Idioms are a powerful tool in any language, but I find myself stumbling over them all the time. You can learn English idioms in a variety of ways, but there are five of the most effective ways to do so. Here are five ways to learn idioms in English: 1. Listen to and read more…
I’ve heard countless stories about how a simple English phrase can be misinterpreted or misunderstood. It’s one of the reasons why I’m so passionate about learning idioms and using them in my own writing. Here are 5 ways to start learning American idioms, and how to use them in your own writing. 1. Read Blogs…
I’m always looking for ways to improve my writing, but I’ve never been able to find an easy way to learn idioms. Most of the sites I’ve found are too difficult for beginners or just don’t work very well. STEP 1: Watch American TV I know there’s a lot of debate about whether or not…
I recently started working with an American friend. I’ve noticed that he’s got some strong opinions about English idioms, and he would definitely benefit from learning them. So, I thought I’d write a quick post about some of the most common ones. Here are five ways to learn English idioms: 1. Watch movies There are…
GOOD SAMARITAN The phrase, “Good Samaritan” is often used as a metaphor to describe someone who is helpful and does good actions for others. The Good Samaritan was kind unto the man that had fallen among thieves and even helped him financially. It can also be used as a noun that means a person who…
GOLDEN AGE The Golden Age is the age in which people are most actively productive. This phrase derives from the idea that there was a literal Golden Age, or that each generation imagines it has reached its own. It also refers to the period in Greek mythology when people were said to live for 100…
GO UP IN SMOKE This idiom means to be lost, wasted, or destroyed. It usually refers to how money or energy is spent or used up. One example is when a person struggles with debt and eventually becomes insolvent even though they are trying to pay off their debts. Another example is when an organization…
GO TO POT/SEED The phrase “GO TO POT” is used in the sense of the phrase “going to ruin”. It is mostly used when one perceives something as being “already bad, but it can’t get any worse.” It is most often used in the vernacular when someone attempts something and they fail miserably at their…
GO OVERBOARD The idiom to go overboard typically means to take an action that’s excessive. For example, if someone says they’re going to be too busy with work and can’t do any more chores around the house, their partner might say “you’ve gone overboard.” A person can also go overboard by doing something they didn’t…
GET OFF THE DEEP END The phrase “get off the deep end” is an idiom that typically means to become unstable, agitated, or worrisome relative to a given situation. For example, when one misinterprets a harmless comment and becomes upset because they believe that they’ve been unfairly criticized, then it could be said that they…