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if they say...

if they say...

Date: Sep 17 2007
Topic: Speaking

Author: Alexxx

Lesson

Idiom MeaningExample Sentence
all earsfully listeningGive me a minute to finish my work and then I'll be all ears to hear about your project.
break a leg good-luckToday's the big game, eh? Break a leg!
cold feetnervous just before a big eventMy sister didn't get cold feet until she put her wedding gown on.
cost an arm and a legbe very expensiveThese cakes are delicious, but they cost an arm and a leg.
cry your heart outcry very hardI cried my heart out when my best friend moved away.
face the musicmeet, stand up to unpleasant conseqences, for example criticism or punishment I stayed out all night. When I eventually got home I had to face the music from my wife.
(my) flesh and bloodrelativeI have to hire Mia. She's my own flesh and blood.
get something off one's chesttell someone your problemsThanks for listening to me complain about my boss. I just needed to get this off my chest.
give a hand, lend a handhelp (someone) do somethingI can give you a hand when you move if you like.
have one's head in the cloudsbe unaware or unrealistic about somethingAmy has her head in the clouds if she thinks she's going to pass her exams without studying.
head over heels deeply in loveMy brother is head over heels for his new girlfriend.
head startan earlier startThe kids gave Anthony a head start in the bicycle race because he was the youngest.
in over one's head taking on a task that you can't handleI was in over my head when I agreed to babysit the triplets and the dogs.
keep an eye ontake care of, watch in order to protectI'll keep an eye on the dinner while you're on the phone.
keep one's chin uptry to be cheerfulKeep your chin up. I'm sure you'll make some friends soon.
learn by heart, know by heartmemorizeI learned my multiplication tables by heart in the fourth grade.
let one's hair downrelax, have funGo to the cottage and let your hair down this weekend.
(my) lips are sealedpromise to keep a secretDon't worry, I won't tell your mother how much you spent. My lips are sealed.
makes my blood boilmakes me very angryIt makes my blood boil when people don't tie up their dogs.
neck of the woods nearby location or regionI heard that they might be opening a post office in our neck of the woods soon.
(an) old handan experienced person My uncle's an old hand at car repair. He'll know what the problem is.
over my dead bodynot unless I'm dead and can't stop youMy daughter wants a tatoo. I told her she'd get one over my dead body.
pat on the backrecognition or a thank-youThe party organizers deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.
play something by eardo something without a planWe don't know if the weather will be good enough for camping. We'll have to play it by ear.
pull one's leg joke or tease someoneI was just pulling your leg. I'm not really a police officer.
rule of thumbbasic rule (not always followed)The rule of thumb is that the students wear black pants and white shirts.
see eye to eyeagreeThe couple don't see eye to eye on how to train their pets.
(by the) skin of one's teethjust barelyI passed my exam by the skin of my teeth.
stick your neck outhelp someone a lot, with possible bad consequences for oneselfI stuck my neck out for Bessie when she was thrown out of her house.
sweet tootha love of sugar or sweet thingsI need three spoonfuls of sugar in my tea. I have a sweet tooth.
thick in the headnot very intelligentI'm a bit thick in the head when it comes to reading a map.
wash one's hands of somethingstop dealing with an issue or problemI'm washing my hands of Mary's addiction. She is going to have to get some professional help.

Comments

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11:50 AM Oct 28 2009 | Reply

mr.sam

mr.sam

Yemen

that's vere good.

04:35 AM Oct 17 2009 | Reply

souliney

souliney

Thailand

that's good! im learning about idiom. this can help me a lot. thx <3

03:42 AM Oct 09 2009 | Reply

Kiwijelly

Kiwijelly

Thailand

thx _ ur really hepled the others.

08:15 PM Feb 16 2009 | Reply

modmmah

modmmah

Malaysia

Frownhi tesher I need some hlep ok I need to my english and splling  writing

ok 

thanks 

my e-mail:

 

09:37 PM Jan 19 2009 | Reply

riya1111

riya1111

India

good effort…
Thanks tht helped..

09:48 PM Nov 09 2008 | Reply

Xo-Xo

Indonesia

It's nice info. Helpful and many idioms which i can learn in this thread. 

07:36 PM Nov 09 2008 | Reply

Naomi1010

Naomi1010

Taiwan

Tks for uploading this list. It's really helpful!!!

07:35 PM Nov 09 2008 | Reply

Naomi1010

Naomi1010

Taiwan

Tks for uploading this list. It’s really helpful!!!

05:09 AM Sep 16 2008 | Reply

reyas

Yemen

hi all guys,

i think if one wants to learn english one must first realize it's importance.

i believe it's difficult to find who u can practice ur english with. so i think reading and trying to write stories or liters and so on is a good way to learn and improve ur english otherwise you need to stay in an area where the people talking english..

04:49 PM Sep 15 2008 | Reply

shad84

shad84

United States

awesome big fella

04:48 PM Sep 15 2008 | Reply

shad84

shad84

United States

Cool

03:49 AM Aug 27 2008 | Reply

Ebtehal

Ebtehal

Egypt

thx 4 the useful table

01:58 PM Aug 26 2008 | Reply

na222

na222

Saudi Arabia

great , thank you very much it's useful for me .

12:21 PM Aug 26 2008 | Reply

John Weyn

John Weyn

Brazil

Hello.How are all you? I from Brazil country of the football best of world.

12:17 PM Aug 26 2008 | Reply

John Weyn

John Weyn

Brazil

Hello, I need somebody help me. I want to learn more and improve my english, I think it very interesting.

12:13 PM Aug 26 2008 | Reply

John Weyn

John Weyn

Brazil

 I need of somebody that can help me. I want to learn more thing and improve my english.

07:42 AM Jul 29 2008 | Reply

magic1015

magic1015

China

quite helpful

12:37 PM Apr 17 2008 | Reply

reemy

reemy

United Arab Emirates

i like your lessone too much…...i wanna print it and please send it to my in my profile…ok

01:55 AM Apr 16 2008 | Reply

jin mei

jin mei

China

Useful.

I am new here.   :)

01:54 AM Apr 16 2008 | Reply

jin mei

jin mei

China

Useful.

By the way, I am new here.   :)

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