Idioms

The English language is full of idioms. Native speakers of English use idioms all the time, often without realising that they are doing so. This means that communication with native speakers can be quite a confusing experience.

An idiom is a group of words which, when used together, has a different meaning from the one which the individual words have. Idioms are used to express something that other words do not express as clearly or as cleverly. We often use an image or symbol to describe something as clearly as possible.

Sometimes idioms are very easy for learners to understand because there are similar expressions in the speakers’ mother tongue. But they can also be very difficult to understand.

Here are a some idioms with their meaning. It is best to learn idioms as you do vocabulary ;-)

To be caught in the act
To be caught while you're doing something bad.


Rain before seven, fine before eleven.
Rain is followed by sunshine - Take life as it is.


To put the cart before the horse
To start something the wrong way round.


To give a good account of oneself
To let others see you in the best way.


To face the music
You have to stand for what you have done and face the consequences.


To have a bone to pick
You aren't happy with what somebody else did and want to set it right.


To jump into the lake
To go where "the pepper is growing", as the Germans say.


To pick somebody's brain
To ask somebody who knows in a very intensive way.


Not to have a dog's chance
To have no chance at all.


To apply a double standard
This means that you don't judge everybody according to the same rules.