Clothes Idioms

		I’m not a wolf in a sheep’s clothing, so in this unit I will tell you what the above mentioned idioms really mean!
	It is time that you pull up your socks and begin to learn also some idioms! Teachers will love it if you just pull them out of a hat!

to air/to hang out one’s dirty linen in public	to have ants in ones pants	to handle with kid gloves	below the belt
tell about one`s private quarrels or problems where others can hear	restlessness, nervousness	treat very gently and carefully	in an unfair or cowardly way
My wife always airs the family’s dirty linen in public when she goes out with friends.	The little boy was moving around as he had ants in his pants.	You must handle the new employee with kid gloves as he is very sensitive.	I think that he was hitting below the belt when he began to criticize me after I told him my true feelings on the matter.
to bet one’s boots	to keep sth under one’s hat	to roll up one’s sleeves	shoes is ont he other foot
bet everything that one has	keep something secret	get ready for a hard job, prepare to work hard or seriously	the opposite is true, places are changed
I will bet my boots that he is not able to save up enough money to come with us to Greece this winter.	I plan to keep my plans to apply for a new job under my hat.	Let`s roll up our sleeves and begin to work so that we can finish early.	For a long time my friend laughed at my problems at work. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he also has serious problems.

Some Phrasal Verbs and Expressions

to get on – to enter, to board I always get on the bus in the city centre. to get off – to leave, to descend from Mary never gets off the bus in the city centre.
	to put on – to place a piece of clothes on yourself Sam put on a sweater but it was not his size. . to take off – to remove a piece of clothes Sam took off the sweater as it was not his size.
to call up – to telephone Did anyone call me up while I was taking a shower? to call on – to visit You look terrible! You should call on Dr Johnes!
		to turn on – to start, to begin If you want to turn on the television, just press the green button on the remote controll. to turn off – to stop, to termitate Turn off the lights before you go to sleep!

to look at – to direct your eyes toward Look at me! – said the hypnotist to his patient. to look for – to search Haven’t you seen my glasses? I’ve been looking for them for 2 hours!

Heart Idioms

break one`s heart
make very sad or hopeless

It broke my heart to see the boy fall over during the competition after he had practiced so much.

eat one`s heart out
grieve long and hopelessly for something, want something

"You can eat your heart out but I won't buy you a puppy for your birthday."

from the bottom of one`s heart - with great feeling, sincerely -
My sister thanked the man from the bottom of her heart for saving her dog`s life.

from the heart - sincerely, honestly
The President gave a speech from the heart after the terrible earthquake.

get to the heart of (a matter) - understand the most important thing about something
It took a long time but we finally got to the heart of the matter about the new employee.

heart goes out to - one feels very sorry for, one feels sympathy for
My heart goes out to the victims of the hurricane that recently struck.

heart is in the right place - kindhearted, sympathetic or well-meaning
Although she makes a lot of mistakes her heart is in the right place.

heart of gold - a kind, generous or forgiving nature
My grandmother has a heart of gold and is always willing to help a stranger.

heart of stone - a nature without pity
The man who murdered his wife and children has a heart of stone.

heart skips a beat - be startled or excited from surprise, joy or fright
My heart skipped a beat when I saw my name on the television screen.

heart stands still - be very frightened or worried
My heart stood still when the truck on the highway almost hit our car.

open one`s heart - talk about one`s feelings honestly, confide in someone
She suddenly opened her heart when I began talking to her on the bus.

FOOD IDIOMS

POPCORN	PANCAKE	FRUITCAKE	HONEY
as busy as popcorn on a skillet	as flat as pancake	as nutty as a fruitcake	as sweet as honey
very active	very flat	silly, crazy	very sweet
Bob and Mary were busy as popcorn on a skillet when their mother entered their room.	The tire on my bike was as flat as a pancake after the accident.	My uncle is as nutty as a fruitcake, he can’t stop doing crazy things.	Little Susy is as sweet as honey, everybody adores her.
TOAST	CUCUMBER	CREAM PUFF	BEANS
as warm as toast	as cool as cucumber	a cream puff (person)	full of beans
very warm and cosy	to be calm, not to be nervous about anything	a person who is easily beaten or influenced	to feel energetic, in high spirits
I hate winter but our home is as warm as toast, so I prefer staying at home and having a nice cup of tea in the evenings.	He is a cool as cucumber. He never gets worried about anything.	Poor little Tony is just like a cream puff. He is always the victim of his mates insults.	Our teacher is full of beans today and doesn’t want to stop talking about her childhood!

Cat Idioms

CAT IDIOMS

as week as a kitten - very weak/sick
The old lady was as week as a kitten but finally managed to recover.

a cat nap - a short sleep during the day
I'm so tired, I have to take a cat nap.

a cat on a hot tin roof - full of liveliness
Robbie was like a cat on a hot tin roof, the teacher couldn't make him be quiet.

a copycat - somebody who copies another person
Sarah is such a copycat! If I change my hairstyle she does the same immediately.

curiosity killed the cat - being too nosy may lead a person into trouble
Don't go in! Don't forget, curiosity killed the cat.

to fight like cats and dogs - we use this when people (who generally know each other) fight too much
The two brothers fight like cats and dog about everything!

to let the cat out of the bag - to tell a secret to someone
Don't tell this to anybody! Please, don't let the cat out of the bag.

to look like a cat that swallowed a canary - to look very self-satisfied
Mike looks like a cat that swallowed a canary! Did he pass the exam?

rain cats and dogs - rain heavily
It's raining cats and dogs! Let's run home!

When the cat is away the mice will play. - when you are not watching someone they may get (you) into trouble
The kids made an incredible mess while the parents were away. As usual, when the cat is away, the mice will play.