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– Informal
English
s angry as hell
as bitter as gall
as black as hell
as blind as a bat
as bold as brass as
brave as a lion
as bright as a button
as busy as a bee
as calm as a millpond
as cheap as dirt
as clean as a whistle
as clear as day
as clear as mud
as clumsy as an elephant
as cold as marble
as cold as steel/stone
as cool as a cucumber
as cunning as a fox
as dark as death
as dead as a dodo/doornail
as deaf as a post
as drunk as a lord
as dry as dust
as dull as ditchwater
as easy as anything/pie
as fast as a deer
as fat as a pig
as fit as a fiddle
as flat as a pancake
as fresh as a daisy
as gentle as a lamb
as good as gold
as good as new
as green as grass
as hard as nails
as harmless as a dove
as heavy as lead
as high as a kite
as hot as fire
as hungry as a wolf
as large as life
as light as a feather
as like as two peas
as mad as a hatter
as mean as a snake
as nutty as a fruitcake
as pale as death
as poor as dirt
as pretty as a picture
as proud as a peacock
as quick as a flash
as regular as a clockwor
as right as rain
as safe as houses
as slim as a willow
as sober as a judge
as sound as a bell
as steady as a rock
as sure as hell
as thick as thieves
as thin as a stick
as tired as a dog
as ugly as sin
as warm as toast
as weak as water
as white as snow
as white as a ghost
a closed book
to catch (a) cold I walked out in the rain, so I caught (a) cold.
as far as I'm concerned As far as I'm concerned, I'd like to watch the film.
D
Idioms/Informal Phrases Sample Sentences
dirt cheap
work.
every now and then Every now and then I play the piano.
to see eye to eye World Bank and IMF see eye to eye on Asia
to take sth. for granted I took it for granted the meeting was on Tuesday.
L
Idioms/Informal Phrases Sample Sentences
pitchdark
R
Idioms/Informal Phrases Sample Sentences
Take it easy.
as white as snow
Phrases in conversations –
Exercise
1. Would you like to come to dinner next Friday?
I'm afraid, I can't.
Unfortunately not.
Certainly not.
2. Thank you very much for all your trouble.
No matter.
Don't mention it.
It's not worth it.
3. Could you tell me the way to the station, please?
Yes, I could.
Yes.
Yes, of course.
4. My name is Sue. How do you do?
How do you do?
I'm fine, thank you.
All right.
5. May I open the window?
I'd rather you didn't.
Not at all.
No.
6. Give my love to your grandma.
Yes, sure.
Yes, I will. Thank you.
Yes, please.
7. I think you've taken my bag by mistake.
What a shame.
Pardon.
I'm so sorry.
8. Happy New Year.
OK.
The same to you.
Yours too.
9. Lovely day today, isn't it?
Yes, it is.
Yes, it's so.
Yes, of course.
1. ‘The best of both worlds’ – means you can enjoy two different opportunities
at the same time.
“By working part-time and looking after her kids two days a week she managed
to get the best of both worlds.”
2. ‘Speak of the devil’ – this means that the person you’re just talking about
actually appears at that moment.
“Hi Tom, speak of the devil, I was just telling Sara about your new car.”
10. ‘To kill two birds with one stone’ – to solve two problems at once.
“By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to go
away but also spend time with him.”
13. ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’ – to not judge someone or something
based solely on appearance.
“I thought this no-brand bread would be horrible; turns out you can’t judge a
book by its cover.”
14. ‘Break a leg’ – means ‘good luck’ (often said to actors before they go on
stage).
“Break a leg Sam, I’m sure your performance will be great.”
15. ‘To hit the nail on the head’ – to describe exactly what is causing a
situation or problem.
“He hit the nail on the head when he said this company needs more HR
support.”
To test your new-found knowledge here are some sentences to practice with. Fill
in the blank!
Proverbs in English
A bad workman always blames his tools.
A sharp tongue does not mean that you have a keen mind.
Do lunch or be lunch.
It is too late to shut the barn door after the horse has bolted.
Knowledge is power.
No pains - no gains.
Not all who own a lyre are lyre-players.
Payback is a bitch.
Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves.
to drop a brick
to ride shotgun
What the eye does not see the heart cannot grieve over.
You don't know the value of water before the well runs dry.