Flash player is required to listen and record. Click here to ensure you have the latest flash player installed.
Idioms A - D
Idioms are non-literal expressions. This means that the meaning that you are expected to understand is different from what the words should mean. For example when we say that it's "raining cats and dogs" what we are really saying is that it is raining very hard.
Idioms are widely used in conversational English. In this section you will have an opportunity to hear, see and practice the pronunciation of a few idioms.
Our team is strong, but it won't be a piece of cake to make it to the finals.
a piece of cake: very easy.
When the teacher found out, all hell broke loose.
all hell broke loose: people did crazy things, everybody was fighting.
The morning after the fire, it was business as usual at the bank.
business as usual: everything is normal, nothing has changed.
The soil is too stony for farming. I think we should call it quits.
call it quits: stop doing something, quit what you are doing.
Joe may be the captain, but the coach calls the shots.
call the shots: make the decisions, decide what happens.
The cream of the crop will be invited to the party.
cream of the crop: best of the group, the finest ones.
Please, cut to the chase. We're tired of the story already.
cut to the chase: tell the exciting part, get to the point.
This hospital is at the cutting edge of medical technology.
cutting edge: the latest technology, state of the art.
If you're caught using Dad's camera, you're dead meat.
dead meat: finished, terminated, done for.
Pat dodged a bullet. He passed the final exam.
dodged a bullet: avoid a failure or loss or injury.
That explanation didn't wash with the auditor, and it failed to convince the President.
doesn't wash: not believable, is not logical, does not make sense.
He will be a great manager; he's done it all.
done it all: had a lot of experience, done every activity.
The meeting seemed to drag on all afternoon.
drag on: used when speaking about something or someone which is exceedingly boring.
I had to draw the line at his staying out past midnight.
draw the line: set a limit to what will be done.
Peter was dressed to kill for the job interview.
dressed to kill: dressed extremely well; look very sharp.
Listen, record and practice
Record your voice, then click Stop when you finished