Idioms in English

What is an idiom? According to the Oxford Dictionary of American English, it is an expression with a meaning that you cannot guess from the meanings of the separate words. See if you can match the idiom with its meaning. 1. Breathing down his/her neck 2. Right up ones alley 3. Get off on the right foot 4. A piece of the action 5. A bang for your buck 6. Bite your tongue 7. Pig out 8. Spill the beans 9. Wild goose chase 10. Pull strings 11. Not ones cup of tea 12. Knock ones socks off 13 On a roll 14. What makes someone tick 15. Out of the blue 16. Its not rocket science 17. Make no bones about it 18. On the up and up 19. Wash your hands of someone (or something) 21. Up a creek (without a paddle) 22. Go bananas 23. Go with the flow 24. See red A. What makes someone behave in a particular way B. Exert influence to get what you want C. A worthless hunt for someone or something D. Having repeated success E. Honest or legal F. Something not difficult to understand or do G. Stop saying something you shouldnt H. To end all involvement with someone/something I. In a very difficult situation J. To greatly surprise someone K. Become very excited or behave in a crazy way L. Not something one enjoys very much M. To say clearly what you think or feel N. Happening suddenly and unexpectedly O. Eat a lot P. Get good value in exchange for money or effort Q. A share in an activity or in its profits R. To become very angry S. Reveal a secret T. To accept a situation without trying to change it U. Keeping close watch on someone V. Perfectly matched to ones interests W. Start correctly

Sources The Idiom Adventure: Fluency n Speaking and Listening By Dana Watkins Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. In the Know: Understanding and Using Idioms By Cindy Leaney Cambridge University Press McGrawHills Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs By Richard Spears, Ph.D. 101 American English Idioms By Harry Collis McGraw-Hill eslpod.com, ESL Podcast 200 A Phrase A Week <apaw@phrasefinder.co.uk