English for Everyone

<b>English for Everyone</b>
Stephen Lau's website to help you get the wisdom to live as if everything is a miracle.

Monday, December 18, 2017

English Idioms

Death on someone or something: harmful to
e.g. This road is so rough that it’s death on car tires.

Out on a limb: in a dangerous or risky position
e.g. If you go against my better judgment, you will be out on a limb.

Dog in the manger: a very selfish person
e.g. Don’t be a dog in the manger! You no longer need this; why don’t you give it to us?

Trump up: make up something untrue
e.g. The witness trumped up an excuse why he lied previously.

Poke one’s nose into something: interfere with
e.g. I don’t like the way you poke your nose into my affairs.

Run in the family: a characteristic in all members of a family
e.g. Longevity runs in the family: they all live to a ripe old age.

Above all: most importantly
e.g. Above all, you must have a valid visa if you wish to continue to stay in the United States.

Have it coming: deserve what one gets
e.g. Failure was unavoidable. What you did had it coming.

A little bird told me: somehow I knew
e.g. “How did you know what I did?” “Well, a little bird told me.”

Tie up: engage or occupy in doing something
e.g. He was tied up at the meeting, and could not come to the phone.

All at sea: confused
e.g. The lawyer was all at sea when he read the two conflicting reports of the incident.

As flat as a pancake: very flat
e.g. You left front wheel tires is as flat as a pancake.

Stephen Lau
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