Hi friends

I have shared following idioms from 101 American idioms. Make a sentences with each of them

Break the ice

Our Eskimo in the illustration doesn't seem to understand that to break the ice doesn't mean to knock someone's house down. It means to do something friendly in order to overcome shyness or to ease tension in a social situation. "To break the ice, let's invite our new neighbors to lunch."

Call it a day

"Let's call it a day and go home," Teddy said. Because the person he's addressing doesn't understand the expression, it's up to me to explain that when we call it a day, we stop whatever we are doing, regardless of the time. "After twenty years as a postman, Mr Burr called it a day and retired."

Do things by halves

I don't know what's wrong with Mr. Long. He's either lazy or disorganized for he always does things by halves. That is, he does things in a careless and incomplete way. "When I read a book, I do it by halves. I never finish it." Mr. Long said. " I guess I've decorated my house by halves too."

Put someone in their place

George made the mistake of criticizing his boss. His boss responded by putting him in his place. When we put someone in their place we punish them, often by telling them in an angry way that their thoughts or opinions are of little importance. "Having been put in his place, I doubt that George will ever criticize the boss again."

On the cheap

Things that are cheap are inexpensive. To do something on the cheap is to do it without spending much money. Last summer, for instance, Felix joined a tour to Europe and that it discovered was done on the cheap as the hotels were inexpensive and lunches were from hot dog stands.

best wishes

Hi my friend: these idioms are from the book of 101 American idioms. after reading them, plz make a short sentence with each of them (their meanings are put in parenthesis).

1. Going under the knife

When critics and celebrity observers criticized Heidi Montag for undergoing ten plastic surgery procedures in one operation, she answered back that going under the knife is only a medical operation that doesn't involve any life-threatening risk (have surgery).

2. Knock Someone's Socks Off
Hi, John. What's new ?
Oh, nothing too much with me, but you ought to see Fredo's new car. It'll knock your socks off!
So, he finally got that Italian sports car he's been dreaming about.
He sure did. When you see all the custom features that it has, you'll get so enthused and excited you won't know what to do.
Boy, I can hardly wait to go for a ride in it (amaze or impress someone).

3. Lose One's Shirt
I happened to bump into Dole at lunch yesterday afternoon.
What's new with Dole these days ?
He wasn't doing so well. For one thing, he told me he lost his shirt at the races.
Dole has always liked to bet on the horses. I'm not surprised that he lost a great deal of money.
Yeah. At this rate he'll never have a penny to his name. (lose all that one owns)

4. Lemon
Have you seen Joe's new car yet ?
Yeah. It looks good, but she's had nothing but problems with it.
That's too bad. It sounds like she got a real lemon.
She sure did. No sooner did she drive it home from the dealer's than it proved defective and started breaking down. (an unsatisfactory person or thing)

5. Out of the Woods
Although Eric was well on his way to recovering from his bout with pneumonia, he was still not out of the woods. The doctors told him that he would have to take it easy and avoid exposure to cold, since he was not out of danger and difficulty yet an unsatisfactory person or thing. (out of danger or difficulty).

best wishes

1. Jump the Gun

Denise was planning on telling her grandparents that the doctor said she was going to have twins, but when her dad found out he jumped the gun and told them before Denise could say a word. He was so excited that he became hasty and revealed the news before Denise had a chance to tell them.(act before the appropriate time)

2. Scratch Someone's Back

Hey, Bea. I need some help stacking these boxes. Would you please give me a hand?
OK. And I need some help tidying up the house. How about your helping me out after that?
OK. If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
I know you don't like doing housework, but I'll help you with the boxes if you promise to return the favor. No problem. I'll even do the windows. (Do someone a favor in hopes that a favor will be returned)

3. Turn Someone Off

How was your date with Marty last night ?
Well, it started of OK, but he really turned me off when we went for a snack after the movies.
Did he say or do something to annoy you?
Frankly, he disgusted me when he tried to talk with his mouth full.
I don't blame you. That would have really bothered me too. (To depress someone)

4. Kick the Bucket

It's been said that the old man knew of a buried treasure, but he kicked the bucket before telling anyone where it was. If the treasure exists, the old man unfortunately took the secret of its location with him when he died. (To die)

5. Wet Blanket
James was not invited to go on the outing with the rest of the group because he's such a wet blanket. On many previous occasions he has kept others from enjoying themselves by his pessimism and lack of enthusiasm. It's understandable that no one wants him around.(A negative person who tends to ruin other people's good times).

These idioms are from book of 101 american idioms

1. String Someone Along
Liz had high hopes of marrying Dean. When he ran off with another woman, she realized that he was just stringing her along. She had felt very strongly about him and was really hurt to see that he was deceiving her and had no intentions of ever marrying her. (To give someone false hopes).

2. Leave Someone High and Dry
Say, Jill. I thought that John was going to help you do the dishes tonight. So did I. But he left me high and dry.
Where did he go?
Well, he got a call from some of his pals at work to go bowling, and he left me alone to do all this work without any help at all! (to leave you alone and without any help).

3. Spill the Beans
Did you know that Harry was going to take Kathy on a Caribbean cruise?
Yes, I did. He was planning on surprising her with the tickets for their anniversary, but someone spilled the beans.
What a shame! That was supposed to have been a surprise.
Yes, it's too bad that someone told her about the trip beforehand and ruined Harry's surprise. That's OK. Her enthusiasm was not dampened in the least! (To reveal a secret).

4. Bite the Dust
Andy did exceptionally well in all of the track events, but he bit the dust in the high jump competition. Much to the disappointment of his fans, he went down in defeat, losing to a competitor from the visiting team. (to fail, die, or stop existing).

5. Cough Up
Say, Greg. Did you finally get that computer that you wanted so much?
Not yet. I needed to raise a couple of hundred dollars more. Is it going to take you a while to raise the money?
It would have taken me forever, but dad said he'd cough up the money I need since I'm going to be using the computer for my school work.
Maybe it was difficult for your dad to give you the money but then, he knows that it's for a good cause. (to give money to pay for something, especially when you would prefer not to).

Hi my friends, these are some common English greetings. I know you've heard all of them but I  just wanted to remember you:

General greetings (Formal)

These greetings can be used in any formal situation, such as a business meeting or meeting someone’s parents, and they can also be used in informal situations as well.

1. Hello
2. How are you? or How’re you?
3. How are you doing? or How ya doin’?

This is different than “What are you doing.” “How are you doing?” means “How are you?” whereas “What are you doing?” is asking what action you are currently doing.
    4. How is everything?
    5. How’s everything going?

General greetings (Informal)

These greetings can be used in any informal situation. To show extra enthusiasm you can add “Hey” to the beginning of these greetings.

• (Hey) What’s up (man/dude/bro/their name)?
• (Hey) Good to see you.
• (Hey) How are things (with you)?
• (Hey) How’s it going?

The pronunciation can be shortened to “goin’.” A typical response to this question is “It’s going good

• How’s life been treating you?
• What’s cracking?

The pronunciation is often shortened to “crackin’.” This is highly informal and should only be used with people around your age. Its similar in use to “What’s up?”

• What’s good?
• What’s happening?

The pronunciation is often shortened to “happenin’.

Greeting a person you haven’t seen for a long time (Formal)

1. It has been a long time.
2. It’s been too long.
3. What have you been up to all these years?
4. It’s always a pleasure to see you.
5. How long has it been?
6. What’s new?

Greeting a person you haven’t seen for a long time (Informal)

1. Long time no see.
2. This is the most common.
3. Where have you been hiding?
4. This is a playful way of greeting someone.
5. It’s been ages (since I’ve seen you).
6. How’ve you been?

16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"

Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!

17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"

Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.

18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"

Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand

19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.

20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"

Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!

11. in ages means "for a very long time"

Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.

12. give someone a hand means "help"

Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?

13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")

Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.

14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"

Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.

15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"

Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.

6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.


7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!


8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.


9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.



10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.

The idioms and expressions below are some of the most common in English.  Have fun!

1. As easy as pie

means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems
as easy as pie to me!

2. be sick and tired of
means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.

3. Bend over backwards
means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.

4. Bite off more than one can chew
means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"
Example:John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.

5. Broke
means "to have no money"
Example:I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.