Below you'll find some common English idioms or sayings that you can use in everyday speech.
"A Piece of Cake"
Meaning: Something that can be done very easily.
The idea is that cake is sweet and easy to swallow, that is, enjoyable, as opposed to medicine or something similar. If you enjoy something it tends to pass by faster.
Example: That assignment was a piece of cake.
"To Make A Long Story Short"
Meaning: People say this when they want to shorten their story so they don't bore you. If you like, you can always ask for details. Something someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep his/her audience from losing attention. Usually the story isn't shortened.
Example: “I ordered that computer I wanted. To make a long story short, I never got it. It got lost in Russia.”
"Pull the plug"
Meaning: To stop doing something. To finish whatever it is right away.
Example: “This project isn't working. I'm pulling the plug.”
"Hit The Books"
Meaning: To study something, usually by reading a lot of books.
Example: “My exam is coming up! I'd better hit the books!”
"A Dime A Dozen"
Meaning: Anything that is easily acquired, that is, anything where supply exceeds demand. Example: Guitarists are a dime a dozen.
"Raining Cats and Dogs"
Meaning: It's a very loud and noisy rain storm.
This is a common question from my students. They often ask where the idea came from. The best answer I can give is that it sometimes rained so hard in that the small cats and dogs that on rooftops would slide off and fall to the street below. Another idea is that the saying finds it's roots in northern mythology where cats were said to have great influence over the weather. Witches often took the form of cats. Moreover, the dog is a signal of the wind, like the wold, both of whom were attendants of Odin, the storm god. Thus, "cats" may mean heavy rain and "dogs" may mean strong gusts of wind.
Example: During the monsoon season, it's like it's raining cats and dogs.
"Saved By The Bell"
Meaning: Saved at the last possible moment.
A life-saving sound to students all around the world. The teacher asks you that question you were hoping he would never ask. Luckily, the bell rings and you and your friends are off to your next class (and trying to finish the homework for that one, too!)
Example: I was saved by the bell 'cause I didn't have anything prepared!
"Third time's a charm"
Meaning: You've failed twice but try again and the third attempt might be better, especially lucky.
The idea here is to keep trying despite failure. Learn from your mistakes and apply what you learned. The “time's” is an elision of “time” and “is”.
Example: Try again. Third time's a charm.
"Three strikes and you're out!"
Meaning: You've messed up three times and you won't be given another chance. This saying comes from the sport of baseball where a batter has three attempts to swing and hit the ball. Each miss is recorded as a strike and he is allowed three strikes in total.
Example: I'll let you get away with it this time but, remember, three strikes and you're out!
"You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover"
Meaning: You can make a decision based on the outward appearance alone.
Imagine you're walking through a bookstore. How many books do you see? How many are you tempted to pick up? How many are you tempted to buy? What kind of book are you looking for? What book do you buy because it had a nice cover only to find out it was a terrible book?
Example: You should go out with him because you can't judge a book by its cover.
"Hit the road"
Meaning: Get on your way. Get a move on. Leave.
Example: “Thanks for dinner but it's time for me to hit the road.”
"Barking up the wrong tree"
Meaning: You've got the wrong person, idea or impression.
Example: I don't know what you mean. You're barking up the wrong tree.
"A Piece of Cake"
Meaning: Something that can be done very easily.
The idea is that cake is sweet and easy to swallow, that is, enjoyable, as opposed to medicine or something similar. If you enjoy something it tends to pass by faster.
Example: That assignment was a piece of cake.
"To Make A Long Story Short"
Meaning: People say this when they want to shorten their story so they don't bore you. If you like, you can always ask for details. Something someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep his/her audience from losing attention. Usually the story isn't shortened.
Example: “I ordered that computer I wanted. To make a long story short, I never got it. It got lost in Russia.”
"Pull the plug"
Meaning: To stop doing something. To finish whatever it is right away.
Example: “This project isn't working. I'm pulling the plug.”
"Hit The Books"
Meaning: To study something, usually by reading a lot of books.
Example: “My exam is coming up! I'd better hit the books!”
"A Dime A Dozen"
Meaning: Anything that is easily acquired, that is, anything where supply exceeds demand. Example: Guitarists are a dime a dozen.
"Raining Cats and Dogs"
Meaning: It's a very loud and noisy rain storm.
This is a common question from my students. They often ask where the idea came from. The best answer I can give is that it sometimes rained so hard in that the small cats and dogs that on rooftops would slide off and fall to the street below. Another idea is that the saying finds it's roots in northern mythology where cats were said to have great influence over the weather. Witches often took the form of cats. Moreover, the dog is a signal of the wind, like the wold, both of whom were attendants of Odin, the storm god. Thus, "cats" may mean heavy rain and "dogs" may mean strong gusts of wind.
Example: During the monsoon season, it's like it's raining cats and dogs.
"Saved By The Bell"
Meaning: Saved at the last possible moment.
A life-saving sound to students all around the world. The teacher asks you that question you were hoping he would never ask. Luckily, the bell rings and you and your friends are off to your next class (and trying to finish the homework for that one, too!)
Example: I was saved by the bell 'cause I didn't have anything prepared!
"Third time's a charm"
Meaning: You've failed twice but try again and the third attempt might be better, especially lucky.
The idea here is to keep trying despite failure. Learn from your mistakes and apply what you learned. The “time's” is an elision of “time” and “is”.
Example: Try again. Third time's a charm.
"Three strikes and you're out!"
Meaning: You've messed up three times and you won't be given another chance. This saying comes from the sport of baseball where a batter has three attempts to swing and hit the ball. Each miss is recorded as a strike and he is allowed three strikes in total.
Example: I'll let you get away with it this time but, remember, three strikes and you're out!
"You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover"
Meaning: You can make a decision based on the outward appearance alone.
Imagine you're walking through a bookstore. How many books do you see? How many are you tempted to pick up? How many are you tempted to buy? What kind of book are you looking for? What book do you buy because it had a nice cover only to find out it was a terrible book?
Example: You should go out with him because you can't judge a book by its cover.
"Hit the road"
Meaning: Get on your way. Get a move on. Leave.
Example: “Thanks for dinner but it's time for me to hit the road.”
"Barking up the wrong tree"
Meaning: You've got the wrong person, idea or impression.
Example: I don't know what you mean. You're barking up the wrong tree.
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