The document defines and provides examples of common idiomatic phrases including "ace in the hole", "albatross around one's neck", "Achilles' heel", "cost an arm and a leg", "put on the back burner", "back to square one", "bad mouth", "bark up the wrong tree". Each idiom is presented with its meaning and origin. The document also provides examples of sentences using the idioms and identifies whether each usage is correct or incorrect.

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Academic Idioms

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Ace in the Hole
Secret Reserve of Strength
phrase comes from the
reserve card in a poker
game.

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Albatross around
One’s Neck
Burden to Be Born
phrase comes from
Coleridge's poem Rime of the
Ancient Mariner

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Achille’s Heel
Vulnerability
phrase comes from the
Greek myth of Achilles.

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Cost an Arm and a Leg
Be Very Expensive

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Put on the
Back Burner
Make Something
Less Important
the back burner on the stove
is usually smaller and out-of-
the-way

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Back to Square One
Start Over at Beginning
phrase comes
from board
games

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Bad Mouth
Speak Badly
of Someone

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Bark Up Wrong Tree
Look in the
Wrong Direction
phrase comes
from hunting with dogs

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Let’s Practice
incorrect correct

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Reading skills are my ace in
the hole for getting good
grades.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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Reading skills are my ace in
the hole for getting good
grades.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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After I moved to
America, I had to go
back to square one in
school.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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After I moved to
America, I had to go
back to square one in
school.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I love cleaning house,
so it’s an albatross
around my neck!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I love cleaning house,
so it’s an albatross
around my neck!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I hate cleaning house,
so it’s an albatross
around my neck!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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Disrespect for others in
the classroom is my
Achilles’ heel. It just
drives me crazy!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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Disrespect for others in
the classroom is my
Achilles’ heel. It just
drives me crazy!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I am working on my new
book every day. I had to
put it on the back burner to
get ready for the spring
semester.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

21. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
I am working on my new
book every day. I had to
put it on the back burner to
get ready for the spring
semester.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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I cannot work on my new
book right now. I had to
put it on the back burner to
get ready for the spring
semester.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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It is not nice to bad
mouth others behind
their backs.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

24. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
It is not nice to bad
mouth others behind their
backs.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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Housing in California is so
cheap that it costs an arm
and a leg!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

26. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Housing in California is so
cheap that it costs an arm
and a leg!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

27. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Housing in California is so
expensive that it costs an
arm and a leg!
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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Watching the movie
instead of reading the
book is sure barking up
the wrong tree to get
a good test grade.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

29. Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Watching the movie
instead of reading the
book is sure barking up
the wrong tree to get
a good test grade.
Is the idiom is being used correctly or incorrectly??

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