Common Idioms List

Set 1

Common Idioms Definitions

It cost me an arm and a leg to take my trip to Very expensive

Australia.

I was over the moon when he asked me to Extremely pleased or happy

marry him.

You are taking your IELTS test next week?? Doing or starting something too early
Arent you jumping the gun. Youve only just
started studying.

He comes round to see me once in a blue Happening very rarely

moon.

Hes got a chip on his shoulder. Feeling inferior or having a grievance

about something

I reckon getting a band 7 in IELTS will be Very easy

a piece of cake! Im very good at English.

The money sent by comic relief to help poverty A very small part of something much
in Africa is just a drop in the ocean. They bigger
need far more than this.

Getting a low score the first time I took IELTS Something positive that isnt
was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to recognized until later
study extremely hard so I got a much better
score the next time.

We have to actually do something about global Its better to actually do something

warming. Actions speak louder than words. rather than just talking about it

I bumped into Jenny in town the other day. It's Meeting someone you would not
a small world. have expected to

Idioms Practice - Test yourself on these first 10 phrases

Set 2
Common Idioms Definitions

Oh well, I got 5.5 in IELTS again. Back to the When an attempt to do something
drawing board! fails and it's time to start all over
again using different methods

I hate my job so much I cant bare going to Having two very bad choices.
work, but if I quit I dont think I can get another
job. Im really stuck / caught between a rock (note: stuck/caught can be omitted)
and a hard place.

I have to bite my tongue so I dont say what I Wanting to say something but
really think of him! stopping yourself.

Come on, cut to the chase. We havent got all Leave out all the unnecessary details
day! and just get to the point

Are you putting all of your savings into that Putting all of ones resources into one
company? Dont put all your eggs in one possibility
basket.

Try not to worry about it. Every cloud has a Believing that every bad situation
silver lining. has a positive side / eventually leads
to something good

It was difficult when I moved to another To become comfortable in what you

country but I eventually found my feet. are doing

My parents are very fixed in their ways. They Not wanting to change from the
wont start using the internet. normal ways of doing things

I think he got up on the wrong side of the To refer to someone who is having a
bed this morning. He is in a terrible mood. bad day

My mother will always go the extra mile to Doing much more than is required
help people. when doing something

Go to the Idiom practice exercise for these 10 words

Set 3
Common Idioms Definitions

I think youve hit the nail on the head. Thats Say exactly the right thing
the reason he didnt get the job.

Todays going so badly. If its not one thing, When everything seems to be going
its the other. wrong

I just said it in the heat of the moment. I was Saying or doing something suddenly
angry. I know I shouldnt have. without thinking about it

Keep an eye on him. I think he may cheat in Watch someone or something

the exam. carefully

Have you heard? John down the road Died

has kicked the bucket.

I dont want to argue with him again. Its better Avoid a conflict
to let sleeping dogs lie.

I told him what gift you have bought him for his Tell someone something that you
birthday. Sorry, I didnt mean to let the cat out were not supposed to
of the bag.

Dont tell her what you really think of her if Hurt or upset someone who is
shes helping you with your English! Dont bite helping you
the hand that feeds you.

Im not sure which party he is going to vote for. Not making a firm decision between
Hes sitting on the fence. different choices

Everything she does is very over the top. She Excessive

cant just have a few drinks se has to get
really drunk.

View these 10 idioms in use and practice them

Set 4

Common Idioms Definitions

Lets keep studying for IELTS. Practice makes Continuously doing something to
perfect. improve

Dont get upset about what he said. Hes Joking around

just pulling your leg.

Sorry but I think Ill take a rain checkon that. To decline an offer that you will take
up later

As a rule of thumb, I dont study at weekends. Principal that is strictly adhered /

I spend the time with my family. kept to

I can smell a rat. He said he has a PhD but he To sense that something is not right
cant even remember which university he
studied at.

Shes the spitting image of her mother. To look exactly like someone else

The ball's in your court now. What are you Telling someone it's now their turn to
going to do? make a decision

Unfortunately I think hell be studying for For a very long time

IELTS until the cows come home. His
English is very poor.

It was all tongue-in-cheek. He didnt really Something said in humour rather

mean what he said. than seriously

Shes feeling under the weathertoday so she Unwell

wont be going to work.
Writing a narrative (story writing)

*Let's improve our writing by writing more in English.

From: *** <***>

To: nuha <nuhazyun@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 6:01 PM
Subject: Re:

Teacher, this is an essay done by me just now. Guided writing, PMR 2010

Last Friday, Rahim was on his way to school. He can hear the birds chirping along with cold fresh air
and it was a sunny day. Suddenly, Rahim bumped into a bag. He was suspicious. But he wasnt brave
enough to open it up. However, after a few minutes, Rahim finally have the courage to see whats
inside the bag.

To his surprise, the bag contained a lot of money! He looked around to see if it is someone's
belonging. Unfortunately, he can only see nobody. Rahim knew he was late for school. But at the
same time, he's eager to know the truth. He was determined to send the bag to the police station.

There, the policeman praised and thanked him for helping. The policeman said he will investigate
what's the money all about. He told Rahim to go back home and rest his mind. The policeman said he
will inform Rahim if there's any news.

Rahim continued his walk to school. It was 9 o'clock in the morning when he finally arrived at school.
The principal, Encik Ahmad asked him why he came late. Rahim explained everything very carefully
to the principal. Encik Ahmad didnt believe him. The principal was very angry and said it was all an
excuses made by Rahim to escape from getting any warning. He told Rahim to go back to his class
and meet him at the discipline room during recess.

At 10 o'clock, Rahim quickly went to the discipline's room. He was afraid but he need to face the
reality at the same time. As Rahim came into the principal's room, he saw a familiar face sitting
opposite the principal. It was the policeman he met at the police station earlier this morning. The
policeman said he explained everything to the principal, Encik Ahmad. Encik Ahmad understood
everything apologized to Rahim. The policeman informed Rahim that the money he found in the bag
has something to do with a robbery that happened few days ago. He thanked Rahim again for his
cooperation. Rahim was ecstatic that he helped a policeman.

Corrected essay:

Essay (words in red indicate corrections) Comments

A narrative / story
must be written in
past tense.

1
could is the past
tense for can
Last Friday, Rahim was on his way to school.
He can could1 hear the birds chirpingalong with in the cold 2
bumped into
fresh air and it was a sunny day. Suddenly, Rahim bumped
means crashed into
into2 saw a bag. He was suspicious. But he wasnt3 was
notbrave enough to open it up. However, after a few
minutes, Rahim finally have had the courage to
see whats what was inside the bag. saw = noticed /
caught a glimpse of

To his surprise, the bag contained a lot of money!

He looked around to see if it is wassomeone's belonging.
3
For exam purpose,
Unfortunately, he cancould only see nobody. Rahim knew he do not use
was late for school. But at the same time, he's he waseager contractions like
to know the truth. He was determined to send the bag to wasnt / Im / Its in
the police station. an essay except in
informal letters /
dialogues.
There At the police station, the policeman praised
and thanked him for helping. The policeman said
he will would4 investigatewhat's what was the money all
4
would is the past
about. He told Rahim to go back home and rest his mind. tense for will
The policeman said he will would inform Rahim
ifthere's there were any news.
5
maybe the word
 warning can be
replaced with
Rahim continued his walk to school. It was 9 o'clock
punishment
in the morning when he finally arrived at school. The
principal, Encik Ahmad asked him why he came late. Rahim
explained everything very carefully to the principal. Encik
Good expressions:
Ahmad didnt did not believe him. The principal was very
angry and said it was all an excuses made by Rahim to - suspicious
escape from getting any warning5. He told Rahim to go back
to his class and meet him at the discipline room during - determined
recess. - ecstatic

At 10 o'clock, Rahim quickly went to the

discipline's room. He was afraid but he needneeded to face
the reality at the same time. As Rahim came into the
principal's room, he saw a familiar face sitting opposite the
principal. It was the policeman he met at the police station
earlier this morning. The policeman said he had explained
everything to the principal, Encik Ahmad. Encik Ahmad
understood everything and apologized to Rahim. The
policeman informed Rahim that the money he found in the
bag hashad something to do with a robbery that happened
few days ago. He thanked Rahim again for his cooperation.
Rahim was ecstatic that hehad helped a policeman.

Band / Mark C-14

How to improve marks:

1. Do not mix present tense and past tense in your essay. A narrative essay should
be written mostly in past tense.

2. To make your essay outstanding, use more interesting expressions like idioms,
similes and bombastic words.

3. For examination purpose, do not use contractions like wasn't, it's, I'm and etc in
your essay. Spell in full - was not, I am, it is and etc. However, you may use
contractions in informal letters and dialogues.

All the best!

Picture source: http://www.themindofgame.com