English Idioms

"icing on the cake"




When one great thing happens, then another great thing happens on top of it, the second thing is the icing on the cake. Example: "Today I was promoted to head of the department! And they decided to raise my pay!" Answer: "Wow! Icing on the cake!" We all love to eat delicious cake, and sometimes the cake has an extra sweet layer of icing on the top; that is the icing on the cake. Example: "Your wife is beautiful to look at, and she is a wonderful person!" Answer: "True; it's icing on the cake." Example: "We won the case, and they are going to pay our legal expenses." Answer: "That's the icing on the cake." Example: "I've been accepted by the university, and they've offered me a position on the basketball team!" Answer: "That's wonderful! Icing on the cake."

"biting off more than you can chew"



To take on a responsibility which is too large for you to manage is biting off more than you can chew. Example: "I thought I could finish this report within a month, but I bit off more than I could chew."

When eating food, you first bite off a piece, then chew it, and swallow it. If you bite off more than you can chew, you have taken a bite so large that you are not able chew it. Example: "I went skiing last weekend and I went down the most difficult hill first. I bit off more than I could chew."
To bite off more than you can chew is to take on a challenge that is too big for you to accomplish. Example: "I want you to think carefully about how many people you need for this project. Be sure not to bite off more than you can chew."

Thanx alot

I have to use them through my daily speaking

just to memorize them

and not to forget them

[glow=FFCCFF]welcome dear[/glow]

:)

"one for the road"



"One for the road" is one last thing you do before leaving some place. Example: "Come on, let's play one more game of pool for the road." This saying often expresses having one last drink. Example: "Bartender, I'll have one more drink for the road." Note: "The road" does not necessarily mean that you will drive a car; it just means that you are going to leave the place soon. Example: "Are you sure you won't have one for the road?" Answer: "Sorry, I can't. If I leave now I will just make it on time." To have "one for the road" is to have one more and stay just a little bit longer.

it's getting more and more interesting..

more power to you dear


:flower: :flower: :flower:

thanks alot dear
it is very interesting topic
I will save it in my computer
and we wait for more from u

[glow=FFCCFF]Thank u darling[/glow]

:)

"don't burn your bridges"



Our relationships with others are like bridges that take us from one place to another; when we "burn our bridges" we destroy our relationships and it is difficult to go back. Example: "On his last day on the job he got in a huge fight with his boss." Answer: "Why would he want to go burning his bridges like that? Someday he might want to work there again." "Don't burn your bridges" means that it is important to remember and value the relationships that get you where you are and not damage those relationships. Example: "I wish you hadn't been rude to that man just now; he is very important in this town and you shouldn't go around burning bridges."

"against the clock"



You are working against the clock when you are trying to finish your work within a limited amount of time. Example: "We worked against the clock all day to get that report done by five."

You often compare the time on the clock against how much work you have left to do when you are working against the clock. Example: "We have to finish this report by 8 o'clock tonight, so we're really working against the clock."

The passing of time ("the clock") works against you when you are working against the clock. Example: "Mom, will you have time to help me with my homework today?" Reply: "Sorry, I won't. I'll be working against the clock to finish my presentation."

"a shot in the dark"



A shot in the dark is a guess at the answer to a question when you do not feel that you know the facts. Example: "How did you know I was from America?" Reply: "Just a shot in the dark."

To take a shot is to guess at the answer. You are in the dark when you are not clear about the facts. You take a shot in the dark when you try to guess the answer to a question but you are not sure of the facts. Example: "That was a tough question. How did you get it right?" Reply: "I just took a shot in the dark."

When people do not know how to answer a question, you can encourage them to guess anyway, taking a shot in the dark. Example: "How old do you think I am?" Reply: "I have no idea." Answer: "Really, come on. Take a shot in the dark."

very interesting topic

U remined me of my Translation courses

thank God I've done them all

الحمدلله

وشكرا لمرورك حبيبتى (f)

"the apple of your eye"



The apple of your eye is that person (or thing) that you care for the most. Example: "He sure does love his little girl." Reply: "She's the apple of his eye." Example: "You got me the bracelet I wanted!" Reply: "Yes, I knew it was the apple of your eye."

The original meaning of the apple of your eye is the pupil, or the round black spot in the middle of the eye. It is as if that person's reflection can be seen in the pupil ("apple") of your eye. Example: "Everyone knew they would get married someday. She was always the apple of his eye."

It makes you feel good to look at the person who is the apple of your eye. From a famous love song: "You are the apple of my eye. That's why I'll always be with you."

"crying over spilled milk"



To cry over spilled milk is to remain upset about a past loss. Example: "We came so close. Really. We almost won that game!" Reply: "There's no use crying over spilled milk."

When milk has been spilled, it is wasted and cannot be used. There is no reason to keep complaining over the loss. Note that either of the words spilled or spilt can be used. Example: "Well, the car is ruined and that's too bad, but there's no use crying over spilt milk. We're just going to have to get a new car."

Crying over spilled milk is not useful because the thing is already lost. Parents often tell their children to stop crying over spilt milk. Example: "I can't believe we lost my favorite toy!" Reply: "Oh, stop crying over spilled milk. You have other toys to play with."

"the bigger they are (the harder they fall)"



The bigger they are, the harder they fall means that it is more difficult to beat stronger opponents, but we can beat them, and when they lose they suffer a bigger loss. Example: "Are you worried that he might be too strong?" Reply: "No, I'm not. He may be big, but the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

The word harder has two meanings here. First, it is harder (more difficult) to beat them; and second, when they lose they go down harder (more painfully). Example: "Those guys thought they would never lose. But we finally beat them. And look at them crying now." Reply: "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

The bigger they are, the harder they fall means that bigger people are harder to knock down, but when they go down they hit the ground harder. You can say this to encourage a smaller competitor. Example: "Good luck, and remember: The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

"letting the cat out of the bag"



You let the cat out of the bag when you tell a big secret. Example: "Bob didn't want anyone to know he was sick, but his wife let the cat out of the bag."

A secret is like a cat that has been kept a bag. Once you let the cat out of the bag, it goes wherever it wants. Example: "We were going to keep our plans to get married a family secret, but my mother let the cat out of the bag."

The person who told the secret is the one who let the cat out of the bag. Example: "Hey! Who let the cat out of the bag?" Example: "Oops. It looks like I let the cat out of the bag."

..........Tank you........
..........to Beast........

:clap: ..........Tank you........
..........to Beast........

..........to Beast........

to best

you are welcome

:)