Download Common Idioms List and more Lecture notes Nationality law in PDF only on Docsity!
Common Idioms List
Trọn bộ tài liệu IELTS 0 - 7.5+: https://bit.ly/tuhocieltsonline
Set 1
Common Idioms Definitions It cost me an arm and a leg to take my trip to Australia. Very expensive I was over the moon when he asked me to marry him. Extremely pleased or happy You are taking your IELTS test next week?? Aren’t you jumping the gun. You’ve only just started studying. Doing or starting something too early He comes round to see me once in a blue moon. Happening very rarely He’s got a chip on his shoulder. Feeling inferior or having a grievance about something I reckon getting a band 7 in IELTS will be a piece of cake! I’m very good at English. Very easy
The money sent by comic relief to help poverty in Africa is just a drop in the ocean. They need far more than this. A very small part of something much bigger Getting a low score the first time I took IELTS was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to study extremely hard so I got a much better score the next time. Something positive that isn’t recognized until later We have to actually do something about global warming. Actions speak louder than words. It’s better to actually do something rather than just talking about it I bumped into Jenny in town the other day. It's a small world. Meeting someone you would not have expected to
Set 2
Trọn bộ tài liệu IELTS 0 - 7.5+: https://bit.ly/tuhocieltsonline Common Idioms Definitions Oh well, I got 5.5 in IELTS again. Back to the drawing board! When an attempt to do something fails and it's time to start all over again using different methods I hate my job so much I can’t bare going to work, but if I quit I don’t think I can get another job. I’m really stuck / Having two very bad choices. (note: stuck/caught can be omitted)
My mother will always go the extra mile to help people. Doing much more than is required when doing something
Set 3
Trọn bộ tài liệu IELTS 0 - 7.5+: https://bit.ly/tuhocieltsonline Common Idioms Definitions I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. That’s the reason he didn’t get the job. Say exactly the right thing Today’s going so badly. If it’s not one thing, it’s the other. When everything seems to be going wrong I just said it in the heat of the moment. I was angry. I know I shouldn’t have. Saying or doing something suddenly without thinking about it Keep an eye on him. I think he may cheat in the exam. Watch someone or something carefully Have you heard? John down the road has kicked the bucket. Died I don’t want to argue with him again. It’s better to let sleeping dogs lie. Avoid a conflict
I told him what gift you have bought him for his birthday. Sorry, I didn’t mean to let the cat out of the bag. Tell someone something that you were not supposed to Don’t tell her what you really think of her if she’s helping you with your English! Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Hurt or upset someone who is helping you I’m not sure which party he is going to vote for. He’s sitting on the fence. Not making a firm decision between different choices Everything she does is very over the top. She can’t just have a few drinks – se has to get really drunk. Excessive
Set 4
Trọn bộ tài liệu IELTS 0 - 7.5+: https://bit.ly/tuhocieltsonline Common Idioms Definitions Let’s keep studying for IELTS. Practice makes perfect. Continuously doing something to improve Don’t get upset about what he said. He’s just pulling your leg. Joking around Sorry but I think I’ll take a rain check on that. To decline an offer that you will take up later
We've had some big disagreements over the years, but it’s all water under the bridge now. We get on fine. Things from the past that are not important anymore You are what you eat so it’s better to have a healthy diet. If you eat bad food, you’ll be unhealthy, if you eat good food, you’ll be healthy You can’t judge a book by its cover. I need to get to know him before I decide what he is like. The belief that outside appearances do not reveal what someone or something is really like We're really working against the clock now. We must hurry. Not having enough time to do something Why are we bothering? We're flogging a dead horse. Our online business is making no money, so we should move on and do something else. Attempting to continue with something that is finished / over I bent over backwards to help him. I hope he appreciates it. Doing all you can to help someone So you have the IELTS test today?? Break a leg. Good luck Ok, I'm playing devil's advocate here, but if marijuana is legalized, isn't it more likely young people will smoke it? To put forward a side in an argument that may not be your own in order to show the
counter-argument / ensure all sides are discussed Common Idioms Definitions We've had some big disagreements over the years, but it’s all water under the bridge now. We get on fine. Things from the past that are not important anymore You are what you eat so it’s better to have a healthy diet. If you eat bad food, you’ll be unhealthy, if you eat good food, you’ll be healthy You can’t judge a book by its cover. I need to get to know him before I decide what he is like. The belief that outside appearances do not reveal what someone or something is really like We're really working against the clock now. We must hurry. Not having enough time to do something Why are we bothering? We're flogging a dead horse. Our online business is making no money, so we should move on and do something else. Attempting to continue with something that is finished / over I bent over backwards to help him. I hope he appreciates it. Doing all you can to help someone So you have the IELTS test today?? Break a leg. Good luck
Example: I’m not sure what I will end up doing with my life. I can’t decide on a career path.
- Figure out: to learn the details of something, or discover how it works. Example: I figured out how to fix the television.
- Make do with: accept something less satisfactory because there’s no alternative Example: Examiner: Can you tell me something memorable about one of your recent outings? Candidate: Sure! My friends and I went to a friend’s house last week. Things were great, except that there was no coffee, so we had to make do with tea.
- Goof off: to waste time or avoid work Example: I used to spend most of the school days goofing off with her friends.
- Make of: understand or have an opinion Example: I’m not sure what to make of this question. Could you rephrase it for me?
- Worn out: exhaust/ tire Example: I’m usually worn out by the end of the week because I’m studying for IELTS and working as well.
- Clam up: say nothing usually because you are embarrassed or nervous Example: I clammed up when she asked me to answer the question.
- Work out: calculate Example: I need to work out whether I can afford to study abroad.
- Catch up: to try to reach the same standard, stage, or level as others after you have fallen behind them (like you’re chasing someone, or with your studies)
Example: I fell behind after 1 week off from school and had to catch up.
- Carry on: continue Example: I’m going to carry on studying IELTS till I get the score I need – I’m not giving up!
- Come across: To meet or find (something or someone) by chance. Example: On the halfway back home, I came across Tom, what a coincidence!
- Read up on: to study or learn by reading Example: Before setting out to travel around the world, I read up on all the places I planned to visit.
- Sort out: to find a solution to (a problem, etc), esp to make clear or tidy. Example: It took a long time to sort out the mess.
- Zone out: fall asleep or lose concentration or consciousness. Example: I just zoned out for a moment after such a long drive.
- Put up with: endure Example: After graduating, I had to put up with many months of unpaid work before finally being given a permanent contract.
- Come up with: to think of, develop, or find something Example: They’ve tried their best to come up with a feasible solution to air pollution.
- Look back on: Think about something that happened in the past Example: When I look back on my childhood, I’m amazed by the crazy things we used to do
- Call off: to stop or cancel Example: They called off the football match because of the weather forecast.
