Idioms
Air your dirty laundry private information that causes shame and embarrassment when it is made public.
Example: My neighbor's are always airing their dirty laundry: they shout about their private problems and everyone can hear them
All dressed up to make (something) more attractive, impressive, or fancy.
Example: Olivia gets all dressed up before she goes out
As tough as an old boot very tough, strong and resistant.
Example: My grandmother is as tough as old boots; she survived two world wars
At the drop of a hat without waiting or planning, immediately, promptly.
Example: Johns girlfriend dumped him at the drop of a hat when she found a new man
Birthday suit complete nakedness.
Example: The child was swimming in the pool in his birthday suit
Burn a hole in ones pocket to spend a lot of money quickly.
Example: After he got paid, the money was burning a hole in Pauls pocket, he spent it all last weekend
Burst at the seams to be too full or too crowded.
Example: My handbag is bursting at the seams, I need to get a bigger one
Catch (someone) with their pants down to surprise someone in an embarrassing situation or doing something that they should not be doing.
Example: They caught the thieves with their pants down: they were running across the garden with the TV
Charm the pants off (someone) to use very nice or charming behavior to persuade someone to do something.
Example: That man could charm the pants off anyone, hes so handsome and well-spoken
Cloak-and-dagge r Involving secrecy and plotting.
Example: It was all very cloak and dagger, nobody said anything about what was going to happen
Come apart at the seams to be in a bad situation and to begin to lose control, to become extremely upset.
Example: After the divorce, Marie came apart at the seams
Cut from the same cloth to share a lot of similarities.
Example: Jenny and her mother are cut from the same cloth: they are very strict
Do (something) like it is going out of fashion/style to use/buy/eat/spend a lot or too much of something.
Example: Ian is eating fish and chips like theyre going out of fashion
Dressed to kill wearing your best or finest clothes.
Example: I went to my interview, dressed to kill
Eat ones hat to do something extraordinary or special if something that you do not think will happen actually happens.
Example: If you run for 20 minutes without stopping, Ill eat my hat
Emperors new clothes used when many people believe something that is not true, a situation in which people are afraid to criticize something because everyone else seems to think that it is good or important.
Example: It was like the emperors new clothes when nobody would criticize the popular politician although he was doing a lot of bad things
Fall apart at the seams to separate at the seams (for material that is swen together), to fall apart.
Example: My trousers are falling apart at the seams, I really need to buy a new pair
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Feather in ones cap something to be proud of, an honor.
Example: When I got my promotion, it put a feather in my cap
Fit like a glove to fit perfectly.
Example: James and me work perfectly together; he fits me like a glove
Get the boot to be fired from a job, to be told to leave a place.
Example: Olivia was given the boot yesterday, so now shes looking for a new job
Give (someone) the shirt off ones back to be very generous to someone.
Example: Gina is such a kind girl, shed give you the shirt of her back
Go out of fashion/style to become unfashionable.
Example: That type of managerial approach no longer works, it has gone out of fashion
Hand in glove with (someone) very close with someone.
Example: My boss and I worked hand in glove to create a good advertising campaign
Handle (someone) with kid gloves to handle someone very gently and carefully because you do not want to upset him or her.
Example: We all had to handle the celebrity with kid gloves, she was such a diva!
A hand-me-down a piece of clothing that is given to someone after another person does not need it.
Example: My brother always had to wear hand-me-downs from our older cousin
Have a bee in ones bonnet to have a fixed idea that stays in ones mind.
Example: I have a bee in my bonnet with our new housemate; shes very dirty
Idiom Sentences!
Lets practice these idioms make at least one sentence using your favorite idiom. We will correct them and this way, everyone will learn a bit of English today!
My favorite is eat ones hat. Its quite old-fashioned but fun to say. For example:
If she manages to be on time for once, Ill eat my hat
Definition and derivation of fashion (Oxford English Dictionary)
Noun
1a popular or the latest style of clothing, hair, decoration, or behavior: the latest Parisian fashions
[mass noun] the production and marketing of new styles of clothing and cosmetics: [as modifier]: a fashion magazine
2a manner of doing something: the work is done in a rather casual fashion
Verb
[with object]
make into a particular form: the bottles were fashioned from green glass
(fashion something into) use materials to produce (something): the skins were fashioned into boots and shoes
Phrases
After a fashion
to a certain extent but not perfectly: he could read after a fashion
