG

- To reveal a secret
EXAMPLE: Don’t let the cat out of the bag because the party is a surprise!

44. TO MAKE THE LONG STORY SHORT

- Used to indicate that you are providing just basic facts and information in
order to reduce the length of a story
EXAMPLE: To make a long story short, I cancelled the party because of
financial problems.
45. TO MISS THE BOAT
- To be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity
EXAMPLE: I waited too long for the house prices to drop and I missed the
boat.

46. NECK OF THE WOODS

- The area where someone comes from, or the area where you are
EXAMPLE: I’m surprised to see you in this neck of the woods.

47. NO PAIN, NO GAIN

- Suffering is necessary in order to achieve something.
EXAMPLE: I’ve been going to the gym twice a day and my muscles ache but
no pain no gain!

48. NOT ONE’S CUP OF A TEA

- Someone doesn’t like or isn’t interested in something
EXAMPLE: I’m sorry but line-dancing really isn’t my cup of tea.

49. OFF THE TOP OF ONE’S HEAD

- From memory, without a lot of thought or condsideration
EXAMPLE: Off the top of my head, I think she’s been engaged 5 times.

50. ON THE BALL

-Alert to new ideas, methods, and trends
EXAMPLE: I like hanging out with younger people it keeps me on the ball.

51. ON THIN ICE

- On probation. If you make another mistake, there will be trouble
EXAMPLE: I’m on thin ice after my behaviour at the office party.

52. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

- Rarely, very frequently
EXAMPLE: I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon, but when I do go I
really enjoy it.
53. OUT OF SOMEONE’S LEAGUE
- Too good or expensive for someone to have.
EXAMPLE: My crush is completely out of my league.

54. TO PLAY DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

- To argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument
EXAMPLE: I don’t want to play devil’ advocate but you really going out
dressed like that?

55. TO PLAY SOMETHING BY EAR

- To plan something in an improvised way, deciding what to do as the plan
develops
EXAMPLE: Instead of booking a table this weekend shall we just play it by
ear?

56. TO PULL SOMEONE’S LEG

- To playfully deceive someone
EXAMPLE: Are you actually leaving your job or a you pulling my leg?

57. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER

- Recover control of your emotions
EXAMPLE: I need to pull myself together and stop crying!

58. TO RAIN ON SOMEONE’S PARADE

- To spoil something
EXAMPLE: I don’t want to rain on your parade but I think you’ve made a huge
mistake in your thesis.
59. TO ROCK THE BOAT
- To do or say something that could cause a problem or disturbance
EXAMPLE: The team is getting on really well at the moment so let’s not rock
the boat.

60. TO SAVE SOMETHING FOR RAINY DAY

- To save something for when you need it
EXAMPLE: I think you should save that bonus for a rainy day.

61. TO SE EYE TO EYE

- To agree
EXAMPLE: I really don’t see eye to eye with my grandma.

62. TO SHED LIGHT ON SOMETHING

- To reveal information about or to clarify something
EXAMPLE: Please could you shed some light on your abesence yesterday?

63. TO SIT ON THE FENCE

- To avoid making a decision or choice
EXAMPLE: I am sitting on the fence, I really can’t choose between these 2
adorable puppies.

64. TO SIT TIGHT

- Refrain from taking action or changing one’s mind
EXAMPLE: The estate agent advised us to sit tight and neither buy nor sell.

65. TO SMELL A RAT

- To begin to suspect trickery or deception
EXAMPLE: When she passed away, investigators were called in and soon smelt
a rat.

66. SO FAR SO GOOD

- Used to say that something is progressing well with no problems up to the
present.
EXAMPLE: How is the new job? So far so good!

67. SOMEONE WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD

- Someone dislikes something very much
EXAMPLE: I wouldn’t be caught dead in a dress like that.

68. SOMEONE’S HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE

- Someone only has good intentions
EXAMPLE: He is very strict with his students, but his heart is in the right place.

69. SOMEONE’S JAW DROPPED

- Someone is very surprised
EXAMPLE: When I saw him in his suit, my jaw dropped!

70. SOMEONE’S PRIDE AND JOY

- A person or thing that gives someone a lot of satisfaction and happiness
EXAMPLE: Her vegetable garden is her pride and joy!

71. SOMEONE’S TRUE COLORS

- The kind of person someone really is rather than what they appear be
EXAMPLE: I thought he was really nice, but then he was rude to the waiter and
showed his true colors.
72. SOMETHING RINGS A BELL
- Something is familiar or that you’ve heard something before
EXAMPLE: I don’t know him personally, but the name rings the bell.

73. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL

- Said when a person appears just after being mentioned
EXAMPLE: Stephanie is so mean. Speak of the devil she’s just liked my
instagram post.

74. TO SPILL THE BEANS

- Give away a secret
EXAMPLE: Go on, spill the beans! I need to know how your date went!

75. TO STEAL SOMEONE’S THUNDER

- To take attention or praise away from someone else’s accomplishments by
outdoing them your own
EXAMPLE: She stole my thunder when she announced her pregnancy at my
wedding!

76. TO STICK TO ONE’S GUNS

- To refuse to change your opinions or beliefs about something
EXAMPLE: You need to stick to your guns and stop listening to what he says!

77. TO TAKE SOMETHING WITH PINCH\GRAIN OF SALT

- To not take something too seriously
EXAMPLE: I think you need to take anything that Martin says with a pinch of
salt.
78. TO TAKE THE MICKEY
- To make fun of
EXAMPLE: Are you taking the mickey of my mum?

79. THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT

- It’s your decision
EXAMPLE: The ball is in your court regarding to the location of the next event.

80. THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

- A situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two different things
EXAMPLE: She works in the city but lives in the countryside, so she can enjoy
best of both worlds.

81. THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD

- A really great invention
EXAMPLE: This spork is the best thing since sliced bread!

82. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

- It looks good from afar, but when you look more closely, there are problems
EXAMPLE: The illustrations looked fine at first glance, but the devil is in the
details!

83. THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

- The people who arrive first will get the best stuff
EXAMPLE: Let’s head to the sales at 6am the early bird gets the worm!

84. THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

- The big issue, the problem that people are avoiding
EXAMPLE: I think we should address the elephant in the room your hideous
shoes.

85. THE LAST STRAW

- The last in a series of unpleasant events that makes you feel like you can’t
continue
EXAMPLE: She’s always been rude to me, but it was the last straw when she
started insulting my mother.

86. THERE ARE PLENTY MORE FISH IN THE SEA

- It’s ok to miss the opportunity because others will arise
EXAMPLE: Just forget about him there are plenty more fish in the sea!

87. THERE’S METHOD TO SOMEONE’S MADNESS

- Someone appears crazy but actually they have plan
EXAMPLE: My bedroom seems messy but there is method to my madness!

88. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH

- Nothing is entirely free
EXAMPLE: I wonder what he wants from me? There’s no such thing as a free
lunch!

89. THROUGH THICK AND THIN

- under all circumstances ,no matter how difficult
EXAMPLE: He stuck with her through think and thin.

90. TO THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND

- take a risk
EXAMPLE: I think you should throw caution to the wind and go on that date!
91. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE
- With the result that a bad situation is made worse
EXAMPLE: She accidentally sent a romantic message to her family whatsapp
group, and to make matters worse it included a picture.

92. TO TWIST SOMEONE’S ARM

- To convince someone to do what you want
EXAMPLE: I didn’t want to go out tonight, but Felicity twisted my arm!

93. UNDER THE WEATHER

- Slightly unwell or in law spirits
EXAMPLE: I don’t think I’ll come tonight because I’m feeling a bit under the
weather.

94. UP IN THE AIR

- Still to be settled; unresolved
EXAMPLE: To fate of our house purchase is still up in the air!

95. WE’LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE COME TO IT

- An expression that means you will not worry about a possible future problem
but will deal with it if it happens
EXAMPLE: Don’t worry about the car breaking down we’ll cross that bridge
when we come to it.

96. TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND SOMETHING

- To find a way to understand or accept
EXAMPLE: I still can’t wrap my head around why she would do that!
97. YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN
- Used to express emphatic agreement
EXAMPLE: The weather has been terrible, You can say that again!

98. YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO

- You can’t have everything
EXAMPLE: You need to choose between the two options you can’t have your
cake and eat it too!

99. YOU CAN’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

- Don’t judge what’s on the outside
EXAMPLE: She may look scruffy but don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

100. YOU LIVE AND YOU LEARN

- You learn from your mistakes
EXAMPLES: I know I failed the interview but you live and learn.
PERFORMANCE
TASK
IN

CREATIVE
NON-FICTION
SUBMITTED BY: ROSEANNE LEA ALFONSA

SUBMITTED TO: MRS. CARMELA DAWN CALA OR