CHIP ON (ONE’S) SHOULDER A chip on one’s shoulder is an expression for perceived or imaginary insult, often seen as the result of a person’s own insecurity. The term comes from the military metaphor meaning to carry (and protect) one’s weapon (the shoulder) higher than usual because of the feeling that one needs to be…
Welcome to American English Idioms: Lesson 11. In this lesson you have 3 American English idioms to read, listen to, translate, and pronounce in English. Please focus and do your best so that you can learn and improve your knowledge of American English idioms. Don’t forget to use the comments section below to share your…
GET CAUGHT/BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG [LEAVE (SOMEONE) HOLDING THE BAG] In the context of this idiom, it means to leave someone in a difficult situation without help. The term is a literal interpretation of putting a bag on someone’s wrist or arm and letting them hold it while they walk. The phrase “to leave…
BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS Burning the candle at both ends is a colloquial phrase that means to do two things in quick succession at both ends of the spectrum with no break in between. It is generally used when someone is working too hard or partying too much, which can cause burnout or…
GET OFF (ONE’S) HIGH HORSE This idiom typically means to stop being arrogant or haughty, and it is often used when someone has been proven wrong. The phrase comes from the old English proverb ‘to get off one’s high horse,’ which was believed to be a literal act of getting down from one’s horse. Most…
FEATHER (ONE’S) NEST The idiomatic expression “feather one’s nest” is often used to mean that one has done something dishonest or unethical in order to create a comfortable life for themselves. For example, if someone manages to get an unfair promotion, they would be seen as feathering their own nest. The idiom is based on…
Welcome to American English Idioms: Lesson 13. In this lesson you have 3 American English idioms to read, listen to, translate, and pronounce in English. Please focus and do your best so that you can learn and improve your knowledge of American English idioms. Don’t forget to use the comments section below to share your…
EAT OUT OF (SOMEONE’S) HAND The idiom is used using the phrase “to eat out of someone’s hand” to indicate that they are in control of the situation, they have everything under their jurisdiction. The person who has this power over someone is the one with their hand. They are figuratively feeding them, controlling them,…
DEAD TO THE WORLD If someone is “dead to the world” they are asleep or unconscious. However, this can also be used as an idiom to mean that someone is unaware of something that is happening around them.One example of this is when a salesman comes up to you on the street and tries selling…
GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE GO-AHEAD To give someone the go-ahead is to show approval for an idea or proposal, or to provide authorisation for something to happen. When you give someone the go-ahead, you are giving permission for them to proceed with their plan of action. It can also mean approving of something that has already…