English Idioms

English Idioms About “Travel”
Idiom: Backseat driver
Meaning: 1. A passenger in a car who insists on giving the driver directions. 2. Anybody offering unsolicited or unwelcome advice.
Example: My brother is such a backseat driver. I hate traveling with him.

English Idioms About “Death”
Idiom: Nothing is certain but death and taxes
Meaning: The phrase nothing is certain but death and taxes means that everything in life is uncertain. The only things that you can be sure of are: 1. You will undoubtedly die. 2. You will certainly have to pay taxes. This saying comes from the letters of Benjamin Franklin where he states: Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.—Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, 1789 However, Franklin’s letter is not the origin of the phrase; it appeared earlier in Daniel Defoe’s The History of the Devil: Things as certain as Death and Taxes, can be more firmly believ’d. —Daniel Defoe The Political History of the Devil 1726. But it should be noted that the origin of the phrase dates back to Daniel Defoe’s The History of the Devil: Things as certain as Death and Taxes, can be more firmly believ’d. —Daniel Defoe The Political History of the Devil 1726.
Example: Lacy: I can’t believe how much tax money we have to pay for setting up this business. Alice: You know, nothing is certain but death and taxes.

English Idioms About “Home”
Idiom: Make yourself at home
Meaning: If you say to someone make yourself at home, this means that you ask them to consider themselves as if they were in their own homes.
Example: Alan: Can I get in? John: Yes please, make yourself at home!

English Idioms About “Health”
Idiom: Alive and kicking
Meaning: (Also be alive and well) to continue to be well, healthy or successful.
Example: 1. Don’t worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking.

English Idioms About “Law”
Idiom: Unwritten law
Meaning: The phrase unwritten law refers to an accepted rule in spite of its informality.
Example: It’s an unwritten law to take your hat off during the national anthem.

English Idioms About “Life”
Idiom: Get a life
Meaning: This is an idiom that indicates that someone’s life is boring and pointless and that they should make their life more interesting.
Example: Stop complaining! Get a life.

English Idioms About “Sexuality”
Idiom: Virgin territory
Meaning: A territory that hasn’t been touched orexplored.
Example: There is no sign of humans in that island. It’s a virgin territory.

English Idioms About “Work”
Idiom: Cold piece of work
Meaning: If someone is a cold piece of work they are difficult to deal with.
Example: Did you see how she treats her husband? She is a cold piece of work.

English Idioms About “Names”
Idiom: Patience of Job
Meaning: To have the patience of Job means to have a great amount of patience. The idiom has a religious origin. Job was considered a prophet in the Abrahamic Religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. He suffered from horrendous disasters that took away all that he held dear, including his offspring, his health, and his property.
Example: In spite of their extreme poverty, they managed to raise ten children. They really have the patience of Job.

English Idioms About “Clothes”
Idiom: In someone’s pocket
Meaning: The phrase to be in someone’s pocket means to be dependent on someone financially and consequently under their influence.
Example: The committee must surely have been in his pocket.