English picture idioms: Raining cats and dogs
It’s raining cats and dogs Meaning: it’s raining very heavily Example: Let’s stay at home today. It’s raining cats and dogs, and I don’t want to get wet. Image – ©Brillo 2010
English expressions and idioms
Easy English expressions and idioms
A lot of people find English expressions and idioms difficult but here are some easy ones! They all use the word ‘easy’. take it easy Meaning: to relax Example: Your exams are over now so you can take it easy for a while. easy on the eye Meaning: to be nice or attractive to look …
English expressions and idioms with ‘soft’
Last week, we looked at expressions and idioms with ‘hard’. This week, let’s look at the opposite – English expressions and idioms using ‘soft’. soft sell Meaning: to sell something in a polite, gentle manner Example: Dave’s an expert with the soft sell. He’s so charming, he can convince people to buy anything. to have …
English expressions and idioms with ‘hard’
Some people find English expressions and idioms hard to learn. I always teach students to remember idioms as one single piece of vocabulary rather than individual words. If you find idioms hard, try using this method – it really works. The theme of our English expressions and idioms this week is ‘hard’: caught between a …
English expressions and idioms with ‘hang’
We saw what a hung parliament was yesterday on the World of Words and that started me thinking of more English expressions and idioms with ‘hang’. Here are my favourites: to get the hang of something Meaning: to become competent at a new skill Example: I’ve been learning English for a year and I’m getting …
English expressions and idioms with ‘golden’
It’s Golden Week in Japan this week so I hope all the readers over there are having a nice, relaxing break. This week, our English expressions have a ‘golden’ theme in honour of Golden Week. a golden handshake Meaning: a financial incentive for someone to join or leave a company Example: Our company provides $10,000 …
English expressions and idioms with ‘read’
After yesterday’s tips on how to organise your English reading material, today let’s continue the reading theme and look at some English expressions and idioms with ‘read’: to read someone like a book Meaning: to be able to work out someone’s intentions even if he is lying Example: Sam says he doesn’t like Sally but …
English expressions and idioms with ‘push’
Last week, we looked at some English idioms and expressions with ‘pull’ so this week, let’s look at some with ‘push’: push off Meaning: go away Example: I am sick of you being rude to me all the time. Why don’t you just push off and talk to someone else? push it Meaning: to try …