15 English idioms that can confuse you with a native speaker

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 16:39

No London is the capital, only really useful and interesting phrases!

1. Cross my heart and hope to die

It may seem like a gloomy expression, but in reality it is not at all so. The phrase just means "promise", "swear." Hope to die does not indicate someone's desire to die, but only enhances the seriousness of the promise (they say, damn me if this is not true!). Idiom cross my heart and hope to die mainly used by small children, at the end of the phrase they can also add a line "Stick a needle in my eye" … But adults do not disdain this expression either.

I did lock the door - cross my heart and hope to die! (I really did close the door, I swear!)

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2. Make a killing

The phrase is not about murder, but about money. The expression means "get rich very quickly with a minimum of effort." Usually we are talking about a lottery, bank robbery, or just some unexpected windfall profits. At the same time, the idiom has a better-known analogue - to make a fortune … Used make a killing rather in informal speech.

Warren Buffett has made a killing off Apple - here’s the simple reason he invested in it … (Warren Buffett hit the jackpot on Apple, here's a simple reason why he invested in the company.)

3. Speak of the devil

Unlike most idioms in English, the expression speak of the devil easily translated into Russian and other languages, without losing its stylistic coloring. It means "light in sight" or "remember the devil, he will appear." A phrase is used when someone is discussing another person behind his back, and at that moment he suddenly appears in the field of view.

Did you hear what happened to Mary today? Oh, speak of the devil, there she is. (Did you hear what happened to Mary today? Oh, there she is, light in sight.)

4. If you’ll pardon my French

Everything is simple here. Even the notorious C grade student knows, loves and respects the phrase “ If you’ll pardon my French". It suits those who like to swear, and then smooth out the effect: "Forgive my French / for my French." One of those examples when an idiom has a literal correspondence in different languages (this is very pleasing and makes it easier to remember).

Are you kidding me? That’s horseshit, if you’ll pardon my French! (Are you kidding? I'm sorry about my French, but that's bullshit.)

5. Dark horse

Expression dark horse translates as "an unexpectedly strong candidate or contender for victory, whose claim to victory has not previously been discussed." This idiom does not only apply to elections and competitions. For example, dark horse you can also name the person who, in spite of everything, suddenly became famous or successful. Katy Perry in her song Dark Horse refers to a romantic relationship: they say, anyone who falls in love with her, at first does not realize what he got involved in.

Sometimes, a dark horse unexpectedly wins an election.(Sometimes the one from whom you least expect it wins the election.)

6. The hair of the dog (that bit you)

Literally translated the hair of the dog (that bit you) - "the hair of the dog that bit you." In modern English, this is the name of a life-giving drink to get drunk the next morning after a party. As a rule, people are looking for salvation exactly in what almost killed them (bitten) yesterday. In the Russian language there is a good analogue - "they knock out a wedge with a wedge".

Example: After a real bender you’d better have some hair of the dog and you’ll gonna be fresh and clean again … (After a good drink, it's best to get drunk and you'll be as good as new.)

7. Break a leg

Insidious people are artists. After all, it was from the stage that the strange idiom came break a leg, the meaning of which is not “break your leg”, but simply “Good luck!”. Now it is used when they want a friend to pass an exam well, speak at a conference or say goodbye to a bad habit.

Haven’t I told you that I’m going to quit smoking? (Didn't I say I quit smoking?) - Oh, wow, break a leg! (Wow, good luck!)

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8. Jack of all trades

People who have not achieved tremendous heights in one thing, but at a good level have several skills at once, are called Jack of all trades ("A jack of all trades" or "a Swiss, and a reaper, and a gamer on a pipe"). Calling some person Jack of all trades, we do not mean anything bad - rather, on the contrary, we compliment the person.

I am very glad that my husband is a Jack of all trades; it saved us a lot of money when it came to renovating our house. (“I am very happy that my husband is a jack of all trades. It helped us save a lot of money on home renovations.”)

9. And all that jazz

The meaning of the American phrase “ and all that jazz »Now has nothing to do with music. It coincides with the Latin phrase "et cetera" (etc.): there is no point in listing further points, that they are no longer important. There are several ways to translate, depending on the context: "and so on", "and the like", "and so on."

My English teacher is smart and kind, tolerant and secure, patient and all that jazz … (My English teacher is smart and kind, calm and confident, patient and all.)

10. Lose your touch

Idiom to lose touch means “to lose the ability / talent for something”. If you follow the work of your school friend and recently it disappoints you, you can safely use this expression (just do not forget about the possessive pronoun before the word touch).

He used to be a good illustrator, but I think he’s losing his touch … (He used to be a good illustrator, but I think he lost his talent.)

11. Bob's your uncle

As a rule, the exclamation “ Bob's your uncle!"Is used at the end of a statement -" Such is the case "," And the end is over "," It's in the bag "," Voila ".

You hafta work your ass off until you are blue in the face and Bob's your uncle! Success is knocking at your door. (You have to plow until you're blue in the face and voila! Success is knocking on the door.)

12. Let’s sleeping dogs lie

Equivalent to the Russian "don't wake up dashing while it's quiet" or the funnier "don't pull the tiger by the mustache." The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “ Let’s sleeping dogs lie" thus: to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation (ignore the problem because trying to solve it may cause an even more difficult situation).

Should I start watching Game of Thrones or just let sleeping dogs lie? (Should I start watching Game of Thrones or is it better not to open Pandora's Box?)

13. Monkey business

Expression monkey business has several meanings. Firstly, it is "fooling around" - that is, a pastime that has no practical benefit. Actually killing the time. The second option is "mischief, prank, trick."

I don’t have no time for no monkey business. (I have no time to waste my time on trifles.) By the way, this is a quote from Freddie Mercury's song Living on my own.

14. Jump on the bandwagon

Phraseologism to jump on the bandwagon means "to join a popular movement just because others do it." For example, when users support an emerging trend, repeat certain social media tactics and try to hyip on some sensitive topic. This concept is also formally called the bandwagon effect, and it is actively used by the most sophisticated marketers.

Yeah, I'm jumping on the bandwagon this year and making a Best of 2018 post on Instagram … (Yes, this year I will give in to popular trends and post "Best of 2018" on Instagram.)

15. Cut corners

When a Russian “cuts a corner,” he tends to turn onto a path instead of going around the sidewalk. In English to cut corners simply means "to do something in the easiest, cheapest or fastest way." In British English, the expression has a more negative connotation: they say that saving time and money most often comes at the expense of quality. And in American English, this expression sounds more neutral.

There is always a temptation to cut corners when time is short. (It's always tempting to work hard when time is tight.)

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