Idioms in English

One of the hardest things I have found while traveling with my limited knowledge of French and Spanish has been encountering unfamiliar idioms.  They can be a big stumbling block to comprehension and conversation, even as vocabulary grows.

Here is a website with quite a few English Idioms.


http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms

It might be worth having the Project tackle a list of 25 or so each week, that the students can write in their journals or keep a handout, etc., and practice for periodic quizzes.  (I suggest this because it would be yet another metric we can use to justify grants.)


Doug Witkins


HERE IS A SAMPLE of what the website has:


177 Idioms Beginning With 'A'

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

~ A ~

A bit much

If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.

A bridge too far

A bridge too far is an act of overreaching- going too far and getting into trouble or failing.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link

This means that processes, organisations, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them.

A day late and a dollar short

(USA) If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.

A fool and his money are soon parted

This idiom means that people who aren't careful with their money spend it quickly. 'A fool and his money are easily parted' is an alternative form of the idiom.

A fool at 40 is a fool forever

If someone hasn't matured by the time they reach forty, they never will.

A fresh pair of eyes

A person who is brought in to examine something carefully is a fresh pair of eyes.

A hitch in your giddy-up

If you have a hitch in your giddy-up, you're not feeling well. ('A hitch in your gittie-up' is also used.)

A lick and a promise

If you give something a lick and a promise, you do it hurriedly, most often incompletely, intending to return to it later.

A List

Prominent and influential people who comprise the most desirable guests at a social function or gathering.

A little bird told me

If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.

A little learning is a dangerous thing

A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.eg. he said he'd done a course on home electrics, but when he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is a dangerous thing

A long row to hoe

Something that is a long row to hoe is a difficult task that takes a long time.

A lost ball in the high weeds

A lost ball in the high weeds is someone who does not know what they are doing, where they are or how to do something.

A month of Sundays

A month of Sundays is a long period of time: I haven't seen her in a month of Sundays.

A OK

If things are A OK, they are absolutely fine.

A penny for your thoughts

This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about.

A penny saved is a penny earned

This means that we shouldn't spend or waste money, but try to save it.

A picture is worth a thousand words

A picture can often get a message across much better than the best verbal description.

A poor man's something

Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor man's version; a writer who uses lots of puns but isn't very funny would be a poor man's Oscar Wilde.

A pretty penny

If something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive.

A problem shared is a problem halved

If you talk about your problems, it will make you feel better.