Apple of one’s eyes Very dear

aim to prove

All ears Listen,attentiv

accord with

adverse to

acquaint with

according to

all thumbs

birds of a feather

Black sheep

1
Bring home the bacon

bed of roses

Birds of the same feather

burn one’s fingers

blacklist

Better half Husband

Crying over spilled milk

Chasing rainbows One who has so many things to do

Crocodile tears Pretended sorrow

Come rain or shine One who does things regularly whatever the
circumstances

Cloud nine One who is very happy because something

wonderful has happened

cold shoulder

dark horse

fly in the face of

Flying colors

Fall on deaf ears

Face like thunder One who looks very angry

French leave Absence without permission

get one’s back up

2
Golden heart

get nowhere

get off

get through

heavy hand

hard row to hoe

In hot water

keep body and soul together

keep one’s chin up

keep one’s eyes open

lay up

make out

Make a clear breast of something Confess

no ax to grind

Once in a blue moon It occurs very rarely

open house

Pass the hat around Collect money

put one’s best foot forward

Pie in the sky

Pay through the nose Pay high price

Read between the lines

3
rub elbows with read between the lines

Reach the moon One who is very ambitious and tries to achieve
something even if it’s difficult

stand on one’s own feet

step on someone’s toes

snail’s pace

Tighten one’s belt

Toe the line

turn over a new leaf To change completely one’s course of action

Teeth chattering One who is extremely cold

Take my hat off Congratulate

The lion’s share An unfairly large share

walk off

walk-up

walk over

Weather the storm One who succeeds in surviving a difficult period

or situation

Wears the trousers Makes all the decisions

Under the weather Not feeling very well

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ACTIVITY 27. IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Guess what idiomatic expressions are used below and give the correct meaning.

1. Bata makes hay while the sun shines.___________

ACT WHILE OPPORTUNITY OPENS

2. The wife of Anpu was beaten black and blue._______

THOROUGHLY BEATEN THAT BRUISES ARE VISIBLE

3. Knowing the wife’s dishonesty, blood pours into his face. ______
FACE BECOMES RED DUE TO EMOTION

4. After killing the wife, Anpu was blue in the face. __________
EXHAUSTED FROM EXERTION, ANGER, OR EXASPERATION

5. Bata had made an easy way out to the mountains.________

AN EASY SOLUTION

6. In good faith, Bata supported his brother Anpu.________

WITH SINCERITY

7. Anpu felt a pain in the neck when he heard his wife’s explanation ________
A FEELING OF ANNOYANCE

8. She bent her knees for forgiveness._______

WITH HUMILITY

9. Anpu’s wife accepted the dose of her own medicine. ________

A CONSEQUENCE OF HER ACT

10. Bata kept company with god- Ra to seek consolation.______

FIND COMFORT OR REFUGE

11. Anpu took the law into his hands.________

5
 PASS HIS OWN JUDGMENT

ACT WHILE OPPORTUNITY

OPENS
6
THOROUGHLY BEATEN
THAT BRUISES ARE
VISIBLE

7
FACE BECOMES RED DUE
TO EMOTION

8
EXHAUSTED FROM
EXERTION, ANGER, OR
EXASPERATION

AN EASY SOLUTION
9
WITH SINCERITY

A FEELING OF ANNOYANCE

10
WITH HUMILITY

A CONSEQUENCE OF HER
ACT

11
FIND COMFORT OR REFUGE

PASS HIS OWN JUDGMENT

12
13