Saturday 16 July 2016

IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH ON INSTAGRAM / MEJORA TU INGLÉS EN INSTAGRAM


Son muchas las maneras de mejorar nuestro inglés cada día. Algunos miráis series de TV en inglés, otros leéis la prensa en inglés y muchos seguís blogs como éste (gracias por seguirlo!).

En general todos tenemos poco tiempo que dedicar al estudio de nuevas palabras o al repaso de construcciones gramaticales. Por eso abrí una cuenta en Instagram en el año 2015 (@englisharound), en la que pongo 1 imagen al día para recordar palabras o expresiones en inglés.





Podéis seguir la cuenta AQUÍ. Si no tenéis Instagram podéis guardar la página en favoritos y seguirlo desde el ordenador (en realidad se ve mejor que en el móvil).







                                                                                                       Escríbeme un tweet! click to tweet

SOME ESSENTIAL IDIOMS IN ENGLISH

The use and understanding of idioms is essential to successful communication in English. The student can study grammar and vocabulary, but without a working knowledge of such idioms, even the best student's speech will remain strange to a native speaker.


It's not a question of including an idiom in every sentence, but idioms are widely used in the English language. I'm sure you'll recognise some of these:





A penny for your thoughts
A way of asking what someone is thinking
Actions speak louder than words
People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.
Add insult to injury
To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation.
An arm and a leg
Very expensive or costly. A large amount of money.
At the drop of a hat
Meaning: without any hesitation; instantly.
Back to the drawing board
When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
Ball is in your court
It is up to you to make the next decision or step
Barking up the wrong tree
Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person
Be glad to see the back of (somebody)
Be happy when a person leaves.
Beat around the bush
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.
Best of both worlds
Meaning: All the advantages.
Best thing since sliced bread
A good invention or innovation. A good idea or plan.
Bite off more than you can chew
To take on a task that is way to big.
Blessing in disguise
Something good that isn't recognized at first.
Burn the midnight oil
To work late into the night, alluding to the time before electric lighting.
Can't judge a book by its cover
Cannot judge something primarily on appearance.
Caught between two stools
When someone finds it difficult to choose between two alternatives.
Costs an arm and a leg
This idiom is used when something is very expensive.
Cross that bridge when you come to it
Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before.
Cry over spilled milk
When you complain about a loss from the past.
Curiosity killed the cat
Being inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
Cut corners
When something is done badly to save money.
Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched
This idiom is used to express "Don't make plans for something that might not happen".

Don't give up the day job
You are not very good at something. You could definitely not do it professionally.
Drastic times call for drastic measures
When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions.
Every cloud has a silver lining
Be optimistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
Far cry from
Very different from.
Feel a bit under the weather
Meaning: Feeling slightly ill.
Give the benefit of the doubt
Believe someone's statement, without proof.
Hear it on the grapevine
This idiom means 'to hear rumours' about something or someone.
Hit the nail on the head
Do or say something exactly right
Hit the sack 
To go to bed.
In the heat of the moment
Overwhelmed by what is/was happening in the moment.
It takes two to tango
Actions or communications need more than one person
Jump on the bandwagon
Join a popular trend or activity.
Keep something at bay
Keep something away.
Kill two birds with one stone
This idiom means, to accomplish two different things at the same time.
Last straw
The final problem in a series of problems.
Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning - do not disturb a situation as it is - since it would result in trouble or complications.

Let the cat out of the bag
To share information that was previously concealed
Miss the boat
This idiom is used to say that someone missed his or her chance
Not a spark of decency
Meaning: No manners
Not playing with a full deck
Someone who lacks intelligence.
Off one's rocker
Crazy, demented, out of one's mind, in a confused or befuddled state of mind, senile.
On the ball
When someone understands the situation well.
Once in a blue moon
Meaning: It happens very rarely.
Picture paints a thousand words
A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
Piece of cake
A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple.
Put wool over other people's eyes
This means to deceive someone into thinking well of them.
See eye to eye
This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something.
Sitting on the fence
This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.
Speaking of the devil!
This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.
Steal someone's thunder
To do something that takes attention away from what someone else has done
Take (whatever they say) with a grain/pinch of salt
This means not to take what someone says too seriously.
Taste of your own medicine
Means that something that you have done to someone else also happens to you, or it is done to you, 

To hear something straight from the horse's mouth
To hear something from the source.
To go the whole nine yards
Everything. All of it.
Wouldn't be caught dead
Would never like to do something
Your guess is as good as mine
To have no idea, do not know the answer to a question