Mastering the Art of Idioms

Idioms add a touch of color and vibrancy to our language, making our expressions more engaging and expressive. They are like little puzzles, often with hidden meanings or origins that add depth and interest to our conversations. At The London Eye – English Consultant we always encourage our students explore this vast new world of vocabulary to expand the realms of their own knowledge.

Unshrouding Idioms

Idioms are expressions that have a figurative meaning, often unrelated to the literal meaning of the words themselves. For example, the idiom «raining cats and dogs» doesn’t literally mean that cats and dogs are falling from the sky; it means that it is raining heavily.

Idioms are often used in everyday conversation and can add a touch of humor or emphasis to our words. However, they can also be confusing for non-native speakers, as they don’t always follow the rules of grammar or logic.

To search for a specific idiom, you can click on the following link –> https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com

Exploring Idiom Origins

Many idioms have interesting origins that can add to their understanding. For instance, the idiom «spill the beans» is thought to have originated from Ancient Greece, where beans were used to vote in elections. If someone spilled the beans during an election, it meant that they had revealed the secret ballot.

Other idioms come from mythology or folklore, such as «a wolf in sheep’s clothing,» which refers to someone who is pretending to be friendly or harmless but is actually dangerous or untrustworthy.

Check more interesting origins here –> https://www.britannica.com/list/7-everyday-english-idioms-and-where-they-come-from

Incorporating Idioms into Your Language

The best way to learn idioms is to immerse yourself in them. Read books and articles that use idioms, listen to native or fluent speakers, and watch English-language movies and TV shows.

You can also try to incorporate idioms into your own conversations. Start with simple idioms that you understand and gradually work your way up to more complex ones. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; the more you use idioms, the more natural they will become.

Here are some activities to help you learn and use idioms:

• Create flashcards with idioms on one side and their meanings on the other. You can use the following site to do so –> https://quizlet.com
• Play idiom games, such as idiom bingo or idiom charades. Try it, it’s fun! –> https://myfreebingocards.com/bingo-card-generator/edit/d44c9u
• Substitute idioms into your writing or conversations.
• Read books or articles about idioms. Upon request, at The London Eye – English Consultant we give this kind of information to our students.

Idioms can add a new dimension to your English language skills and make you a more expressive and engaging communicator. So, embrace the challenge, learn some new idioms, and start using them in your daily life.

Here are some examples of popular English idioms and their meanings to start with: 

• Break a leg! – Good luck!
• Hit the nail on the head – To say or do something exactly right.
• Raining cats and dogs – To rain very heavily.
• A wolf in sheep’s clothing – Someone who is pretending to be friendly or harmless but is actually dangerous or untrustworthy.
• Spill the beans – To reveal a secret or confidential information.
• Have a green thumb – To be good at growing plants.
• Kick the bucket – To die.
• Get the hang of something – To understand how to do something.
• Be at your wit’s end – To be at a loss for what to do.
• Be in hot water – To be in trouble.
• Pull your socks up – To improve your behavior or performance.
• Get off your high horse – To stop acting superior.
• Take it with a grain of salt – To not take something too seriously.
• Bark up the wrong tree – To try to solve a problem using the wrong approach.
• Cost an arm and a leg – To be very expensive.
• Cut corners – To do something in a hurry or without attention to detail.
• A drop in the bucket – An insignificant amount compared to the whole.
• Easier said than done – Something that is much easier to talk about than to do.
• A penny for your thoughts – What are you thinking?
• A piece of cake – Something that is very easy to do.

As you learn more idioms, you’ll discover the rich tapestry of English language and its ability to express both the mundane and the extraordinary. So, have fun exploring the world of idioms and let your language skills blossom.