Idioms

English course · B2 · Upper intermediate · 6 short videos

Goal — I can understand and use common English idioms.

Grammar — fixed expressions (they don't change, they don't translate word for word)

Words — piece of cake, beat around the bush, call it a day, under the weather, hit the sack, hit the nail on the head, break the ice, raining cats and dogs, pouring

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The videos of this unit

ScenePiece of cake

Ben and the printer.

Priya Ben, can you fix the printer?

Ben Piece of cake.

Priya Ben, it's printing everything upside down.

Ben Well, it's… a creative printer now.

Priya Stop beating around the bush. What happened?

Ben Fine. I broke it. Let's call it a day.

Useful expression Piece of cake. — An idiom: it means “very easy”.

SceneUnder the weather

Leo can't come tonight. Really?

Leo I can't come tonight. I'm feeling a bit under the weather.

Mia Oh no! Rest well.

Leo Thanks. I'll hit the sack early.

Mia Is this because Ben is singing karaoke tonight?

Leo …You've hit the nail on the head.

Useful expression I'm feeling a bit under the weather. — An idiom: it means “a bit ill”.

WordBreak the ice

No ice is broken in this video.

Word break the ice /breɪk ði aɪs/ — To say or do something to make people feel relaxed when they first meet.

A joke is a good way to break the ice.
Let's play a game to break the ice.

MistakeStop translating idioms: “It's raining ropes”

Stop saying “It's raining ropes”.

Common mistake ~~It's raining ropes.~~ → It's pouring. / It's raining cats and dogs.

Why: Idioms don't travel. Translated word for word, they make no sense. Learn the English one.

It's pouring outside.
I'm all ears.
It costs an arm and a leg.

SoundsSack or sock?

Hit the sack… or the sock?

Word sack /sæk/ / sock /sɒk/

Astuce (sack) : “sack”: smile and open wide, like in “cat”. “sock”: round your mouth, like in “hot”.

QuizIdioms quiz

Idioms quiz: 4 questions!

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