IDIOMS For IELTS
A Bit Much: More than is reasonable; a bit too much.
Sentence – But maybe total understanding of everything is a bit much to ask of a tiny human mind.
A Bite at the Cherry: A good opportunity that isn’t available to everyone.
Sentence – Jason heard about a new investment opportunity that has the potential to be very profitable. He definitely wants a bite at the cherry.
A Busy Bee: A busy, active person who moves quickly from task to task.
Sentence – I’m currently choreographing three plays, so I’m a real busy bee.
A Cat Has Nine Lives: Cats seem to get away with dangerous things.
Sentence – Mr. Pickles has been missing for a few days, but I wouldn’t worry about him. Everybody knows a cat has nine lives.
A Cat in Gloves Catches No Mice: You can’t get what you need if you’re too careful.
Sentence – I think you’ll get that promotion if you pursue it more assertively. A cat in gloves catches no mice, after all.
A Cat Nap: A short sleep during the day.
Sentence – I’m going to try to squeeze in a cat nap before my next shift starts, or else I’ll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening.
A Cold Day In July: (Something that) will never happen.
Sentence – It’ll be a cold day in July before they get that new interstate built.
A Cold Fish: Someone who is not often moved by emotions, who is regarded as being hard and unfeeling.
Sentence – The manager decided not to hire Bill as the store greeter because he came across like a cold fish during the interview.
A Cut Above: Slightly better than.
Sentence – With his vast experience and charming personality, it was clear to see that Gary was a cut above the rest of the candidates who interviewed for the sales position.
A Cut Below: Inferior to; somewhat lower in quality than.
Sentence – This waiter is really a cut below what I would expect from this restaurant.
A Day Late And A Dollar Short: Too delayed and insignificant to have much effect.
Sentence – Jake tried to repair his relationship with his girlfriend after forgetting her birthday, but she viewed his efforts as a day late and a dollar short.
A Dog in The Manger: A person who selfishly prevent others from using, enjoying or profiting from something even though he/ she cannot use or enjoy it himself.
Sentence – The toddler, like a dog in the manger, refused to give her older sister the notebook she needed to complete her school assignment.
A Few Sandwiches Short Of A Picnic: Abnormally stupid, not really sane.
Sentence – He says he’s going to start a business selling bees as pets. I think he may be a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
A Good Deal: To a large extent, a lot.
Sentence – There’s a good deal to be learned from listening to your elders.
A Great Deal: To a very large extent.
Sentence – We have derived a great deal of benefit from her advice.
A Guinea Pig: Someone who is part of an experiment or trial.
Sentence – Jane used her husband as a guinea pig to try her new baked chicken recipe.
A Hair’s Breadth: A very small distance or amount.
Sentence – After wandering around the forest for hour thinking we were lost, it turned out that we were only a hair’s breadth away from our campsite.
A Home Bird: Somebody who prefers to spend his social and free time at home.
Sentence – She invited me to a party with some of the cast members from her play, but I’ve always been a bit of a home bird, especially when I don’t know the people I’ll be hanging around.
