Idioms

So, I imagine this expression sounds a little weird; after all, how much skin do you have on your teeth?  Well, English speakers do—that’s how we pronounce that “R”.  Just kidding! So, what does this expression mean? Actually, this expression refers to the fact that there is no skin on the teeth, so if you […]

Both of these expressions are used when someone has done far, far more than was required of them. Have a look at the following examples:    – Sergeant McCrosky received a medal for Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty for saving that drowning girl last week.    – Melanie in customer service really […]

– Imagine you have to give a presentation on a topic you’re fairly familiar with, but still haven’t prepared for. If you have to go in right now, without your notes or PowerPoint slides, and give it, we would say that you have to wing it. This means to just jump in and do what needs to be done even if you haven’t prepared for it.

This idiom expresses the idea that in order to know something’s true value or to really know what something is like, you have to try it out first. Sometimes, the corrupted phrase “The proof is in the pudding” is used.  You can use either, though the title one is recommended. Yolanda: Oooh, you made pudding! […]

We use either of these expressions to express the idea that we are preparing something that will be the base of what is to come later.

Lay the groundwork comes from construction, when a foundation must be laid before a building can be built.

Sowing the seeds comes from agriculture, referring to when the seeds are placed in the ground so they can grow and then be harvested later.

We use this fun expression to mean that someone knows what they need to know; to be informed. Examples: I have to go now, but keep me in the loop regarding any progress you all make. No one on my team keeps me in the loop, and then I look like an idiot in front […]

This refrain is used to describe a situation where the total of all the individual parts is less than the total of all of those parts working together.

One of these machines can pull 1000 pounds; individually, three of them can pull a total of 3000 pounds. But if you put the three of them together, they can pull 5000 pounds! So, the whole is 5000 pounds even though the sum of the parts is only 3000!

Oftentimes, when we have problems on our minds, we may find it hard to fall asleep at night, as our brains process and think and generally worry. When this happens, we say that we’re losing sleep over something.

However, if someone mentions a problem and you are not at all worried about it, you can express that idea saying, “I’m not losing any sleep over it.”

A: I’m worried about our situation in the company.

Smoking is often considered a nasty habit, and those who want to quit have several ways to give up the habit. Some try to slowly reduce, perhaps with the help of patches or gum. Others turn to electronic cigarettes. A few even do acupuncture or hypnosis. But often the quickest, cheapest, and most dramatic way to give up smoking is to quit cold turkey.

This expression is useful for those times when we feel that as soon as one bad thing happens to us, many others follow. It’s as if all the bad things happened at once.

First, I tripped over my shoelaces and fell. I was fine, but right then the big boss came in and tripped over me! He didn’t fall down, but he spilled his coffee all over my immediate boss, who was coming over to schedule my quarterly review! When it rains, it pours!

I hope you never need to use this expression!