The Sunday News
You have heard idioms being used in speech. The question is, do you understand their meaning. Here are some examples you can also use in your conversations provided you know what they mean. Learn them and many more to be able to use them where necessary. Remember it is unnecessary to use flowery language when the simpler one can do.
Tell (someone) off means to speak angrily or complain to someone. Tell (someone) to his or her face – to tell something to someone directly. Tell on (someone) – to reveal the activities or wrong doings of someone by telling others. Tell it like it is – to be honest, sincere, to tell the truth. Thank one’s lucky stars – to be thankful for one’s good luck. Tenterhooks – to be in a state of suspense or strain because of uncertainty. Thick-skinned- to be not easily upset or hurt, to be too insensitive.
Think inside the box – to think in a traditional way using old ideas/ rules/ practices. The opposite of this expression is to think outside the box. Example of its use in a sentence: Most people in our organisation think inside the box and there are few new ideas. To think outside the box – to think freely not using old ideas/rules/practices.
For example – the consultant told us to think outside the box if we wanted to rebuild our organisation. Think twice about (something) is to think carefully about something. You should think twice before you leave the country.
Through the mill – to experience a difficult situation. He is now fit for the job as he has gone through the mill. Throw in the towel to surrender, to give up. The boxer’s handler threw in the towel before his boxer could get more punishment.
Throw the book at (someone) to punish someone severely for breaking a rule or the law. For example you can say the judge threw the book at the man after he was convicted of raping a minor. Throw up – to vomit. I used to throw after every meal when I was ill. Thumbs up on (someone or something) is to be in favour of someone or something. Tie down (someone or something) is to keep someone or something from going somewhere or doing something, to have family or job responsibilities which keep you busy.
The project tied down my friend for over a week. Tie the knot is to get married. They finally tied the knot after years of speculation. Tight spot is to be in a difficult situation. We are in a very tight spot since our supervisor resigned. To tighten one’s belt. Citizens were encouraged to tighten their belts during the country’s economic meltdown. Time flies – time passes by very quickly. Time flies winter is over suddenly spring has begun.
Time out o the tome when a game or other event is temporarily stopped for some reason. This is more common in the sport of basketball. The time of one’s life – a wonderful time. The team had a wonderful time when they went for a three months tour of Europe. Tit for tat – this is equal treatment in return for something, a fair exchange. To a great/large extent – mainly, largely. To a great extent every learner now understands the essence of wearing masks.
To date means until the present time. To date the worker’s grievances have not been addressed.
To the bitter end – to the very end. We stayed to the bitter end even though it was obvious that out team was losing the challenge match. To the bone – thoroughly, entirely. I was wet to the bone during the rain. To the letter – exactly, precisely. An honest officer always follows the law to the letter. To the wall – into a place from which there is no escape. The accused was pushed to the wall until he confessed to the crime. Too big for one’s boots – to feel more important than one really is.
The new learner is too big for his boots and needs to change his behaviour.
Tooth and nail – fiercely, as had as possible. The man decided to fight tooth and nail to retain his job after an unfair dismissal. Top drawer is to be the best or most important kind. When our institution buys cars it always buys top-drawer models. Tops-turvy – to be upside down, to be in disarray. When learners returned to school after the exit holiday they found their dormitories tips-turvy so they spent some time tidying them up.
Torn between (two things) to be troubled by a choice or dilemma. He was torn between going to watch a soccer match or going to the library. Trade in (something) – to exchange something old or used for something new. His father traded in his old truck for a new one. Travesty of justice – an act of the legal system that is an insult to the system of justice, The court trial was a travesty of justice and nobody was happy with the results.
To turn a deaf ear to (someone or something) is to pretend not to hear someone or something, to refuse to hear someone or something. The man paid a deaf ear to the advice given to him by his neighbours. Turn a blind eye to (someone or something) – to ignore someone or something troublesome and pretend not to see it. The principal turned a blind eye to learners who came to school five minutes late.
Please take note that these are suggested expressions and you are not compelled to use them. Learn them and understand them and use them when necessary only. Remember figurative language is used sparingly. Use them appropriately if there is need to do so. Just like any other words or vocabulary they are useless when used in isolation. Use them in sentences.
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