Idioms about talk: beat around the bush avoids the point, hit the nail on the head is exactly right, and break the ice relaxes people.
Idioms for how people talk
Not "He kept beating around the tree." — say "He kept beating around the bush.". Idioms are fixed: the word is always bush.
Try it: Sofia: I think our meetings are just too long. Hiroshi: Exactly. You hit the nail on the ___. Choose the word for the blank. (head / top / point) Answer: head — The fixed idiom is hit the nail on the head, meaning exactly right.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
beat around the bush
/bit əˈraʊnd ðə bʊʃ/
He kept beating around the bush instead of just saying no.
hit the nail on the head
/hɪt ðə neɪl ɑn ðə hɛd/
You hit the nail on the head; the real problem was the deadline all along.
break the ice
/breɪk ðə aɪs/
She told a quick joke to break the ice before the interview began.
Nerves, prices and luck
Cold feet are sudden nerves, something that costs an arm and a leg is very expensive, and a blessing in disguise is a lucky setback.
Not "Ethan got cold foot before his driving test." — say "Ethan got cold feet before his driving test.". The idiom is always plural: cold feet.
Try it: Diego: My bus broke down, and that is how I met my climbing partner. Matilda: So it was a blessing in ___. Choose the word for the blank. (disguise / secret / hiding) Answer: disguise — The fixed idiom is a blessing in disguise: something bad that turns out well.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
get cold feet
/ɡɛt koʊld fit/
He got cold feet the night before the wedding and almost called it off.
cost an arm and a leg
/kɑst ən ɑrm ənd ə lɛɡ/
Fixing the roof cost an arm and a leg.
a blessing in disguise
/ə ˈblɛsɪŋ ɪn dɪsˈɡaɪz/
Missing that flight was a blessing in disguise; the later one was half empty.
Everyday idioms for school and work
Four everyday idioms: a piece of cake (easy), hit the books (study hard), spill the beans (tell a secret), call it a day (stop working).
Not "The quiz was a piece of pie." — say "The quiz was a piece of cake.". The idiom is always cake.
Try it: Ira: How did everyone find out about the secret menu? Camila: Someone spilled the ___ online. Choose the word for the blank. (beans / peas / nuts) Answer: beans — The fixed idiom is spill the beans, meaning reveal a secret.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
a piece of cake
/ə pis əv keɪk/
The first exercise was a piece of cake, but the second was hard.
hit the books
/hɪt ðə bʊks/
I'm going to hit the books tonight; the test is tomorrow.
spill the beans
/spɪl ðə binz/
Don't spill the beans before the official announcement.
call it a day
/kɔl ɪt ə deɪ/
We'd painted three rooms, so we called it a day at six.
Weather and help
Heavy rain is raining cats and dogs, and trying very hard to help someone is bending over backwards.
Not "It's raining dogs and cats." — say "It's raining cats and dogs.". The order is fixed: cats first.
Try it: Amina: Did the clinic help when you forgot your insurance card? Hiroshi: Yes, they bent over ___ to sort it out. Choose the word for the blank. (backwards / forwards / sideways) Answer: backwards — The fixed idiom is bend over backwards: try very hard to help.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
raining cats and dogs
/ˈreɪnɪŋ kæts ən dɔɡz/
Take an umbrella; it's raining cats and dogs out there.