english idiom of the day

7/28/2019 English Idiom of the Day

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English Idiom of the Day – To Get Caught Red-Handed

A person who is caught red-handed is discovered in the middle of

committing a crime or doing something wrong. It is usually related

to stealing but can also be used by a parent who finds their child

eating their way through a box of chocolates.

Example: He tried to steal from the shop but he was caught red-handed.

Did you know…? This idiom originated in the 14th century when

the act of killing another man’s animal and selling the meat was a

common crime. If a person was caught with the blood of a freshly

killed animal on their hands this was considered proof of their guilt.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-to-get-caught-red-handed/




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English Idiom of the Day – Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees

The expression ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’ means that money

does not come easily or without effort; you should be careful how

much money you spend because there is only a limited amount.

Example: „Dad, can I have a new bike?‟ „We can‟t afford one. Money

doesn‟t grow on trees you know.‟

When Tony was younger, his father told him that money doesn‟t grow

on trees, and that he would have to work hard if he wanted to be rich.‟

Did you know…? There is a Japanese proverb that states that,

contrary to the above idiom, money can grow on trees. The proverb

states: Money grows on the tree of persistence. In other words, if you

keep trying and never give up, money will come to you.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-money-doesnt-grow-on-trees/







English Idiom of the Day – Lump Sum

A ‘lump sum’ is a large amount of money you pay or receive all at

once rather than in increments over a period of time.

Examples: You will receive a tax-free lump sum of $50,000 atretirement age.

Would you like to repay the amount in installments or as one lumpsum?

Did you know…? The origin of the phrase „lump sum‟ comes from

one of the meanings of the word „lump‟, which is: „not broken or

divided into parts‟. If we „lump‟ people together, it means we put themtogether in a single group.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-lump-sum/







English Idiom of the Day – Raining Cats and Dogs

It’s ‘raining cats and dogs’ means it is raining very heavily.

Example: You should take an umbrella with you, it is raining cats anddogs out there!

The weather was horrible yesterday. It was raining cats and dogs allday.

Did you know…? This phrase originated in 17th century England.

Very heavy rain would occasionally wash dead animals through thestreet. The animals didn’t fall from the sky of course, but the sight

of dead cats and dogs being washed down the street with the rain

caused people to joke that it must have been raining cats and dogs.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-raining-cats-and-dogs/







English Idiom of the Day – Under the Weather

If you are ‘under the weather’ it means you are sick or unwell.

Example: „I think I will stay home from work today, I am feeling a bit

under the weather‟

„You should go to the Doctor, you look under the weather‟

Did you know…? This idiom originated in the British Navy. When asailor became sick, he was kept under the deck or „under the weather‟

so he could get well.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-under-the-weather/







English Idiom of the Day – A Pain in the Neck

If someone is a pain in the neck it means they are very annoying and

always disturbing you.Example: My little sister won‟t leave me alone. She‟s a real pai n in theneck.

Less polite variations! Pain in the butt/ass (American), Pain in theArse (British)

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-a-pain-in-the-neck/







English Idiom of the Day – Have your cake and eat it

If someone wants to ‘have their cake and eat it too’, they want

everything their way. It sometimes suggests that someone is not

willing to compromise even when conflicts exist.

Examples: I worked at home so I could raise my family and still earnmoney. It let me have my cake and eat it too.

This idiom is often used in the negative: ‘you can’t have your cake

and eat it too’

Example: If you want a senior consultant to work here, you must paythe salary she demands. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

Similar idiom: An idiom with a similar meaning is: ’You can’t have

it both ways’.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too/






English Idiom of the Day – Think outside the box

To think imaginatively using new ideas instead of traditional or

expected ideas.

Example: You won‟t come up with good ideas until you think outsidethe box. Let‟s think outside the box for a minute and try to find a

better solution.

Did you know…? This idiom comes from the fact that a box, with

its rigidity and squareness, symbolises constrained and

unimaginative thinking.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-think-outside-the-box/







English Idiom of the Day – Tip of the Iceberg

If something is said to be ‘the tip of the iceberg’ it means that

something is only a small part of a much bigger problem. The ‘tip

of the iceberg’ is the part of a problem that can be easily observed,

but not the rest of it, which is hidden.

Example: The problems that you see here now are just the tip of theiceberg. There are numerous disasters waiting to happen.

Origin: This idiom comes from the fact that only the tip of an icebergcan be seen and the rest of the iceberg, which is much larger, isunderneath the water and cannot be seen.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-tip-of-the-iceberg/







English Idiom of the Day – Cloud Nine

To be on ‘cloud nine’ means you are extremely happy or blissful.

Example: For a few days after I heard I‟d got the job, I was on cloud

nine.

Did you know…? This idiom originates in the fact that weatherexperts classify cloud nine as a particular type of cloud that is whiteand fluffy and very high up in the sky. To be up high in the sky islikened to paradise or being happy.

Idiom with similar meaning: To be „over the moon‟

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-cloud-nine/






English Idiom of the Day – A black sheep

Someone who is the black sheep doesn’t fit into a group or family

because their behaviour or character is bad, odd or disgraces the

group.

Example: My brother was the black sheep in the family - he ran awayat 16 to become an actor.

Did you know…? The idiom originated from the occasional blacksheep which is born into a herd of white sheep and the fact that blacksheep are less desirable than white ones because it is more difficult todye their wool different colours.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-a-black-sheep/







English Idiom of the Day – Busy as a bee

If someone says you are as a busy as a bee it means you are very

busy or very active.

Example: She‟s as busy as a bee, always going to meetings and organizing parties; The Teacher said: “I want everyone to be as busy

as bees”.

Did you know…? The first recorded usage of this idiom is from wellknown „Canterbury Tales‟ written in the 14th Century.

http://www.englishwithjo.com/english-idiom-of-the-day-busy-as-a-bee/





english idiom of the day

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