‫مدرسة المدار العالمية‬

Orbit International School

2021-2022

SECOND TRIMESTER

Grade 9B

ENGLISH

STUDENT NAME: ___________

SEC: ______
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 Idiomatic phrases

Idioms are literary devices used for portraying the elaborate meaning by the writers. Idioms are the fixed group
of words that has specific meanings from their individual meanings.

Here are some commonly used idiomatic phrases.

1. ‘The best of both worlds’ – means you can enjoy two different opportunities at the same time.
“By working part-time and looking after her kids two days a week she managed to get the best of both worlds.”

2. ‘Speak of the devil’ – this means that the person you’re just talking about actually appears at that moment.
“Hi Tom, speak of the devil, I was just telling Sara about your new car.”

3. ‘See eye to eye’ – this means agreeing with someone.

“They finally saw eye to eye on the business deal.

4. ‘Once in a blue moon’ – an event that happens infrequently.

“I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon.”

5. ‘When pigs fly’ – something that will never happen.

“When pigs fly she’ll tidy up her room.”

6. ‘To cost an arm and a leg’– something is very expensive.

“Fuel these days costs and an arm and a leg.”

7. ‘A piece of cake’– something is very easy.

“The English test was a piece of cake.”

8. ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ – to accidentally reveal a secret.

“I let the cat out of the bag about their wedding plans.”

9. ‘To feel under the weather’ – to not feel well.

“I’m really feeling under the weather today; I have a terrible cold.”

10. ‘To kill two birds with one stone’ – to solve two problems at once.
“By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to go away but also spend time with
him.”

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11. ‘To cut corners’ – to do something badly or cheaply.
“They really cut corners when they built this bathroom; the shower is leaking.”

12. ‘To add insult to injury’ – to make a situation worse.

“To add insult to injury the car drove off without stopping after knocking me off my bike.”

13. ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’ – to not judge someone or something based solely on appearance.
“I thought this no-brand bread would be horrible; turns out you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

14. ‘Break a leg’ – means ‘good luck’ (often said to actors before they go on stage).
“Break a leg, Sam, I’m sure your performance will be great.”

15. ‘To hit the nail on the head’ – to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
“He hit the nail on the head when he said this company needs more HR support.”

16. ‘A blessing in disguise’ – An misfortune that eventually results in something good happening later on.

“The lockdown in 2020 proved to be a blessing in disguise. It gave me lots of time to spend with my family.”

17. ‘Call it a day’ – Stop working on something

“I think we have done enough work today, I am feeling tired now, let’s call it a day.”

18. ‘No pain no gain’ – You have to work hard for something you want.

“I am going to the gym twice a day and all my muscles ache, but you know what they say, no pain no gain!”
19.‘Giving someone the cold shoulder’ – To ignore someone.

I thought we were friends, but the last time I saw him he gave me the cold shoulder.

20.‘Stealing someone’s thunder’ – Taking credit for someone else achievements.

I was telling a joke and he just interrupted me to tell a different one. He always steals my thunder.

21. a hard pill to swallow _ Something that is difficult to accept.

That my own son could have done something so horrible is a hard pill to swallow.

22. Blow hot and cold _ alternate inconsistently between two moods, attitudes, or courses of action.

He's been blowing hot and cold about the trip to Brazil.

23. go to great length _ to make a great or extreme effort to do something.

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He went to great lengths to learn the truth.

24. a fair weather friend _ a person whose friendship cannot be relied on in times of difficulty.

“I thought Gene would always stick by me, but when I got into trouble, he turned out to be a fair-weather
friend.”

25. in apple pie order _ arranged neatly or perfectly.

Everything in the cupboard was (arranged) in apple-pie order.

26. Keep a cool head_ to stay calm.

It is important to keep a cool head in a crisis.

27. have a song on the brain _ be always thinking about something.

I've got that song on the brain today.

28. give someone a hand _ to give someone help.

Marcia has taught her children to lend a hand when it comes to cleaning up after meals.

29. toe the line _ accept the authority, policies, or principles of a particular group, especially unwillingly.

He knew that he had to toe the official line because he couldn't afford to lose his job.

30. clear your head _ to empty your head of all thoughts, to see things more clearly.

I won't have another drink, thanks. I need to have a clear head for my meeting in the morning.

31. to be a pain in the neck _ A source of annoyance, a nuisance.

Joan is a real pain in the neck, with her constant complaining.

32. have a heart of gold _ have a generous nature.

Although she is not very rich, she has a heart of gold.

33. be in two minds whether_ to be unable to decide about something.

I was in two minds whether or not to come this morning.

34. get on someone nerves _ irritate someone.

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Lately he's not done a bloody thing and it's getting on my nerves.

35. have a good head for figures _ To have an exceptional mental ability to calculate numbers; to be good with
numbers.

I've always been good at math—I guess I just have a head for figures.

36. fish in the sea _ used to say that there are many more people available for a romantic relationship.

I know you're sad because you and your friend broke up, but he's not the only fish in the sea.

37. a drop in the ocean_ an amount that is so small that it does not make an important difference or have much
effect.

They need to raise thousands of pounds for this project, so our 20-pound donation is just a drop in the ocean.

38. get his head in the clouds _ Be absentminded or impractical.

She must have had her head in the clouds when she made the reservations.

39. eat a horse _ used to illustrate that someone is very hungry.

I didn't eat today and now I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.

40. a bit under the weather _ feel slightly ill.

I was still feeling a bit under the weather.

41. a short in the dark _ an attempt to guess something when you have no information or knowledge about the
subject and therefore cannot possibly know what the answer is.

It was really just a shot in the dark when I tried to fix our washing machine, but I was actually able to get it wo
rking again on my first try!

42. over the moon _ extremely happy; delighted.

They're going on holiday on Wednesday so they're all over the moon.

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