What you say:
| What you mean:
|
The exam was a piece of cake.
| The exam was easy. |
It's as easy as pie.
| It's very simple.
|
Mr. Salcedo is down to earth.
| Mr. Salcedo is easy to talk to.
|
My sister is down in the dumps.
| My sister is feeling very sad.
|
Don't blow your top.
| Don't get angry.
|
When I was a child, I was all thumbs.
| I was clumsy. |
Stop beating around the bush.
| Stop talking about things that don't matter.
|
| Break a leg! | Good luck! |
Chirstian is as cool as a cucumber.
| Christian is very calm.
|
| That ticket costs an arm and a leg. | That ticket is very expensive. |
| Cut it out! | Stop what you are doing!
|
I'll drop you a line.
| I'll write you a letter.
|
Jessica always bends over backwards.
| Jessica always does whatever she can to help. |
My father hit the ceiling.
| My father got angry.
|
I have to hit the books for the exam.
| I have to study for the exam.
|
I must eat my words.
| I must say, "I'm sorry."
|
Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.
| You are taking more food than you can eat.
|
My wife has a heart of gold.
| My wife is kind and generous.
|
Hang on.
| Wait.
|
Now, I have to face the music.
| Now I have to take resposibility for what I did.
|
He gave her the cold shoulder.
| He didn't pay attention to her.
|
My grandfather has a green thump.
| My granfather is a good gardener.
|
| Peter got up on the wrong side of the bed today. | Peter is in a bad mood today.
|
| You should give it your best shot. | You should try your hardest.
|
| Give me a break! | That's ridiculous!
|
| Go fly a kite! | Go away. |
| She got cold feet about her answers in the exam. | She became unsure about her answers in the exam. |
| Knock it off! | Stop it!
|
Her computer runs like clockwork.
| Her computer runs smoothly.
|
Keep your shirt on, please.
| Wait a minute. Be patient, please.
|
You have to make tracks.
| You have to hurry.
|
My mom jumped down my throat.
| My mom yelled at me.
|
She is off the hook.
| She is out of trouble.
|
You should pay of your dept or you'll be in hot water.
| If you don't pay your dept you'll be in trouble.
|
I'm in a jam.
| I'm in trouble.
|
The baby is out of the woods.
| The baby safe.
|
| Andrew is out of shape | Andrew needs to exercise. |
The student is walking around in a fog.
| The student is confused.
|
You are a pain in the neck.
| You are bothering me.
|
Hold your horses.
| Wait a minute. |
Pat yourself on the back.
| Tell yourself you did a good job. |
Don't play with fire.
| Don't do something dangerous.
|
| Stop pulling my leg. | Stop kidding me |
| You should put your best foot forward. | You should do your best.
|
We need to put our heads together.
| We need to work together. |
They don't see eye to eye.
| They don't agree with each other. |
That dog is as smart as a whip.
| That dog is very quick and clever.
|
I know you won't spill the beans.
| I know you won't tell my secrets.
|
| She didn't need to spread herself too thin. | She didn't need to try to do too much.
|
This brand-new car can stop on a dime.
| This brand-new car can stop quickly.
|
My dad turned the room upside down to find his keys.
| My dad looked everywhere in the room to find his keys.
|
Kelly was under the weather.
| Kelly was not feeling well.
|
You bet!
| Yes, I agree!
|
| Zip your lips! | Be quiet! |
