English Idioms

English Idioms About “Weather”
Idiom: Chase rainbows
Meaning: This idiom is used when someone tries to pursue unrealistic or fanciful goals, things that are impossible.
Example: He thought he could convince the boss to appoint him as the new manager, but in fact he was chasing rainbows.

English Idioms About “War”
Idiom: Fight fire with fire
Meaning: If you fight fire with fire, you use the same methods and tactics that your opponent is using against you. Shakespeare referred to the same meaning in King John, 1595: Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire; Threaten the threatener and outface the brow Of bragging horror
Example: After the competitive offers from rival firms, our company has decided to fight fire with fire and reduce prices.

English Idioms About “General”
Idiom: Say your piece
Meaning: Tell what you have to say
Example: Stop annoying us. Say your piece and go.

English Idioms About “Work”
Idiom: Dirty work
Meaning: (Also do the dirty work) unpleasant work or dishonest action.
Example: 1. I don’t know but I feel there is some dirty work going on in this company. 2. I always have to do the dirty work. I never have fun.

English Idioms About “Furniture”
Idiom: Off the shelf
Meaning: Ready made for purchase; in a form that is ready to be used.
Example: It is often cheaper to buy off the shelf goods.

English Idioms About “Clothes”
Idiom: Put yourself in someone’s shoes
Meaning: To see how it feels when you put yourself in smoeone’s place.
Example: What could I have done to solve the problem? Just put yourself in my shoes.

English Idioms About “Clothes”
Idiom: Talk through one’s hat
Meaning: To talk nonesense
Example: He was talking through his hat. I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

English Idioms About “Work”
Idiom: Back to the salt mines
Meaning: If you go back to the salt mines, it means you have to return back to the workplace.
Example: The vacation is over. Back to the salt mines!

English Idioms About “Parts of the body”
Idiom: Pull the other leg
Meaning: Used when you do not believe what someone has just said.
Example: Sue, writing poems? Pull the other leg – she can’t even write a correct sentence!

English Idioms About “Relationship”
Idiom: Build bridges
Meaning: To improve relationships between people.
Example: They wanted to build bridges between Nancy and Alan to settle the conflict once for all.