English Vocabulary - SPM - Idioms and Proverbs

Hye2 again .. these are some of english

Idioms and proverbs+sayings

that i found quite suitable for SPM level ...

Enjoy !

For more proverbs+sayings and Idioms click here

ON THE HORIZON = likely to happen soon

eg, There's trouble looming on the horizon.

IT'S MY WAY , OR THE HIGHWAY = If you say to someone "it's my way or the highway" you are telling that person that either they accept what you tell them to do or they leave the project.

TICKLED PINK = extremely amused or pleased.

BURY THE HATCHET = Used when people who have had a disagreement decide to forget their quarrel and become friends again.

EG, "I didn't agree with my colleague's decision, but for the sake of peace, I decided to bury the hatchet."

SILVER SPOON = To say that someone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth means that their family is very rich and privileged

.

ANSWER THE CALL OF NATURE / NATURE'S CALL = Go to the toilet.

eg, I had to get up in the middle of the night to answer the call of nature

CARROT AND STICK = you use the promise of reward and the threat of punishment to make somebody work harder.

eg, "Some parents use a carrot-and-stick approach to obtain good results from their children."

FIGHT A LOOSING BATTLE = trying to do something even when there is little chance of succeeding.

eg, "The headmaster is fighting a losing battle trying to ban mobile phones at school."

A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE = You treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you.

eg, "People who always arrive late should be given a taste of their own medicine."

A LEVEL AHEAD = Remain calm and sensible no matter how difficult or distressful the situation may be. eg, "All through the hijacking the pilot kept a level head."

KEEP ONE'S FINGER CROSSED = you hope that something will be successful.

eg, "I'm doing my driving test tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

MOUSE POTATO = refers to a person who spends a lot of time in front of the computer. "My son and his friends are all mouse potatoes - constantly glued to the computer!"

STOLE ONE'S THUNDER = take another person's idea or plan, and draw attention and praise away from the originator by presenting or using it first.

eg, "Bob had developed a plan to reduce production costs, but the manager stole his thunder by announcing Bob's ideas at the regional meeting."

SUGAR THE PILL = try to make some unpleasant news more acceptable by saying something pleasant at the same time.

eg , "When Tim's parents announced that he was going to boarding school, they tried to sugar the pill by telling him he'd be home at the weekends.'

THROW TANTRUMS = ybecome very angry and behave in an unreasonable way.

eg, "My sister's little boy is always throwing tantrums - no wonder they don't have many visitors!"

TONGUES ARE WAGGING = people are beginning to gossip or spread rumours about someone's private life.

eg, "The photograph of the couple that appeared in a magazine really set tongues wagging!"

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH = a humorous way of referring to something which is very strong, powerful or concentrated.

eg, "I've got an industrial-strength headache this morning!"

LAST WORD = the most recent or most fashionable in its category.

eg, "Steve's new computer is the last word in technology."

IN MINT CONDITION = in such perfect condition that it looks new or as good as new.

eg, "The car is 10 years old but according to Tom it's in mint condition."

RIGHT UP ONE'S RALLY = the sort of thing you like or have knowledge about.

eg, "You like cooking, don't you? This book will be right up your alley!"

RUN-OF-THE-MILL = considered ordinary or uneventful.

eg, "I've got nothing extraordinary to tell; it was a run-of-the-mill sales meeting."

STANDS THE TEST OF TIME = people continue to find it valuable or useful after many years.

eg, "The teaching method has stood the test of time. It is still used in schools today."

For more proverbs+sayings and Idioms click here