IDIOMS

Welcome to this lecture headed “IDIOMS”. We will be discussing all about idioms. Enjoy your lecture.

An idiom  is a figurative expression that has a meaning that is different from the literal meaning.  There are thousands of idioms, and they are present very often in all languages. It is predicted that there are at least twenty-five thousand idiomatic expressions in the English language.

A lot of verbs in English is followed by an adverb or a preposition (as well known as a particle), and these two-part verbs, as well known as phrasal verbs, are different from verbs with helpers. The particle that follows the verb alters the meaning of the phrasal verb in idiomatic ways as shown in the following examples:

drop off – To gradually decline

The hill dropped off near the river

drop off(2) – fall asleep

He dropped off while saying his prayers.

drop off(3) – stop and give something to somebody

Would you drop this off at Joe’s house for me?

drop out – cease to partake

After two years, the student dropped out of school.

Some particles can be alienated from the verb so that a noun or pronoun can be put, and a few other particles can’t be alienated from the verb. In addition, a few phrases are intransitive, meaning they cannot take a direct object.Separable 

add up (meaning: to add)

Correct: She added up the total on her calculator. 

Correct: She added it up on her calculator.Inseparable

get around (meaning: to avoid)

Correct: She always gets around the rules.

Incorrect: She always gets the rules around (This sentence structure makes no sense in English.)Intransitive

catch on (meaning: to understand)

Correct: After I explained the physics question, she began to catch on.

Incorrect: She began to catch on the physics question. (catch on cannot take a direct object in this meaning.)

Correct: She began to catch on to the physics question. (Adding the word to make the physics question an indirect object is acceptable in this meaning.)

Unfortunately, there is typically no sign to show whether an idiomatic phrase is separable, inseparable, or intransitive.

A few examples of English idiom and their meanings are presented below:

Idioms and Sayings relating to food and About Eating

Idiom/Saying	Explanation
To bite off more than you can chew. For example:- Whatever you do, take care not to bit off more than you can chew.	To take on more than she is able to do.
To bite your tongue. For example:- The principal said that he bite his tongue many times while addressing the parents of the pupils.	Refrained from saying many things that may trigger quarrel or confusion..
Chew the fat For example: “Joe enjoys meeting his friends to chew the fat.”	To chat.
Coffee break For example: “I normally have a coffee break around 11 am.”	To take a small break from work to rest and drink coffee, smoke a cigarette etc..
“Cup of tea.” For example: “I really enjoyed the game, it was just my cup of tea.”	Used to describe something one enjoys or does well.
Dish the dirt For example: “Joel dished the dirt on her, but that very unfair.	To spread gossip about someone.
Go Dutch For example:- “It’s typically better to go Dutch on a first date.”	To share the bill for a meal or a night out. Each person pays for what they have eaten or the bill is merely divided.
Eat dirt For example: “He shouted on them and made them eat dirt.”	To be humbled, accept another`s insult or bad treatment.
Eat humble pie For example: “She had to eat humble pie when he proved she was wrong.”	To be humbled, admit one`s error and express regret.
Eat like a pig For example: “He has awful table manners, he eats like a pig.”	To have bad table manners
Eat like a horse For example: “She has a very vigorous appetite, she eats like a horse.”	To have a good appetite
Eat one`s words For example: “I’d told him off but had to eat my words, when he showed that I was wrong.”	To take back something one has said, confess something is not true.
To have one’s cake and eat it For example: “He was never at home, but was surprised when she left him. He constantly wanted to have his cake and eat it.”	To do/eat/use something until it is gone and still not wants to give it up.
Out to lunch For example: “I always thought she acted weirdly, she was completely out to lunch.”	To act crazily or madly.
To have a full plate. or To have a lot on your plate. For example: “Between work and the family chores I have a full plate.”	To have a lot to do.
To be spoon-fed. For example: She refused to be spoon-fed English vocabulary. She learnt to be an independent learner.	Can literally mean to be fed with a spoon. But… It can mean to be trained in a manner that discourages independent thought or action, as by intemperance or to be over pampered.
Suck up For example: “I never liked her, she was always sucking up to me”	To be very nice to someone in view of gaining something.

Thanks for reaching to this point marking the end of this lecture.

Your Lecture Master:

Mst. Ugonwanne Joshua