1. SNS Engineering College Easy Effortless English
6/7/2018
Idioms and Phrases
Easy
Effortless
English
R.N.Raja Ravi Shankar/ SCD

2. R.N.Raja Ravi Shankar/ SCD
What is an idiom?
A penny for your thoIn its loosest sense, the word idiom is often used as a synonym for dialect. In its more scholarly and narrow sense, an idiom or idiomatic expression refers to a construction or expression in one language that cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language.
For instance, the English expression, "She has a bee in her bonnet," meaning "she is obsessed," cannot be literally translated into another language word for word. It's a non-literal idiomatic expression
Add insult to injury
Once in a blue moon
ear it on the grapevine
R.N.Raja Ravi Shankar/ SCD

3. Warmer – What is an idiom?
A ‘night owl’ is an idiom.
If we say that Franz is a ‘night owl’, we don’t mean that he actually is an owl!
night
owl
the words in the idiom
the meaning of the idiom
An idiom is a group of words that have a special meaning when used together. The meaning of the idiom is different from the meaning of the individual words.
Shakespeare used and invented lots of idioms.
R.N.Raja Ravi Shankar/ SCD

4. SNS Engineering College
Task 1 – the words in the idioms
6/7/2018
Match the idioms with the pictures.
at a snail’s pace
send someone packing
a night owl
break the ice
lie low
R.N.Raja Ravi Shankar/ SCD

5. Common Idioms and their meanings:
To break the ice
To be the first to say or do something hoping that others will join you
To have a chip on your shoulder
Describes a person who is angry and defensive or who is always ready to argue or fight
Hold your horses
Be patient; wait a minute
Over the hill
Old or too old to do something
On cloud nine
Very happy or excited
Pulling your leg
Teasing you
R.N.Raja Ravi Shankar/ SCD

6. SNS Engineering College
Task 2 – form more sentences
6/7/2018
1. Acid Test- Acid test proves the effectiveness of something.
Example - I practiced hard at the dance sessions but the acid test will come when the master will assess our solo performances.
2. Cut the ground from under feet - When you cut the ground from under someone's feet, you do something which weakens their position.
Example - When team India hit more than 350 runs in the ODI, they cut the ground from under the opponent's feet.
3. Chase your tail: Spending a lot of time and energy doing a lot of things but actually achieving too little.
Example - He's been chasing his tail all week collecting data but the report is still not ready
4. Whole bag of tricks -Means trying all the clever means to achieve something.
Example - It was really difficult to find the information even after applying the whole bag of tricks.
5. Deliver the goods -Do what is expected or promised.
Example - I have given my car to a new mechanic for repair, hope he delivers the goods.
R.N.Raja Ravi Shankar/ SCD

7. SNS Engineering College
Task 2
6/7/2018
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 turns up 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.”
R.N.Raja Ravi Shankar/ SCD