![]() ![]() ![]() Wow, you’ve already finished your assignments? They aren’t due until next week. If you’re on the ball, it means that you’re very quick to understand things or react quickly (and correctly) to a situation. Our plans for this weekend are up in the air until Jen tells us when she gets off of work. It’s as though a ball has been tossed upward, and no one knows exactly where it will land. If someone tells you that things are up in the air, it means that a situation is uncertain or unsure. These include the words up, on and over, as you’ll see in the idioms below. Prepositions are words that indicate where one thing is in relation to another. We don’t have much time here, so I’m going to cut to the chase.įall Head Over Heels for These 30 English Idioms About LoveĬheck out these 30 English idioms about love to learn some new expressions that native speakers use all of the time! These English sayings cover ideas about relationships… English Idioms with Common Prepositions Be careful how you use this idiom it could be rude or disrespectful if used with someone like a boss or teacher. When somebody tells you to cut to the chase, it means that you’ve been talking too long and you need to get to the point. If my mom gets mad, she’ll usually go on a run to blow off some steam. If you’re experiencing some strong feelings and need to calm down, you can blow off steam by doing something to get rid of the stress. That name rings a bell, but I can’t quite remember where I know her from. When someone says something that you may have heard before, but don’t remember entirely, you can use this phrase to let them know it’s familiar but you may need a reminder. You failed because you didn’t study, so you need to take the class again next semester. If someone tells you to face the music, they want you to deal with the reality of a situation and accept all the consequences. I quit smoking cold turkey and never felt the need to go back. A person who suddenly quits something addictive can suffer from pale skin and goosebumps, making them look like a cold, uncooked turkey. To go cold turkey means to suddenly stop a (usually dangerous) behavior, such as drinking alcohol. Let’s all pitch in a few dollars so we can buy Sally a really good present for her birthday. Figuratively speaking, it means to contribute (give) or to join in. This phrase may once have had a literal meaning to do with farm work (think pitchfork), but it isn’t used that way now. If a person tells you to sit tight, what they really want you to do is wait patiently. This does not mean you sit down and hold your body as tightly as you can. She used to be the best hairstylist in town, but she’s really losing her touch. To lose your touch actually means to lose a skill you once had. No, this doesn’t mean you’ve lost your physical sense of touch. I can’t believe she would cheat and stab me in the back like this! I really trusted her. What this actually means is to hurt someone who trusted you by betraying them. While it still hurts, the idiomatic meaning of this phrase is not nearly as painful as literally being stabbed. I wasn’t going to go to the party, but my friends twisted my arm and got me to go. To twist someone’s arm would be rather painful if you took it literally, but it really means they’ve been convinced to do something they wouldn’t have done otherwise. It’s time for me to hit the sack. I’m so tired. ![]() The literal meaning of this would be physically hitting or beating a sack (a large bag), but idiomatically, it means you’re going to bed. Sorry, but I can’t watch the game with you tonight. Literally, hit the books means to physically hit your reading books, but this phrase is actually used to say that you’re going to study. (Download) English Idioms with Common Verbs This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬlick here to get a copy. English Idioms with Common Prepositions.Read on to learn 103 English idioms you can use in conversation to sound more fluent! Idioms are super common, so you need to understand them to understand English. Have you ever heard an English phrase that didn’t make sense even though you understood all the words? It was probably an idiom: a phrase that doesn’t translate literally. Ap103 English Idioms You Should Know to Sound Fluent ![]()
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