Idioms
to go to town
definition
to do something enthusiastically and as well as possible, and it can also involve spending a lot of money
sentence
They really went to town for their wedding! I've never seen anything like it!
Okay, I'll have a birthday party, but there's no need to go to town. A small event will be fine.
over the moon
definition
ecstatic, delighted, happy
sentence
I'm over the moon that the purchase of our new house has gone through!
She looks over the moon. She must have gotten some good news.
This idiom is from my lesson plan on China & Cars: A Love Story
to keep something under wraps
definition
to keep something a secret
sentence
She kept her pregnancy under wraps for a long time.
If he hadn't kept that problem under wraps, we could have helped him solve it!
This idiom is from my lesson plan on Business Ethics
over the moon
definition
very happy
sentence
He was over the moon that she agreed to marry him.
This idiom is from my lesson plan on Emotional Intelligence
to make the grade
definition
to reach the required or expected standard
sentence
Do you really think I should apply for that scholarship? I don't know if I'll make the grade.
the bubble burst
defintion
a good and successful time has come to an end
sentence
The economy was just doing too well, the bubble had to burst at some stage!
(taken from my Google NGram Viewer lesson plan)
to drive somebody round the bend
definition
to drive somebody crazy, to make somebody annoyed and angry
sentence
The neighbour's dog starts barking at 6 o'clock every morning, it drives me round the bend!
(taken from my Cutting Travel Costs lesson plan)
to be on the ball
definition
to know what's going on, to be well informed
sentence
In order to beat him at chess, you really have to be on the ball.
(taken from my Intelligence Lesson Plan)
to throw in the towel
definition
to give up
sentence
Don't throw in the towel! There's a good chance you'll be able to pass that exam.
I think she threw in the towel too early. If she had persevered she could have won.
(taken from my Olympics Lesson Plan)
it's not over until the fat lady sings
definition
you say this when someone is losing a game or competition, but you think there is still a chance they might win
(this idiom is taken from my Freakonomics lesson)
once in a blue moon
definition:
very rarely
sentence:
Since our son was born, we only get to go to the cinema once in a blue moon.
My mother-in-law only visits us once in a blue moon, because she lives so far away.
This phrase refers to the appearance of a second full moon within a calendar month, which actually happens about every thirty-two months.
This idiom comes from my weather vocabulary list.
to take the bull by the horns
definition:
to take decisive action
sentence:
If you want to go to university you need to take the bull by the horns and start finding out what to do.
If you want to go on a group ski holiday, take the bull by the horns and organise it yourself.
to smell a rat
definition:
to suspect or sense that something is wrong
sentence:
As soon as he told me that he had bought a new car, I smelt a rat. There's no way he could have got that kind of money legally!
She's not normally so nice to me, I smell a rat.
Other idioms so far (about cats)...
look at what the cat dragged in
definition:
someone walks in looking very messy
sentence:
When someone walks into the room (maybe you've been expecting them for a while, and they look messy), you would say, "Oh! Look at what the cat dragged in!"
to let the cat out of the bag
defintion:
to tell a secret
sentence:
John's party was meant to be a surprise, but Susie let the cat out of the bag.
no room to swing a cat
definition:
a small space
sentence:
How are you going to survive for a week in that tent, there's no room to swing a cat!
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We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
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