1. Idioms Homework 1 A penny for your thoughts
This is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about.
Example: You seem very pleased with yourself today. A penny for your thoughts!
2 Add insult to injury
To make a bad situation even worse.
Example: I was already late for work and, to add insult to injury, I spilled coffee all over myself.
3 Take what someone says with a pinch of salt
To not take what someone says too seriously. There is a big possibility that what he/she says is only partly true.
Example: Take whatever that paper publishes with a pinch of salt—they almost never get it right!
4 Once in a blue moon
Of something that happens very rarely.
Example: Since he got married, Peter only comes to the nightclub once in a blue moon.
5 Caught between two stools (Fall between two stools)
When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
Example: He tries to be both teacher and friend, but falls between two stools.
6 See eye to eye / Not see eye to eye
This is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something (or not).
Example: His mother and father don't see eye to eye about John’s decision to drop out of college.

2. Idioms Homework 7 Hear it on the grapevine
This means ‘to hear a rumour' about something or someone.
Example: I heard on the grapevine that Stacy and Mark are getting a divorce.
8 Miss the boat
This is used to say that someone missed his or her chance at something.
Example: The price of gold rose so quickly that many investors simply missed the boat.
9 Kill two birds with one stone
This means ‘to do two things at the same time'.
Example: Cycling to work is a great way of killing two birds with one stone: getting more exercise while cutting down on the cost of your daily travelling.
10 On the ball
When someone understands the situation well. / When someone is very efficient.
Example: I can't believe Molly got that report done so quickly—she's really on the ball.
11 Cut corners
When something is done badly to save money or to save time.
Example: Cutting corners in production led to an obvious loss in the quality of the product.
12 To hear something straight from the horse's mouth
To hear something from an authoritative source.
Example: ‘How do you know he’s retiring?’ ‘I got it straight from the horse’s mouth. He told me himself.’

3. Idioms Homework 13 Sit on the fence
When someone does not want to choose or make a decision.
Example: You can't sit on the fence any longer—you need to choose which of these two strategies we need to use.
14 The last straw
The final problem in a series of problems.
Example: An increase in bank lending rates could be the last straw for thousands of borrowers.
15 Feeling a bit under the weather (in place of repeat)
Feeling slightly ill.
Example: We were out celebrating Valerie's birthday last night—that's why we're all under the weather today
16 Pull the wool over someone’s eyes
To deceive, fool, or misdirect someone, especially to gain a personal advantage.
Example: Be prepared for your kids to try to pull the wool over your eyes when they're teenagers.
17 Speak of the devil
An acknowledgment of a person who has arrived just as or after they were being discussed. (A shortening of the longer proverb: speak of the devil, and he [is sure to] [will] [shall] appear.)
Example: ‘I haven’t seen Leo for a while.’ ‘Well, speak of the devil, here he is!’
18 Sweep it under the carpet
To ignore, deny, or hide something that is embarrassing, unlikable, or damaging to one's reputation.
Example: The senator has been accused of trying to sweep his former drug use under the carpet.