Common idiomatic expressions in British English
idiomatic expressions refer to expressions used by native English speakers to convey a lot of information and can be used in a variety of situations.
Have you heard any ot them before ?
Match the expressions in box A with the definitions in box B.
A
Against all odds | Be in two minds | The ins and outs |
Whet somebody’s appetite | Slip one’s mind | Put one’s foot down |
B
Forget | Make somebody very motivated to have an experience | Insist on something |
The details of a situation | Despite all difficulties | Be undecided and not sure |
Complete the sentences below with the correct idiom from above
- I won’t feel settled in the job until I know __________________________
- That weekend holiday on the coast has really ________________________ for our summer holiday in Greece.
- There is too much indiscipline here. You are going to have to______________________.
- She was supposed to do the shopping but it ___________________ because she had had such a busy day.
- The deadline was really tight, but _______________________, expressions they managed to meet it by working overtime.
- She’s ________________ about whether to have an early night or go to a nightclub.
Answer key
Expressions and Definitions
Against all odds – despite all difficulties
Be in two minds – be undecided and not sure
The ins and outs – The details of a situation
Whet somebody’s appetite – make somebody very motivated to have an experience
Slip one’s mind – forget
Put one’s foot down – insist on something
Complete the sentences
1 I won’t feel settled in the job until I know the ins and outs.
2 That weekend holiday on the coast has really whet my appetite for our summer holiday in Greece.
3 There is too much indiscipline here. You are going to have to put your foot down.
4 She was supposed to do the shopping, but it slipped her mind because she had had such a busy day.
5 The deadline was really tight, but against all odds ,they managed to meet it by working overtime.
6 She’s in two minds about whether to have an early night or go to a nightclub.