IDIOMS
on the dot – happens at a particular time, precise time, exactly time.
Sentence- At four-thirty on the dot Benny put on his coat and cap and bade William goodnight.
and then some – and even more; and more than has been mentioned.
Sentence- It looked like 20,000 people and then some were crowded into the stadium.
Find my feet – to become comfortable doing something.
Sentence- I don’t know anyone in England but I am sure I will manage when I find my feet.
read my/your/his mind – refers to the idea that thoughts are known by another.
Sentence- Don’t expect your spouse to be able to read your mind.
before long – a rather short amount of time.
Sentence- Other students joined in the protest, and before long there was a crowd of 200 or so.
Set in their ways – not wanting to change
Sentence- As people get older they become more set in their ways.
(the) bottom line – most important number or information.
Sentence- The bottom line is, there is no stake in anyone legitimizing campaign financing.
burn the midnight oil – stay up late, esp work late
Sentence- The students often burn the midnight oil before big exam.
call it a day – end the job (or task) for the day, (or night)
Sentence- After forty years in politics I think it’s time for me to call it a day.
change one’s mind – to change a decision or opinion.
Sentence- Nothing you have told me motivates me to change my mind.
(Right) off the top of my head – saying something without giving it too much thought or without precise knowledge.
Sentence- Off the top of my head, I can’t tell you many people hit up Facebook daily, but a freakishly high number of people visit the site on their phones every
catch your/my/his eye – something or someone that has a visual attraction for you, can be a written description as well. Really is often used to introduce this idiom.
Sentence- The price on that advertised special really caught my eye.
(to be) fed up with – tired of, disgusted with
Sentence- Viewers are fed up with their favorite sitcoms being shunted to later times to make way for live football coverage.
white elephant – an unprofitable investment, something that is large and unwieldy and is a nuisance and/or expensive to maintain.
Sentence- When the theatre first opened it was widely regarded as a white elephant.
bump into – to meet someone by chance
Sentence- On the pavements, pedestrians bump into each other rather than step aside, and small offences turn quickly into shouting matches.
A drop in the ocean – every small part of something much bigger.
Sentence- The amount of money raised was a drop in the ocean compared to what we needed.
work flat out – work very hard
Sentence- From lavish buffets to butties at the Friday night disco the caterers work flat out to feed the five thousand.
The in thing – something fashionable.
Sentence- Cycling to work has become the in thing to do.
make a fuss over – overly care for someone/something
Sentence- Don’t make a fuss over the child’s naughtiness.
Run of the mill – average, ordinary
Sentence- It has been designed to be different from the usual run of the mill international tax conference.
far-fetched – usually refers to an idea, choice, decision, plan that may be unusual, probably not a good choice.
Sentence- The storyline was too far-fetched and none of the actors was particularly good.
Get a kick out of (something) – to get excitement or pleasure from an event or thought.
Sentence- I really get a kick out of seeing the crazy things carried on motorbikes sometimes.
