A white Christmas It refers to the snow on the ground on Christmas day. Australians can never have a white Christmas. (= It almost never snows in Australia.) Christmas came early this year This is an expression used to say that something really good happened earlier than expected. For example, if you have already received …
Open someone’s eyes To open someone’s eyes is to make them discover something. It was an unpleasant experience but it opened my eyes to truth. In the blink of an eye If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens quite quickly. My laptop was gone in the blink of an eye. Close …
To work your fingers to the bone is to work very hard for a long time. Because you have been putting in so much effort over a long period of time, your fingers have reduced to mere bones with hardly any skin or flesh covering them. The expression wear your fingers to the bone also …
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Here is a list of English idioms that use weather-related words and phrases. A face like thunder When you sport a face like thunder you look very angry. I’m fed up of my boss. He always has a face like thunder. A fair-weather friend A fair-weather friend is someone who wouldn’t help you in bad …
A three dog night is an extremely cold night. According to some scholars this idiom comes from Australia. During extremely cold nights, Australian aborigines used to keep themselves warm by hugging dogs. On a slightly cold night, a man would need to hug just one dog to stay warm. This is often referred to as a one …
To think outside the box is to think freely and imaginatively. Compare this with think inside the box. When people think inside the box, their creativity is limited by the boundaries of the box. On the other hand, to think outside the box is to give a free rein to your imagination. Needless to say, leaders and thinkers always encourage people …
To take potshots at somebody is to criticize them. This isn’t fair criticism, though. Pot shot means criticism that is rather unfair. The sole objective of taking pot shots at somebody is to make them feel bad. My mother-in-law likes to take potshots at everything that I do. (= My mother-in-law likes to criticize everything that I do.) He doesn’t contribute …
To spill the beans is to reveal a secret unintentionally. This informal idiom is very common in American English. This expression has been in use since early twentieth century. I didn’t want anyone to know about my engagement to Susie, but my sister spilled the beans. (= My sister unintentionally revealed the secret.) When he refused to marry …
You are talking about somebody and then that person suddenly appears. In such a situation a native English speaker might say speak /talk of the devil. Actually this is an incomplete phrase. The full forms are speak of the devil, and he shall appear and talk of the devil, and in he walks. Many Indians believe that if a …
When you are as sick as a dog, you are very ill and vomiting. Sam could not go to the party, because he was as sick as a dog. I have never been so ill in my life. I was sick as a dog. (= I was very ill.) I couldn’t enjoy the outing because I was sick as …
