Idioms

Prick up your ears for these 10 idioms using the word "ear"!

If you are faced with a difficult or unfortunate situation, you can either focus on the negative aspects or you can be optimistic and look on the bright side. If you look on the bright side, you try to find positive or advantageous points about an otherwise negative scenario.

If someone loses complete control of their behavior or emotions, then you can say that they have gone off the rails. We use the expression go off the rails to refer to someone who has started to behave in a strange or abnormal way. In many cases, their actions are considered to be inappropriate or unacceptable compared to their usual standards.

If someone used to be in a better position than you in terms of wealth, power or overall advantage, but now you are in a better position than them, then the tables have turned. We say that the tables have turned when the roles between two people (or groups of people) have reversed and are now the opposite of what they used to be.

If you need to postpone or cancel plans with someone then you can take a rain check. We use this expression when we want to politely decline an invitation or reschedule a plan, but also imply that we would be interested in accepting another one in the future.

If you say something off the top of your head, you speak without giving too much thought to the accuracy or quality of your ideas. We use this expression when we want to say something on the spot, but when we are not certain that the information is entirely correct.

If you’re faced with two choices that are equal in value or appeal, then you can say it’s six of one, half dozen of the other. We use this idiom when we cannot decide between two options because there is not one that is noticeably better than the other.

When you say humour me, you are asking someone to simplify what they are saying. It implies that you know that the other person might find it silly or pointless. It is an expression that shows humility.

If you’ve stayed up all night, from dusk until dawn, then you’ve pulled an all-nighter. We use the term "all-nighter" to refer to an event that lasts through the night into the morning. This term is often associated with school and work, and it is used to say that a person stayed up all night to study for a test or complete a task.

If someone beats around the bush, they do not talk about a subject in an open or direct way. Instead, they may talk about a lot of irrelevant or unimportant details to avoid getting to the main point.

If there’s an obvious truth that no one wants to talk about, then there’s an elephant in the room. This idiom refers to an issue or situation that everyone is aware of, but chooses not to publicly acknowledge. 

There are a lot of idioms in English that use the word "nose". Apparently, we like to talk about our noses a lot! Here are just 10 to add to your phrasebook (plus a bonus one to amaze your friends and colleagues with).

If you have a project or task to do, and you have a very limited amount of time to finish it, then you can say that you're in a race against time.

If you’re not feeling well, physically or emotionally, then you can say that you feel under the weather. We use this expression when we want to imply that our health is slightly below its normal state.

If you don’t do an activity very often, then you can say that you only do it once in a blue moon. We use this expression to emphasize how rare or infrequent an activity is. The activity could be infrequent due to cost, convenience, preference, etc.

This expression is somewhat casual, so it is best suited for informal contexts. For example:

If you completed a task at the last acceptable moment, then you completed it in the nick of time.

If you have something in the bag, it means that you are sure that you will achieve it or acquire it. We usually use this expression to predict a future success that seems certain or, at least, highly probable.



This expression can be used in a variety of situations, although it is better suited to informal contexts. For example:

If you blow something out of proportion, then you make it seem more important than it actually is. We use this expression when someone overreacts or exaggerates the seriousness of a situation. As a result, the situation is given more attention than it deserves.

If you’re faced with a unique and complicated issue at work, you may need to think outside the box to find a solution.

When you learn the ropes, you learn how to do a particular task or activity. We use the expression learn the ropes when we are in the process of gathering basic knowledge and experience about how to perform a task or job.