1) Break the ice

Explanation: to try to become friends with someone; to make a start

of something.
Example: It’s always easiest to break the ice after I’ve had a few
drinks.
2) Break a leg
Explanation: Good luck, best wishes.
Example: You have a test tomorrow? Break a leg!
3) Can judge a book by its cover
Explanation: you can’t judge something just by its appearance.
Example: The candidate doesn’t look very promising, but you can't
judge a book by its cover.
4) Costs an arm and a leg
Explanation: when something costs too much money, it’s way too
expensive.
Example: The show is excellent, but the tickets cost an arm and a
leg.
5) Cry over spilled milk
Explanation: to be upset about something that is already done or a
mistake that can’t be changed.
Example: It’s no use crying over spilled milk. It was a bad
investment.
6) Easier said than done
Explanation: not as easy to do as it seems harder than you think.
Example: It's a lot tougher than that. It's one of those things that are
easier said than done.
7) Feeling under the weather
Explanation: to feel ill, sick, having a hangover.
Example: I have my final test, but I’m feeling under the weather. I
think I have a fever.
8) Food for thought
Explanation: an idea to think about; think about things that can arise
from an event or situation.
Example: My daughter has given me some food for thought about
how she organizes her toys.
9) Hit the hay/sack
Explanation: when someone is really tired and wants to go to sleep.
Example: Sorry guys, I have to hit the hay now!
10) It’s not rocket science
Explanation: It’s not difficult; it’s not complicated.
Example: Driving a car isn’t rocket science. I don’t understand why
people don’t drive better.
11) Keep your chin up
Explanation: be brave and courageous in a tough situation.
Example: Don't let the difficulties intimidate you; keep your chin up.
12) Kill two birds with one stone.
Explanation: accomplish two different things, jobs, or actions; solve
problems at the same time.
Example: Cycling to work kills two birds with one stone. It saves
money and gives you some exercise.
13) On cloud nine
Explanation: to be extremely happy or cheerful.
Example: Susan is on cloud nine since she got married.
14) Once in a blue moon
Explanation: something happens very rarely, once after a very long
time.
Example: I don’t know why she bought that music system. She
uses it once in a blue moon.
15) Penny for your thoughts
Explanation: a way of asking someone else’s thoughts.
Example: You seem so serious. A penny for your thoughts.
16) Pull someone’s leg
Explanation: To joke with someone, to trick someone in a
humorous way
Example: I think he was just pulling your leg when he said you’ve
fallen in the exam.
17) Rain cats and dogs
Explanation: rain heavily, tremendously.
Example: It’s raining cats and dogs when the Monsoon comes.
18) Speak of the devil
Explanation: The person we were talking about showed up.
Example: Did you hear what happened to Anne yesterday? Oh,
speak of the devil, there she is.
19) Square peg in a round hole
Explanation: When a person doesn’t fit into society when you find in
a surrounding that doesn’t suit you.
Example: That lifestyle really doesn't suit Sally at all; she's like a
square peg in a round hole.
20) That’s the last straw
Explanation: Someone’s patience has run out, to be the latest in a
sequence of unpleasant things that can’t be accepted.
Example: I’m not going to wait for the last straw. I’ll do something
about the problem much sooner than you.
21) To cut corners
Explanation: to do something in an easy and very cheap way; to
reduce time, money, expenses.
Example: My mom often had to cut corners when we were kids to
feed all of us.
22) To go Dutch
Explanation: When everyone pays his bill.
Example: Last night we had a date, but we went Dutch because
I’ve paid for my coffee and he paid his.
23) To have sticky fingers
Explanation: to be a thief.
Example: The manager fired his employee because he had sticky
fingers. He stole 100$.
24) What goes around, comes around.
Explanation: how you treat and behave to others will eventually
come to you, too.
Example: All of his life, he treated his family with no respect, and
now his son is doing the same to him. What goes around, comes
around.
25) When pigs fly
Explanation: something that will never happen or highly unlikely to
happen.
Example: He plans to clean his house every week, but he will
probably do it only when pigs fly.

26) Add insult to injury

To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an
unfavorable situation.
 27) Bite off more than you can chew
To take on a task that is way too big.
28) Blessing in disguise
Something good that isn’t recognized at first.
29) Burn the midnight oil
To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric
lighting.
30) Cross that bridge when you come to it
Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not
before.
31) Curiosity killed the cat
Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
32) Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched
This idiom is used to express “Don’t make plans for something
that might not happen”.
33) Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning – do not disturb a situation as it is – since it would result
in trouble or complications.
34) Let the cat out of the bag
To share information that was previously concealed
35) Sit on the fence
This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a
decision.
36) Steal someone’s thunder
To take the credit for something someone else did.
37) Take with a grain of salt
This means not to take what someone says too seriously.
38) To hear something straight from the horse’s mouth
To hear something from the authoritative source.
39) A Dime A Dozen
 Meaning: Very common and easy to find.
 Example: Those souvenir keychains are a dime a dozen at the
tourist shops.

40) All Ears

 Meaning: Fully listening and paying attention.
 Example: Go ahead, I’m all ears. Tell me what’s been on your
mind.
41) Barking Up The Wrong Tree
 Meaning: Accusing or blaming the wrong person.Looking in the
wrong place.
 Example: If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the
wrong tree. I haven’t seen it.

42) Beat Around The Bush

 Meaning: Avoiding the main topic or being indirect.
 Example: Stop beating around the bush and tell me why you
didn’t show up to my birthday party.
43) Bury The Hatchet
 Meaning: To reconcile or make peace after a conflict.
 Example: After years of not speaking to each other, they finally
decided to bury the hatchet and become friends again.

44) Cold Feet

 Meaning: Feeling nervous or hesitant about doing something.
 Example: I was going to ask her out, but I got cold feet at the last
moment.
45) Get A Taste Of Your Own Medicine
 Meaning: Experience the same negative treatment you have
given to others.
 Example: After constantly making fun of others, he finally got a
taste of his own medicine when they started teasing him.
46) Go The Extra Mile
 Meaning: To put in extra effort or do more than what is expected.
 Example: If you want to succeed in this competitive industry, you
need to go the extra mile.
47) Hit The Nail On The Head
Meaning: To identify or describe something accurately. say
something exactly right
 Example: She hit the nail on the head when she said that our
team needs better communication.
48) It’s A Piece Of Cake
 Meaning: Something is very easy or simple to do.
 Example: Don’t worry about the test; it’s a piece of cake. You’ll
do fine.
49) Keep Your Chin Up
 Meaning: To remain positive and optimistic during difficult times.
 Example: Even though he faced many rejections, he kept his
chin up and continued to pursue his dream.
“keep your chin up” = stay positive even in a difficult situation
50) Let The Cat Out Of The Bag
 Meaning: To reveal a secret or confidential information.
 Example: She accidentally let the cat out of the bag and spoiled
the surprise party.
51) Like A Fish Out Of Water
 Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place in a particular
situation.
 Example: As a city person, I feel like a fish out of water when I
visit rural areas.
52) Not My Cup Of Tea
 Meaning: Something that is not to your liking or preference.
 Example: I tried skiing, but it’s not my cup of tea – I don’t enjoy
the cold.
53) Once In A Blue Moon
 Meaning: Happens very rarely.
 Example: We eat at home most of the time; we go to
restaurants once in a blue moon – for special occasions.
54) Out Of The Blue
 Meaning: Unexpectedly or without any warning.
 Example: I hadn’t spoken to her in years, and then out of the
blue, she called me yesterday.
55) Over The Moon
 Meaning: Delighted or extremely happy.
 Example: She was over the moon when she received her
acceptance letter from the university.
56) Turn A Blind Eye
 Meaning: To ignore or pretend not to notice something.
 Example: The teacher turned a blind eye to the students
whispering during the exam.
 57) Elephant In The Room
 Meaning: An obvious problem or issue that no one wants to
address.
 Example: We need to talk about the budget cuts; it’s the
elephant in the room.
58) In Hot Water
 Meaning: In trouble or facing difficulties due to a mistake or
wrongdoing.
 Example: He found himself in hot water after missing an
important deadline.
59) Kick The Bucket
 Meaning: Die (very informal)
 Example: I’d love to visit Jamaica someday before I kick the
bucket.
60) A Night Owl
 Meaning: Someone who likes to stay up late.
 Example: My son’s a night owl – he never goes to bed before 2
AM.
61) No news is good news

62) Ill news travels fast

For the following text I need two of each type of questions on reading
comprehension
Inference
Gussing the meaning
Figurative language
Prediction
Author purpose
Cause and effect
Compare and contrast

Here’s your tea, young man,” said the woman as she emerged through
wide, open french doors into the huge garden. A waft of expensive
perfume accompanied her when she handed over a steaming cup and
saucer with manicured hands and perfectly painted nails. “You’ve
earned a break with all that hard work.”

Having only met that day, the two strangers stood

side by side on the woman’s half-finished patio.
They each held
their cup and saucer, taking in the
earthy scent of freshly laid lawn. One
of them only ever served their tea
from a china teapot; the other one
had never drunk from a teacup
with a saucer before. There was a
moment of silence before the
woman asked, “What did you say
your name was again?”

“Alby. I’m Alby Shackleton.”

“Well, Alby, you’ve done a lovely job of

the garden so far, considering it’s only
the first day. I shall tell
your boss I’m very happy with your work. I can’t wait to
see it by the end of the week. And you live nearby, you say?”

“Thanks. Yeah, I’ve always lived here in Rothcaster.” Alby paused. He

had never felt confident talking to new people. Or any people really.
He took a long breath and then a sip of his tea, noticing how dirty his
own fingernails were. “I used to play in these fields before the
 houses were built. I was here on this very spot when some of the trees
came down.” Alby looked at the ground, sadness cast in his eyes as he
pictured the transformation of the land that he’d witnessed.
“Oh, you don’t look old enough,” the woman said with a warm smile.
“This house is already a few years old now.”

“Well, it happened about eight years ago. I was eleven then,” said
Alby. He lifted his head, tracing the outline of a paving stone path
that he’d begun creating along one side of the garden, leading to a
raised flower bed that was still to be constructed. He looked beyond
the fence at the back, into the fields behind that still remained.
Memories of eight years ago flooded back into his mind like they
were yesterday. Truth be told, those memories had never gone
away. They played through his head like a comic strip when he was
alone.

There was a part of him that really wanted to tell his story to this
woman who he’d only met that day – a woman who was paying
for him to landscape her garden, not stand there drinking her tea
and talking about his daft tales. He was still an apprentice and
wanted to work hard. Yet, unusually for him, something about her
made him feel like talking.

Another part of him didn’t want to explain it all again to someone

new. He felt guilty at how it started – and sad at how it ended,
embarrassed even. But the part in the middle was wonderful.
Between the start and the end were some of his happiest times –
tangled up with other memories, both good and bad.