An idiom is a fixed phrase whose meaning is not in its words; many are informal, so use them in everyday talk.
Idioms don't mean their words
Not ""A piece of cake" = a dessert you eat" — say ""A piece of cake" = something very easy". The idiom has a hidden meaning; the literal words are not the point.
Try it: Farid: Was it hard to set up your new phone? Lani: Not at all. It was ___. Choose the words for the blank. (a piece of cake / under the weather / black and white) Answer: a piece of cake — A piece of cake means very easy.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
a piece of cake
/ə piːs əv keɪk/
means very easy: The warm-up was a piece of cake for Mei.
hit the nail on the head
/hɪt ðə neɪl ɑn ðə hed/
means say exactly the right thing: Amina hit the nail on the head when she explained the problem.
Idioms for how you feel and where you are
Under the weather means slightly ill; in the same boat means in the same difficult situation as others; both are informal.
Not ""Under the weather" = talking about the rain or cold outside" — say ""Under the weather" = feeling slightly ill". The idiom is about your health, not the actual weather.
Try it: Farid: Why is Ira wearing a scarf indoors? Lani: She's a bit ___. She says she'll be fine tomorrow. Choose the words for the blank. (under the weather / a piece of cake / give and take) Answer: under the weather — Under the weather means slightly ill.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
under the weather
/ˈʌndər ðə ˈweðər/
means feeling slightly ill: Lars felt under the weather, so he left work early.
in the same boat
/ɪn ðə seɪm boʊt/
means in the same difficult situation: Nobody could find a parking space, so we were all in the same boat.
Idioms for work and decisions
Call it a day means stop because you have done enough (informal); pros and cons means advantages and disadvantages.
Not ""Call it a day" = name a particular day or date" — say ""Call it a day" = stop working now because you have done enough". Call it a day is about stopping, not naming a day.
Try it: Lani: Should we take the train to Ghafwick or drive? Farid: Let's write down the ___ of each first. Choose the words for the blank. (pros and cons / give and take / piece of cake) Answer: pros and cons — Pros and cons are the good and bad points of a choice.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
call it a day
/kɔːl ɪt ə deɪ/
means stop for now: After three hours, the team called it a day.
pros and cons
/proʊz ənd kɑnz/
means advantages and disadvantages: Think about the pros and cons before you buy a car.
What are the common mistakes?
Incorrect
Correct
Why
"A piece of cake" = a dessert you eat
"A piece of cake" = something very easy
The idiom has a hidden meaning; the literal words are not the point.
"Under the weather" = talking about the rain or cold outside
"Under the weather" = feeling slightly ill
The idiom is about your health, not the actual weather.
"Call it a day" = name a particular day or date
"Call it a day" = stop working now because you have done enough
Call it a day is about stopping, not naming a day.