IDIOMS For IELTS
Go belly up – Go bankrupt (informal); to break or malfunction, fail or come to an end.
Sentence – We must be prepared because if the merger deal doesn’t materialise, the company may go belly up.
Below the belt – Unfair or unfairly; not regarding the rules.
Sentence – His joke about Jason’s misfortune was below the belt.
On bended knee (or knees) -Kneeling, especially when pleading, asking for something or showing great respect.
Sentence – Simon went down on bended knee and surprised Jenny with a marriage proposal.
Better late than never – It’s preferable for something to happen or be done belatedly than not at all.
Sentence – I didn’t know how to swim until I was 45, but better late than never.
Bide one’s time – Wait quietly for a good opportunity.
Sentence – I am just biding my time, planning and looking for a property that’s perfect for my family.
Bite the hand that feeds one – Deliberately hurt or offend a benefactor; act ungratefully.
Sentence – We couldn’t understand how Stacy could bite the hand that fed her.
Be in someone’s black books – Be in disfavour with a person.
Sentence – I am quite sure I won’t be selected to represent the school as I ‘m in the coach’s black books at the moment.
Bleed someone dry (or white) -Drain someone of all their money or resources.
Sentence – Private medical costs are bleeding us dry.
One’s heart bleeds for someone – One sympathizes very deeply with someone or the phrase can be also said sarcastically to mean the opposite.
Sentence – My heart bleeds for Nathan who missed his chance to meet his sister who was given up for adoption 10 years ago.
As blind as a bat – Having very bad eyesight. Informal
Sentence – You can’t read the sign from here? You must be as blind as a bat!
Jump (or climb) on the bandwagon – Join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful.
Sentence – When your TV show does extremely well, advertisers will be competing to be the first to jump on the bandwagon.
At someone’s beck and call – Always having to be ready to obey someone’s orders immediately.
Sentence – She is going to be confined to a wheelchair for the next three weeks but she’s not complaining as she will have a nurse at her beck and call.
Bed of nails – A problematic or uncomfortable situation.
Sentence – My parents are very judgmental and living with them can be a bed of nails.
Make a beeline for – Go rapidly and directly towards.
Sentence – They hungry tourists made a beeline for the buffet that featured delicious food from all over the world.
Beggar on horseback – A formerly poor person made arrogant or corrupt through achieving wealth and luxury.
Sentence – It’s not surprising that he lost everything and is being investigated by the authorities as he was a beggar on a horseback.
Work like a beaver – To work steadily and industriously or to work very hard and energetically. Also, work like a dog, work like a horse.
Sentence – He worked like a beaver to clean the house.
