Figurative Language

Everyday idioms

Idioms are phrases whose meaning is different from the meaning of their words.

1 Observe

Read each phrase. Does it mean exactly what the words say?

A piece of cake Something very easy to do.
Break the ice Say or do something to make strangers feel relaxed.
Once in a blue moon Very rarely.
Under the weather Feeling a little unwell.

2 Discover

These are idioms. You cannot work out what they mean from each word. Nobody eats cake when a test is a piece of cake! You learn an idiom as one whole phrase, just like a new word.

In the Gerund course: Unit 13 Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

3 Apply

Aarav finished the maths worksheet in five minutes. 'That was ____!' he said.

Meera lives in Chennai and visits her cousins in Jaipur only ____, about once in three years.

On the first day at a new school, Kabir told a funny story to ____ with his classmates.

4 Create

Pick one idiom from this lesson and use it in a sentence about your day.

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Example: Diya was under the weather, so Rohan explained the science homework to her.

5 Explore

Open the idiom cards. Find one you hear often and one that is new to you.

A blessing in disguiseSomething that seems bad at first but turns out well.Idiom A piece of cakeSomething very easy to do.Idiom A storm in a teacupA lot of fuss about something unimportant.IdiomAges 15–20 Add fuel to the fireMake a bad situation or argument worse.Idiom Back to square oneBack to the start after a plan fails.Idiom Beat around the bushAvoid saying the main point directly.Idiom Bite off more than you can chewTry to do more than you can manage.Idiom Bite the bulletMake yourself do something hard or unpleasant you have been avoiding.Idiom Break the iceSay or do something to make strangers feel relaxed.Idiom Burn the midnight oilWork or study late into the night.Idiom Call it a dayStop working for now.Idiom Cost an arm and a legBe very expensive.Idiom Cut cornersDo something cheaply or quickly by skipping important steps.Idiom Easier said than doneSimple to suggest but hard to actually do.Idiom Get cold feetSuddenly feel too nervous to do something you had planned.Idiom Get the hang of itLearn how to do something with practice.Idiom Go the extra mileMake more effort than is expected.Idiom Hit the booksStart studying hard.Idiom Hit the ground runningStart something new quickly and with energy.IdiomAges 15–20 Hit the nail on the headSay something exactly right; describe a situation precisely.Idiom In a nutshellIn a few words; briefly.Idiom In hot waterIn trouble.Idiom Keep an eye onWatch or look after something or someone.Idiom Learn the ropesLearn the basics of a new job or activity.Idiom Let the cat out of the bagAccidentally tell a secret.Idiom No use crying over spilt milkDon't waste time being upset about something that can't be changed.Idiom On the same pageAgreeing or understanding things the same way.Idiom Once in a blue moonVery rarely.Idiom Over the moonExtremely happy.Idiom Play it by earDecide what to do as things happen, without a fixed plan.Idiom Pull someone's legJoke with someone by telling them something untrue.Idiom Ring a bellSound familiar.Idiom See eye to eyeAgree with someone.Idiom Sit on the fenceAvoid choosing a side.Idiom Spill the beansReveal secret information.Idiom Take something with a pinch of saltNot fully believe something; be a little doubtful.Idiom The ball is in your courtIt is now your turn to decide or act.Idiom The tip of the icebergA small, visible part of a much bigger problem.Idiom Think outside the boxThink in new, creative ways.Idiom Touch baseBriefly contact someone to check on something.IdiomAges 15–20 Under the weatherFeeling slightly unwell.Idiom Up in the airNot yet decided; uncertain.Idiom Wrap your head aroundUnderstand something difficult or surprising.Idiom