Mastering the Nuances of Language: Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Slang - Quick Targets Idioms 50

Unveiling the Power of Idioms

Language is more than just words on a page or sounds uttered from our mouths. It is a complex tapestry woven with intricate expressions that convey nuanced meanings and add depth to our communication. Idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang are essential components of this tapestry, adding color and character to our language.

English Idioms 2: Sports—Hit a Home Run, 2024 Edition: Idioms, Phrasal Verbs & Slang (Quick Targets - Idioms 50)

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Language	:	English
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Idioms are phrases or expressions that have a figurative meaning different from the literal meaning of the individual words that compose them. They are like linguistic puzzles that require us to think beyond the surface level to grasp their true intent.

50 Essential Idioms to Master

1. A piece of cake: Something that is very easy
2. A dime a dozen: Something that is very common
3. Apple of my eye: Someone or something that is very precious
4. Back to square one: To have to start over again
5. Barking up the wrong tree: To be mistaken about something or someone
6. Beat around the bush: To avoid talking about something directly
7. Bite the bullet: To do something unpleasant or difficult
8. Blessing in disguise: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good
9. Break a leg: To wish someone good luck before a performance
10. Burn the midnight oil: To stay up late studying or working
11. Can't judge a book by its cover: To not make assumptions about someone or something based on appearances
12. Chip on your shoulder: To have a grudge against someone
13. Cost an arm and a leg: To be very expensive
14. Cry over spilled milk: To regret something that has happened in the past
15. Cut to the chase: To get to the main point
16. Dressed to the nines: To be dressed in formal or fancy clothes
17. Elephant in the room: A problem or issue that everyone knows about but avoids talking about
18. Feeling under the weather: To be feeling sick
19. Get your act together: To organize or improve yourself
20. Have a lot on your plate: To be very busy
21. Hit the nail on the head: To say or do exactly the right thing
22. In a nutshell: In brief or summary
23. It's all Greek to me: To not understand something
24. Jump on the bandwagon: To follow a popular trend
25. Keep your fingers crossed: To hope for a good outcome
26. Kill two birds with one stone: To accomplish two things at once
27. Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret
28. Make a long story short: To tell a story in a brief way
29. Miss the boat: To lose an opportunity
30. Money talks: To have a lot of influence because of your wealth
31. Nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof: To be very nervous
32. No pain, no gain: You must make an effort to achieve something
33. Off the hook: To be free from a difficult situation
34. On cloud nine: To be very happy
35. Once in a blue moon: Very rarely
36. Out of the blue: Unexpectedly
37. Pain in the neck: A person or thing that is annoying
38. Piece of mind: A feeling of calm and relaxation
39. Pull the plug: To end or stop something
40. Raining cats and dogs: To be raining very heavily
41. Red herring: A misleading clue or distraction
42. See eye to eye: To agree with someone
43. Sleeping like a baby: To be sleeping very soundly
44. Spill the beans: To reveal a secret
45. Stick out like a sore thumb: To be very noticeable
46. Take the bull by the horns: To face a challenge directly
47. That's the last straw: The final thing that causes someone to lose patience
48. Under the weather: To be feeling sick
49. Up in the air: Uncertain or undecided
50. When pigs fly: Never

These idioms will help you communicate like a native speaker, adding depth and color to your conversations. Use them wisely, and you'll be sure to impress your audience.

Unveiling the Versatility of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are verbs that consist of a base verb and a preposition or adverb. They have a different meaning from the base verb alone and often add a specific nuance to the sentence.

For example, the verb "run" becomes "run out of" when combined with the preposition "out of," indicating that something is finished or depleted.

• I ran out of milk.

Here are a few more common phrasal verbs:

• Bring up: To mention or discuss something
• Call off: To cancel something
• Check in: To arrive at a hotel or other destination
• Come up with: To think of an idea
• Fill in: To provide information or details
• Give up: To stop trying
• Hang out: To spend time informally with someone
• Look into: To investigate something
• Make up: To reconcile after an argument
• Put off: To delay something
• Turn up: To arrive unexpectedly

English Idioms 2: Sports—Hit a Home Run, 2024 Edition: Idioms, Phrasal Verbs & Slang (Quick Targets - Idioms 50)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8524 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	131 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE