IDIOMS

Feelings
  Yesterday I got up on the wrong side of the bed.  I'd been feeling down in the dumps since I quit my job.
  At first, I enjoyed advertising. I worked hard and I loved it. Then I changed companies.
 My new boss began to drive me up the wall. She was always blowing hot and cold about my project proposals. One minte she was positive. The next minute she wasn't interested. I was on edge all the time. It was time for something new. My heart just wasn't in it anymore. So I quit and applied to work overseas as a volunteer.
  After breakfast I went to check the mail. There was a big envelope on the floor. That was a sight for sore eyes! I opened it.
  I got a job in Africa! I'm going to teach in Africa for two years! Suddenly, I was walking on air.

Feeling unhappy
* get up on the wrong side of (the) bed - to start the day feeling unhappy or uncomfortable
* down in the dumps - feeling unhappy

Feeling happy or good
* over the moon or walking on air - to be very happy
* a sight for sore eyes - something that you are happy to see
* whatever floats your boat - to do whatever makes you happy
* pick you up - to make you feel happier
* be swept away or carried away (by something) - to feel very enthusiastic or emotional

Feeling emotional
* have a lump in your throat  or   get choked up  - to feel very emotional
* cool down   or  cool off  -  to stop feeling angry or emotional
* blow hot and cold - to be positive sometimes and sometimes negative
* your heart isn't in it -  you aren't interested in or excited about it
* on edge - nervous or worried
* out of sorts - in a bad mood
* up in arms - very angry
* touch a (raw) nerve   or hit a (raw) nerve  -  to cause an emotional reaction
* drive someone up  the wall - to make someone very unhappy, angry or anxious.

Rewrite this dialog to make it sond more natural by replacing the words in the blue with idioms from the box. You may have to change the form of some words.
down in the dumps              pick (someon) up
driving me up the wall          up in arms
on edge                               a sight for sore eyes

Lynn: Hi! You're looking a little sad (1) ________________________. What's the matter?
Jaime: I guess I've been a bit nervous and worried (2) ______________.
Lynn: Why?
Jaime: It's the new manager. He's really making me angry (3) _____________________.
Lynn: What's he doing?
Jaime: He's very angry (4) ____________ over last month's sales figures.
Lynn: Well, then these new figures will be something that you are happy to see. (5) ________________________.
Jaime: Great! Fantastic! Lynn, that's really made me fell happy (6) _________________.




Agreeing and Disagreeing

Agreeing

* and how/you bet or you can say that again means I agree
* on the same wavelength/ see eye to eye - to agree or have the same opinion of something

Disagreeing

* you must be kidding/ you have got to be kidding - you are not being serious,or "I do not agree with you"
* take issue with someone/something - to disagree (slightly formal)
* at odds - to be in disagreement
* on the contrary - just the opposite of what has been said or believed

Opinions

* put your two cents/ say your piece/ speak up - to give your opinion
* sound out someone - to find out what someone's opinion about something is
* win someone over - to succeed in changing someone's opinion; persuade,convince.
* where someone is coming from - what causes someone to have a particular opinion

Jeff: This is the worst coffee in town.
Maria: You can say that again.
Cathy: And how!
Maria: We should sound out the boss about getting a new machine.
Jeff: You have got to be kidding. There's no way she'd agree.
Cathy: Somebody has to speak up.
Jeff: Let's talk about it at the next staff meeting.
Maria: OK. You say your piece, and then I'll put my two cents in.
Cathy: Excellent! We are definitely on the same wavelength!

Write in the missing word in each sentence.

1. We work well together because we are on the  ____________ wavelength.
2. Well, I'm afraid I have to take   ___________ with you there.
3. She won them __________ by explainingher point of view.
4. I can understand ________ you're coming from.
5. I _______ isssue with someone of their decisions.
6. Let's sound _________ the board at the next meeting.
7. They have been at odds  ______ one another since Dave joined the company.
8. I said my _________  and then waited for their reaction.
9. "I think we should buy two". "________ bet!"
10. "That was a great movie". " ______ how!"



Communicating

Talking and telling

* open up - to talk about things freely and honestly

* between you and me - private

* let someone in on something - to tell someone a secret

* compare notes - to share opinions with someone

* touch base (with someone) - to talk to someone briefly

* pick up on something - to continue to talk about something that someone said earlier in the conversation

* beat around the buch - to avoid talking about something by talking about other things

* bend someone's ear - to talk to someone for a long time

* get through (to somebody) - to reach someone by phone

Listening to or trying to get someone to talk 

* draw soneone out - to try to make someone talk about his or her feelings.

* lend an ear  (to someone) - to listen to someone

Not talking

* bite your tongue/ hold your tongue - to stop yourself from speaking (usually because it mught cause problems if you spoke).

* clam up - to refuse to talk

Receiving information

*get wind of something - to find out about something that was secert or not known before

*in touch (with someone) - communicating with that person

* in the loop - included in the sharing of information

Bob: Hi. I thought I'd call and touch base. How are the party plans going?

Gloria: Well, just between you and me, there's a problem. It's Matt. I think he got wind of the surprise party.

Bob: How?

Gloria: I don't know. Somebody who's in the loop may have let him in on it. I'll see him later and try to find out. I won't beat around the bush. I'll say, "what are you doing for your birthday?" I'll be in touch as soon as I've seen him.


Rewrite this detective story to make it sound more natural by replacing the words in blue with idioms from the box. You may need to change the tense of some verbs.
beat around the bush     clam up     compare notes     get wind of

It was late, and I was tired. I had been trying to get Mack to talk, but after my first question, he just refused to talk anymore (1) _______________.
  "Look, Mack, I'm not going to avoid talking about it (2) _______________ anymore. I think I know what happened that night."
  "You met your old pal Tommy to exchange information and opinions (3) ________________. Both of you had learned about (4) ____________________ the robbery. You woke up the next morning, but Tommy didn't. Tell me why. Now!"

Colors
Red / rose / pink 
* in the red - spending more money than you are earning
* roll out the red carpet (for someone) - to give a special welcome to someone important
* paint the town red - to go out and celebrate without control
* (look) through rose-colored glasses - think that things are better than they really are
* see red - to become very angry
* in the pink - very strong and operating well

Black and white
* black and white - a very clear choice that causes no confusion
* black out - to stop being conscious
* in black and white - in written or printed form
* in the black - earning more money than you are spending
* the pot calling the kettle black - to criticize another person for a fault that you have yourself

Green
* give someone/something the green light  - to give permission for something to happen
* green with envy - wishing very much that you had what someone sle has


Blue
* out of the blue/out of a clear blue sky - happening suddenly and unexpectedly
* untill you are blue in the face - for a long time
* a bolt from the blue - something sudden and unexpected

Fill in the  blanks by writing the correct color to complete the idioms.
1. Her doctor says the condition caused her to _____out.
2. The news was a bolt from the _________.
3. I'll be happy when I see it in _________ and white.
4. They complaineduntil they were both ______ in the face.
5. Roll out the ______ carpet!
6. We can't afford it -we're in the ________________.
7. Now I'm going to take you out and we are going to paint the town _____________.
8. She was __________ with envy.

Circle the statement that has the same meaning as the first sentence.
1. We got the green light on the project yesterday.
 a. We can continue with the project.
 b. We don't know whether we can continue the project or not.
2. He always sees the future through rose-colored glasses.
 a. He has a positive view of the future.
 b. He has a negative view of the future.
3. We are in the red for the third year in a row.
 a. We have extra money.
 b. We don't have enough money.
4. It's all here in black and white - $5000 now and $5000 when the job is finished.
 a. It is in writing.
 b. It is clear
5. We argued untill we were both blue in the face.
 a. We argued suddenly.
 b. We argued for a long time.
6. We should roll out the red carpet for them.
 a. We should celebrate with them.
 b. we should give them a special welcome.
7. It always makes him see red.
 a. It makes him angry.
 b. It makes him feel healthy.



Answers: 1a, 2a, 3b, 4a, 5b, 6b, 7a.

Eating and drinking

Mandy: You said you were going to whip something up, not to prepare a feast!
Palmela: Well, we don't get to break bread with each other that often. And it's a special day.
Jose: Yes, it is. Let's drink to Dave and Mandy!
Palmela: Absolutely! Let's break out the champagne!

(a bit later)
Dave: That was fantastic - salmon washed down with champagne.
Mandy: I'm afraid I really stuffed myself with the salmon. It was delicious.
Jose: I really pigged out, too. Wonderful.

Eating
* break bread with someone - to eat together
* eat like a horse - to eat a lot of food often
* eat someone out of house and home - to eat a lot of food in someone's home
* pig out - to eat a lot
* put away food or drinks - to eat or drink a lot of something
* stuff your face - to eat a lot quickly or continuously
* pick at food - to eat in small pieces without enjoyment

Drinking
* drink to someone/something - to take a drink (usually of alcohol) to wish good health or good luck to someone
* drown your sorrows - to drink a lot of alcohol to stop feeling sad
* tank up on something - to drink a lot of something
* wash something down - to drink liquid to help swallow food or medicine

Preparing and serving food and drink
* break out something (break something out) - to serve food or drink to people
* whip up something (whip something up) - to quickly prepare something to eat
1. Use idioms from the box to complete the following sentences. You may have to change the form of some words.
1.eat like a horse                                          3. pick at something     5. whip up something
2.eat someone out of house and home        4. pig out
1. We got back from the airport, and Claudia ____________ a snack for all of us.
2. The teenagers were home for only three days, but they nearly  _______________.
3. Alex was very hungry and really  ____________________ at lunch.
4. She didn't seem too hungry - she just sat there and _______________  her food.
5. The food was great, and we all   ______________________.

2. Use the prepositions and adverbs in the box to complete the sentences. You may need to use some prepositions more than once.
1. I wish we could break bread  _______ each other more  often.
2. Let's drink _____________________ the new company.
3. I think they put ________________________ two pizzas each!
4. Take two aspirins washed _______________ plenty of water.
5. Tank ______________________ juice and water before we go to the beach.
6. Why are you picking _____ your food? Aren't you hungry?
7. Let's break ___________ the dessert!

3. Put the words in these sentences into the correct order.
1. he stays eats but thin like She a horse. (two possible ways)
He eats like a horse but he stays thin.  or  He stays thin but she eats like a horse.
2. good idea Drowning not your sorrows is a.
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. go Let's and home whip up I'll something. (two possible ways).
_____________________________________________________________________.
_____________________________________________________________________.
4. with They us for two home ate weeks stayed and and us out of house.
________________________________________________________.
5. popcorn We the faces movies and went stuffed to our with.
______________________________________________________________.
6. She out likes to on pig food junk sometimes. (two possible ways).
_______________________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________.

Answers: ex.1.
1e, 2b, 3a, 4c, 5d
ex.2
1.with; 2.to; 3.away; 4.down with; 5.up on; 6.at; 7.out.
ex.3
2.Drowning your sorrows is not a good idea.
3.Let's go home and I'll whip something up (or whip up something).
4. They stayed with us for 2 weeks and ate us out of house and home.
5. We went to the movies and stuffed our faces with popcorn.
6. She likes to pig out on junk food sometimes. (or She sometimes likes to pig out on junk food.)