Idioms are phrases that carry a different meaning than the words that form them.
Please share your examples of idioms here:
Piece of cake - Something that is very easy.
a. If you know the material, the test will be a piece of cake.
b. Can you show me how to use this program? Sure, piece of cake.
On the house - free, paid for by the establishment.
a. Because the restaraunt is celebrating its anniversary, all drinks are on the house.
( to be paid) Under the table - discretely and without paperwork.
a. Because Maria is paid under the table, she does not pay taxes on her earnings.
Tie the knot - To get married.
a. After three years living together, Max and Anita finally decided to tie the knot.
Barking up the wrong tree -
A chip off the old block -
On cloud 9 - extemely happy
a. Maxwell was on cloud 9 after Maria kissed him for the first time.
Out of one's head
Play it by ear
Set in stone
Nailed down
Sooner or later
Fly by the seat of your pants
Make it happen
Laid off, lay off, layoffs
The ends justifies the means
Think on your feet - To think or respond quickly. a. A good manager has the ability to think on his feet and deal with unexpected situations.
Dragging his feet
Read my lips
It will pay for itself
Flea market
Class clown
Lose your temper/cool
A no brainer
Play devil’s advocate
Set the bar very/too high
The lion’s share
Red tape
Cold feet
Set (sth.) in motion
Look (sth.) up in the dictionary (see phrasal verbs)
Kick out/off
Release a statement
Shut (so.) up (see phrasal verbs) -
Take them to the cleaners -
Par for the course -
Plan on (doing something) -
Head (his/her/my) way -
Bully pulpit -
To take (sth.) with a grain of salt -