2.2 Idioms and Expressions
Master common English idioms and idiomatic expressions.
45 min
6 oppgaver
IdiomsPhrasal verbsCollocations
Din fremgang i kapitlet
0 / 6 oppgaver
Idioms: The Spice of English
Idioms are phrases where the meaning cannot be understood from the individual words. They add color and naturalness to your English.
Why Learn Idioms?
- Native speakers use them constantly
- They make your English sound more natural
- Understanding them helps comprehension
- They often appear in media, literature, and conversation
Caution:
- Don't overuse idioms - it can sound forced
- Make sure you understand the context
- Some idioms are old-fashioned or regional
- Literal translations rarely work!
Common English Idioms
Idioms About Understanding:
- "It's all Greek to me" = I don't understand at all
- "To get the hang of something" = to learn how to do something
- "To be on the same page" = to have the same understanding
- "It's all Greek to me" = I don't understand at all
- "To get the hang of something" = to learn how to do something
- "To be on the same page" = to have the same understanding
Idioms About Effort:
- "To go the extra mile" = to make more effort than expected
- "To burn the midnight oil" = to work late into the night
- "To pull your weight" = to do your fair share
Idioms About Communication:
- "To beat around the bush" = to avoid saying something directly
- "To cut to the chase" = to get to the point
- "To speak your mind" = to say what you really think
Idioms About Success/Failure:
- "To hit the nail on the head" = to be exactly right
- "To miss the boat" = to miss an opportunity
- "Back to square one" = starting over from the beginning
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs with particles (prepositions or adverbs) that create new meanings.
Common Phrasal Verbs:
- look up = search for information
- look after = take care of
- look forward to = anticipate with pleasure
- look into = investigate
- put off = postpone
- put up with = tolerate
- put together = assemble
- put forward = propose
- figure out = solve/understand
- find out = discover
- work out = exercise / solve
- turn out = result in / happen
Tip: Learn phrasal verbs in context, not just as vocabulary lists!
✏️Example: Idioms in Context
Use appropriate idioms to complete this dialogue between two students.
Student A: "I've been studying for this exam all week, even burning the midnight oil last night."
Student B: "Same here. At first, the material was all Greek to me, but now I think I'm getting the hang of it."
Student A: "Let's not beat around the bush - are you worried about the essay question?"
Student B: "Honestly, yes. But we're in the same boat. Let's help each other and go the extra mile to prepare."
Student A: "Good idea. If we work together, we might hit the nail on the head with our answers!"
Notice how the idioms make the conversation sound natural and expressive.
📝Oppgave 1
Match each idiom with its meaning:
a
to be under the weather
b
to bite off more than you can chew
c
to let the cat out of the bag
d
once in a blue moon
📝Oppgave 2
Replace the underlined phrases with appropriate phrasal verbs:
a
I need to search for information about this topic.
b
She decided to postpone the meeting.
c
I can't tolerate this noise anymore!
d
We need to solve this problem together.
📝Oppgave 3
Write a short dialogue (10-12 lines) between two friends discussing a school project. Include at least 4 idioms or phrasal verbs naturally in the conversation.
📝Oppgave 4
Some English idioms have equivalents in Norwegian. Match these English idioms with their Norwegian counterparts and explain whether the images are similar or different.
a
"It's raining cats and dogs" (regner kraftig)
b
"To kill two birds with one stone"
c
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch"
📝Oppgave 5
Complete each sentence with the correct phrasal verb from the list: bring up, come across, get along with, run into, turn down.
a
I _______ an old friend at the shopping centre yesterday.
b
She decided to _______ the job offer because the salary was too low.
c
I _______ an interesting article about climate change online.
d
Don't _______ politics at the dinner table!
e
Do you _______ your new classmates?
📝Oppgave 6
Create an "idiom dictionary" with at least 8 idioms. For each idiom, include: the idiom, its meaning, an example sentence, and (if possible) a Norwegian equivalent.
Summary
Key Points:
1. Idioms are fixed expressions whose meaning cannot be deduced from the individual words. They make language colourful and natural.
2. Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition or adverb to create new meanings (look up, put off, figure out). They are extremely common in everyday English.
3. Context is key: Both idioms and phrasal verbs should be learned and used in context, not just memorized as lists.
4. Cross-linguistic comparison of idioms reveals both cultural differences and universal human themes.
5. Natural usage requires practice. Overusing idioms sounds forced; using them appropriately shows language proficiency.
Key Vocabulary:
- Idiom - a fixed expression with a non-literal meaning
- Phrasal verb - a verb combined with a particle that creates a new meaning
- Collocation - words that naturally go together (make a decision, take a risk)
- Figurative language - language that uses images or comparisons beyond literal meaning
Sources and Further Reading
- McCarthy, M. & O'Dell, F. (2010). English Idioms in Use. Cambridge University Press.
- Cambridge Dictionary Idioms: dictionary.cambridge.org/topics/idioms
- Garner, B. (2022). Garner's Modern English Usage. Oxford University Press.