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Short English lessons for non-native speakers: what a phrase means, how to use it, examples, and how it sounds.

Idioms 39

• Butterflies in Your StomachA nervous, fluttery feeling in your stomach before something important or exciting.
• Turn a Blind EyeTo pretend not to see something, usually something wrong, and choose to do nothing about it.
• Mad as a HatterCompletely crazy or very strange in behavior (informal and a little old-fashioned).
• Bite the BulletTo make yourself do something unpleasant or difficult that you’ve been avoiding.
• A Dime a DozenVery common and easy to find, so not special or valuable.
• Spill the BeansTo reveal a secret, often by accident or too early.
• Break a LegGood luck, especially before a performance.
• Break the IceTo say or do something that makes people feel more relaxed when they first meet.
• Let the Cat Out of the BagTo reveal a secret, usually by accident.
• Kick the BucketTo die (informal, and often a little humorous).
• Hit the HayTo go to bed.
• Put Your Foot in Your MouthTo accidentally say something embarrassing, rude or hurtful.
• Cost an Arm and a LegTo be very expensive.
• Under the WeatherFeeling a little sick or unwell.
• Hit the Ground RunningTo start something new quickly and work well from the very beginning.
• Barking Up the Wrong TreeTo look in the wrong place, follow the wrong idea, or blame the wrong person.
• The Straw That Broke the Camel’s BackA small final problem that, added to many others, makes a situation too much to bear.
• Cold TurkeyStopping a habit or addiction suddenly and completely, instead of little by little.
• A Piece of CakeSomething very easy to do.
• Cool Your JetsCalm down, or slow down and stop rushing.
• Hold Your HorsesWait, be patient, or slow down.
• Ride ShotgunTo sit in the front passenger seat of a car, next to the driver.
• Get Cold FeetTo suddenly feel too nervous or unsure to go ahead with something you planned.
• The Ball Is in Your CourtIt’s your turn to act or make a decision.
• Fit as a FiddleIn very good health and full of energy.
• Bite the DustTo fail, stop working, or die; today it’s usually said casually about things.
• Burn the Midnight OilTo stay up late at night working or studying.
• Go the Extra MileTo make more effort than what is expected or required.
• Hit the BooksTo study hard, especially for a test.
• Cut to the ChaseTo skip the unnecessary details and get straight to the main point.
• In Hot WaterIn trouble, usually because of something you did.
• Bite Off More Than You Can ChewTo take on more work or responsibility than you can actually handle.
• Face the MusicTo accept the unpleasant results of something you did.
• Blow Off SteamTo release stress, anger or energy, often by doing something active.
• Steal Someone’s ThunderTo take attention or praise away from someone, often by doing or announcing something first.
• Pull Someone’s LegTo joke with someone by telling them something untrue, in a friendly way.
• Raining Cats and DogsRaining very heavily.
• Take It with a Grain of SaltDon’t believe something completely; treat it with a little doubt.
• Jump on the BandwagonTo join an activity, trend or opinion because many other people are doing it.

Proverbs 9

• A Picture Is Worth a Thousand WordsOne image can explain something more quickly and clearly than a long description.
• The Early Bird Catches the WormPeople who start early or act quickly have a better chance of success.
• Don’t Cry Over Spilled MilkDon’t waste time being upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed.
• You Can’t Judge a Book by Its CoverDon’t decide what someone or something is like only from how it looks.
• When It Rains, It PoursWhen one bad thing happens, several more often happen at the same time.
• Rome Wasn’t Built in a DayBig, important things take time and patience.
• Let Sleeping Dogs LieDon’t bring up an old problem or argument that isn’t causing trouble now.
• Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They HatchDon’t count on a good result before it actually happens.
• The Grass Is Always Greener on the Other SideOther people’s situations often look better than yours, even when they aren’t.

Expressions 8

• Grab a CoffeeA casual way to invite someone to meet up and talk, usually over coffee but not always.
• Rain CheckA polite way to decline an invitation now and suggest doing it another time.
• Saved by the BellRescued from a difficult or uncomfortable situation at the last moment.
• Close but No CigarAlmost right or almost successful, but not quite.
• Dad JokeA simple, corny joke, often a pun, that makes people groan or roll their eyes more than laugh.
• Binge-WatchingWatching many episodes of a TV show, one after another, in one sitting.
• Third Time’s the CharmAfter two failed tries, the third one will succeed, or finally did.
• Circle BackTo return to a topic or task later.

Phrasal verbs 2

• Hang OutTo spend relaxed, casual time with someone, without a special plan.
• Butter Someone UpTo praise someone or be extra nice to them so they’ll do something for you.

Slang 9

• HangryIrritable or angry because you’re hungry.
• GhostingSuddenly stopping all contact with someone, with no explanation.
• Couch PotatoA person who spends a lot of time sitting on the couch, usually watching TV, and not being active.
• Left on ReadWhen someone opens your message but doesn’t reply.
• FrenemySomeone who acts like a friend but is also a rival, or who quietly works against you.
• Epic FailA big failure, usually one that is funny or embarrassing.
• Straight FireExtremely good, exciting or impressive.
• Spill the TeaTo share gossip or interesting news about other people.
• Throw ShadeTo insult or criticize someone in a subtle, indirect way.

Word origins 6

• Sandwich“Sandwich” is named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich, an 18th-century British nobleman. People ate food between bread long before him, but his name stuck.
• OK“OK” began in 1839 as a joke abbreviation of “oll korrect,” a playful misspelling of “all correct.”
• Why We Park in a Driveway and Drive on a ParkwayA driveway was first the private road you drove up to a house, and a parkway was a road built through park-like land. The names stayed even as people’s habits changed.
• Nightmare“Mare” was an evil spirit that sat on sleepers’ chests. Today “nightmare” means a bad dream or anything very unpleasant.
• Brunch“Brunch” is a blend of “breakfast” and “lunch”: a late-morning meal, usually on weekends.
• DeadlineDuring the American Civil War, a “deadline” was a line in a prison camp that prisoners were shot for crossing. Today it means a time limit.

Pronunciation 2

• Why “Colonel” Sounds Like “Kernel”“Colonel” is pronounced KER-nuhl, the same as “kernel.” There’s no L sound in the middle.
• Why “GH” Sounds Like “F” in EnoughThe gh once stood for a throaty sound, like the ch in German “Bach.” In some words it turned into an F sound; in others it disappeared, but the spelling stayed.

Spelling 2

• Silent LettersMany silent letters, like the k in “knight,” were once pronounced. The sounds disappeared over time, but the spelling stayed the same.
• Why “W” Is Called “Double U”Medieval scribes wrote the W sound as two U’s (“uu”), and back then U and V were the same letter, so English kept the name “double U.”

Grammar 3

• Double NegativesUse one negative per idea: “I don’t need any help,” not “I don’t need no help.”
• Mouse and Mice, but House and Houses“Mouse” is one of a few old words that change their vowel in the plural. “House” never followed that pattern, so it just adds -s: “houses.”
• Goose, Geese and Moose: Irregular Plurals“Geese” is an old vowel-change plural, like “feet” and “teeth.” “Moose” came into English much later, and its plural is just “moose.”

Culture 8

• Blue JeansJacob Davis, a tailor in Nevada, and Levi Strauss patented riveted work pants in 1873, and those became today’s blue jeans.
• Tipping in the U.S.In the U.S., tipping is expected for many services: usually 15–20% of the bill at sit-down restaurants, in taxis and at hair salons.
• Why We Clink Glasses When ToastingClinking glasses is simply part of the toasting ritual. No one knows exactly how it started, and the popular poison story is probably a myth.
• RSVPRSVP means “please reply” and asks you to tell the host whether you’re coming.
• Why People Say “Bless You”“Bless you” is a polite, automatic reaction when someone sneezes. The usual reply is “Thank you.”
• Why Americans Smile So MuchIn the U.S., smiling at strangers is a normal, polite way to seem friendly and approachable. It usually doesn’t mean more than that.
• Potluck DinnersA potluck is a meal where every guest brings a dish, and everyone shares all the food.
• “How Are You?” Is Often Just HelloIn the U.S., “How are you?” is usually just a friendly hello. A short, positive reply is expected.