List of American Idioms and Expressions

idioms and phrases

Financial Idioms

1. Break the Bank

  • Example: Buying a new car won’t break the bank for him.
  • Meaning: To use up all of one’s money.

2. Penny for Your Thoughts

  • Example: You look deep in thought, a penny for your thoughts?
  • Meaning: Asking someone what they are thinking.

Relationship Idioms

3. Tie the Knot

  • Example: They’re going to tie the knot next month.
  • Meaning: To get married.

4. On the Rocks

  • Example: Their marriage is on the rocks.
  • Meaning: Experiencing difficulties and likely to fail.

5. Burn the Midnight Oil

  • Example: She’s burning the midnight oil to finish the project.
  • Meaning: To work late into the night.

6. Get the Ball Rolling

  • Example: Let’s get the ball rolling on this project.
  • Meaning: To start something.

General Idioms

7. Bite the Bullet

  • Example: I hate going to the dentist, but I’ll just have to bite the bullet.
  • Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation.

8. The Ball is in Your Court

  • Example: I’ve done all I can; now the ball is in your court.
  • Meaning: It’s someone else’s turn to take action.
H3: Everyday Life Idioms
  1. Bite the bullet – Face a difficult situation bravely.
  2. Break a leg – Good luck.
  3. Burn the midnight oil – Work late into the night.
  4. Cry over spilled milk – Worrying about things that can’t be changed.
H3: Business and Work Idioms
  1. Ballpark figure – An approximate number.
  2. Climb the corporate ladder – Advance in one’s career.
  3. Cut corners – Do something in the easiest or cheapest way.
  4. Get down to brass tacks – Discuss the essential aspects of a situation.
H3: Relationship Idioms
  1. Tie the knot – Get married.
  2. Bury the hatchet – Make peace.
  3. Go the extra mile – Make a special effort.
  4. Read between the lines – Understand the hidden meaning.

H2: How to Use These Idioms in Your Tutoring Sessions

  1. Interactive Exercises: Create exercises that require students to use idioms in sentences.
  2. Storytelling: Incorporate idioms into short stories to make them more relatable.
  3. Real-world Applications: Use idioms in role-playing scenarios that mimic real-life situations.
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