Meaning – to make someone laugh hard In Context – I love Bill’s jokes. He really cracks me up. Origin – To crack someone up is an American idiom which comes from the 1600’s. At the time, make up was applied so thickly to a woman’s face that if she laughed it would crack up (break).
IDIOM – COUCH POTATO
Meaning – to be a lazy individual / to have a sedentary life-style. This idiom conjures up an image of an overweight person sitting in front of TV eating crisps and junk food. In Context – I’ve had such a busy day today. All I want to do this evening is be a couch potato. Origin – Robert Armstrong, Jack … Read More
IDIOM – WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE
Meaning – an incident which occurred in the past and no longer has any importance In Context – My wife had an affair with her boss but it happened so longer ago, it’s all water under the bridge. Idioms with a synonymous meaning – water over the dam (this idiom is typically used in American English)
IDIOM – TO GO NUTS
Meaning (1) – to go crazy, to lose reason, to go insane / to go mad with anger Example Sentence – Tom said that the boss went nuts when he asked for a raise. Idioms with a synonymous meaning – go nuts / lose the plot or lose your mind / lose it / to get your wires crossed / … Read More
IDIOM – EARN YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER
Example sentence – Singing is just a hobby. I earn my bread and butter as a sales representative. Meaning – this idiom means to make enough money for daily life Other Idioms and sayings with the same meaning – to make to a living / to earn a livelihood / to bring home the bacon Earn Your Bread and Butter … Read More
IDIOM – NOT MY CUP OF TEA
Meaning – use this idiom to describe your likes and dislikes in a polite way In Context – Listening to heavy metal music isn’t really my cup of tea. Idioms with a synonymous meaning – Listening to heavy metal music isn’t really up my alley.
IDIOM – BRING HOME THE BACON
Meaning – to earn money / to get good results Example sentence – I really don’t feel like going to work today but someone’s got to bring home the bacon. Synonymous Idioms – to make a living More Examples from British National English Corpus 1. He says you know what a woman wants in a husband is a man who … Read More
IDIOM – TIE THE KNOT
Meaning – to get married In Context – (1) After being engaged for years, Claude and Marie have finally decided to tie the knot next year. (2) Although John and Mary have lived together for the last 20 years, they have never tied the knot. Origin – This idiom refers to an ancient Celtic tradition called handfasting. Couples were once … Read More
IDIOM – KNOW THE ROPES
Meaning – to know how something works, to be familiar with a procedure, to understand how a system operates, to have experience in a particular area In Context – Colin will be responsible for the new intern until he knows the ropes. Origin – A nautical term, this expression originally meant that a sailor only had basic experience (i.e. they … Read More
Ways to say go the toilet in English
Ways to say you need to go to the toilet. May I go to the toilet, please? Can I go to the toilet, please? I need to / have to go to the loo.