30 COMMON IDIOMS

1. Down in the dumps: depressed, sad

Example: She was down in the dumps. Her only child has already passed away.

2. On your high horse: superior or arrogant position

Example: He doesn’t have any close friends. He is always riding a high horse.

3. Crocodile tears: Fake tears or false sadness

Example: Oh, don’t get moved by her. She will give you only crocodile tears.

4. Smart cookie: A person who is very intelligent

Example. I like to talk with him as he is a smart cookie. He can understand quickly and properly.

5. On cloud nine: Blissfully happy

He has just got married to the lady he loves passionately. He is always on cloud nine.

6. Goody two shoes: Someone who tries to be perfect

Example: Relax and enjoy your life. Everybody can make mistakes. You don’t need to be a goody two shoes.

7. Dog days of summer: the hottest humid days of summer

Example: Such dog days of summer! I am always annoyed by this weather. Just want to be inside with air conditioning all the time.

8. Dressed to the nines: dressed fashionably

Example: I am not trendy but I like getting dressed to the nines.

9. Top banana: A boss

Example: Hey! Stop chatting and playing around. The top banana is coming.

10. Barrel of laughs: someone who is very funny

Example: All of us like to have him on our trip because we always have so much fun traveling with him. He is a true barrel of laughs.

11. Oddball: a weirdo or a strange person

Example: He is an oddball. We are not familiar with him although we have been studying with him in the same class for 2 years.

12. Over the hill/ old as the hills: someone who is very old

Example: My neighbor ia always locking himself out. His mind is slipping, he’s old as the hills.

13. Nutty as a fruit cake: Someone who is a bit crazy

Example: My two year old niece acts silly sometimes. She is nutty as a fruit cake.

14. Like a dog with two tails: extremely happy

Example: he passed the exam with the top score and got the 100% scholarship. He is like a dog with two tails.

15. Cry one’s eyes out: Cry a lot for a long time

Example: I felt sorry for her when I saw her face at work this morning. She must have cried her eyes out last night.

16. Face like a wet weekend: Look sad and miserable.

Example: You have a face like a wet weekend. What happened to you?

17. Your heart sinks: Feel very unhappy and despondent

Example: I know your heart sinks. Leave your past alone and enjoy your present. Do you want a beach holiday?

18. As fit as a fiddle: To be healthy and physically fit

Khoẻ khoắn và cân đối

Example: His healthy diet and regular work-outs help keep him as fit as a fiddle.

19. Green thumb: Grow lush without trying

Example: My first child has a green thumb. He can cultivate flowers so easily.

20. In the same boat: same unpleasant or difficult situation

Example: Let’s support each other. We are in the same boat.

21. Paddle one’s own canoe: To be able to act independently

Example: Be mature and paddle your own canoe!

22. Hit the road: To leave

Example: I have another meeting at 10:00 but our discussion hasn’t come to an end. You guys can go on without me and inform me the outcome later. I need to hit the road now.

23. Fat cat: A negative description of a rich and powerful person

Example: Nobody likes his arrogance. He is just a fat cat.

24. No room to swing a cat: Very small, not big enough

Example: We should find another place for the meeting. This has no room to swing a cat!

25. A cat nap: A short sleep during a day

Example: I did not sleep well last night. Hope I can take a cat nap this afternoon.

26. Cat on a hot tin roof: be extremely nervous

Example: She will take the final exam tomorrow but she did not have enough time to prepare for that. She is like a cat on a hot tin roof.

27. Out of sorts: slightly ill, not feeling well.

Example: Sorry, I need to go home. I am out of sorts

28. Off one’s rocker: Crazy, nuts, insane.

Example: Hearing my father’s complaining all day makes me off my rocker

29. Take it easy: Don’t hurry, relax, don’t get angry

Example: Take it easy. We still have time to fix our problem. The next competition doesn’t take place until February.

30. A closed book: To be difficult to know or understand.

Example: She is a closed book. It takes a very long time to understand her I guess.