Idioms/ phrases

Unit 1A, 1B- numbers/countries

1. On cloud nine
Like seventh heaven, this expression is used when someone
feels very happy because of something great that has
happened to them.
'She's been on cloud nine since her boyfriend proposed to her.'

2. It’s all Greek to me – this phrase is used when don’t

understand or have no knowledge on a topic.
‘I tried to watch a TV show about physics last night, but I gave
up. It was all Greek to me.’

Unit 1C, 2A- classroom language, in/on/under

1. Learn by heart
To study and practice until it is understood and firmly placed in
one’s memory. To memorize something.
The presenter didn’t use notes as he learned the presentation by
heart.
2. Break a leg- Good luck
3. under control – able to be controlled or influenced (opposites
– out of control/out of hand)
Keep your dog under control!
 Unit 2B, 2C– colors and feelings

1. Green with envy– to be very jealous, envious

Example: “Katie was green with envy when she saw you got a new
car for your birthday.”

2. Once in a blue moon– very rarely

Example: “Once in a blue moon I meet my relatives.”

3. Under the weather

If you’re sick or just not feeling so well, just say you’re under the
weather. In English, people only tend to use this expression to
describe being slightly sick rather than being seriously ill.

Example: John’s feeling a bit under the weather tonight, so he

won’t be joining us for dinner.

Unit 3A,3B- jobs, verb phrases

1. Nine-to-five

Meaning: Used to describe work that begins at 9am and ends at

5pm, usually from Monday to Friday. The term generally implies a
stable job in an office.
Example: If you need a nine-to-five, a government job would be
good for you.

2. Burn the Candle at Both Ends

 Meaning: Work very long hours

 Example: I’ve been working two jobs so we can buy a
car, but I’m very tired. I’m burning the candle at both
ends.

3. Out of Work

 Meaning: Unemployed, not working

 Example: I’ve been out of work since December. Hope I
find a new job soon!

Unit 3C,4A-question words, family

1. to take after someone

To take after someone means to be very similar to an older family
member.

“I take after my father. We’re both architects, and we both love

soccer.”

“We’re all glad that Mark took after his mother instead of his
father. His father was a thief, but his mother was a saint.”
 2. get along with (or get on with)
If two people get along with (or get on with) each other, it means
that they like each other and have a friendly relationship. (Get
along with is American English, and get on with is British English.)

“I feel lucky that I get along with my family so well.”

“If you have a large family, there will likely be some people who
don’t get along with each other.”

3. to follow in someone’s footsteps

To follow in someone’s footsteps means to try to achieve the
same things that someone else (usually a family member) has
already done.

“I decided to study law instead because I wanted to follow in my

dad’s footsteps. He is a great doctor.”

“Michael Douglas followed in his father’s footsteps and became an

actor. His father, Kirk Douglas, was also a Hollywood actor.”

Unit 4B,4C -daily routine, time

1. Me Time

 Meaning: Activities undertaken for one’s own

enjoyment, free from responsibilities to others.
 Example: On Saturday I’m usually busy with the kids,
but Sunday afternoon is me time. My husband takes
them, and I usually go to the mall.
2. Hit the Books
  Meaning: To study (generally said of students)
 Example: OK, I’ll come to the party Friday. But
Saturday it’ll be time to hit the books.
3. Hit the Hay

 Meaning: To go to bed
 Example: I have to get up at 5 tomorrow morning. It’s
time to hit the hay.
Note: “Hit the sack” is also used.

Unit 5A,5B -can/can’t,noise

1. make a noise about something

to talk about or complain about something a lot:
She's been making a lot of noise about moving to a new house.

2. Can’t hear myself think

Be unable to concentrate usually because of noise)
“The music is so loud I can’t hear myself think!”

3. Can't bear
Strongly dislike something because it makes you unhappy
"I can’t bear to see animals being badly treated.”

Unit 5C,6A-weather
 1. HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
Used to describe someone being overly-optimistic about a
situation or to have unrealistic ideas about something.
Example: “Mike thinks he is going to pass his exams without
studying. He has his head in the clouds!”

2. COME RAIN OR SHINE

To say that something will be done regardless of whatever
happens.
Example: "I will play football tonight come rain or shine."

Unit 6B,6C- music

1. RING A BELL
Meaning: Something that sounds familiar.
Example: “Tina was sure that she had heard that music before. It
certainly did ring a bell!”
2. Dance to Someone’s Tune

 Meaning: Consistently follow someone’s directions or

influence
 Example: Weak people always dance to the tune of
others

Unit 7A,7B- past time expressions

 1. Time flies
Meaning: Time passes extremely quickly
Example: Look how fast our children grew up, how time flies.

2. A thing of the past

If something is a thing of the past, it doesn’t happen or exist any
more.

“’’Tom and Jerry’’ is a thing of the past.”

3. In the good old days

In the good old days refers to a time in the past when you
remember life being better in some way.
“In the good old days children didn’t have smartphones and video
games; they played outside together.”

Unit 7C,8A- go, have, get

1. Go For It
= take an opportunity, or try to do something enthusiastically
“If you have the chance to work abroad, you should go for it.”

2. have time to kill

to have nothing to do for a particular period:
We've got some time to kill before we leave - do you want to
have some coffee.

Unit 8B,8C- home, prepositions

 1. make yourself at home = make yourself comfortable:

“Make yourself at home! Can I get you a drink?”

2. homesick = when you miss your home:

“He went away for two weeks, but was terribly homesick.”

3. Till the cows come home.

Meaning: an exaggeration meaning “for a long time,” from
the notion of cows returning to the barn from the pasture at
the end of the day

Unit 9A,9B- food and drink

1. A piece of cake- very easy

When something is a piece of cake it is very easy to do.

'I was worried about taking the test, but it was a piece of cake. I
got 100%.'

2. Cup of tea
This expression is used in the negative: 'It's not my cup of tea'. It
means something is not to your interests or tastes. Basically, you
don't like it.

'Rap music is not my cup of tea; I prefer rock.'

3. Cool as a cucumber – If someone says that you are as

cool as a cucumber, it means that you are relaxed.
 Unit 9C, 10A- places and buildings

1. hit the roof (also hit the ceiling)

to become extremely angry:
Dad will hit the roof when he finds out my exam result.

Unit 10B, 10C -future tense

1. Come what may

We use the expression come what may to show commitment to a
person or course of action, no matter what may arise in the
future.
“Come what may, I will be famous.”

2. Only time will tell

Only time will tell is said when the only way to discover the
answer or truth about something is to wait for time to pass. You
will find out some time in the future.
“Only time will tell whether we made the right decision.”

3. Save for a rainy day

The idiom save for a rainy day means to save money for some
unknown or unexpected event in the future.
“I make an effort to save for a rainy day by putting aside a little
each month.”

Unit 11A, 11B- dreams and travel (based on readings)

 1. dream come true (= something you really wanted has come
true)
Making the Olympic team this year would be a dream come true.
I am in Paris! It’s a dream come true!
2. Hit the road
To leave or start a journey.
Let’s hit the road now. It’s 8 a.m. already.
What time is he hitting the road?

Unit 11C,12A- the internet and phones

 OFC = Of course.
 2mrw = tomorrow
 ASAP = as soon as possible
 B4 =before
 BTW =by the way
 CU =See you
 L8 =late
 CUZ/COS =because

1. be (just) a phone call away

To be readily available to support someone over the telephone or

similar communication service.
 Moving to a new country was difficult, but thanks
to Skype and WhatsApp, my parents were always a phone call aw
ay.

2. Hung up
Meaning: to end a phone conversation:
He started shouting so I hung up (on him).
Let me speak to Melanie before you hang up.

Unit 12B,12C- present perfect

1. “I’ve had enough.”

If you say that you have had enough, you mean that you are
unhappy with a situation and you want it to stop.

“I’m just tired of the same boring routine at work. There are no
new challenges, I’ve had enough!”