Idioms – Uses, Types and Examples
Idioms
Idioms are phrases people use in everyday language that does not make sense, but we understand what they mean.
Why do we Use Idioms?
- Used correctly, idioms can amplify messages in a way that draws readers in and helps to awaken their senses.
- Idioms must be used in proper situations.
- They improve our speech and increase our vocabulary.
- The vocabulary and the grammar of the idioms are fixed, and if we change them, we lose the idiom’s meaning.
Body Idioms
- My flesh and blood: Relative
- Turn a blind eye: To ignore something that you know is wrong
- To jump down someone’s throat: To react angrily to something that someone says or does
- Head over heels: Deeply in love
Food Idioms
- Souped up: Made more powerful or stylish
- Sell like hot cakes: Bought by many people
- Spill the beans: Reveal the truth
- Use your noodle: Use your brain
Animal Idioms
- Ants in pants: Unable to sit still or remain calm
- Cat nap: A short sleep
- Chicken out: To decide not to do something out of fear
- Copycat: A person who does the same thing as someone else
Idioms with Time
- From time to time: I read the newspaper from time to time
- Kill time: I am just killing time until my mom arrives.
- Time out: I need a soda. Can we take a time out?
- Only a matter of time: We will have an exam; it’s only a matter of time.
Examples
Jump at your own shadow.
To be overly frightened.
He spilled the beans.
He told the secret.
Get off my back!
Could you leave me alone?
Jump off the page.
Something that stands out.
He kicked the bucket!
He died!
I am at the end of my rope!
I am so frustrated!
When pigs fly.
Something that will never happen.
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