Idioms: A Collection of Values, Wise Sayings and Principles

(Suitable for all English learners. Primary Sixes will find this useful for compositions and answering the vocabulary portions of their exams, Secondary students and JC can also use these in your writing to add variety into your writing and idea presentation)

Idiomatic sayings offer you insights into a society's thinking, style and culture. They utilise figurative language to present another way of explaining things. Here's a list of idioms to learn today:

A hot potato

Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed

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

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 spilt 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.

Cut the mustard

To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate

Devil's Advocate

To present a counter argument

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.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Do not put all your resources in one possibility.

Drastic times call for drastic measures

When you are extremely desperate you need to take drastic actions.

Elvis has left the building

The show has come to an end. It's all over.

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 rumors' about something or someone.

Hit the nail on the head

Do or say something exactly right

Hit the sack / sheets / hay

To go to bed.

In the heat of the moment

Overwhelmed by what is 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

Make a long story short

Come to the point - leave out details

Method to my madness

An assertion that, despite one's approach seeming random, there actually is structure to it.

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: 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.

Sit on the fence

This is used when someone does not want to choose or make a decision.

Speak of the devil!

This expression is used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.

Steal someone's thunder

To take the credit for something someone else did.

Take with a grain of salt

This means not to take what someone says too seriously.

Taste of your own medicine

Means that something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else

To hear something straight from the horse's mouth

To hear something from the authoritative source.

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

Credits to http://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/idioms-meaning.html

How to Write A Good Story: Natural Phenomena

The sky and clouds, sunrise and sunset, lightning and thunder, wind and rain often inspire good descriptions.

Here's some to start you off with:

a) The sky and clouds

• The high sunlit clouds drifted across the clear blue sky.
• The sky above was full of tumultuous, dark, ragged clouds.
• A sky of mackerel clouds, crimson and amber-tinted
• It was a cold grey afternoon with dull sky threatening rain
• A cloud, ominous and black, drifted over the mountain and released a sudden shower

I'll be giving you more interesting descriptions and phrases in the upcoming classes, covering Sunrise and sunset, Lightning and thunder, Wind and rain, as well as the Moon. Remember to check back!

Ms Chua

*Unless mentioned, all works and words here belong to the author and may not be reproduced online or in print without first obtaining written permission.

How to Write A Good Story: WWWWWH

Often, parents complain that they are at their wits' end with coaching their children on creative writing (Paper 1: Composition). Well, fret not! I'm going to be blogging some guides on how to help your child on writing good stories, and in no time, your child would be passing his/her exams with flying colours!

The 'plot' of a story refers to the events that happen in the story. A good plot keeps readers interested in what happens all the way to the end of the story.

To get started on the story, ask the WWWWWH question words. The WWWWWH question words provide the important basic details for the plot.

WWWWWH stands for:

• who - who was/were the main character(s)?
• what - what happened to him/her/them?
• when - when did the event/events happen?
• where - where did the event/events happen?
• why - why did the event/events happen?
• how - how did the event/events happen?

Time for some brainstorming! Look at the picture below. 

Can you answer the WWWWWH question words?

Adapted from Tao Nan P6 SA11 

For your story, make use of the points below:

• What the two boys were doing
• What the others did
• How it all ended 

Lessons learnt from this post: 

1. at wit's ends 

Fig. at the limits of one's mental resources.  

Example Sentences: 

a. I'm at my wit's end with this problem. I cannot figure it out.
b. Daisy could do no more. He was at his wit's end.

2. fret not 

Inf. Don't worry!; Do not fret about it! 

Example Sentences: 

a. Mary: Oh, look at the clock! I'm going to be late for my appointment!  Bob: Fret not! I'll drive you.  

b. "Fret not!" said Sally. "We're almost there!"

3. in no time (at all) 

very quickly. (Compare this with in less than no time.)  

a. I'll be there in no time. It won't take long. 

b. I'll be finished in no time at all.

4. pass with flying colours 

to pass an examination with a very high score or to complete a difficult activity very successfully  

Example Sentences: 

a. She took her university entrance exam in December and passed with flying colours.
b. The officer training was gruelling, but he came through with flying colours.

Looking forward to your stories!
Ms Chua

*Unless mentioned, all works and words here belong to the author and may not be reproduced online or in print without first obtaining written permission.