1、Idioms 1,2,3,4Ace an examA piece of cake Apple of his eyeMad as a hornet(Receive an almost perfect score)(Very easy)(Cherished person)(very angry)The exam was a piece of cake.His daughter was the apple of his eyeI want to ace the exam on FridayI was mad as a hornet when thethief stole my purse.Idiom
2、s 5,6,7,8 Nutty as a fruitcakeAxed Bad mouth someoneBe my guest(very crazy)(fired from a job)(to criticize someone)(help yourself)He acts nutty asa fruitcake whenhe drinks liquor.He didnt think it was fairthat he got axed from his job.I dont like it when myfriend bad mouths someone.Thanks for coming
3、 to the party.Please be my guest.Idioms 9,10Big CheeseBirthday suit (top executive of a company)(completely naked)Dress nice for work tomorrowbecause the big cheese iscoming to see us.A baby is cute in itsbirthday suit,but youarent!Idioms 11,12,13,14Broke(have no money)Bull in a china Shop(A clumsy
4、or tactless person)Butter up or butter up to(become friends by flattery)Catch Cold(to become ill)I am really broke sincethe holidays.I felt like a bull in a china shopwhen I knocked over my drink.It was fun to butter up the secretary when I went for my job interview.It is easy to catch coldwhen the
5、weather is cold.Idioms 15,16,17,18Cat got your tongue(person is not willing to talk because of shyness)Chicken feed(a small amount of money)Cold Turkey(stopping something abruptly)Cough up(To give money unwilling)I just have chicken feed left over afterbuying groceries.He stopped smokingcold turkey.
6、He coughed up the money for theCharity Ball,even though he didntwant to.The cat got her tongue whenshe was introduced to Chen.Idioms 19,20,21,22Crack a book(to study)Cry over spilled milk(complain about something that has happened)Cry wolfCup of tea(To give a false alarm)(Something you enjoy or do w
7、ell or easily)I would like to go tothe movie,but I need to crack a book.It doesnt do any good to cry overspilled milk.If you cry wolf one more time,helpwont come when you really need it.Playing the piano was her cup of tea.Idioms 23,24,25,26Cut off your noseTo spite your faceDead aheadDoublecrossDou
8、ble-talk(To make things worseor yourself because of anger)(Exactly in front)(To promise one thing and do another)(Wording something to be misunderstood)We saw the stop signdead ahead.It was silly of her to cut off hernose to spite her face.I felt bad when my frienddouble crossed me.I couldnt underst
9、and what they weretrying to say because of all theirdouble-talk.Idioms 27,28,29,30Down in the dumps(sad or discouraged)She was down in the dumps when her boyfrienddidnt call her.Drop a line(To write and mail a note or letter)I dropped a line to my Grandmother.Drop by or stop by(to make a short orunp
10、lanned visit)I didnt know my grandparents were coming to town,but I was sure gladthat they dropped by for a visit.Drop dead(Stop bothering meor go away)Dont keep asking me the samequestion,just drop dead.Idioms 31,32,33,34Dutch Treat(Everyone pays for his or her own way)Lets go dutch treatfor lunch.
11、Eat your heart out(Grieve long and hopelessly)You dont need to eatyour heart out just because you didntget an 100%on your exam.Eat your words(to be forced to takeback something you said)Im going to make him eat his words.Every Tom,Dick and Harry(Everyone in general)Every Tom,Dick and Harry wereat th
12、e party.Idioms 35,36,37,38Fast buck(money earned quickly and easily)He thinks gambling is a good wayto earn a fast buck.Fat chance(Little or no possibility)Fat chance that hewill be able to lift that 500 pound weight.Flea Market(place where useditems and antiquesare sold)You can get a good bargain a
13、t theFlea Market.Food for thought(something that isworth thinking about)His presentation on the environmentIs food for thought.Idioms 39,40,41,42Full of beans(You dont know whatYou are talking about)He was full of beans when he was bragging about playing basketball as good as Michael Jordan.Get off
14、my back(Leave me alone)I told her to get offmy back.Get to the point(Talk about the importantIdea)It took the lecturer a long time to get to the point.Give my right arm(Willing to give somethingvaluable to get something)Id give my right arm to know ifshe likes me.Idioms 43,44,45,46Go jump in the lak
15、e(Go away and stopbothering me)I told him to go jump in the lake afterhe had called me 10 times.Green thumb(Ability of gardensuccessfully)He had a green thumb andcould make anything grow in his garden.Hang-up(A delay in someprocess)There was a hang-up in gettingour text books printed.Hit the ceiling
16、(To become veryangry)I hit the ceiling whenhe told me he had wreckedmy car.Idioms 47,48,49,50Hit the hay(sack)(To go to bed)Im tired.Its time to hit the sackHoly cow(Expression ofstrong feelingsimilar to WOW!)Holy cow,hes so handsomeHot water(Having trouble)I got in hot water with myprofessor for no
17、t handing my report in on time.Ill buy that!(I agree with you)After my discussion with Tom,andhe suggested I study harder,I saidIll buy that!Idioms 51,52,53,54In a nutshell(In a few words,briefly)Tell me about yourweekend,in a nutshell.In the red(In an unsuccessful orunprofitable way)My bank account
18、 isin the red.Jump downmy throat(To suddenly become very angry with me)You dont need to jump down mythroat,just because I didnt call you.Kangaroo court(Self-appointeddisciplinary group unfair judgment)The students held a kangaroo courtwhen they thought their advisor had been unfair.Idioms 55,56,57,5
19、8Kick the bucket(to die)You might kick the bucket too soonif you keep drinking and smoking.Make believe(to act as if somethingis true,pretend)It was hard to believethat movie was all make believe.Make your mouthwater(to look or smell somethingvery good to eat)That soup smells so good,it ismaking my
20、mouth water.Money to burnHave more moneythan is necessaryHe is so rich.He has moneyto burn.Idioms 59,60,61,62Nail down(to make sure)I want to nail downthat interview for a new job.Neck and neck(a race or contestthat is nearly equal)The race wasneck and neck at the finish line.No sweat(easily accompl
21、ished)Its no sweat to catch a fish if youuse the right bait.Off the cuff(Without preparation)I had to give a speech off the cuff.Idioms 63,64,65,66On a shoestring(with very little money)Many students go toschool on a shoestringOnce in a blue moon(very seldom or never)He attends class oncein a blue m
22、oon and still wantscredit for it.On the Q.T.(Secretly)Dont tell me.Its suppose to be onthe Q.T.Out of the frying paninto the fire(Out of one troubleinto a worse trouble)The choice the teenager madeput him out of the frying pan intothe fire.Idioms 67,68,69,70Pass away(to die)The soldiers passed away
23、while they were fightingfor our freedom.Piggy back(to carry a childor a load on your back)He carried his littleson piggy back up themountain.Pull your weight(to do your full shareof the work)The boss wanted you to pull yourweight on the new job.Put a bug in your ear(to give importantinformation)He p
24、ut a bug in my ear aboutthe new project we were starting.Idioms 71,72,73,74Raining cats and dogs(a very hard rainstorm.)Lets wait until it stops rainingcats and dogs.Right on(thats correct)You were right on about that book you recommended for me to read.Run into(to meet by chance)It was so fun to ru
25、n into you.Run that by again(repeat what you justsaid)Please run that by me again.I couldnthear you because the music was too loud.Idioms 75,76,77,78Search me(I dont know)Set the world on fire(to do somethingunusual or outstanding)When I graduate,Im goingto set the world on fire.Search me about thew
26、hereabouts of the cafeteria.Shape up(to begin to act or work right)Shape up or I will have tofire you from your job.Shoot the breeze(to talk)My friend and I like to sitaround and shoot the breeze.Idioms 79,80,81,82Snowed(overwhelmedwith work)I cant go to lunch with you todaybecause Im really snowed
27、with work.Snow job(flattery to impress someone)He gave her a snow job before he asked her out on a date.Sob story(a story to makesomeone pity you)She told the class a sob story.Step on it(hurry)I asked him to step on itso I wouldnt miss my flight.Idioms 83,84,85,86Stick up for(to defend againstattac
28、k)But teacher,I had to stick up formy sister.Stick to your ribs(very filling food thatkeeps you from gettinghungry)Im glad I had rice for lunch.It sticks to my ribs so Im not hungry now.Sweetie pie(darling orsweetheart)My wife is my sweetie pie.I love her so much.Take down(to write or record)Please
29、take down the instructionsI am going to give you.Idioms 87,88,89,90Take it easy(to be careful)He said he wantedto take it easy after ahard day at work.Take off(to leave fast)The pilot said it was time totake off.Take with a grainof salt(to not believe everything)Take what he says with agrain of salt
30、.Throw a curve(to mislead or deceivesomeone)Its not our policy to throw acurve in our meetings.Idioms 91,92,93,94Throw in the towel(to give up or admitdefeat)Im ready to throw in thetowel on this project.Thumb a ride(to hitchhike)Hurry!Lets thumb a rideto Beijing.Tie the knot(to get married)Lets tie
31、 the knotduring Chinese New Year.Tighten your belt(to live on less moneythan usual)We are going to have totighten our belt this month.Idioms 95,96,97,98Top banana(top executive of acompany)Mr.Wang was the top bananaof his company.Try on(to put on clothes or shoes to see ifthey fit)May I pleaseTe try
32、 on this shirt.Turn on(to become interestedin something)Being in China,turns me on.Up the creek(in trouble ordifficulty)I felt like I was up the creekwithout a paddle.Idioms 99,100,101,102Up to par(to be in good healthor physical condition)I feel up to par today.Lets go for a hike.Wait on tables(to
33、serve food as awaiter or waitress)I got a job to wait ontables at TGI Fridays.Walking on air(to be happy and excited)I feel like I am walking on air sinceI got an A on the exam.Watch it(be careful)Watch it when you crossthe street.Idioms 103,104,105,106Wet behind the ears(not experienced)He is wet b
34、ehind the ears whenit comes to working on the computer.When hell freezesover(never)When hell freezesover,then I will go on a datewith him.Worth his salt(A very valuable person,usually an employee)Im glad we hired him.He is worth his salt.Wrap up(To put on warmclothes)Wrap up its cold outside today.I
35、dioms 107,108,109,110Yes man(a person who alwaysagrees with the boss)That new employee got this jobbecause he is a yes man.Hop to it(get started)Hop to it on that new proposal.Get on the ball(do it)I told her to get on the ball.Level with me(tell me the truth)Come on and level with me.Idioms 111,112
36、,113,114Hang in there(stay with it)Hang in there until you havefinished your assignment.Off to a flying start(things are goingwell)The class got off to a flying start.Time flies(time goes quickly)Time flies when you arehaving fun.Lend me a hand(help me)Please lend me a hand when Imove to a new apart
37、ment next week.Idioms 115,116,117,118Cutting it close(made it in time)We were cutting it close when wetook the bus to the airport insteadof a taxi.Knock me overwith a feather(surprised me)You could have knocked me over with a feather when you brought me those beautiful flowers.Go fly a kite(go away)
38、Go fly a kite and leave me alone.Hit the road(get going)Lets hit the road if we are going tomake it to Hong Kong.Idioms 119,120,121,122Go haywire(do wrong things)That gang of boys have gone haywire.Like looking fora needle in ahaystack(hard to find)To find my ring is like looking fora needle in a ha
39、ystack.Tough as leather(hard to cut)The beefsteak I ordered wastough as leather.Work yourselfInto a lather(get upset)Dont work yourself into a latherover your experiment.Idioms 123,124,125,126Wiped out(tired)I was really wiped out after the three hour test.Out of this world.(very good)Her presentati
40、on was out of this world.Eat crow(take back whatyou said)Its hard to eat crow when yousay the wrong thing.Eat humble pie(admit your error)The boss insisted that I eathumble pie.Idioms 127,128,129,130Bark up thewrong tree(going the wrongdirection)He was barking up the wrong tree whenhe told us to tur
41、n left.Chew the fat(talk)I like to chew the fat with myfriends.Jump the gun(start before youare ready)It is easy to jump the gun when youare running a race.Buzz off(go away)I told him to buzz off and leave me alone.Idioms 131,132,133,134Whats the scoop(latest news)Whats the scoop on the worldoil pri
42、ces?He is flying high(doing well)He is flying high since the businesshe started is doing so well.He blew it(not doing well)He blew it when herobbed the bank.Looks for greenerpastures(not happy with whathe has)Jim is always looking for greener pasturesinstead of being happy with what he has.Idioms 13
43、5,136,137,138Dyed-in-the-wool(committed to something)He is a dyed-in-the-wool soccer fan.Caught in a bind(difficult situation)He got caught in a bind when hecouldnt pay the loan off.All tied up(busy)Every time I called his cell phone,it was all tied up.Time after time(constantly,repeatedly)Ive told
44、him time after time to geta haircut.Idioms 139,140,141,142Call it a day(finish for the day)Its time to call ita day.Kill time(waste time)I dont like to just kill time.Iwould rather do somethingproductive.Chip off the old block(to be like or the sameas someone)(father)Hes a chip off the old block.The
45、yboth like the same thing.Jailbird(someone who isor has been in prison)We didnt know he had been a jailbird,untilafter we had hired him.Idioms 143,144,145,146Open hearted(sincere,generous)Her daughter was open hearted.Beside the point(not pertinent)Saying sorry is beside the point.You tookyour frien
46、ds backpack and wouldntgive it back.Burst into tears(to start cryingsuddenly)He burst into tears when their teamlost the championship game.Cute as a bugs ear(cute and loveable,refersto children)There new baby was cute as a bugs ear.Idioms 147,148,149,150Cut corners(to go by the shortestway,easiest w
47、ay,notnecessarily the best.She tried to cut corners and foundout she did it wrong.Keep a straightface(to prevent oneselffrom laughing whensomething is funny)It was hard to keep a straight face whenhe kept telling jokes.Be on target(to achieve a desiredgoal;to be correct)I wanted to be on target when Igave my presentation about enery.Uptight(worried,irritated,excessively eager or anxiousHe was too uptight about hisnew job.
