1.
LEARNING LINK: IDIOMS
INTRODUCTION
A What is an idiom?
An idiom is a phrase which is difficult to understand, because the meaning of the whole phrase is
different from the meaning of the individual words in the phrase.
For example, the expression a piece of cake has both a literal and an idiomatic meaning:
Literal meaning: “a slice / portion of cake”. E.g. “Would you like a piece of cake?”
Idiomatic meaning: “an easy thing”. E.g. “Don’t worry about the test. It’ll be a piece of cake!”
There are no fixed rules for learning idioms, so you have to make a note of and revise each new idiom
you encounter.
B What are some common idioms?
The following is not a complete list of idioms, but it includes some examples.
Idiom Definition Example
a piece of cake an easy thing Don’t worry about the test. It’ll be a piece of
cake!
against the odds despite difficult circumstances The weather was terrible, but against all the
odds, she reached the top of the mountain.
all along from the beginning She’d known all along that he was lying, but she
decided not to tell anyone.
beside the point not relevant to the discussion That’s beside the point. We’re talking about
facts, not opinions.
break someone’s
heart
make someone who loves or
cares for you very sad
When you ended the relationship, you broke my
heart.
come what may whatever happens I’m going to that concert, come what may.
cost an arm and a leg be very expensive That diamond necklace cost an arm and a leg!
down in the dumps depressed, fed up What’s up? You look down in the dumps.
earn a living make enough money to live on You need to get a job in order to earn a living.
fly off the handle get very angry When I broke the TV, she flew off the handle.
food for thought something which is worth
thinking about seriously
His lecture was fascinating, and gave us lots of
food for thought.
give someone a hand help someone Could you give me a hand with the washing up?
have a heart of gold be very kind She has got a heart of gold – she always helps
others.
keep in touch continue to communicate (with
someone)
Even though we lived miles apart, we kept in
touch via phone and email.
look before you leap be careful before you do
something
I know you’re excited about starting this
relationship, but please look before you leap.
now and then occasionally I went to the gym now and then, but not very
often.
out of the blue suddenly and unexpected The news came out of the blue.
over the moon really happy When I passed my exams, I was over the moon!
rain cats and dogs rain very heavily Let me in! It’s raining cats and dogs out here!

2.
2
Idiom Definition Example
see light at the end
of the tunnel
see hope in the future The course was long and hard, but we saw light
at the end of the tunnel and kept on going.
take someone’s
breath away
astonish or surprise someone The view was spectacular; it really took my
breath away.
the time of
someone’s life
a really enjoyable time This is the best holiday I’ve ever had! I’m having
the time of my life!
under the weather not well He’s feeling under the weather at the moment,
so he’s gone back to bed.
PRACTICE
Answer the questions. Then look at the answer key at the bottom of the page.
1 Choose the correct idioms to complete the sentences.
1 I was feeling down in the dumps / over the moon, so I watched a comedy to cheer myself up.
2 I love this theme park! I’m having a heart of gold / the time of my life!
3 My girlfriend looked so beautiful that she saw light at the end of her tunnel / took my breath away.
4 Can you give me a hand / keep in touch with carrying this box? It’s quite heavy.
5 She pretended to be a teacher, but all along / come what may she was really a student!
6 All my clothes are wet. It was raining cats and dogs / under the weather out there.
7 When I found out she was cheating on me, it broke my heart / had a heart of gold.
8 I never seem to have enough money. It’s really hard to earn a living / cost an arm and a leg.
9 This is really easy! It’s a piece of cake / against the odds.
10 She arrived beside the point / out of the blue, when no one was expecting her.
11 My parents don’t want me to go, but come what may / now and then, I’m going to the party.
12 When I told her I‘d broken her mobile she flew off the handle / was over the moon.
13 Please think carefully before acting and look before you leap / see light at the end of the tunnel.
14 The book gave me a piece of cake / food for thought, and I spent the afternoon thinking about it.
2 Correct the bold mistakes in the sentences.
1 I’m so happy, I’m under the handle!
2 He was a really caring man. He had a golden heart.
3 What a surprise! This present arrived completely under the red!
4 I’ll miss you when you move away. Please continue in feel.
ANSWERS (turn the page upside‐down to view)
(I'm over the moon)
He was a really caring man. He had a heart of gold.
What a surprise! This present arrived completely out of the blue.
I’ll miss you when you move away. Please keep in touch.