MEETING 6

IDIOMS

INTRODUCTION
Idiomatic English is fun, interesting, and colourful. Your English will sound more
natural when you can use idioms successfully. You will be able to understand more
of what you read and hear too.

This module is designed to help you feel more confident using idioms and to give
you more control over them by understanding their meaning, their grammar, how
they look and sound, and when and where to use them.

COMPETENCY

At the end of this module, you will be asked to give evidence of your knowledge
concerning idioms and how to use them properly.

WHAT IS AN IDIOM?

An idiom is a group of words. As a group, the words combine to form a new

meaning. The words work as a team. Idiom can be called an expression where the
meaning is different from the meaning of the individual words.

For example, you know the meaning of house and cards, and you probably know
what the literal (basic) meaning of a house of cards is:

The idiomatic meaning – an organization or plan that is very weak and can easily be
destroyed – is not obvious.

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For example, to have your feet on the ground is an idiom meaning ‘to be sensible’:
“Tara is an intelligent girl who has both her feet firmly on the ground.”

A lot of idioms are formed using phrasal verbs.

For example: After he left me, it took me a long time to pick up the pieces (= It took
me a long time to return to a normal life).

ARE IDIOMS FORMAL OR INFORMAL?

Idioms are common in both formal and informal spoken and written English. There is
a section in each unit called Focus on use to help you know when and how to use
the idioms appropriately.

There are also “Play it safe” icons - - to tell you to be careful when using certain
idioms. Many idioms are colloquial, which means that they are used in informal
conversation rather than in writing or formal language.

For example: “I won’t tell anyone your secret. My lips are sealed.”

RECOGNIZING IDIOMS

A combination of your knowledge of the world, context clues, and common sense
can help you recognize and understand idioms when you read or hear them.

WHEN AND HOW ARE IDIOMS USED?

➢ Idioms and change
Idioms frequently change in English. Although many idioms last for a long time,
some disappear very quickly. Therefore, some idioms that were popular 50 years
ago may sound very old-fashioned and odd today. For example, the idiom as stiff/
straight as a ramrod [sitting or standing with a very straight and stiff back] is not
frequently used nowadays. It is therefore important to be careful if you learn an
idiom from, say, an older novel, as it may sound unnatural if you use it in your own
speech or writing. In this module we focus only on up-to-date idioms which are still
commonly used.

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➢ What are idioms used for?
• For emphasis, e.g. ‘The singer’s second album sank like a stone.’ [failed
completely]
• To agree with a previous speaker, e.g.
A: Did you notice how Lisa started listening when you said her name?
B: Yes, that certainly made her prick her ears up. [start listening carefully]
• To comment on people, e.g. ‘Did you hear Tom has been invited for dinner with
the prime minister? He’s certainly gone up in the world! [gained a better social
position-or more money-than before]
• To comment on a situation, e.g. ‘The new finance minister wants to knock the
economy into shape.’ [take action to get something into a good condition]
• To make an anecdote more interesting, e.g. ‘It was just one disaster after another
today, a sort of domino effect.’ [when something, usually bad, happens and
causes a series of other things to happen]
• To catch the reader’s eye. Idioms – particularly those with strong images – are
often used in headlines, advertising slogans and the names of small businesses.
The writer may play with the idiom or make a pun (a joke involving a play on
words) in order to create a special effect, e.g. a debt of dishonour instead of the
usual debt of honour. [a debt that you owe someone for moral rather than
financial reasons]
• To indicate membership of a particular group, e.g. surfers drop in on someone,
meaning to get on a wave another surfer is already on. This kind of group-specific
idiom is outside the focus of this module.

➢ Where will you see or hear idioms?

You will see and hear idioms in all sorts of speaking and writing. They are
particularly common in everyday conversation and in popular journalism. For
example, they are often found in magazine horoscopes, e.g. You’ll spend much of
this week licking your wounds [trying to recover from a bad experience], or in
problem pages, e.g. ‘Do you think that my relationship has run its course?’ [come
to a natural end] However, idioms are also used in more formal contexts, such as

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 lectures, academic essays and business reports, e.g. ‘It is hoped the regulations
will open the door to better management.’ [let something new start]

AGREEING AND DISAGREEING

Jeff : This is the worst coffee in town.

Maria : You can say that again.

Cathy : And how!

Maria : We should sound out the boss about getting a new machine.

Jeff : You have got to be kidding. There’s no way she’d agree.

Cathy : Somebody has to speak up.

Jeff : Let’s talk about it at the next staff meeting.

Maria : OK. You say your piece, and then I’ll put my two cents in.

Cathy : Excellent! We are definitely on the same wavelength!

Agreeing

• and how, also you bet or you can say that again I agree
• on the same wavelength, also see eye to eye to agree or have the same
opinion of something

Disagreeing

• you must be kidding, also you have got to be kidding you are not being
serious, or I do not agree with you
• take issue with someone / something [slightly formal] to disagree
• at odds to be disagreement
• on the contrary just the opposite of what has been said or believed

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Opinions
• put your two cents in, also say your piece or speak up to give your opinion
• sound out someone to find out what someone’s opinion about something is
• win someone over to succeed in changing someone’s opinion
• where someone is coming from what causes someone to have a particular
opinion

COMMUNICATING

Bob : Hi. I thought I’d call and touch base. How are
the party plans going?
Gloria: Well, just between you and me, there’s a
problem. It’s Matt. I think he got wind of the
surprise party.
Bob : How?
Gloria: I don’t know. Somebody who’s in the loop may
have let him in on it. I’ll see him later and try to
find out. I won’t beat around the bush. I’ll say,
“What are you doing for your birthday?” I’ll be in
touch as soon as I’ve seen him.

Talking and telling

• open up to talk about things freely • pick up on something to continue

and honestly to talk about something that
someone said earlier in the
conversation
• between you and me private • beat around the bush to avoid
talking about something by talking
about other things
• let someone in on something to tell • bend someone’s ear to talk to
someone a secret someone for a long time

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• compare notes to share opinions • get through (to somebody) to
with someone reach someone by phone
• touch base (with someone) to talk
to someone briefly

Listening to or trying to get someone to talk

• draw someone out to try to make • lend an ear (to someone) to listen to
someone talk about his or her feelings someone

Not talking
• bite your tongue, also hold your • clam up to refuse to talk
tongue to stop yourself from
speaking, usually because it might
cause problems if you spoke

Receiving information
• get wind of something to find out • in the loop included in the sharing of
about something that was secret or information
not known before
• in touch (with someone)
communicating with that person

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF IDIOMS

get the hang of something

If you get the hang of an activity, you learn how to do it well. [INFORMAL]
After a few months you will start getting the hang of the language and
expressing yourself quite well.

get the picture

If you get the picture, you understand what is happening in a situation.
[INFORMAL]

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 Note: This expression is often used when someone does not understand
something immediately. Anna was giggling. She was beginning to get the picture.

get the wrong end of the stick or get hold of the wrong end of the stick
If someone gets the wrong end of the stick or gets hold of the wrong end of
the stick, they completely misunderstand a situation or something that is said.
[INFORMAL]
Did I get hold of the wrong end of the stick? Was that not what he meant?

get your head around something or get your head round something
If you get your head around a fact or an idea, you succeed in understanding it or
accepting it. [BRITISH, INFORMAL]
At first people laughed at me because they simply could not get their head
around what I was telling them. It’s hard to get your head round figures this big.

go in one ear and out the other

If something that you tell someone goes in one ear and out the other, they pay
no attention to it, or forget about it immediately.
I’ve told him so many times – it just goes in one ear and out the other.

a grey area
If you call something a grey area, you mean that it is unclear, for example
because nobody is sure how to deal with it, or it falls between two separate
categories of things.
Tabloid papers paint all sportsmen as heroes or villains. There is no grey area in
between.

not have a clue

If you do not have a clue about something, you do not know anything about it, or
you have no idea what to do about it. [INFORMAL]
I don’t have a clue what I’m supposed to be doing.

Jump to conclusions

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 If someone jumps to conclusions, they decide too quickly that something is true,
when they do not know all the facts.
Forgive me. I thought you were married. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
Note: You can also say that someone jump to a/the conclusion.
I didn’t want her to jump to the conclusion that the divorce was in any way her
fault.
Note: People sometimes use leap instead of jump.
The medical establishment was careful not to leap to conclusions.

Put two and two together

If you put two and two together, you correctly guess the truth about something
from the information that you have.
He put two and two together and guessed what the police were searching for.
Note: You can say that someone puts two and two together and makes five, to
mean that they guess something more exciting or interesting than the truth.
Mr Lane’s solicitor said that the police had put two and two together and made
five.

read between the lines

If you read between the lines, you understand what someone really means, or
what is really happening in a situation, even though it is not stated openly.
He didn’t go into details, but reading between the lines it appears that he was
forced to leave.
Note: You can also talk about what is between the lines.
He didn’t give a reason, but I sensed something between the lines.

take something on board

If you take an idea, suggestion, or fact on board, you understand it or accept it.
[BRITISH] Note: The literal meaning of this expression is to take something onto a
boat or ship.

I listened to them, took their comments on board, and then made the decision.

up to speed

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 If you are up to speed, you have all the latest information about something.

We try to keep people entertained and up to speed with what’s going on in town.

Note: You can say that you bring someone up to speed, or that they get up to
speed when you give them all the latest information about something.

I guess I should bring you up to speed on what’s been happening since I came
to see you yesterday. The president has been getting up to speed on foreign
policy.

PRACTICE IDIOMS MEETING 6

EXERCISE 1.1 Are these sentences true or false? If the answer is false, say
why.

1. Few idioms stay in frequent usage for a long time.

2. Your English may sound unnatural if you use certain idioms.
3. Idioms can be used for dramatic effect.
4. Idioms are frequently used to comment on people and situations.
5. Headline writers always use idioms in their correct form.

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6. Idioms are only used in some types of speaking and writing.
7. Newspapers and magazines are a good place to find idioms in use.
8. Idioms are not used in academic writing.

1.2 Complete each idiom.

1. My essay is really not very good. Could you please help me knock it into …

2. It’s time you stopped … your wounds and got back to your normal life.

3. Although the film cost a lot of money to make, it enjoyed no success at all; in
fact, it sank like a …

4. There was a kind of domino … when Jill left the company. Others in her team
decided to follow her example, and that then gave the idea to other employees
too.

5. Ben and Sarah went out together for a long time, but the relationship eventually
ran its … - they’re both happily married to other people now.

6. The children … up their ears when they heard the word ‘chocolate’.

1.3 Which idioms do these pictures make you think of?

Exercise 2.1 Grouping

Put the idioms in the box into the correct group.
a. and how f. say your piece k. you bet
b. at odds g. see eye to eye l. you can say that
c. on the contrary h. sound out someone again
d. on the same i. speak up m. you must/ have got
wavelength j. take issue with to be kidding

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 e. put your two cents
in

Agreeing Disagreeing Giving opinions

…………. …………….. …………………..
…………. …………….. …………………..
…………. …………….. …………………..
…………. …………….. …………………..
………….

2.2 Matching
Match the idioms with their definitions.
1. on the contrary a. I agree
2. see eye to eye b. just the opposite, especially of
something said or believed
3. where someone is coming from c. to agree with someone
4. speak up d. to carefully discover what someone
thinks or knows
5. sound out someone e. to express your opinion
6. you bet f. to succeed in changing someone’s
opinion
7. win somebody over, also win over g. what causes someone to have a
somebody particular opinion

2.3 Scrambled sentences

Put the words in these sentences into the correct order.
1. That is one eye issue on we eye to see.
……………………………………………………
2. You kidding have to be got!
…………………………………………………….
3. On the, think we it’s a idea very contrary good.

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 ……………………………………………………..
4. two Can just I my cents put in?
…………………………………………………….
5. that say again You can.
…………………………………………………….
6. you If agree, up speak don’t.
…………………………………………………….

2.4 Sentence completion

Write in the missing word in each sentence.
1. We work well together because we are on the … wavelength.
2. Well, I’m afraid I have to take … with you there.
3. She won them … by explaining her point of view.
4. I can understand … you’re coming from.
5. I … issue with some of their decisions.
6. Let’s sound … the board at the next meeting.
7. They have been at odds … one another since Dave joined the company.
8. I said my … and then waited for their reaction.
9. “I think we should buy two.” “ … bet!”
10. “That was a great movie.” “ … how!”

Exercise 3.1 Matching

Match the idioms with their definitions.
a. beat around the bush d. get through (to somebody) g. pick up on something
b. between you and me e. in the loop h. touch base (with
c. draw someone out f. in touch (with someone someone)

1. having knowledge of and involvement in something …

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 2. in communication with someone …
3. to avoid talking about what is important …
4. to make contact with someone by telephone …
5. to persuade someone to express his or her thoughts and feelings …
6. to talk briefly to someone …
7. private …
8. to continue talking about something …

3.2 Correct or incorrect?

Are these sentences correct? Put a check in the box if the sentence is
correct. Put an in the box and correct the idiom if it is wrong.
1. Stay on touch! ………………………
2. Stop beating along the bush. ………………………
3. He’s always bending someone’s ear about his car. ………………………
4. She started to tell us, but then she just clammed up. ………………………
5. He really opened and talked about everything. ……………………...
6. How did he get wind of the surprise party? ………………………
7. You can probably get through to her on her cell phone. ……………………...
8. She’s always ready to loan an ear when it’s needed. ……………………...

3.3 Formality
Rewrite this detective story to make it sound more natural by replacing the
words in blue with idioms from the box. You may need to change the tense
of some verbs.
beat around the bush clam up compare notes get wind of

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 It was late, and I was tired. I had been trying
to get Mack to talk, but after my first question,
he just refused to talk anymore (1) …

“Look, Mack, I’m not going to avoid talking

about it (2) … anymore. I think I know what
happened that night.

“You met your old pal Tommy to exchange

information and opinions (3) … Both of you
had learned about (4) … the robbery. You
woke up the next morning, but Tommy didn’t.
Tell me why. Now!”

Exercise 4.1 Complete the sentences with the words in the box.

ear clue hang picture stick area

1. I soon began to get the … of the new filing system.
2. Anna doesn’t have a … how to talk to children.
3. The difference between telling a lie and not telling the whole truth is a grey …
4. I thought she was paying for dinner but I must have got the wrong end of the …
5. Brad tried to remember the directions but they seemed to have gone in one …
and out the other.
6. The inspector spent a few minutes with the victim and soon began to get the …

4.2 Match sentence halves 1-6 with A-F to make complete sentences.
1. We saw them together in the A read between the lines.
restaurant and it was so easy to

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 2. I’ve told them I’m a vegetarian many B take it on board.
times but they just don’t
3. The real skill of being an agony aunt C had put two and two together and
is being able to made five.
4. I’ve learnt a lot about the new D jump to conclusions.
regulations and I’ll run a training day
to
5. The international dateline is an idea E get my head around.
I’ve never been able to
6. Unfortunately, the children were F bring you all up to speed.
disappointed; they

4.3 Complete the sentences. Choose the best answers.

1. Then you click ‘save’ and move the file to here. Do you read between the lines /
get the picture / put two and two together?
2. It’s going to take me a couple of days to get up to speed / the picture / the
wrong end of the stick with the new project.
3. This is a very difficult exercise. I just can’t jump to conclusions / go in one ear
and out the other / get my head round it.
4. Don’t worry. You’ll soon get the hang of it / jump to conclusions / get the
wrong end of the stick.
5. Listen to all the evidence and don’t take it on board / jump to conclusions / get
your head around it.
6. Adam shook his head; he didn’t put two and two together / read between the
lines / have a clue how to fix this.

4.4 Replace the underlined words with the correct idioms in the box.

get hold of the wrong end of the stick | get the hang of it | get the picture

go in one ear and out the other | haven’t got a clue | read between the lines

1. You don’t have to explain it anymore. I understand the situation.

2. He doesn’t listen carefully, and tends to misunderstand.

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3. I don’t think I’ll be able to do the accounts. I know nothing about book keeping.
4. They haven’t actually said anything is wrong, but I can sense it.
5. It’s difficult at first, but after a bit of practice, you learn how to do it.
6. You have to repeat everything to them. Whatever you say will be forgotten
immediately afterwards!

4.5 Use sentences A-F to answer question 1-6.

1. Whose company has adopted a new A Veejay feels he hasn’t a clue how to
way of working? find a better employer.
2. Who is surprised at how strict his B Nik is getting himself up to speed
working conditions are becoming? on the new tax law.
3. Who thinks he will soon have a new C Khalid leapt to the conclusion that
boss? the CEO would now resign.
4. Who is improving his expertise at D Stefan’s firm has really taken the
work? idea of teleworking on board.
5. Who is expecting to benefit from E Cheng put two and two together
recent events? and hoped this would mean a
promotion for him.
6. Who wants to work for a different F Xavier can’t get his head around all
company? the new rules in the office.

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