English idioms by Марина Гринина https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g Made for people (ages from 16 to 25) who wants to develop english skills and to learn more interesting idioms (level B1 - B2) en-us 2019-03-11 14:11:29 UTC 2025-11-13 23:58:29 UTC hello@padlet.com What is an Idiom? grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/339985419 Idioms are a type of figurative language, which means they are not always meant to be taken literally. Idioms express a particular sentiment, but they do not literally mean what the individual words themselves mean.]]> 2019-03-11 14:46:44 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/339985419 Idioms From Shakespeare grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/339987967 William Shakespeare was a master of using the English language in new ways, and many of the figures of speech we use today come from his plays. Here's a sampling of them:

  • Break the ice - This phrase was first used in The Taming of the Shrew. Tranio encourages Petruchio to "break the ice" with Katherine to get to know her, suggesting that he may like her better - and get her to like him. Today this phrase is used to refer to relieving tension or getting to know someone better, usually by making small talk, or a kind gesture to start a new relationship.
  • Wear my heart upon my sleeve - This saying was first used in Othello when Iago describes how he would be vulnerable if he revealed his dislike of Othello. In the play, the phrase continues to state that the "daws," or crows, would be able to peck at his heart if he revealed it. Today, people use this phrase to mean that they are showing their real feelings about something.
  • Set my teeth on edge - In Henry IV, Part 1, Hotspur complains about how much he hates poetry, saying, "And that would set my teeth nothing an edge, nothing so much as mincing poetry." Today the phrase is used to express distaste for something, particularly annoyance, and also discomfort, like the noise of nails dragging on a chalkboard.
  • There's method in my madness - In Hamlet, Polonius observes Hamlet's antics and says, "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." He suspects Hamlet isn't behaving as irrationally as he seems to be on the surface. The phrase has changed slightly, but the meaning is the same: Even though your action seems random, you have a purpose to them.
  • Dead as a doornail - Though this phrase is perhaps better known as the opening description of Ebenezer Scrooge's partner Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol, it was previously used by Shakespeare. In Henry IV, Part 2 Jack Cade says, "I have eat no meat these five days; yet, come thou and thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as dead as a doornail, I pray God I may never eat grass more." The phrase is still used emphatically, implying that something is so dead it's as if it were never alive in the first place.

]]> 2019-03-11 14:50:44 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/339987967 Animal idioms grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/339994930 Many of the original English idioms are connected with animals. The literal translation of these expressions will confuse us, so we need to remember the whole expression. We offer to loot through the most popular idioms:
1. It rains cats and dogs.
It means to pour as from a bucket.
 During heavy rains, the animals sometimes slipped and fell down, and the British began to associate heavy rain with falling cats and dogs, hence the expression it's raining cats and dogs. 
2. Cock-and-bull story.
When you hear "cock-and-bull story", it does not mean that it was created by a chicken and a bull. This expression suggests that a story is too far-fetched.
3. Dead duck.
If your companion is called any occupation “dead duck”, does not mean that it is associated with a tragic event. Someone or something is bound to fail.
4. Rabbit’s foot.
Meaning is a good luck charm.
Don't be alarmed if someone promised you a Birthday present “rabbit's foot”. This means that your friend just wants you to choose a talisman for good luck. 
5. Monkey’s business.
Do not look for the definition of “monkey business” in the economic dictionary. It means to call to waste your time doing unnecessary work. 
6. To fox.
It means to cheat, to deceive, to trace around your finger, confuse.



]]> 2019-03-11 15:01:33 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/339994930 Idioms Are Not Always Grammatical grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340007381 Since idioms are born out of popular usage, they aren’t always logical, and they don’t always follow traditional grammar patterns.

This is because the phrase itself carries the meaning of the idiom, and not the individual words in the phrase, regardless of each word’s grammatical function.

For example,
This is a life-and-death situation.

Something that is life-and-death is extremely important, but that phrase itself is illogical. A situation can’t be ­life and death.

Similarly, a phrase like it’s not you, it’s me is technically ungrammatical.]]> 2019-03-11 15:21:45 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340007381 Idioms Are Not Complete Thoughts grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340009711 As with any phrase, an idiom itself doesn’t create a complete sentence. They require additional context to give them meaning.

For example,
Beat around the bush

This idiom is not a complete sentence. It’s the idea itself that is the idiom. One might make it into a complete sentence by saying:
Don’t beat around the bush.

-OR-
He’s beating around the bush.]]> 2019-03-11 15:25:23 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340009711 Weather idioms grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340033399 1. It never rains but it pours.
This expression means that when something bad happens, it will definitely be followed by other bad events. 
2. Take a rain check.
It means to postpone an event to a later date.
3. Every cloud has a silver lining.
This expression means that after something bad must come good, and there is always hope, even in the worst situation. 
4. To have your head in the clouds.
"In the clouds" means not in touch with reality – so they say about those ideas and thoughts, which can hardly be called reasonable or practical.
5. On cloud nine
This expression means that the English on the ninth cloud and we are in seventh heaven – there is no need to say that it is only about very happy people.
6. The calm before the storm.
The idiom means the calm period before a period of great activity. 

]]> 2019-03-11 16:06:45 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340033399 Colour Idioms grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340040514
  • White (coffee, tea). Actually, this idiom means tea, coffee with milk.
  • A white lie. It means a clean lie.
  • To show a white feather. Meaning: to show fear, be afraid.

    • ]]>     2019-03-11 16:18:46 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340040514     Black grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340047213
  • Black sheep.
    • Who is a black sheep? We say black sheep, referring to a bad person.
    • To be in the black
    Meaning: to be in the black, not to have debts

    ]]>     2019-03-11 16:30:01 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340047213     Red grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340049359
  • To see red.
    • This is a "feature" of behavior bull people quickly adopted into the language to describe the degree of anger of other people.
    • To put out the red carpet.
    Meaning: this expression is used in a figurative sense. For example, if the student has become the winner of the competition, the teacher can playfully suggest "To put out the red carpet". A student traveling to my parents for the holidays, you can also use this phrase. In such situations, the idiom means to welcome.
    • A red letter day.
    It means a formal and informal holidays.

    ]]>     2019-03-11 16:34:04 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340049359     Plant and Flower Idioms grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340081425
  • Barking up the wrong tree - to make a mistake about something; to make a false assumption; to have the wrong idea about what happened.
  • Beat about the bush - not to be direct when talking to someone about a difficult or embarrassing situation.
  • Everything's coming up roses - used when a situation is successful in every way. Your life is good.
  • It's a jungle out there - everyday life is tough. Life is hard!
  • Touch wood - something we say for good luck. We usually touch something wooden at the same time.
  • Late bloomer - a person who does something at an older age than expected.
  • Needle in a haystack - When something is difficult to find, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
  • Olive branch - a symbol of peace. We say it when we want to make peace with someone we have had a problem with.
  • Shrinking violet - someone who is very shy and has little confidence.

    • ]]>     2019-03-11 17:31:34 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340081425     10 Common Idioms grinina_marina755 https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340085078 1.  Turn over a new leaf - improve conduct.
    2.  Pass off – to pretend to be
    3. Snap up - take quickly
    4. Skeleton in the closet - a shameful secret
    5. Fine-tooth comb - careful attention
    6. Cold fish - a boring person
    7. Bring home the bacon - to support one's family
    8. To the tune of - in the amount of
    9. Sweep under the rug - to dismiss casually
    10. Go over like a lead balloon - to meet with disapproval


    ]]>     2019-03-11 17:38:03 UTC https://padlet.com/grinina_marina755/w29200g1wy9g/wish/340085078