Idioms 23

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

Idioms

Idioms

An idiom is a phrase, saying, or a group of words with a metaphorical (not literal) meaning, which has become accepted in common usage.
(Dit wordt een fluitje van een cent)

Why use idioms?

Idioms can help improve your conversational skills because it shows nativespeakers that you understand the cultural meaning and context behind the idiom you’re using.
This can help you feel more comfortable and confident with your  conversational abilities the more you practice it during your classes.

Which Idioms did you hear?

Idioms in the video

Elephant in the room
Sticking to your guns
I’m calling your bluff
I am falling apart
Stabbed in the back
Letting the cat out of the bag

Meaning

Elephant in the room = is an obvious major problem or issue that people avoid discussing or acknowledging.
Sticking to your guns = refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism.
I’m calling your bluff = To uncover a deception, or challenge someone to carry out a threat or prove a dubious point

Meaning

I am falling apart = becoming emotionally disturbed and are unable to think calmly
Stabbed in the back = To betray someone's confidence or trust
Spill the beans = to let secret information become known
Letting the cat out of the bag = you tell people about something that was being kept secret. You often do this by mistake.

What does the idiom "to beat around the bush" mean?

1. Uitwijken voor iets (vaak in het verkeer)
2. Een struik kort en klein slaan. >:(
3. Iets vermijden te zeggen.
4. Liegen over iets wat iedereen al weet.

This idiom is used when something is very expensive.

1. costs head and toe
2. costs head and shoulder
3. costs nothing
4. costs an arm and a leg

Fill in the appropriate idiom:
The beach is only ____ from your hotel.

1. a tourist trap
2. a stone's throw away from
3. off the beaten track
4. a black spot

What does the idiom "Black sheep" imply.

1. a costly item
2. a dark shiny item
3. an unworthy person in a family or group
4. none of the above

Finish this idiom...
Let's get straight to the .......

1. bush
2. point
3. stick
4. tail

What does the idiom:
"drive a coach and horses through something"
mean?

1. To expose the flaws in something such as a law, a policy, an argument or a belief.
2. To go around picking everyone up.
3. To travel