Английские идиомы

Асхатовна

having a meaning that is not deducible from those of

the individual words. For example, ”to rain very heavily” -is an idiom; and ”over the moon”-which means ”extremely happy”-is another idiom . In both cases , you would have a hard time understanding the real meaning if you did not already know these idioms!

Idioms and idiomatic expressions in English

we cannot deduce the meaning of the idiom from the

individual words; and secondly, both the grammar and the vocabulary of the idiom are fixed, and if we change them we lose the meaning of the idiom. Thus the idiom ”pull your socks up” means ”improve the way you are behaving” (or it can have a literal meaning); if we change it grammatically to ”pull your sock up” or we change it’s vocabulary to ”pull your stocking up” , then we must interpret the phrase literally-it has lost it’s idiomatic meaning.

I have butterflies my stomach

I am nervous about something

I'm short-handed

I don't have enough people to help

He's bending over backwards for you

He is doing more than is necessary

the idiom ” kick the bucket”? Given that Internet users

have the option of searching for individual words with the search function, the approach we have taken is to list all idiom in strict alphabetical order, omitting the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the) and some pronouns if they occur at the beginning of the idiom. Thus, for example, the idiom ”kick the bucket” is indexed under K, while the idiom ”a ballpark figure” is indexed under B.

I'll have to sleep on it

I will thing about it and let you know tomorrow

This is where I draw the line

I will not do more (or tolerate more)

She has a green thumb

She is good at growing plants . She can grow plants.

Shakespeare. For example, ”at one fell swoop” comes from Macbeth

and ”cold comfort” from King John. Sometimes such idioms today have a meaning that has been altered from the original quotation.

Watch your mouth

Be careful what you say

Don't stretch the truth

Don't turn the truth into a lie

He must put his foot down

He must insist and say no

You really take the cake

You did a good job. You really win the prize

rather than another. For example, the idiom ”yellow journalism” originated

and is used in American English. Other idioms may be used in a slightly different form in different varieties of English. Thus the idiom ”A drop in the ocean” in British and Australian English becomes ”a drop in the bucket” in American English. However, in general, globalization and the effects of film, television and the Internet mean that there is less and less distinction between idioms of different varieties of English. In this reference me have tagged an idiom with one variety of English or another only when the idiom really is restricted to a particular variety of English or to indicate that the idiom originated in that particular variety of English.

He's blowing his own horn

He is bragging about himself. To boast or praise oneself.

Don't talk

Zip your lip

Entries
a piece of cake
If you say that something is a piece of cake, you mean that is it extremely easy.
another string to your bow
If you have another string to your bow, you have another way of making a living.
eat humble pie
If you eat humble pie, you admit that you are in the wrong and behave apologetically.
a new lease of live
If someone has a new lease of life, they have a new enthusiasm for living.
can't see the wood for the tress
If you can't see the wood for the trees, you can't see the whole situation clearly because you're looking too closely at small details, or because you're too closely involved.
a drop in the ocean
If an amount is a drop in the ocean, it's a very small portion of the amount that's needed.

Search Results

Your search retuned 0 categories and 20 entries

the boys" you're referring to the fact that people in

positions of power sometimes use their power to give jobs to their friends or family members.
a zebra crossing
A zebra crossing is a pedestrian crossing that is marked on the road with painted black and white stripes.
come up trumps
If you come up trumps, you succeed in something that you may not have been expected to succeed in.
itchy feet
If you have itchy feet, you feel the need to go somewhere different or do something different or do something different.
just the ticket
You can say something is just the ticket if it’s the perfect thing or if it’s exactly what’s needed.
off your own bat
If you do something off your own bat, you do it without being asked to or told to.
at a loose end
If you’re at a loose end, you have nothing to do.
come a cropper

make a mistake which has serious consequences for you.
go down

a treat
If something goes down a treat, it’s a great success and everyone enjoys it.
take the Mickey | Mick out of someone
If you’re taking the Mickey out of someone, or taking the Mick out of them, you’re making fun of them or copying their behavior for a laugh.
an axe to grind(2)
If you have an axe to grind, you have a strong opinion about something and you express this opinion whenever you can.
make a song and dance about something
If you make a song and dance about something, you make a big deal out of, or a fuss over, something that isn’t very important.
right up your street
If something is right up your street, it would be perfect for you or ideal for your skills and interests.
um and ah
If you ”um and ah” you’re having trouble deciding what to say, or you’re having trouble telling somebody something.

certain. They are more and more based on American English.

This development will continue through new mediums. It is hard to say what this will do to idioms and what kind of new idioms are created. This will be an interesting development to follow, and by no means does it lessen the humor, variety and color of English Language.