ADVISOR1 : En. Jaafar b. Hj.

Othman

ADVISOR 2 : Pn. Siti Amnah bt. Haji Omar

CHAIR PERSON : Pn. Zaiton bt. Hj. Awang

V. CHAIR PERSON : Pn. Jessica Kew

SECRETARY : En. Mohd Fairulnizam

TREASURER : Cik Jenny Yap Tze Kie

COMMITTEE MEMBERS :

* Year 1 - Pn. Salbiah

* Year 2 - Pn. Syarifah Wanty Jaibin

* Year 3 - Pn. Roselyn Olaybal

* Year 4 - Pn. Nur Misya Jan Abdullah

* Year 5 - Pn. Irdaningsih Ramle

* Year 6 - En. Marinus @ Martin Giau

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS 2009

MORNING SESSION

Year 4 ~ Pn. Nur Misya Jan Abdullah/ En. Mohd Fairulnizam / Pn. Emily Madusin
Year 5 ~ Pn. Zaiton Hj Awang / Pn. Irdaningsih Ramle / En Marinus @ Martin Giau
Year 6 ~ Pn. Irdaningsih Ramle / En. Marinus @ Martin Giau / Pn Zaiton Hj. Awang

AFTERNOON SESSION

Year 1 ~ Pn. Salbiah / Pn. Kala a/p Vyapury Muniandy

Year 2 ~ Pn. Syarifah Wanty / Pn. Roselyn OLaybal / Cik Jenny Yap Tze Kie
Year 3 ~ Pn. Helena A. Bansing / Pn. Roselyn Olaybal / Pn. Kew Yen Phin
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PANEL

Introduction

It is one of the departments in the School Curriculum Committee which comprises the
English Language teachers of the morning and afternoon.

Vision

~ attempt to achieve 80 % of English passes in the UPSR for the coming years
~ reduce the number of pupils who are unable to master the three main skills in language
learning (speaking, reading and writing) by the end of Year 6

Mission

~ working with full commitment, equipped with specific skills and requisite knowledge base,
to ensure effective teaching and learning process as well as pupils’ language mastery

Panel’s Role

1. Improve and upgrade the quality and effectiveness of language teaching and learning.

2. Run meetings/discussions (informal/formal) to identify and solve problems pertaining to

teaching and learning, also to discuss the current curriculum implementation.

3. Review analysis on pupils’ performance in English Language monthly tests, semester

exams and also UPSR based on the school target.

4. Develop teaching strategies and approaches to cultivate pupils’ learning interest and
language proficiency.

5. Generate positive values such as cooperation, teamwork spirit among the members in the
panel as well as other panel members.

6. Exchange new ideas, knowledge and language expertise gained from recent
courses/seminars/workshops attended by panel member(s).

7. Suggest, plan and ensure successful implementation of the English activities throughout
the year.

GET TO KNOW US..

When we meet a person or come across new ideas,
many things come up to our mind.

We may not like how a person looks or his ideas.

It's only when we get to know each other better,
friendship is developed.
Ideas may be accepted or at least understood.

So, get to know us.

SK Tobobon as the name is.
Communicate and make friends,
And you’ll learn to love the school and the ideas..
if not the teachers!
 Image Idiom Explanation

"... apple of ..... eye."

For example: Someone that one likes a lot.

"She was the apple of his eye."

"An apple a day keeps the doctor

away."

For example:
Eating fruit is good/healthy for you.

"The doctor told her to eat more fresh

fruit, after all an apple a day keeps the
doctor away."

"Bring home the bacon."

For example:
To earn a living for the family.

"He felt it was his responsibility to

bring home the bacon."

"Bread and butter."

For example: Basic needs of life

(food,shelter,clothing).
"He was talking about bread and
butter issues."

To be a butterfingers.

For example:- Somebody who often drops things

He had the ball, but he dropped it!

What a butterfingers!
Butter someone up.
To flatter someone to try to get their
  For example:
favor or friendship.
"He was always buttering up the
boss hoping for promotion."
  Butter wouldn't melt in his / her If butter wouldn't melt in someone's
mouth, they look as if they would
 mouth.

For example:- never do anything wrong although you

think they would.
"No one ever thought she was
naughty, she always looked as if
butter wouldn't melt in her mouth."
"A piece of cake."

For example:
To find something easy to do.

"She knew she had passed the English

exam, it was a piece of cake."

"The icing on the cake."

For example:
Something nice that is added to
something else that is already good.
"I was happy to pass the exam, the
high mark was just the icing on the
cake."

"To sell like hot cakes."

For example:
To sell quickly or rapidly.

"The new Spice Girls' album sold like

hot cakes."

"A big cheese"

For example: An important person, a leader (usually

about business).
"Anita Roddick was the big cheese at
the Body Shop."

"Chalk and cheese"

For example:
To be the complete opposite of
 
someone.
"I'm not surprised they're getting
divorced, they were always chalk and
cheese."
 "Another bite at the cherry."
To be given a another chance of doing
For example:
or getting something.
"Frank got another bite at the cherry
when he resat his exams."
"To cherry-pick."
To choose only the best people or
  For example:-
things in a way that is not fair.
Grammar schools often get accused
of cherry-picking the best pupils.
What's cooking?

For example:
What's happening?
A: Hey guys! What's cooking?
B: Nothing much. Same old, same
old.
"As cool as a cucumber."

For example:
To remain calm under pressure.
"Although he was driving at 110
mph James Bond was as cool as a
cucumber."
"A cowardy custard."

For example: A way of saying someone is a coward.

Maybe because custard is yellow.
Me: "I'm scared of spiders."
Hubby: "They're only little! Don't
be such a cowardy custard."
"A bad egg."

For example:
A bad person, to be avoided.

"He never phoned his mother. He was

a bad egg."

"Egg .... on."

For example: To urge someone to do something

(usually negative).
"He was always in trouble at school,
his class mates always egged him on."
 "Have egg on one's face."

For example:
To be caught out or embarrassed.
"He ended up with egg on his face,
when she found out he had been
lying."

"You can't make an omelette without

breaking eggs."

For example:
To do something to the detriment of
something else.
"He worked so hard to make the
company a success it made him ill, but
you can't make an omelette without
breaking eggs."

To put all your eggs in one basket

For example:
To risk everything on one person or
 
thing.
"You shouldn't invest all your money in
Microsoft, it would be like putting all
your eggs in one basket."

"To walk on eggshells."

For example:- To try hard not to upset someone or

 
something.
Everyone in the family had to walk
on eggshells when he was in a bad
mood.
"A pretty or fine kettle of fish"

For example:- A difficult or awkward situation.

"They're divorced, and someone's Thanks to Otrebs

sat them next to each other - that's a
fine kettle of fish."
"A different kettle of fish"

For example:- A different matter or issue.

 
"Oh! They want to place an order? Thanks to Otrebs
That's a different kettle of fish. Of
course I'll talk to them."
 To have bigger fish to fry.

  For example:- To have more important things to do.

He couldn't stay long, with this

merger he has bigger fish to fry.
Like a fish out of water.

For example:- To be uncomfortable in a particular

 
situation
When she started talking about her
personal problems, he looked like a
fish out of water.
Something is fishy.

For example:-
  Used when something is suspicious.
"There was something fishy in the
way he paused before answering the
question."
To have bigger fish to fry.

For example:- To have more important things to do.

He couldn't stay long, with this

merger he has bigger fish to fry.
Sour grapes.
Used when someone is disparaging
For example:-
about something just because they
He was really sarcastic about my can't have it.
new job, but I think it's just sour
grapes, because he hasn't got one.
To buy a lemon.

For example:- To buy something useless or defective.

"All those people who bought a new

Toyota have bought a lemon."
"Cry over spilt milk."

For example: To cry or complain about something

that has already happened.
"It's no good crying over spilt milk,
what's done is done."
 Mutton dressed (up) as lamb.

For example:- Used to describe a woman who is

dressed in a style that is more suitable
"She's over fifty and should really for a much younger woman.
stop wearing mini skirts if she
doesn't want to look like mutton
dressed as lamb."
"As keen as mustard"

For example:
  To be very eager.
"He was as keen as mustard because
he really wanted to win the
competition."
"Nutty as a fruitcake."

For example:
To be slightly crazy.

"People say I'm as nutty as a fruitcake

to run this website."

"To use a sledgehammer to crack a

nut."

For example: To do something with more force than

  is necessary to achieve the result you
want.
" Fighting tooth decay by
annihilating all the mostly harmless
bacteria in your mouth is like taking
a sledgehammer to crack a nut. "
"To know your onions."
To know a lot about a particular
For example:-
subject.
"When it comes to computers he
really knows his onions."
"As easy as pie."

For example:
When something is very easy to do.
"Anyone can do that, it's as easy as
pie."
  "Have a finger in every pie." To be involved in lots of different
things.
For example:
 "He was a very influential man, he
seemed to have a finger in every pie."

"A couch potato."

For example: Someone who just sits on the couch

watching TV.
"She should get out more, she's
turning into a real couch potato. "

"A hot potato."

For example: A question or argument that is

 
controversial and difficult to settle
"The issue of immigration was a hot
potato."

"In the soup."

For example:
To be in serious trouble.
"He landed her in the soup, when he
told the policeman she had been
drinking."

"Souped up."

To change something to make it faster

For example:
or more powerful by changing or
adding something.
"He made his car go faster by souping
up the engine."

"Cup of tea."

For example:
Something one enjoys or does well.

"I really enjoyed the film, it was just

my cup of tea."

Like a fish out of water.

For example:- To be uncomfortable in a particular

situation
When she started talking about her
personal problems, he looked like a
fish out of water.
More idioms and sayings
 Idiom/Saying Explanation
To have ants in your pants. To be unable to keep still because you are
very excited or worried about something.
For example:-
There's a test tomorrow, and he can't concentrate
or keep still. He looks like he's got ants in his
pants.
To badger someone.

For example:- To pester someone into doing something.

Don't let people badger you into having a drink.

To be like a bear with a sore head.

For example:-
To be in a bad mood.
My husband is like a bear with a sore head
before he gets his cup of tea in the morning.
To have a bee in your bonnet.

For example:-
To be obsessed about something.
She's got a real bee in her bonnet about that new
advertising campaign, she's even phoned the
ACA!
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

For example:-
Having something for certain is better than
the possibility of getting something better.
I would stay with your current firm, rather than
look for something better. After all, a bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush.
The early bird catches the worm.

For example:- If you do something in a timely manner you

will succeed.
I'll go to work early tomorrow. After all, the
early bird catches the worm.
A bird's eye view.

For example:- The appearance of something seen from

above.
If you look at Google Maps you can get a bird's
eye view of your street.
Birds of a feather flock together. People who have similar characters or
similar interests will often choose to spend
For example:- time together.

At the party, all the teenagers gathered in the

kitchen. Birds of a feather flock together.
To kill two birds with one stone.

For example:-
To solve two problems with a single action.
I went to the dentist, and asked him to fill the
molar, and remove the wisdom tooth at the same
time. Might as well kill two birds with one
stone.
To be like a bull in a china shop.

For example:-
To be clumsy.
Don't let him touch those glass baubles, he's like
a bull in a china shop.
A cat nap.

For example:- A short sleep, during the day.

I always have a cat nap after lunch.

To be like a cat on a hot tin roof.

For example:-
To be nervous and unable to keep still.
She's waiting for her boyfriend to call, and she's
been like a cat on a hot tin roof all day.
A fat cat.

For example:-
Someone who is very rich and powerful.
Too many fat cats have made money out of the
recession.
A scaredy-cat.

For example:-
Someone who is frightened for no reason.
It's only a little spider, don't be such a scaredy-
cat.
The cat's whiskers.

For example:- When someone thinks they're better than

everyone else.
She thought she was the cat's whiskers when she
got the part in the play.
Has the cat got your tongue? Said when someone isn't saying anything.
For example:-

Why are you being so quiet? Cat got your

tongue?
To let the cat out of the bag.

For example:-
To reveal a secret.
Everybody knows about the redundancies,
someone let the cat out of the bag.
To look like the cat that got the cream.

For example:- To look very pleased and a bit smug about

something.
I guess you passed your exam. You look like the
cat that got the cream.
To put a cat among the pigeons.

For example:-
To cause trouble.
When the photos showed him kissing a young
woman, it really put the cat among the pigeons.
Not enough room to swing a cat.

For example:-
Used to describe a place that is very small.
In our old flat there wasn't enough room to
swing a cat.
It's raining cats and dogs! 

For example:-
It's raining very heavily.
We had to run for shelter when it started raining
cats and dogs.
Look what the cat's dragged in!

For example:- An insulting way of saying that someone has

just arrived and they don't look good.
Look what the cat's dragged in! You look
terrible!
To be a chicken or To be chicken or to be Someone who is cowardly.
chicken livered.
For example:-

She wouldn't get on the waltzers, because she

said they're dangerous. She's such a chicken.
A cuckoo in the nest.
Someone who is part of a group but is
For example:- different and often disliked, or a problem
that grows quickly and crowds out
The new manager is a real cuckoo in the nest. everything else.
He's causing more problems than he's solving.
Living in cloud cuckoo land.

For example:- Used to describe someone who has ideas or

plans that are completely unrealistic.
He thinks the recession won't affect his business.
He's living in cloud cuckoo land.
A dog and pony show.
A show or other event that has been
For example:-
organized in order to get people's support or
to persuade them to buy something.
His campaign was a real dog and pony show, but
he still didn't win the election.
A shaggy dog story.

For example:- A joke or story that's obviously not true or

has a silly ending.
The way he kept going on led me to suspect it
was a shaggy dog story.
To be like a dog with two tails.

For example:-
To be very happy.
When we found out we had won the contract,
our manager was like a dog with two tails.
To be dog-eared.

For example:- If something is dog-eared, it is in bad

condition.
I won't lend her any more books, the last one she
gave back to me was dog-eared.
To be dog tired. To be exhausted.

For example:-

The party went on till 4am. I was dog tired the

next day.
Gone to the dogs.

For example.- Used when someone or somewhere becomes

less successful than it was.
This country has gone to the dogs since they
won the election.
Let sleeping dogs lie.

For example:-
Leave something alone if it might cause
trouble.
I knew my boss was wrong, but I didn't say
anything. He wouldn't thank me, so I say, let
sleeping dogs lie.
It's raining cats and dogs! 

For example:-
It's raining very heavily.
We had to run for shelter when it started raining
cats and dogs.
Talk the hind leg off a donkey.

For example:-
To talk a lot.
I couldn't get a word in edgeways. That guy
could talk the hind leff off a donkey.
A dead duck.

For example:-
A failure.
The police admitted that they were giving up,
the case was a dead duck.
Water off a duck's back.

For example:- Said when someone doesn't let things upset

them.
He kept shouting at me, but it was like water off
a duck's back.
The elephant in the room.
A problem or situation that everyone knows
For example:-
about but no one mentions.
Her blindness was the elephant in the room.
A cold fish. Someone who doesn't show how they feel.
For example:-

Her husband's a real cold fish, it's impossible to

tell whether he's happy or not.
"A different kettle of fish"

For example:-
A different matter or issue.
Oh! They want to place an order? That's a
different kettle of fish. Of course I'll talk to
them.
To have bigger fish to fry.

For example:-
To have more important things to do.
He couldn't stay long, with this merger he has
bigger fish to fry.
Like a fish out of water.

For example:-
To be uncomfortable in a particular situation
When she started talking about her personal
problems, he looked like a fish out of water.
Something is fishy.

For example:-
Used when something is suspicious.
There was something fishy in the way he paused
before answering the question.
To be a fly on the wall.

For example:- To want to be somewhere secretly, so you

can overhear what is said.
I would love to have been a fly on the wall when
the boss was telling him off.
To be as sly as a fox.

For example:-
To be sneakily clever.
He managed to get all his money out before the
bank collapsed. He's a sly old fox.
To get someone's goat. To upset someone.

For example:-
The whole time I was singing she didn't stop
talking. She really got my goat.
Wouldn't say boo to a goose.

For example:-
Describes someone who is very nervous.
He's not assertive enough to be a supervisor, he
wouldn't say boo to a goose.
A dark horse.

For example:-
A person who is secretive and often does
something surprising.
I was surprised when he sat down to play the
piano, I didn't know he could! He's a real dark
horse.
To close (shut) the stable door after the horse
has bolted.
To try to fix something after the problem has
For example:-
occurred.
Giving the banks billions of dollars, is like
closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.
To eat like a horse.

For example:-
To eat a lot.
He had two helpings of everything. He eats like
a horse!
Sraight from the horse's mouth.

For example:-
To hear something interesting from someone
The rumour is true, the company will announce actually involved.
a large contract today, I heard it straight from
the horse's mouth; the managing director told
me.
Mutton dressed (up) as lamb.

For example:- Used to describe a woman who is dressed in

a style that is more suitable for a much
She's over fifty and should really stop wearing younger woman.
mini skirts if she doesn't want to look like
mutton dressed as lamb.
To put a cat among the pigeons. To cause trouble.
For example:-

When the photos showed him kissing a young

woman, it really put the cat among the pigeons.
A dog and pony show.
A show or other event that has been
For example:-
organized in order to get people's support or
to persuade them to buy something.
His campaign was a real dog and pony show, but
he still didn't win the election.
To be like a rabbit in the headlights.

For example:- To be so frightened or surprised that you

cannot move or think.
As I walked into the exam room, I was like a
rabbit in the headlights.
To pull a rabbit out of the hat.

For example:- To surprise everyone by suddenly doing

something clever.
He really pulled a rabbit out of the hat by getting
those orders.
A wolf in sheep's clothing.

For example:- Someone who is dangerous, but pretends to

be harmless.
I wouldn't borrow any money off him if I were
you. He's a real wolf in sheep's clothing.
Even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a
while.

For example:-
Sometimes people can be correct just by
being lucky.
I was surprised when he came up with the
solution, I didn't think he was that clever. I guess
that even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a
while.
To have a tiger by the tail.

For example:- To have become associated with something

powerful and potentially dangerous.
Trying to deal with the problem of drugs on the
streets is like grabbing a tiger by the tail.
To talk turkey. To speak frankly and openly.
For example:-

We need to solve this problem, and the only way

we'll do it is to talk turkey.
A wolf in sheep's clothing.

For example:- Someone who is dangerous, but pretends to

be harmless.
I wouldn't borrow any money off him if I were
you. He's a real wolf in sheep's clothing.
To cry wolf.

For example:-
To raise a false alarm about something.
Don't take any notice of him, he's always crying
wolf.
The early bird catches the worm.

For example:- If you do something in a timely manner you

will succeed.
I'll go to work early tomorrow. After all, the
early bird catches the worm.
The worm has turned..

For example:-
When a usually meek person or group of
people becomes angry.
Investors have become skeptical of the ability of
CEOs to pull higher stock prices out of their
hats. The worm has turned.
To open a can of worms.

For example:-
To do something that exposes a very
difficult issue or set of problems.
When the government invited online petitions
through its website, it found it had opened a can
of worms.
More idioms and sayings
 Idiom/Saying Explanation

A list as long as your arm.

A very long list.
For example:-
 
When I do a new vocabulary unit my list of
things to do is as long as your arm.
A shot in the arm. Something which has a sudden and positive
effect on something.
For example:-

His son's visits were a real shot in the arm for

the old man.
Give your right arm.

For example:- To want something very much.

When I'm in Germany I'd give my right arm for

some decent bacon.
The long arm of the law.

For example:- The police.

I told him not to do it. You never escape the

long arm of the law.
To chance your arm.

To take a chance in order to get something that

For example:-
you want.

He chanced his arm on the horses.

To cost an arm and a leg.

For example:- Extremely expensive.

Running this web site costs me an arm and a leg.

Strong-arm
To use force and threats to make people do
For example:-
what you demand.
The police used strong-arm tactics to break up
the protest.
To twist someone's arm.
To persuade someone to do something they do
For example:-
not want to do.
She didn't want to study English, but the teacher
twisted her arm.
Back to back
To be close together and facing in opposite
For example:- directions.

British cities are full of back to back housing.

Back passage A polite phrase for rectum.
For example:-

The doctor examined his back passage.

Behind someone's back.
To do something without them knowing, in a
For example:-
way which is unfair.
I bought the car behind his back and now he's
really angry.
The shirt off someone's back.

For example:- The last thing that someone has left.

He's so generous he'd give you the shirt off his

back, if you asked him.
To break your back.

For example:- To work extremely hard.

I don't know why English teachers break their

backs for so little reward.
To get off someone's back.

For example:- To tell someone to stop criticizing.

If you got off her back about studying she might

do better.
To get someone's back up.

For example:- To really annoy someone.

She does it deliberately, even though she knows

I don't like it, just to get my back up.
To scratch someone's back.

For example:-
To offer to help someone if they help you.
If I give you the planning permission you have
to vote for me on the council. You scratch my
back and I'll scratch yours.
To stab someone in the back. To say nasty things about someone when they
are not there.
For example:-
He thought they were his friends until they
stabbed him in the back.
To turn your back on something/someone.

For example:- To stop being involved.

I had to turn my back on it before I became ill.

Water off a duck's back.
Criticisms of or warnings to a particular person
For example:-
that have no effect on that person.
The crowd was booing but he carried on
anyway, it was water off a duck's back to him.
To have a beer belly.
A beer belly (or pot belly) is , is the
accumulation of visceral fat resulting in an
For example:-
increase in waist size. Aka: abdominal
obesity, clinically known as central obesity.
Most women find a beer belly very unattractive.
Body politic

For example: A politically organized group of people under a

single government.
Judge Sydney Harris ordered the crown to return
to the Body Politic all material seized during the
raid.
Over my dead body.

For example:
To be unwilling to allow something to happen.
When she asked me if she could go to the pop
festival, I told her she could go over my dead body.
She's only 15!

As smooth as a baby's bottom,

For example:- Very smooth.

Feel this cloth, it's as smooth as a baby's

bottom."
Bottom out.
To reach the lowest point in a continuously
For example:-
changing situation and to be about to improve.
The economy has bottomed out and must start to
get better this year.
Brain drain.
The movement of people with education and
For example:- skills from their own country to another country
where they are paid more for their work.
The country's brain drain began to reverse as
professors returned from abroad.
To brain someone.

For example:- To hit someone on the head.

During the robbery the security guard was

brained.
To be all brawn and no brain.

For example:- To be physically strong but not very intelligent.

The trouble with many footballers is that they're

all brawn and no brains.
To beat your brains out.
To spend a lot of time worrying about a problem
For example:-
and thinking about how to deal with it.
I've been beating my brains out trying to
remember more brain idioms.
To pick someone's brain.
To ask for information or advice from someone
For example:- who knows more about a subject than you do.

People often pick my brain on the forum.

Scatterbrain / Scatterbrained

For example:- A flighty and disorganized person.

She had to go home to get her handbag. She's

such a scatterbrain!
Brainy

For example:- Clever

He always gets good marks, he's so brainy.

Tongue in cheek. When you say something as a joke, although
you might appear to be serious.
For example:-

They said that he was America's greatest

President, although I suspect it was tongue in
cheek.
Cheek by jowl.
If things or people are cheek by jowl, they are
For example:-
very close together.
There were over twenty people living in the
house. They were living cheek by jowl.
To beat your breast/chest.
To show grief or guilt in an obvious or public
For example:-
way.
There's no point in beating your breast/chest
about it - she won't come back.
Calf length.
Clothing or boots that end at the middle point
For example:- between the foot and the knee.

She wore a calf length dress to the party.

To get sth off your chest.
To tell someone about something that has been
For example:- worrying you or making you feel guilty for a long
time.
When I told him I was leaving I was glad to get
it off my chest.
To put hairs on your chest.
To drink something that is alcoholic or eat
For example:- something nice.

Get that down you, it'll put hairs on your chest.

Chin up.
Something you say to someone to tell them to
For example:-
have confidence.
A. I've got my exams tomorrow.
B. Chin up, it will all be over soon.
Keep your chin up.
Something that you say to someone in a difficult
For example:- situation in order to encourage them to be
brave and to try not to be sad.
I told her to keep her chin up and everything
would be ok in the end.
Take it on the chin. To be brave and not complain when bad things
happen to you or people criticise you.
For example:-
In spite of the setbacks he took it all on the chin
and set up the business anyway.
To be all ears.

For example:-
To be waiting eagerly to hear about something.
When she heard their was an important message
for her, Spitz was all ears.

Thanks to Spitzgogo for a timely reminder.

To box someone's ears.
To hit someone on the ear, usually as a
For example:-
punishment.
The teacher threatened to box his ears if he
didn't stop being cheeky.
To be out on your ear.

For example:- To be forced to leave somewhere because you

have done something wrong, or because your
One day, he was the CEO of a major company. work is not good enough.
The next, he was out on his ear.

Thanks to Poetria for the reminder.

Elbow grease.
To do some hard work, especially when you are
For example:-
cleaning something.
If you use some elbow grease on your furniture
it will make the wood look lovely.
Elbow room.
Enough space to move around in.
For example:- or
The freedom to do what you want to do.
I daren't invite friends to stay because there's no
elbow room in my flat, it's so small.
To give someone the elbow.

For example:- To end a romantic relationship with someone.

He's very depressed, his girlfriend gave him the

elbow last week.
The naked eye If something can be seen with the naked eye, it
can be seen without the help of a microscope.
For example:-

Amoebas are too small to be seen with the naked

eye.
eye-catching
When someone or something is particularly
For example:- attractive or noticeable.

She wore an eye-catching blouse.

In the blink of an eye.

For example:- Extremely quickly.

In the blink of an eye, she was gone.

Keep an eye on something / someone.

For example:- To watch or look after something or someone.

He kept an eye on the dogs whilst I went to the

gym.
Keep an eye out for something / someone.
To watch carefully for someone or something to
For example:-
appear.
Whilst his partner robbed the bank, he kept an
eye out for the police.
Run your eye over.

For example:- To look quickly at the whole of something.

You should run your eye over that message

before you send it.
See eye to eye.

For example:-
To share the same opinion.
My husband and I agree on most things, we
usually see eye to eye.
Turn a blind eye.

For example:-
To ignore something that you know is wrong.
Governments often turn a blind eye to
corruption.
Keep your eyes peeled. To watch very carefully.
For example:-

There have been several burglaries in the area,

so keep your eyes peeled for anything
suspicious. .
To raise eyebrows.

For example:-
To shock people.
Her decision to appear in Playboy raised a few
eyebrows.
Keep your feet on the ground.
To have a realistic understanding of your own
For example:-
ideas, actions, and decisions.
It is hard to keep your feet on the ground when
you suddenly become famous.
Itchy feet.

For example:- To be restless and have a strong desire to travel.

I've been living in Germany for over 12 years,

but now I'm getting itchy feet.
To drag your feet.
To be deliberately slow (usually because you
For example:-
don't want to do something).
I suspect the government is dragging its feet
over lowering taxes.
To get cold feet.
To suddenly become too frightened to do
For example:-
something you had planned to do.
They're getting married next week - that's if he
doesn't get cold feet!
To put your feet up.

For example:- To relax.

After a long day shopping she looked forward to

putting her feet up with a nice cup of tea.
To be a butterfingers. Somebody who often drops things
For example:-

He had the ball, but he dropped it! What a

butterfingers!
Cross fingers.
People, usually children, sometimes cross
their fingers behind their back when they're
For example:-
telling a lie thinking it gives them immunity.
(Not to be confused with keeping your
It's no good crossing your fingers, I want to
fingers crossed for luck.)
know the truth!
"Have a finger in every pie."

For example:
To be involved in lots of different things.

He was a very influential man, he seemed to have a

finger in every pie.

Keep your fingers crossed.

To literally cross your middle finger over your
For example:- first finger to try and hope for a bit of luck, or a
positive outcome.
I've got an exam tomorrow at 9am, so keep your
fingers crossed for me.
"To not lift a finger."

For example: To be unwilling to help.

When I fell over no one lifted a finger to help me

To point the finger.

To accuse someone of being responsible for
For example:-
something bad that has happened.
He knew that his next door neighbour had
pointed the finger at him.
Pull your finger out.

For example:- To start working harder.

To pass her exams she had to pull her finger out.

To put your finger on something. To discover the exact reason why a situation is
the way it is, especially when something is
For example:- wrong.

She was worried about the project, but couldn't

put her finger on what was wrong.
To be all fingers and thumbs.
To be clumsy and unable to hold things steadily
For example:-
without fear of dropping or damaging them.
While I was baking the cake I dropped two eggs.
I'm all fingers and thumbs today.
Best foot forward .

For example:- To do your very best.

If you put your best foot forward you'll be sure

to pass the exam.
To put your foot in it.
To say something by accident which
For example:-
embarrasses or upsets someone.
I really put my foot in it with Alison. I had no
idea she was married.
At first-hand.
If you experience something first-hand, you
For example:-
experience it yourself.
The applicant should have first-hand knowledge
of accounting procedures.
To get in somone's hair.

For example:- To annoy someone.

She texts me every other minute. She really gets

in my hair.
The hair of the dog.
An alcoholic drink taken when one has a
For example:-
hangover.
I felt better after having a hair of the dog. One
whisky and the hangover was gone.
To pull your hair out.

For example:- To be very worried about something.

She's got a test tomorrow and she's pulling her

hair out.
To be a dab hand. To be very good at something.
For example:-

She was a dab hand at drawing.

To have a free hand.

For example:- To have the power to do what you want.

When it comes to what appears on this web site,

I have a free hand.
To have the upper hand.
To have power and control over someone or a
For example:-
situation.
In the UK the upper classes still have the upper
hand.
To be caught red handed.

For example: To be discovered doing something illegal or

wrong.
They caught him red-handed as he tried to rob the
bank .

To be hand in glove.

To have an extremely close relationship,

For example:
especially at work.

They make a great team. They work hand in glove.

Many hands make light work.

When everyone helps to do something, it gets
For example:
done quickly.
We finished in no time at all with everyone's
help. Many hands make light work.
Bighead

For example:- Conceited

Ever since he came top of the class, he's been a

real bighead.
Eat your heart out. If someone says eat your heart out followed by
the name of a famous person, they are joking
For example:- that they are even better than that person.

I'm going to pickle a gummy bear in a jar of

formaldehyde. Eat your heart out Damien Hirst!
Have a heart.

For example:-
Ask someone to be kinder to you.
Student: Have you marked my homework yet?
Teacher: Have a heart! You only handed it in
yesterday!
Heartbroken
Suffering from or exhibiting overwhelming
For example:-
sorrow, grief, or disappointment.
She was heartbroken when she found out she
hadn't got the job.
Heartwarming
Something that causes a feeling gladness and
For example:-
pleasure.
The story of the dog who saved the life of its
owner was such a heartwarming story.
Warmhearted

For example:- Someone who is very kind and generous.

She'll help anyone who needs it, she's such a

warmhearted person.
To warm the cockles of your heart
Something you see or hear that makes you feel
For example:- happy because it shows that people can be kind
and good.
A baby's smile will warm the cockles of even
the meanest person's heart.
A heel.
A person who treats other people badly and
For example:-
unfairly.
He took all her money, and then left her. What a
heel!
Achilles heel.
A small fault or weakness in a person or system
For example:- that can result in its failure.

Alcohol was always his Achilles heel.

Down at heel. To look shabby due to a lack of money
For example:-

The restaurant looked very down at heel.

To be under the heel.
To be completely controlled by something or
For example:-
someone.
The people rose up as one to get out from under
the heel of oppression.
Cheek by jowl.
If things or people are cheek by jowl, they are
For example:-
very close together.
There were over twenty people living in the
house. They were living cheek by jowl.
To have a knees up.

For example:- To have a party.

We had a good old knees up at the pub.

Break a leg.
Used to wish someone good luck, especially
For example:- used in the theatre.

It's your debut tonight, isn't it? Well break a leg.

To cost an arm and a leg.

For example:- Extremely expensive.

Running this web site costs me an arm and a leg.

To give someone a leg up.
To help someone onto or over something or to
For example:- help them improve their situation, especially at
work.
She needed a leg up to get on the horse.
To pull someone's leg.
To try to persuade someone to believe
For example:-
something which is not true as a joke.
She was very shocked until she realised he was
only pulling her leg.
To talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey. To talk for a long time without stopping.

For example:-
He is so boring. He could talk the hind legs of a
donkey.
To cross someone's mind.

For example:-
To think about something or someone.
Do I ever cross your mind?

Thanks to Hekner for the reminder.

To be down in the mouth.

For example:-
To feel sad or depressed.
Governments often turn a blind eye to
corruption.
Word of mouth

For example:- In speech but not in writing.

She was looking really down in the mouth, so I

asked her what the matter was.
To have a brass neck.
Someone who is extremely confident about
For example:- themselves and are unable to understand that
their behaviour is unacceptable to others.
He's got a brass neck to take time off when we're
so busy.
To breathe down sb's neck.
To stay so close to someone, watching
For example:-
everything that they do, that it's annoying.
It's awful having a boss who breathes down your
neck all the time.
To get it in the neck.
To be punished or severely criticized for
For example:-
something that you have
She'll get it in the neck for not doing her
homework.
To stick your neck out.

For example:- To take a risk.

She really stuck her neck out expanding the

business.
To be up to your neck in sth,
To be very involved in a situation, or to have too
For example:- much of the thing stated.

She's up to her neck in work.

A bag (bundle) of nerves.

For example:- To be very nervous.

Before the exam I was a bag of nerves.

A lot of nerve.

For example:- To be brash, rude or arrogent.

He asked me to do his homework for him. What

a lot of nerve!
To get on someone's nerves.

For example:- To annoy someone.

The teacher really gets on my nerves when she

goes on about correct spelling and grammar.
To win by a nose.

For example:- To win by a very small margin.

She won by a nose. It was a very close race.

Cut off your nose to spite your face.

For example:- To do something because you are angry, even if

it is not in your best interest.
She should have gone with them, she would
have enjoyed it. She's just cutting off her nose to
spite her face.
Keep your nose to the grindstone.

For example:- To work hard.

If you want to pass your exams you'll have to

keep your nose to the grindstone.
It's no skin off my nose. 
You can use this expression to show that you
For example:- don't care if something happens or not.

It's no skin off my nose if I win or lose.

To powder your nose. When a woman says she is going to "powder her
For example:- nose", she means she is going to the toilet.

Excuse me a moment, I'm just going to powder

my nose.
To get up sb's nose.

For example:- To annoy someone.

People who don't clean up after their dogs really

get up my nose.
Turn your nose up at something.
To not like something because you think it is not
For example:-
good enough for you.
She turned her nose up at my homemade cakes,
she only likes shop bought ones.
Skeleton in the closet / cupboard.
If you have a skeleton in the cupboard it means
For example:- you have are hiding a shocking secret about
yourself.
Nearly every family has a skeleton in the
cupboard.
To have a thick skin. / To be thick skinned.
If you are thick-skinned, you do not notice or get
For example:-
upset when people criticize you.
If you work as a salesperson, you soon develop a
thick skin.
To have a thin skin. / To be thin skinned.
If you are thin-skinned, you get upset when
For example:- people criticize you, or think people are
critisizing you when they aren't.
Think skinned people shouldn't go into politics.

By the skin of your teeth.

For example:- To only just manage to do something.

He escaped by the skin of his teeth.

To get your teeth into something.

To get completely involved in something.
For example:-

He did really well in his exams after he got his

teeth into learning English.
To jump down someone's throat.
To react angrily to something that someone says
For example:-
or does.
I know I annoyed her, but she didn't have to
jump down my throat.
To ram something down someone's throat.
To try and force someone  to accept something
For example:-
against their will.
She's a vegetarian, but she doesn't ram her views
down your throat.
To have a frog in your throat.
To have a tight feeling in your throat and be
For example:- unable to speak clearly until you give a slight
cough.
Excuse me (cough cough), I've got a bit of a frog
in my throat.
To have a green thumb.
If you have a green thumb or even green
thumbs it means you are good at gardening,
For example:-
or growing plants.
Her garden won many prizes. People said she
For Competent
had green thumbs.
To twiddle your thumbs.
To do nothing or to have nothing useful to do
For example:-
while you are waiting for something to happen.
They kept me waiting for two hours with
nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs.
Toe the line.

For example: To conform to certain rules or standards.

He'll have to learn to toe the line, if he wants to

get on in this organisation.
Has the cat got your tongue?

For example:- Something someone else might say to you if you

don't say anything to them.
I know that you know the answer to this
question. What's the matter, has the cat got your
tongue?
The tip of your tongue.
 The feeling you get when you know something,
For example:- but you just can't actually remember it.

His name is on the tip of my tongue.

A slip of the tongue.
When you say something something which you
For example:-
did not mean to say.
Be careful what you say, one slip of the tongue
and we're all in trouble.
Tongue in cheek.

For example:- When you say something as a joke, although

you might appear to be serious.
They said that he was America's greatest
President, although I suspect it was tongue in
cheek.
To be tongue tied. Describes the feeling (familiar to many language
learners) that you get when you can't seem to
For example:- find the right words to say, and so you are
unable to speak. As if your tongue were tied in
I knew I should have said something to make knots.
her feel better, but I was completely tongue tied.
To be long in the tooth.

For example:- To be too old for something.

He's a bit long in the tooth for her.

More idioms and sayings
Idioms and Sayings About Buildings
Idiom/Saying Explanation
To bank on something/someone

For example:
Something or someone you can be sure of.
"You can always bank on friends to help
you."
To lock the barn door after the horse has
bolted

For example: To be careful or try to make something safe

when it is too late.
"Buying a burglar alarm after the break in
was like locking the barn door after the horse
had bolted."
To be banging/hitting your head against a
brick wall.
To keep asking someone to do something
For example:
which they never do.
"Trying to get them to do their homework is
like banging my head against a brick wall."
Like a ton of bricks

For example: To be affected strongly or forcefully by

something.
" The news of the accident hit me like a ton
of bricks."
You can't make bricks without straw. You cannot do something correctly without
the necessary materials/knowledge.
For example:
"It's no good trying to build a website if you
don't know any html, you can't make bricks
without straw."
To burn your bridges
To do something that makes it impossible
For example:
for you to change your plans and go back to
the situation you were in before.
"When he handed in his resignation he had
burnt his bridges."
Rome wasn't built in a day.
It takes a long time to do an important job.
For example:

"It's taken me years to build this site, and I'm

Thanks to 2-dog-farm
still not finished! Still, Rome wasn't built in a
day."
Castles in the air

For example:
To have daydreams.
" She is always building castles in the air and
is very unrealistic."
To be in the doghouse

For example:
To be in trouble.
"He was really in the doghouse after
borrowing his father's car without
permission."
To hold the fort

For example: To cope in an emergency, often by acting as

a temporary substitute.
"He has been holding the fort at his company
while his boss is on vacation."
Close to home

For example: To be near to someone`s personal feelings,

wishes or interests.
"What the fortune teller said about my past
life hit close to home, it was uncanny."
Make oneself at home To act as if you were at home.

For example:
"I always make myself at home when I visit
the in-laws."
House of cards

For example: Something badly put together and easily

knocked down, a poorly thought out
"The peace agreement between the two plan/action.
countries was like a house of cards and
quickly fell apart."
On the house

For example: Something provided free by a business -

especially in a bar or restaurant.
"The club was celebrating its anniversary so
the drinks were on the house."
Put one`s own house in order

For example:
Organize one`s own private affairs.
"The government should put its own house in
order before it tells others what to do."
To bring the house down

For example:
To cause alot of applause or laughter.
"The last act was so good they brought the
house down."
People who live in glass houses shouldn't
throw stones

For example:
Do not complain about other people if you
are as bad as they are.
"He was always telling people to be honest
and then he stole the money, he should know
that people who live in glass houses shouldn't
throw stones."
Run-of-the-mill

For example:
Something that is ordinary or usual.
"Nothing extraordinary happened the whole
day was very run-of-the-mill."
To go through the mill To experience a difficult situation.

For example:
"Since his divorce he has really gone through
the mill."
To go through the roof

For example:
To become very angry, go into a rage.
"When she saw how dirty his clothes were,
his mother went through the roof."
To hit the roof

For example:
To become very angry, go into a rage.
"He hit the roof when he found out that his
son had wrecked the family car. "
The elephant in the room.
A problem or situation that everyone knows
For example:-
about but no one mentions.
"Her blindness was the elephant in the room."
To close the stable door after the horse has
bolted.

For example:- To try to fix something after the problem has

occurred.
"Giving the banks billions of dollars, is like
closing the stable door after the horse has
bolted."
To be a tower of strength

For example: Someone who gives strong and reliable

support
" He has been a real tower of strength all
through the divorce."
A hole in the wall

1) "We went for a drink at a little hole in the 1) A small place to live, stay or work in.
wall near the university last night."
2) A cash machine.
2) "I went to the hole in the wall to get some
cash."
To climb the wall

For example: To be so bored that you become anxious and

frustrated
" The journey was so boring she was soon
climbing the wall."
To knock one`s head against a brick wall

For example:
To waste time trying to do something with
little or no success.
"I have been knocking my head against a
brick wall trying to solve this week's Mind
Bender."
More idioms and sayings

Idioms and Sayings About Clothes

Idiom/Saying Explanation
An anorak

For example: Used to describe a dull person or an

individual with a boring hobby who insists
"He's got hundreds of old Japanese robots that on talking about it.
he insists on showing to anyone who visits.
He's such an anorak."
Below the belt.

For example: To do something in an unfair or cowardly

way.
"I think it was a bit below the belt when he
lied to her."
To have a bee in your bonnet.

For example:-
To be obsessed about something.
She's got a real bee in her bonnet about that
new advertising campaign, she's even phoned
the ACA!
Buckle down.

For example:
To put in a lot of effort into doing something.
"He realised before the exam that it was time
to buckle down to some real work."
To put on your thinking cap.

For example: To start to think seriously about how to solve

a problem.
"The economy is in a mess, it's time for
everyone to put their thinking caps on."
Wolf in sheep's clothing. To pretend to be harmless when your really
dangerous.
For example:
"I don't trust him, I think he's a wolf in sheep's
clothing."
Hot under the collar.

For example:-
To be very angry.
"She got very hot under the collar when I told
her someone had scratched her car."
Off-the-cuff.

For example: Without preparation.

"He made a stupid off-the-cuff remark."

To dress someone down.

For example:
To tell someone off for doing something bad.
"He was given a real dressing down for
making such a stupid mistake."
Mutton dressed as lamb.

For example:
To be dressed too young for your age.
"In her mini skirt and short tank top, she
looked like mutton dressed as lamb."
Dressed to kill.

For example: To make yourself look really good by

wearing your best clothes.
"She had bought a new outfit and was dressed
to kill."
Dressed up like a dog's dinner.

For example: To be overdressed

"She was dressed up like a dog's dinner."

Fit like a glove.

For example: Fits very well.

"The dress fitted her like a glove."

To be hand in glove.

For example: To have an extremely close relationship,

especially at work.
"They make a great team. They work hand in
glove."
To take the gloves off.

For example: To argue or compete without controlling

your actions or feelings.
They took the gloves off and suspended
trading.
At the drop of a hat.

For example: To make a decision or do something very

quickly without thinking about it.
"If he asked me out I would go at the drop of
a hat."
Old hat

For example:
Not new or different.
"I've been doing this job for so long it's all old
hat now."
Take one's hat off to someone.

For example:
To admire or respect someone.
"He always works so hard on his English, you
have to take your hat off too him."
Keep something under your hat.

For example: To keep something you are told or know in

strictest confidence.
"You can trust me, I'll keep anything you tell
me under my hat."
Knickers in a twist.

For example:
To get upset.
"Dame Kiri Te Kanawa really got her
knickers in a twist after being compared to
Susan Boyle from the TV reality show."
To air one's dirty linen in public.

For example: To have your private or personal problems

discussed in public.
"The president was embarassed to have his
dirty linen aired in public."
Have ants in your pants. To be restless or incapable of sitting still.

For example:

"She never sits still, it's as though she's got

ants in her pants."
Burn a hole in one's pocket.

For example:
To have money that you just want to spend.
"He was never able to save any money, it
always burned a hole in his pocket."
Bursting at the seams.

For example:
To be very busy or overcrowded.
"The airport was so busy it was bursting at the
seams."
Keep your shirt on.

For example: Don't lose your temper.

"Stop shouting, keep your shirt on!"

Lose one's shirt.
To lose all your money (usually in a business
For example:
venture or by gambling).
"He went to the races and lost his shirt."
Stuffed shirt.

For example:
To be to rigid or formal.
"He never has a laugh or a joke, he's a real
stuffed shirt."
In someone else's shoes.

For example:
To be in someone elses place or position.
"I hear he is very ill, I would hate to be in his
shoes."
On a shoestring budget.

For example: To have a very small amount of money for

something.
"When I went to university I had to live on a
shoestring budget."
Card up your sleeve.

For example: To have something in reserve in case it is

needed.
"When he grinned like that I knew he had a
card up his sleeve.
Roll up your sleeves. Prepare to work hard.
For example:

"We'll get the job finished if we all roll up our

sleeves."
Put a sock in it.

For example:
Used to tell someone to shut up.
"He wouldn't stop complaining, so I told him
to put a sock in it."
To be in your birthday suit.

For example:
To be completely naked.
"When I walked into the bathroom she was
just standing their in her birthday suit!"
Wear the trousers.

For example:
To be the boss of a family or household.
"His wife is always telling him what to do.
You can tell who wears the trousers in their
house."
Keep it zipped.
To keep quiet about something. (Usually
For example:
with an implied threat.)
"He was warned to keep it zipped, or else."
More idioms and sayings