some of the other, but not necessarily an entire portion

a bit at sea

a bit unsure, uncertain He seems a bit at sea since his brother died. They were close.

A bit much

If something is excessive or annoying, it is a bit much.

a bit of

a small piece or amount of
She gave me a bit of good advice．她给了我一些好的建议。
I know a bit of Spanish．我懂一点西班牙语。

a bit of a

to some degree
He is a bit of a thief．他有点贼头贼脑的。
The young man is a bit of a scholar．那个年轻人有点学者派头。

a bit of crumpet

a bit of crumpet is slang for a sexually desirable woman

a bit off/a bit mental

not rational, unbalanced, one brick short Kate talks to the birds. Do you think she's a bit off?

a bit|bit

n., informal A small amount; some. There's no sugar in the sugar bowl, but you may find a bit in the bag. If the ball had hit the window a bit harder, it would have broken it. Often used like an adverb. This sweater scratches a bit. Also used like an adjective before "less", "more". Janet thought she could lose weight by eating a bit less. "Have some more cake?" "Thanks. A bit more won't hurt me." Often used adverbially after verbs in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences, sometimes in the form "one bit". "Won" t your father be angry?" "No, he won't care a bit." Helen feels like crying, but I"ll be surprised if she shows it one bit. Sometimes used with "little" for emphasis, also in the emphatic form "the least bit". "Wasn"t Bob even a little bit sorry he forgot his date?" "No, Bob wasn't the least bit sorry."
Synonym: A LITTLE.
compare: A F.E.W.
Anthony: A LOT.

a bitch

a complaining woman, a woman who nags She complains to us and criticizes her kids.

a bite to eat

a lunch, a snack We can grab a bite to eat at the arena. They sell snacks there.

a bitter pill

a negative event, a loss, a painful experience Divorce is a bitter pill for her. She believed in her marriage.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link

This means that processes, organizations, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

The strength of a group depends on each individual member.

a clutch hitter (baseball)

a batter who hits when runners are on base Joe "s a clutch hitter. He" s batting .431 with runners on base.

a credit to

Idiom(s): be a credit to sb or sth

Theme: BENEFIT

to be of value or benefit to someone or something; to be of enough value or worth as to enhance someone or something.
I always want to be a credit to my school.
John is not what you would call a credit to his family.

a golden opportunity

a good chance to succeed, a good investment The Royal Hotel is for sale. What a golden opportunity!

a hit

a drug dose, drugs from a needle When she "s depressed, she" ll do anything for a hit.

A hitch in your giddy-up

If you have a hitch in your giddy-up, you"re not feeling well. ("A hitch in your gittie-up" is also used.)

a hot favorite

someone / something most likely to win: "Red Rum was always the hot favorite to win the Grand National."

A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand

Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.

A leopard cannot change its spots.

It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.

a little

a little
1) A small amount, as in Will you have some more meat? Yes, just a little.
2) Somewhat or rather, slightly, as in I am a little annoyed with Harry. For a synonym, see a bit.

a little bird

a little bird
see little bird told one, a .

a little bird told me

someone told me, one of your friends told me """How did you know that I play chess?"" ""Oh, a little bird told me."""

a little bird told me|bird|little bird|tell

To have learned something from a mysterious, unknown, or secret source. "Who told you that Dean Smith was resigning?" Peter asked. "A little bird told me," Jim answered.

a little hair off the dog

(See hair off the dog)

a little knowledge

a little knowledge
see little knowledge is a dangerous thing, a .

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Idiom(s): A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Theme: KNOWLEDGE

A proverb meaning that incomplete knowledge can embarrass or harm someone or something.
The doctor said, "Just because you"ve had a course in first aid, you shouldn't have treated your own illness. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
John thought he knew how to take care of the garden, but he killed all the flowers. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

a little knowledge is a dangerous thing|knowledge|

literary A person who knows a little about something may think he knows it all and make bad mistakes. A proverb. John has read a book on driving a car and now he thinks he can drive. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

A little learning is a dangerous thing

A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.eg. he said he "d done a course on home electrics, but when he tried to mend my table lamp, he fused all the lights! I think a little learning is a dangerous thing

A little learning is a dangerous thing.

People with insufficient knowledge are easily misled.

a little off

not quite sane, a bit crazy, one brick short... When Clem started eating grass, we knew he was a little off.

a little steep

a little high in price, too much money to pay I "d like to buy that leather coat but the price is a little steep.

a little|little

n. or adj. A small amount (of); some. usually "a little" is different in meaning from "little", which emphasizes the negative; "a little" means "some"; but "little" means "not much". We say "We thought that the paper was all gone, but a little was left." But we say "We thought we still had a bag of flour, but little was left." Also, we say "Bob was sick yesterday, but he is a little better today." But we say "Bob was sick yesterday, and he is a little better today." Sometimes "a little" is used with "only", and then it is negative. We thought we had a whole bag of flour, but only a little was left. We have used most of the sugar; but a little is left. We did not eat all the cake; we saved a little of it for you. I "m tired; I need a little time to rest. Where is the paper? I need a little more. Often used like an adverb. Usually the teacher just watched the dancing class, but sometimes she danced a little to show them how. The children wanted to play a little longer. Sometimes used with "very" for emphasis. The sick girl could not eat anything, but she could drink a very little tea.
Synonym: A BIT.
compare: A F.E.W.
Anthony: A LOT, QUITE A LITTLE.

a nail biter

"exciting game or movie; having much suspense" Have you seen the movie The Fugitive? It's a nail-biter.

a pinch of coon shit

very little or no value, worthless That Rambler ain't worth a pinch o' coon shit. It's a lousy car.

A rose with any other name would smell as sweet.

What a thing is called is unimportant compared to what it really is.

a rough time of it

a time of stress or bad luck, a tough time of it

a sharp wit

an ability to say funny things at the right time Mills is 85, but he still has a sharp wit. His mind is quick.

a sitting duck

an easy target, a person who is easy to deceive The old lady was a sitting duck for the salesman. It was an easy sale.

a stitch in time saves nine

a small repair may prevent a large repair I believe in maintenance. A stitch in time saves nine.

A stitch in time saves nine.

It "s better to deal with a problem at an early stage, to prevent it from getting worse.

a stitch of clothes

(See didn't have a stitch of clothes on)

a them and us situation

when you (us) are opposed to "them": "The atmosphere between the two departments is terrible. There"s a real them and us situation."

a tough time of it

a time of stress or bad luck, a rough time of it When Bev left home she had a tough time of it. She had no job.

A tree is known by its fruit.

A man is judged by his actions.

a way with words

natural ability to speak, the gift of the gab Ask Viv to write the speech. She has a way with words.

a white elephant

something that is expensive, but has no use: "People say the stadium is a white elephant and a waste of money."

a window of opportunity

an opportunity, a chance, a golden opportunity Sometimes a problem is actually a window of opportunity.

a wordsmith

a person who works with words, a writer or author Ask Jan if it "s color or color. She" s a wordsmith.

An integral part of everyday English are English idioms, proverbs and sayings. They are quite common in both written and spoken English. Idioms are generally not to be taken literally. To understand this layer of language, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the meaning and use of each specific idiom. At first glance, this may seem like a tedious task, but learning idioms is very interesting, especially if you compare English idioms with phraseological units in your native language.

When you learn to use common idioms and expressions, you will be able to speak English more fluently. Learn a few of these expressions, they will definitely come in handy. The tables below compile the most common idioms in American English. You can start by learning the most common English idioms, as you will come across them regularly while watching American movies or TV, or when you travel to the United States. Once you've mastered them, you can move on. None of the idioms on this list are rare or old fashioned, so you can feel confident using any of them with native English speakers from all English speaking countries.

The most common English idioms

In America, these English idioms are among the most common in everyday speech. You will hear them in movies and TV shows. Use them and your English will become even more like native speakers.

Idiom	Meaning	Application
A blessing in disguise	A good thing that seemed bad at first glance	as part of an offer
A dime a dozen	Something simple, common	as part of an offer
Beat around the bush	Avoid speaking directly, usually because it is embarrassing	as part of an offer
Better late than never	Better late than never	as part
Bite the bullet	Get over something because it's inevitable	as part of an offer
Break a leg	Good luck!	on one's own
Call it a day	Stop working on something	as part of an offer
cut somebody some slack	Don't be too critical	as part of an offer
cutting corners	Doing something unimportant to save time or money	as part of an offer
Easy does it	Slow down, do something slower	on one's own
get out of hand	Get out of control, lose control	as part of an offer
Get something out of your system	Do what you have been thinking about to move on	as part of an offer
Get your act together	Do a better job or quit	on one's own
Give someone the benefit of the doubt	Believe what someone say	as part of an offer
Go back to the drawing board	start over	as part of an offer
hang in there	Do not give up	on one's own
Hit the sack	go to sleep	as part of an offer
It's not rocket science	It's not hard	on one's own
Let someone off the hook	Stop making anyone responsible for anything	as part of an offer
Make a long story short	Tell briefly	as part of an offer
miss the boat	Too late	as part of an offer
No pain, no gain	You have to work to get what you want	on one's own
On the ball	Do your job well	as part of an offer
Pull someone's leg	joke with someone	as part of an offer
Pull yourself together	Take it easy	on one's own
so far so good	So far everything is going well	on one's own
Speak of the devil	The one we were talking about showed up.	on one's own
That's the last straw	My patience is over	on one's own
The best of both worlds	Ideal Situation	as part of an offer
Time flies when you're having fun	When it's fun, time flies by	on one's own
To get bent out of shape	get upset	as part of an offer
To make matters worse	make the problem worse	as part of an offer
under the weather	Unhealthy	as part of an offer
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it	Let's not talk about this problem right now.	on one's own
wrap your head around something	understand something difficult	as part of an offer
You can say that again	It's true, I agree.	on one's own
Your guess is as good as mine	I have no idea	on one's own

Common English idioms and expressions

In America, this is one of the most common English idioms in everyday speech. You can hear them in movies and TV shows, and they are very useful in getting your English closer to that of native speakers. Feel free to use them in the appropriate context.

Idiom	Meaning	Application
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush	A bird in the hand is better than a bird in the sky	on one's own
A penny for your thoughts	Tell me what you think	on one's own
A penny saved is a penny earned	The money you save today can be spent later	on one's own
A perfect storm	Worst possible situation	as part of an offer
A picture is worth 1000 words	It's better to show than to tell	on one's own
Actions speak louder than words	Believe in people's deeds, not words	on one's own
Add insult to injury	make matters worse	as part of an offer
Barking up the wrong tree	Make mistakes, look for solutions in the wrong place	as part of an offer
Birds of a feather flock together	People who are similar in something are often friends / Two pair of boots (used more often in a negative context)	on one's own
Bite off more than you can chew	Take on a project you can't finish on your own	as part of an offer
Break the ice	Let people feel more comfortable	as part of an offer
By the skin of your teeth	With great difficulty, barely	as part of an offer
Comparing apples to oranges	Comparing two incomparable things	as part of an offer
Costs an arm and a leg	Very expensive	as part of an offer
Do something at the drop of a hat	Do something unplanned	as part of an offer
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you	Treat people fairly. Known as the "golden rule"	on one's own
Don't count your chickens before they hatch	Don't rely on a happy outcome until the event has happened.	on one's own
Don't cry over spilt milk	No reason to complain about what can't be changed	on one's own
Don't give up your day job	You are not very good at this.	on one's own
Don't put all your eggs in one basket	What you are doing is too risky	on one's own
Every cloud has a silver lining	Good follows bad	on one's own
Get a taste of your own medicine	You are treated the way you treat others (with a negative connotation)	as part of an offer
Give someone the cold shoulder	ignore anyone	as part of an offer
Go on a wild goose chase	Doing something is pointless	as part of an offer
Good things come to those who wait	be patient	on one's own
He has bigger fish to fry	He's got bigger things to do than we're talking about right now.	on one's own
He's a chip off the old block	Son as father	on one's own
Hit the nail on the head	Understand something very accurately	on one's own
Ignorance is bliss	You better not know	on one's own
It ain't over till the fat lady sings	It's not over yet	on one's own
It takes one to know one	You're as bad as me	on one's own
It's a piece of cake	It's simple	on one's own
It's raining cats and dogs	Heavy rain	on one's own
Kill two birds with one stone	Do two things at once (Kill two birds with one stone)	on one's own
Let the cat out of the bag	Give out a secret	as part of an offer
Live and learn	I made a mistake	on one's own
Look before you leap	Think twice before taking risks	on one's own
On thin ice	Conditionally. If you make another mistake, there will be problems.	as part of an offer
Once in a blue moon	Rarely	as part of an offer
Play devil's advocate	Assert the opposite just for the sake of preserving the argument	as part of an offer
put something on ice	Put a project on hold	as part of an offer
Rain on someone's parade	spoil something	as part of an offer
Saving for a rainy day	Set aside money for the future	as part of an offer
Slow and steady wins the race	Reliability is more important than speed	on one's own
Spill the beans	Reveal the secret	as part of an offer
Take a rain check	Postpone the plan	as part of an offer
Take it with a grain of salt	Don't take it too seriously	as part of an offer
The ball is in your court	It's your decision	on one's own
The best thing since sliced ​​bread	Really good invention	as part of an offer
The devil is in the details	Looks good from a distance, but if you look closely, you will see problems	on one's own
The early bird gets the worm	Those who come first get the best	on one's own
The elephant in the room	The big problem, the problem everyone avoids	as part of an offer
The whole nine yards	Everything from start to finish	as part of an offer
There are other fish in the sea	Even if the opportunity is missed, there will be others.	on one's own
There's a method to his madness	He looks crazy, but he's actually smart.	independent
There's no such thing as a free lunch	Nothing is absolutely free (Free cheese is only in a mousetrap).	on one's own
Throw caution to the wind	take a risk	as part of an offer
You can't have your cake and eat it too	You can't have everything	on one's own
You can "t judge a book by its cover	A person or thing may seem ugly on the outside, but they are good on the inside (Don't judge a book by its cover)	on one's own

Famous English idioms and proverbs

These English idioms and proverbs are familiar and understood by native English speakers, but are generally not used in everyday speech. If you haven't mastered the more common idioms yet, it's best to start with them. But if you are already familiar with these expressions, the idioms below will spice up your English.

Idiom	Meaning	Application
A little learning is a dangerous thing	People who don't fully understand something are dangerous.	on one's own
A snowball effect	Events by inertia are layered one on top of the other (Snowball)	as part of an offer
A snowball's chance in hell	No chance	as part of an offer
A stitch in time saves nine	Fix the problem now, otherwise it will get worse later	on one's own
A storm in a teacup	Big buzz around a small problem (Make a molehill)	as part of an offer
An apple a day keeps the doctor away	apples are good for health	on one's own
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure	You can prevent the problem now with a little effort. Eliminating it later will be more difficult.	on one's own
As right as rain	Fine	as part of an offer
Bolt from the blue	What happens without warning	as part of an offer
Burn bridges	destroy relationships	as part of an offer
Calm before the storm	Something bad is coming, but at the moment everything is calm (Calm before the storm)	as part of an offer
Come rain or shine	No matter what	as part of an offer
Curiosity killed the cat	Stop asking questions	on one's own
Cut the mustard	Do a favor	as part of an offer
Don't beat a dead horse	That's it, this topic is closed.	on one's own
Every dog ​​has his day	Everyone gets a chance at least once	on one's own
Familiarity breeds contempt	The more you know someone, the less you like them	on one's own
Fit as a fiddle	Be healthy and strong	as part of an offer
Fortune favors the bold	To risk	on one's own
Get a second wind	Got a second wind	as part of an offer
get wind of something	Hear about something secret	as part of an offer
Go down in flames	Fail miserably (of failure)	as part of an offer
Haste makes waste	You will make mistakes if you rush	on one's own
Have your head in the clouds	to be distracted	as part of an offer
He who laughs last laughs loudest	I will repay you with the same Montea	on one's own
Hear something straight from the horse's mouth	Hear something firsthand	as part of an offer
He "s not playing with a full deck	He is stupid	on one's own
He's off his rocker	He is crazy	on one's own
He's sitting on the fence	He can't decide	on one's own
It is a poor workman who blames his tools	If you can't get the job done, don't blame others	on one's own
It is always darkest before the dawn	Next will be better	on one's own
It takes two to tango	One person is not responsible, both are involved	on one's own
jump on the bandwagon	Follow the trend, do what everyone else does	as part of an offer
Know which way the wind is blowing	Understand the situation (usually with a negative connotation)	as part of an offer
Leave no stone unturned	look around carefully	as part of an offer
Let sleeping dogs lie	Stop discussing the issue	as part of an offer
Like riding a bicycle	Something you will never forget how to do	as part of an offer
Like two peas in a pod	They are always together, inseparable	as part of an offer
Make hay while the sun shines	Take advantage of a good situation	as part of an offer
On cloud nine	Very happy	as part of an offer
Once bitten, twice shy	You are more careful after being hurt	on one's own
Out of the frying pan and into the fire	Things go from bad to worse	on one's own
Run like the wind	run fast	as part of an offer
shape up or ship out	Do a better job or quit this job	on one's own
snowed under	Busy	as part of an offer
That ship has sailed	Too late	on one's own
The pot calling the kettle black	Criticizing someone, we show you in the same light	as part of an offer
There are clouds on the horizon	Trouble is coming	on one's own
Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones	People with a bad reputation should not criticize others	on one's own
Through thick and thin	In good times and in bad	as part of an offer
time is money	work fast	on one's own
Waste not, want not	Do not scatter things, and you will always have enough of everything	on one's own
We see eye to eye	We agree	on one's own
Weather the storm	Go through something hard	as part of an offer
well begun is half done	A good start is half the battle (very important)	on one's own
When it rains it pours	Everything goes wrong from the start	on one's own
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar	You will get everything you want if you are pleasant in communication	on one's own
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink	You can't force someone to make the right decision	on one's own
You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs	You have to pay for everything	on one's own

How often did you come across expressions in English that simply did not make sense when translated into Russian? For example, when you hear the phrase "horse around", the first thing you think of is a horse. In fact, it was about fooling around.

And there are many such examples. Such expressions are called idioms, and the English use them quite often. By memorizing the most common of them, you can make your speech brighter and livelier.

So, let's look at some idioms that are most often found in English speech. Let's break them down by topic.

Weather

"When two English people meet, they first talk about the weather." This saying of Samuel Johnson, expressed several centuries ago, is relevant to this day. It is not surprising that a large part of the idioms is related to the topic of weather.

• rain cats and dogs- pour like a bucket
• face like thunder- darker than clouds
• storm in a teacup- a storm in a teacup, much ado about nothing
• chase rainbows- chase the unattainable
• lightning fast- lightning fast
• have one's head in the clouds- soar in the clouds
• be snowed under- be overworked
• be under the weather- to be unwell
• twist in the wind- languish
• under a cloud- under suspicion
• as right as rain- All right
• for a rainy day- for a rainy day
• bolt from the blue- like snow on the head
• throw caution to the winds- stop worrying
• weather the storm- survive hard times
• sail close to the wind- walk along the edge of the abyss
• on cloud nine- on the seventh heaven
• shoot the breeze- talk about nonsense
• in a fog- confused
• go down a storm- succeed

Money

An equally popular topic of interest is, of course, money. We offer you to get acquainted with the most common "money" idioms.

• a piece of the pie- share
• grave train- Easy Money
• bring home the bacon- to provide for the family, to succeed
• make ends meet- make ends meet
• hit the jackpot- break the jackpot
• be in the red- to be in debt
• make a bundle- make a lot of money
• bet your bottom dollar- guarantee something
• look like a million dollars- look your best
• cost a pretty penny- cost a lot of money
• go Dutch- pay your share
• nest eggs- stash
• golden handshake- big severance pay
• cheapskate- miser
• be flush with money- bathe in luxury
• at all costs- at any price
• live beyond one's means- living beyond one's means
• break the bank- spend a lot
• cost a fortune- cost a fortune
• on the breadline- below the poverty line

Time

"Time is money". This famous saying can often be heard among the English. It confirms their extremely careful attitude to time. No wonder many idioms are dedicated to him.

• once in a blue moon- rarely
• behind the times- obsolete
• time flies- time flies
• the big time- big success
• around the clock- around the clock
• dwell on the past- live in the past
• have the time of one's life- have a great time
• crack of dawn- with sunrise
• run out of time- dry up
• in the blink of an eye- in an instant
• like clockwork- without interruption
• for donkey's years- from time immemorial
• pressed for time- be in a hurry
• give someone a hard time- scold
• be ahead of time- get ahead
• to have a whale of a time- have a great time
• go with the times- to keep up with the times
• on the spur of the moment- with a swoop
• broad daylight- in broad daylight
• catch unawares- be taken by surprise

Animals

There is hardly a people more loving pets than the British. Therefore, animals take pride of place not only in the homes of the British, but also in speech.

• monkey business- meaningless work
• smell a rat- smell bad
• top dog- winner
• cash cow- source of funds, cash cow
• eager beaver- hard worker, business sausage
• black sheep- White crow
• elephant in the room- I didn’t notice the elephant, it’s obvious
• when pigs fly- when the cancer hangs down
• like a cat on a hot tin roof- be out of your element
• in the dog house- out of favor
• be as busy as a bee- work like a bee
• let a cat out of the bag- let the cat out of the bag
• horse around- to be fooling around
• as poor as a church mouse- poor as a church mouse, penniless
• lion's share of something- the lion's share
• eat like a horse- have a voracious appetite
• have a tiger by the tail- defy fate
• hear it straight from the horse's mouth- from the source
• butterflies in the stomach- neither alive nor dead
• like water off a duck's back- like water off a duck's back

Dialog

Original

Translation

- Mark, who do you think we should give some bonus for the previous month? - I don't know. Who are the main candidates? - So, there are Lucy, Michael and Judy. - I think that Lucy works a lot, but she is a black sheep of the team. Yes, I agree with you. What do you think about Michael? - It seems to me that he is an eager beaver. - But he is in the dog house, isn't he? - Yes, our boss doesn't like him. And what about Judy? - I like her. She is always as busy as a bee. - You "re right. She deserves our company" s bonus.

- Mark, who do you think we should give the bonus for the last month? - I don't know. Who are the main contenders? - So, this is Lucy, Michael and Judy. - I think Lucy works a lot, but she White crow in a team. - Yes, I agree with you. What do you think of Michael? - I think he hard worker. - But he out of favor, is not it? - Yes, our boss doesn't like him. And what about Judy? - I like her. She always working like a bee. - You are right. She deserves company bonuses.

Food

Despite the fact that English cuisine does not shine with variety, the number of idioms dedicated to food is considerable. We present you the most common "delicious" idioms.

• egghead- smart ass
• big cheese- influential person
• potato couch- loafer
• tough cookie- hooligan
• top banana- leader
• bad apple- scoundrel
• eat one's words- take back your words
• the apple of one's eye- apple of an eye
• hard nut to crack- hard task, tough nut to crack
• in a nutshell- briefly
• have egg on one's face- look stupid
• as cool as a cucumber- cold-blooded
• be full of beans- be energetic
• as slow as molasses- very slow
• chew the fat- sharpen fringes
• sell like hot cakes- be selling like hot cakes
• take something with a pinch of salt- do not trust
• bite off more than one can chew- overestimate your abilities
• cry over spilt milk- grieve about the irreparable
• hot potato- actual topic

Dialog

Original

Translation

- Tom, who do you think may be in charge of this project? - I "m not sure, but I think that Jack will cope with it easily. - If I were you, I wouldn't be so sure. Sometimes he is a coach potato. - Yes, but last time he tried to solve a very big problem of the company. - I agree. However, I think that he bit off more than he could chew. - But he has great advantages. He is a very sociable and reliable person. - Ok, I will think about his nomination.

- Tom, who do you think will be able to lead this project? - I'm not sure, but I think Jack can handle him easily. I wouldn't be so sure if I were you. He sometimes messing around. - Yes, but the last time he tried to solve a very big problem in the company. - I agree. However, I think that he overestimated his abilities. But it also has great advantages. He is a very sociable and reliable person. - Okay, I'll think about his appointment.

We hope that these idioms will help you diversify your speech. And the teachers of our school will be happy to sort out with you all the subtleties of their use.

Big and friendly family EnglishDom

"Hold your horses!" is a rare case when an English idiom is translated into Russian word for word.

English idioms- this is an interesting, entertaining part of the language, but sometimes beginners pay too much attention to it. From this article, you will learn what idioms are, whether they are worth learning, what is the difference between the idiom and, and also where butterflies come from in the stomach and what kind of spoon it is, under which it sucks out of fear.

What are idioms?

Idioms or phraseological units- these are stable turns of speech, indecomposable combinations of words, understood, as a rule, in a figurative sense. The meaning of the entire expression is not determined by the meaning of its constituent words. Often the meaning of an idiom is difficult to guess, to understand from the words included in it, if you are not familiar with it.

For example: to be in the same boat. Literally, it means: “to be in the same boat,” but the meaning of the idiom is different: “to be in the same situation, experience the same difficulties.”

I understand your problem. We are in the same boat. - I understand your problem. I am in the same position as you.

Idioms are called stable, indecomposable combinations because they are used in an unchanged form. For example, no one says to sit together in the same boat or to be in the same vessel. An idiom is used as a ready-made figurative template for some typical situation.

You can probably guess the meaning of the expression about the boat, especially when you hear it in context, but there are idioms whose meaning is impossible to guess.

I want to buy a Saturday night special but I'm scared to own it.

I'm sorry, what-? I want to buy... a saturday night special? saturday night special? maybe I'm afraid to go to the Saturday sale?

"Saturday night special" is a small pistol or revolver. Very roughly, the expression can be translated as “Saturday evening special dish”. It originated in the 1960s (now obsolete) and comes from the fact that often these cheap and affordable weapons were used during drunken brawls in bars, which most often happened on weekend evenings. Weapons were carried by many habitues of hot places, so it was not uncommon for someone to get a “special dish” during a conflict.

Sometimes insidious idioms come across - similar to Russian ones, but with a completely different meaning.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Literally, it means “moss does not grow on a rolling stone.” By mistake, one might think that this is an analogue of our “water does not flow under a lying stone”, but the idiom about moss has a different meaning: a person who often changes his place of residence, occupation, will never settle down, will not settle down. Accordingly, the equivalent will be as follows: "whoever does not sit still, he will not make good."

It's funny to compare Russian and English idioms that describe the same phenomenon, but in different words. For example, in Russian a bad swimmer is compared with an ax, and in English with a stone:

I'm not taking you to the river. You swim like a stone. “I won’t take you to the river. You swim like an axe.

In Russian, we say about those who like to chat on the phone “hanging” on the phone, and in English - “sitting”.

I couldn't call you. My sister was sitting on the phone. - I couldn't call you, my sister was on the phone.

How many idioms are there in English?

There are thousands of idioms in the English language, but it is impossible to give an exact number, just as it is impossible to name the exact number of words in a language. For example, in the Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms (Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms, M. McCarthy, 1998) there are 5782 dictionary entries, but in fact this number says little.

English idioms are no less living units of speech than words, their number is constantly changing. Some idioms live for centuries, while others fall into disuse very quickly.

English idioms, proverbs, colloquial formulas, phrasal verbs and other similar units of speech

Idioms are easy to confuse with proverbs, various speech patterns, phrasal verbs. Even scientists sometimes find it difficult to distinguish between them.

Idioms are a variety formulaiclanguage(this term can be roughly translated as “communication formulas” or “speech patterns”) - stable, indecomposable expressions that should be understood and taught as a single unit of speech, not a group of words.

These templates include:

1. Greetings and wishes (greetings and good wishes)

• How are you? - How are you?
• Have a good day! - Have a nice day!

2. Prepositional groups or set expressions with prepositions (prepositional phrases)

• In a minute - in a minute.
• Once in a while - from time to time.

3. Proverbs, sayings, aphorisms (sayings, proverbs, quotations)

• Bad news travels fast - bad news travels fast.
• Buy the best and you only cry once - the miser pays twice (literally: buy the best and cry only once).

4.

• To look for - look for.
• To sign in - register.

5. Set phrases, collocations

• Blond hair - blond hair (the word "blond" is strongly associated with "hair")
• Deeply disappointed - deeply disappointed (“deeply” is the first thing “disappointed” is associated with)

6. Conversational speech formulas

• You've gotta be kidding! - You must be joking!
• You see what I'm saying? – Do you understand what I mean?

7. Idioms (idioms)

• A penny for your thought - What are you thinking about?
• To give the green light - Give the green light (permission).

Note: classification from the textbook “English Idioms in Use: Intermediate. Self-study and classroom use.” Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell.

As you can see, the line between idioms and similar expressions is sometimes very difficult to draw. For example, the phrasal verb to look for(search) cannot be called an idiom in any way - there is nothing idiomatic in it, that is, some kind of figurative meaning. But the phrasal verb to sail through It is already easy to confuse with an idiom, because it has a figurative meaning.

To sail through- literally “sail through something”, that is, quickly overcome. Meaning: easy to handle. For example:

to sail through exams - easy to pass exams.

Another case is proverbs. A proverb is essentially a special case of an idiom; an idiom expressing a universally recognized truth based on the experience of many generations, common sense, folk wisdom.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Literally: A bird in the hands is worth two birds in the bushes.

Analogue: Better a tit in the hands than a crane in the sky.

Apparently, this is why in dictionaries, and even more so in various collections of idioms on the Internet, not only idioms are often found, but everything that even remotely resembles them has at least a hint of idiomaticity, including individual words in a figurative sense .

How important is it to know English idioms?

Sometimes I come across the opinion that the idioms of the English language are almost a knowledge of the essentials, because in English they are very common.

To be honest, not very often.

I think that know idioms are really useful and interesting, but learn they don't really make sense. Consider two cases: knowledge of idioms for their use in speech and for understanding speech or text.

1. The use of idioms in speech

Many idioms have a stylistic coloring, are used in informal speech, and are characteristic of some social or age groups. Let's take an example from the Russian language. Two ninth-graders are talking in a labor lesson:

- Why are you beating your ass? Help me make a stool.

- Hold your pocket wider!

Can you imagine ninth graders talking like that? I cant. Maybe 50 years ago, but not now. Here's a more realistic example:

- What are you doing bullshit? Help me make a stool.

- Yeah, right now, ran away!

Inappropriate use of idioms can "make the day" for your interlocutors. It seems like they were trying to show off their minds, but it turned out that they sat down in a puddle. Therefore, idioms in speech should be used with caution only if you know exactly what they mean and in what situations they can be used. Especially if the conversation is businesslike, official.

There is such a linguistic bike. One foreign diplomat in the USSR, before an official meeting, asked the guide about the meaning of the phrase “all over Ivanovskaya”. They explained to him what it means “loudly”, earlier on the Ivanovskaya Square of the Kremlin, heralds proclaimed royal decrees, and it was necessary to shout loudly so that everyone could hear. But they didn’t explain to him that the expression eventually acquired a comic connotation, and the diplomat at the reception, raising his glass, said that he wanted to proclaim a toast “to the whole of Ivanovskaya”.

2. Understanding idioms

From my own experience, I can say that when communicating with native speakers, idioms are rare. Often found:

• colloquial clichés (to take a shower - take a shower, to make a suggestion - make an offer),
• phrasal verbs (to look after - look after, to work out - play sports),
• prepositional groups (wait for a while - wait a bit).

But these are idioms, that is, stable turns with a figurative meaning, like it rains cats and dogs(like a shower), when pigs fly(when cancer whistles on the mountain) - rarely. Your interlocutors understand that English is not your native language and try to speak without much difficulty.

By the way, many have noticed that when you talk to a foreigner in a company, you understand him well, but when they talk to each other, nothing is clear. Between themselves, people speak their usual language, without making allowance for the “foreignness” of the interlocutor, so their speech can be full of slang and incomprehensible jokes.

In films, TV shows, books, idioms are sometimes found, but usually the meaning is guessed from the context. For example, out of context it is impossible to understand the meaning of the expression: “Put your John Hancock here”. Who is John Hancock? But in the film, I came across this expression in context.

According to legend, D. Hancock put such a sweeping signature that King George III could read it without glasses.

The doctor gives the patient a document, a pen, points to a place for painting and says: “Put your John Hancock here.” The patient takes a pen and signs. It is clear that John Hancock is the signature. Then I read that John Hancock was one of the American politicians who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, leaving the most noticeable (“ministerial”, as they say in Russian) painting. Therefore, in America, the expression "John Hancock" has become an informal synonym for the word "signature".

Although sometimes, especially in the text, the idiom is completely impossible to understand. If you read a phrase in which all the words are understandable individually, but together they form some strange nonsense like “pot calling the kettle black” (pot calling the kettle black - who would say, whose cow would moo), you have exactly an idiom . But this happens quite rarely, you do not have to go into the dictionary of idioms twice per page of text.

English idiom dictionaries online

The easiest way to find the meaning of an idiom is to surf it in Yandex and see 2-3 results, because sometimes not quite correct definitions come across. But besides this obvious way, there are also dictionaries of idioms, for example:

An online dictionary of English idioms, or rather, a section of the dictionary dedicated to idioms. Convenient search by keywords, there are examples of use. Everything is in English.

A dictionary of slang, which in a few years has actually grown to a dictionary of everything that even slightly smacks of slang, idiomatics, figurativeness: sayings, proverbs, idioms, Internet memes, aphorisms, and so on. The advantage of the dictionary: it is maintained in a wiki mode, i.e. it is ruled by whoever wants, so the style is alive, and the examples are life. But this is also a drawback: you can stumble upon low-quality information. The article rating system helps you choose the right option.

A small note about translating English idioms

If you suddenly need to translate an idiom from English into Russian or vice versa, you need to take into account an important point: idioms are extremely rarely translated verbatim, usually you need to select equivalent expression from another language, or translate descriptively, given the context.

I will give examples.

1. The idiom is translated literally.

To give the green light. - Give the green light.

In both languages, the expression means "give permission", the literal translation is the exact equivalent. But this is rare.

2. You can find an equivalent for an idiom.

When the pigs fly. - When the cancer on the mountain whistles; after the rain on Thursday.

Both options correspond exactly to the meaning of the expression “when the pigs fly”: never.

3. It is impossible or difficult to find an equivalent for an idiom.

There are idioms for which it is difficult to find an analogue. A classic example is Khrushchev's "Kuzkin's Mother". In 1959, Khrushchev told Nixon: “We have means at our disposal that will have dire consequences for you. We will show you Kuz'kin's mother!” The translator Viktor Sukhodrev was not at a loss and translated the expression allegorically: “We’ll show you what’s what” (we will show you what is what).

Do I need to learn idioms?

If you have recently started studying English, you still have a small vocabulary, and reading a page of English text causes a headache, then actively learn, learn by heart English idioms are not needed. Idioms are a rather advanced part of the language, not a priority at the initial stage. If you memorize a list of 100 or 200 idioms, in practical terms, this will give you very little, since they are not so common, so you will beat your head thoroughly.

However, idioms are perceived by many as an interesting, curious part of the language, something like amazing facts or “did you know what…?” In this case, idioms can simply be read at your leisure, as something entertaining.

If you actively read, listen in English, then you will sometimes come across idioms. I think they are worth it memorize at the level of understanding, but it makes no sense to teach so hard as to be able to freely apply in speech - these are not so common and necessary expressions.

Fortunately, remembering idioms at the level of understanding is quite simple, thanks to their brightness, imagery, and sometimes an entertaining story of origin, because it is the unusual and bright that is best imprinted in memory.

Popular English idioms with translation - a selection from personal experience

In conclusion, I will give a selection of idioms that I had to get acquainted with in practice: I did not read them in a textbook, but heard from someone, met them while reading, and for some reason I remembered them. Here is my personal list of popular idioms.

• piece of cake- simpler than simple, simpler than a steamed turnip, lit.: a piece of cake.

I learned this expression as a child. In the movie Terminator 2, John Connor, the future savior of mankind, breaks into an ATM using some kind of electronic device and steals money from it. “Piece of cake,”- John says and runs away, and the translator says: "Easier than a steamed turnip."

• To ring a bell- to remind something, about something, lit.: to ring a bell.

The expression is used in interrogative form, for example:

Look at this photo, does it ring a bell? Look at this photo, does it remind you of anything?

The idiom met several times in the movies, in detective stories, and was remembered because of the imagery. The ringing of a bell, symbolizing a sudden thought.

• Rule of thumb- a simple rule, an approximate way of assessing, lit.: the rule of thumb.

Rule of thumb is a simple practical method for measuring something inaccurately. The expression likes to use the linguist Paul Nation - both in scientific papers and in lectures. For example (quoting from memory):

The rule of thumb is that a native speaker knows about 20,000 words. - An approximate guideline is this: a native speaker knows about 20,000 words.

Other examples:

I never weigh anything when I'm cooking. I just do it by rule of thumb. “I never weigh anything. I eyeball everything.

A good rule of thumb is that a portion of rice is two handfuls. – An approximate rule is this: a serving of rice is two handfuls.

The origin of the idiom is not precisely established. One version says that the “rule of thumb” came from the old way of measuring among carpenters - with a finger, not measuring instruments. Everyone's fingers, of course, are different, so this "roulette" was not very accurate, but it was easy to use. According to another version, the expression came from a law that allegedly existed in England, according to which a husband was allowed to beat his wife with a stick, but no thicker than his thumb.

• To have a crush on someone. - Fall in love with someone.

The expression is often found in teen comedies, teen literature, sitcoms such as "The Friends" or "How I met Your Mother".

Once the expression came across to me in a movie with a pirated translation. There was something like:

Billy had a crush on that girl. “One day Billy fell on that girl right on her head.

Well, how can you not remember that?

• Totally different ball game- Quite another matter, literally: another ball game.

I heard this expression only from one person, but many times. You know, some people have favorite words and phrases? Just such a case. One of my acquaintances in America, a kind elderly uncle who loved to utter wisdom and talk about the old days, very often said something like.

Las Vegas is fun but New Orleans is a totally different ball game! “Las Vegas is fun, but New Orleans is a whole different story!

• To make money- to earn, lit.: to make money.

I learned from the textbook that “to earn money” is “to earn money”. But when I began to communicate with foreigners, it turned out that they simply don’t speak like that. A much more common expression is: to make money.

You came here to make money, didn't you? You came to earn money, didn't you?

• To pay the bills- cover basic expenses, provide for oneself, lit.: pay bills.

In The Devil Wears Prada, a young journalist, Andrea, came to New York after university and got a job as an assistant to Miranda Priestley, the editor-in-chief of a popular fashion magazine. The job proved difficult and unpleasant due to Miranda's tough temper, but for Andrea it was a career opportunity.

While celebrating with friends, Andrea makes a toast: “To job that pays the rent”. The translation sounded like "for work that pays rent." Unsightly and strange toast, as it seemed to me.

Later I learned that there is an expression to pay the bills– cover basic expenses (housing, food, clothing). Moreover, it is usually used in the third person, in expressions like job that pays the bills- so they say about a job that may not be to their liking, but brings enough money to live on. In other words, about the work that you have to endure because of the money.

Being a waitress isn't so prestigious, but it pay the bills. - Working as a waitress is not so prestigious, but enough to live on.

Job that pays the rent- this is a variation of this expression (rent - rent for housing). At the party, Andrea complained that the work was not the most pleasant, and the boss was just the devil, but her friends convinced her that for this position “millions of girls are ready to kill”, it is worth suffering for the sake of future well-being. Andrea agreed and raised a glass to the new job she has to endure in order to not only earn a living, but secure a bright future for herself.

• Don't give up the day job- literally: do not quit your job (for the sake of this occupation), meaning: you are not so good at it (to quit your job).

Under day job understand the basic work, as opposed to part time job(part-time work, side job). Expression “Don't give up the day job” literally means that you should not quit your main job in order to get another job or do something else. So they can say if a person shares plans to become, for example, a professional artist, to earn a living from this, but the interlocutor doubts his talent very much:

– I want to become an artist. – I want to become an artist.

– Don't give up your day job. Just don't quit your job just yet.

I came across the expression on one English-language site, where issues of various creativity were discussed and, in particular, earning money through drawing, writing, etc. One of the participants advised everyone to “don't quit work”, for which he was pecked at by the offended community.

• Butterflies in the stomach- excitement, love, fading of the soul, goosebumps, sucked in the stomach, literally: butterflies in the stomach.

“Every time I see you, I get butterflies in my stomach. But it’s okay… The acid kills them almost instantly!”

“Butterflies in the stomach” is the case when a literally translated idiom has become entrenched in the language, has become common, and more recently.

A few years ago, I watched an interview with Natalia O'Shea (Helavisa), the leader of the Melnitsa group. Speaking, if I am not mistaken, about the creative process, she tried to explain a certain inspired state and said that it is difficult to describe, but in English there is a suitable expression “butterflies in the stomach” - butterflies in the stomach. Here it just conveys this feeling!

Later, the “butterflies” began to flutter through the pages in social networks and ceased to be a curiosity. Usually the newfangled Russian expression “butterflies in the stomach” is used in the sense of “feeling in love”, although in English it has a wider meaning: a physical sensation in the stomach caused by excitement. That is, it can be not only love, but also, for example, excitement in front of the public.

Whenever I have to speak in public, I get butterflies in my stomach. - When I need to speak to the public, my soul stops with excitement.

In Russian there is an exact analogue of this expression: sucking under the spoon. In both cases, we mean quite a physiological sensation associated with compression of the gastric sac as a result of a reduction in blood flow (from stress, excitement, fear, etc.). However, depending on the context, it may be more appropriate to use a less anatomically accurate, but more appropriate equivalent: the soul freezes, goosebumps run, it takes your breath away.

• jump scare– in horror films: sudden frightening of the viewer, lit.: bouncing fright.

One of the most basic and powerful scary tools in the arsenal of horror movie and game creators, which is why I don't like this genre. In its most primitive form it looks like this.

The hero sneaks with a flashlight along the dark corridor of the castle\psychiatric hospital\vampire lair, the music pumps up a tense atmosphere. He goes to a large mirror on the wall, and then there is a rustle behind him and a shadow flickers. The hero turns around sharply and sees that it is just a mouse. He, exhaling, says: “Yes, it's just a damn mouse!”, Turns to the mirror, AND THERE !!! Plus a harsh, screeching sound effect. Such scarecrows make the viewer literally jump on the spot (apparently, this is where the name comes from).

The reception is hackneyed, among connoisseurs of the genre it is believed that it is resorted to in cheap horror films. In good horrors, they scare in much more subtle, deep ways, forcing you not only to jump occasionally, dropping popcorn, but to sit in suspense throughout the film, and by the end, simply burning the nervous system to the ground.

I got acquainted with this movie term when I watched the walkthrough of the super-terrible PT game on YouTube. In the comments, someone wrote that frequent use jump scare he was disappointed - such a good game and such a cheap reception.

• The bottom line- essence, summary, lit.: bottom line, introductory line.

Expression bottom line similar to the Russian "drawing the line" and means about the same: conclusion, conclusion. For example, a long article may end with the paragraph "Conclusion" (conclusion) or "The Bottom Line" (conclusion, conclusion). In scientific papers, they don’t write like that, because the expression has a colloquial, informal connotation.

The bottom line can also mean:

1. Main idea, summary.

It's hard to explain but bottom line is that they don't get along. “It’s hard to explain, but the point is, they don’t get along with each other.

1. The total amount in the financial document, profit or loss for the year.

How will the rise in interest rates affect our bottom line? How will the increase in interest rates affect annual income?

I most often came across the expression in the meaning of “conclusion” in educational articles and videos.

• street smart- worldly mind, smart in a street way, knowing life, lit.: street mind.

I heard the expression in a conversation with the American journalist John Alpert. Talking about how he began to make documentaries, he noted that he had never been super smart (super smart), except perhaps in everyday, street smart (street smart).

street smart- this is the mind that is acquired not at school and with books, but on the street, in life, in everyday life. It is also understood in a narrower sense: the ability to survive on the street.

If you spend your life reading books, you are not going to last in the real world. You gotta be street smart to survive. - If you read books all your life, you will not last in the real world. To survive, you need to know life.

The bottom line

Speaking about the beauty and richness of a particular language, they often turn to its phraseology, idioms, because idioms are closely related to the culture, history, and customs of native speakers. However, when learning a foreign language, especially at the initial stage, there is no need to give great importance to idioms - there are things that are more priority. In addition, due to their figurativeness, brightness, curious etymology, idioms are remembered without much difficulty, and some are easily deciphered without a dictionary.