|
|
¡¡ Listed below are some common idioms. There are many, many more in English and the more you know the better. The collection below were taken from various movies viewed over the period of one year. For the student of English, it helps to divide idioms into two types, active and passive. I define an active idiom as one which the student knows and can use easily. I define a passive idiom as one which the student knows, or needs to know, but does really need to use (until quite advanced). It can be useful to study an idiom-based book but you cannot just suddenly go out and start using them all – the person you talk to would find it very strange indeed. Rather, you should learn and passively understand the majority, and actively try to use your favourite few. Naturally, a native speaker understands most idioms he hears and can figure out the meaning of new ones, but even so, idioms from different English speaking cultures sometimes flummox even the best of us. One important thing to remember with idioms is that they are not fixed exactly. Different subjects and verbs, especially ¡®to be¡¯, often appear to confuse the unwary. Also, some use older forms of English vocabulary and grammar. For example: You can¡¯t teach a fish how to swim It¡¯s like teaching a fish how to swim He¡¯s trying to teach a fish how to swim You¡¯ll never teach a fish how to swim And sometimes we twist it: She has taught the fish to swim! (Perhaps the student succeeded in teaching the English teacher a certain point about English grammar) Common Idiom List Idioms of colour Feel blue As cold as ice Red hot Idioms of animal Big fish eat little fish Don't change horses in midstream When the cat's away, the mice will play Don¡¯t cry wolf (To) teach a fish how to swim Every dog has his day (To) kill two birds with one stone Idioms of food (It¡¯s) a piece of cake (It¡¯s no use crying over) spilt milk (It¡¯s) the icing on the cake A pie in the sky No beef (I¡¯m) as hot as a pancake Too many cooks spoil the broth Idioms of people God helps those who help themselves Opportunity makes a thief A drowning man will grasp at a straw Beggars can¡¯t be choosers Speak of the devil It takes two to tango (It¡¯s) a match made in heaven (To) have the same chemistry You could sell him Big Ben Poker face (You can¡¯t get) blood from a stone Ignorance is bliss Thrown away like an old shoe Idioms of life What must be, must be Out of the frying pan and into the fire Life is full of ups and downs Don¡¯t count your chickens before they hatch Constant dripping wears away stone Once bitten, twice shy What you sow is what you reap Nothing ventured, nothing gained A little knowledge is dangerous Just starting is half the journey. What¡¯s learned in the cradle is carried to the grave Walls have ears A door must either be shut or open There¡¯s no smoke without fire No news is good news Every second seems like an hour (It¡¯s like) searching for a needle in a haystack |
Copyright © 2007 WritingCorrection.com
|