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Unit 02
Everyday Conversation Idioms
under the weather, call it a day…
Idioms You Will Hear Every Day
These idioms are frequent in conversations, films and series. Most of them are informal and friendly, so they are perfect for speaking — and many are also used as short reactions (No big deal!, Break a leg!).
Daily Life
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| under the weather | slightly ill | I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. |
| call it a day | to stop working for the day | It's eight o'clock — let's call it a day. |
| give someone a hand | to help someone | Can you give me a hand with these boxes? |
| keep an eye on | to watch or look after something for a short time | Can you keep an eye on my bag for a minute? |
| take it easy | to relax; to stay calm | You've worked hard — take it easy this weekend. |
| get the hang of | to learn how to do something | Driving is hard at first, but you'll get the hang of it. |
| sleep on it | to wait until the next day before making a decision | Don't decide now — sleep on it. |
| at the last minute | at the latest possible time | He always does his homework at the last minute. |
| beat around the bush | to avoid saying something directly | Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth. |
| out of the blue | suddenly and unexpectedly | He called me out of the blue after ten years. |
Reactions & Responses
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| no big deal | not important; not a problem | "Sorry I'm late." "No big deal." |
| break a leg | good luck (said before a performance, exam or interview) | Break a leg tonight! |
| it's up to you | it's your decision | "Pizza or pasta?" "It's up to you." |
| hang in there | don't give up in a difficult situation | Exams are nearly over — hang in there! |
| ring a bell | to sound familiar | Her name rings a bell, but I can't remember her face. |
| I'm all ears | I'm listening carefully and eagerly | Tell me everything — I'm all ears. |
| my lips are sealed | I won't tell anyone | Don't worry, my lips are sealed. |
| when pigs fly | never | "Will he pay you back?" "Yes, when pigs fly." |
| speak of the devil | said when the person you are talking about appears | Speak of the devil — here's Ali now! |
Watch Out
- Break a leg is only used to wish someone luck — never literally!
- Beat around the bush is American; British speakers also say beat about the bush.
- Out of the blue always has the: not
out of blue.
Annotated Examples
Subject
Verb
Auxiliary
Object
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Hover over any word to see its role.
subjectI'mverbfeelingadjectiveunder the weatheradverbtoday.
↳ under the weather = slightly ill.
subjectLet'sverbcall it a day.
↳ call it a day = stop working for today.
subjectHer nameverbrings a bell.
↳ ring a bell = sound familiar.
Common Mistakes
I feel under the weathers.
→
I feel under the weather.
Fixed form: the weather (singular).
Let's call it the day.
→
Let's call it a day.
Fixed form: call it a day.
He called me out of blue.
→
He called me out of the blue.
Fixed form: out of the blue.
Stop beating the bush.
→
Stop beating around the bush.
Fixed form: beat around the bush.
It's up for you.
→
It's up to you.
Fixed form: up to you.