If You Know These 60 IDIOMS, Your English is EXCELLENT!

If you know these 60 idioms,  your English is excellent.

Welcome back to JForrest English.

Of course, I'm Jennifer.

Now let's get started.

We're going to learn these idioms as a quiz.

You'll see a sentence on the screen with a blank,  

and you need to complete  the idiom in five seconds.

After you'll learn the correct idiom,  you'll review an example sentence,  

and you'll listen to natives using that idiom.

Are you ready?

Question one.

At the beginning of our meeting, we  shared our favorite food to break.

To break the ice.

To break the ice.

This is an idiom that means to  have conversation or activities  

to overcome initial awkwardness or  tension when people are meeting.

For the first time for.

Example, you can share your favorite food  or play a little game to break the ice.

Now remember that idioms are words in a  fixed order that have a non literal meaning.

Because they're in a fixed order.

You cannot say we broke ice that isn't correct.

You can't say we broke an ice that isn't correct,  and you definitely can't say we broke ice cubes.

You must say we broke the ice.

And of course, here your verb to  break is conjugated in the past.

Simple.

Don't worry about taking notes because I  summarize everything in a free lesson PDF.

You can find the link in the description.

It was just.

Break the ice and and now  let's have some fun, you know?

I shake some hands.

I break the ice and make small  talk about their backgrounds.

I take a genuine interest in the people.

Question 2.

Great job with the presentation  you knocked it out of.

Out of the park to knock  something out of the park.

This is a fun idiom.

It means to do something exceptionally well.

So you can use this to compliment someone.

For example, the team knocked it out of the  park with their innovative product launch.

Now notice how I used it before  I specified the something,  

which was the innovative product launch.

You can do it the other way and say  the team knocked the product launch.

The something the team knocked the  product launch out of the park.

The team did exceptionally well.

So hopefully you're thinking  this lesson is amazing.

Jennifer knocked it out of the park.

Of course, the IT is this lesson.

So do you agree?

Am I or did I knock it out of the park?

If you agree, but that's right, that's  right, but that's right in the comments.

Whatever it is, you knock it out of the park  because you're educated at this great college.

Traditional public schools knock  it out of the park in many places.

My guess is they'll continue to thrive.

The ones that are good.

Very rarely is your first movie  going to knock it out of the park.

Question three I was offered my  dream position but if I accept it,  

I have to move to another  city away from my family.

I'm between a rock and A and a hard place.

Did you get this one to be  between a rock and a hard place?

This means to be faced with two  difficult or undesirable options.

He's between a rock and a hard place,  

having to choose between a  promotion and moving to a new city.

So notice how I use the idiom first,  

and then I identified the two  undesirable or difficult options.

You could also say I'm between  a rock and a hard place.

If I tell the truth, it could hurt my friend.

So the other option is implied.

You tell the truth or you don't tell the truth.

They were caught between a rock and a hard  place, and they ended up choosing the high place.

Really, between a rock and a hard place,  

and to find that officers sometimes make  mistakes, I think it's understandable.

It's to be expected.

They're between a rock and a  hard place in economic policy.

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Now let's continue with our lesson question 4.

The party is on Saturday, but it's a surprise.

Don't spill the.

Don't spill the beans To spill the beans.

This means to reveal a secret or  disclose information unintentionally.

So, for example, I accidentally spilled  the beans because it's not intentional.

I accidentally spilled the  beans about their engagement.

I didn't know it was a secret.

Or you could reassure someone  your secret is safe with me.

You know I won't spill the beans.

I won't reveal your secret.

And he would try to get kids to  spill the beans on the family.

You know, like my mother's pregnant.

My daddy doesn't know.

The authorities thought if he was  tortured, he might spill the beans.

But there weren't any beans to  spill if you don't spill the beans.

Now we're going to finish  this talk down at the station.

Question five, you don't have to  work tonight and miss your party.

I was just pulling your.

I was just.

Pulling your leg to pull one's leg.

Your leg.

This means to tease or joke  with someone in a playful way.

For example, to joke with your Co worker.

You could say the boss wants us to  work late tonight and organize all  

the boxes in the storage room and  your Co worker could reply back and  

say seriously that will take hours  and I have tickets to Taylor Swift.

And then your Co worker can  say I'm just pulling your leg.

You're teasing your Co worker.

Enjoy the show.

I was just pulling your leg.

Pressed his nose up against mine, gave me this  evil smile and said I was just pulling your leg.

I was just, I was just pulling your leg.

I I pull stuff up all the time.

Question 6 I got Taylor Swift tickets.

I'm cloud 9.

I am on cloud 9 because this expression is to be  on cloud 9, which means to be extremely happy.

He's been on cloud 9 since he got engaged.

Remember to conjugate that verb to be.

The team was on Cloud 9 after  winning the championship game.

I'm on cloud 9, yes.

And then, guess what does it last?

Yeah, I think that honestly, I I'm still kind  of on cloud 9 from Sunday when Aquafina won.

As you can imagine, I was pretty much on cloud 9.

Then question 7.

The client didn't like the  proposal, so we have to start from.

Start from scratch To start from scratch.

This means to start from the very  beginning, so you have to do it again.

For example, my computer crashed and now I have  

to start from scratch because  you lost your entire project.

Or you could say I started learning English  from scratch last year or three years ago.

From the very beginning.

Hello, how are you?

The very beginning so.

I guess you're going to  have to start from scratch.

Did they had to start from scratch?

McMillan most recently had to start from scratch.

Question 8 As the project manager, Jane  calls the when it comes to the timeline.

Jane calls the shots.

A great position to be in.

To call the shots means to be in control.

This is my house.

I call the shots.

Or if someone is new to a team, they  might ask who calls the shots around here?

Who is in control?

Well, then you're destined to have the  existing power structures to call the shots.

Instead, pharmaceutical companies call the shots.

The FDA effectively allows them  to monopolize drugs via patents.

If I get the chance to call the shot,  we're not going to be this stupid.

Question Nine.

Since this is the first time you  missed a deadline, I'll let you off.

I'll let you off the hook  to let someone off the hook.

This is a relief because it means  to be released from responsibility,  

punishment or a difficult situation.

So you are not going to punish the person  even though they did somewhat something wrong.

I can work late tonight and finish the proposal.

You're off the hook.

You're relieved of that responsibility.

Or perhaps if I let you off the hook,  you have to promise to never do it again.

God, I don't want to let him off the hook.

That means that may be hard to swallow,  but it also means we're off the hook.

It's not my fault.

The way I feel now, sales does not  get off the hook with this process.

How are you doing so far?

Question 10.

The flight was delayed because of the weather.

There's no use crying over.

Spilled milk To cry over spilled milk.

This means to be upset about something  that can't be undone or fixed.

For example, the client fired us  because we missed the deadline.

Let's not cry over spilled milk.

Let's make sure this never happens again.

Or you could say the client  didn't let us off the hook.

Instead of crying over spilled milk, getting  

upset over something we can't change,  let's brainstorm how we can improve.

Because it's too late to cry over spilled milk.

So I can cry over spilled milk or I can do what  

I need to do and I'm going  to do what I need to do it.

It's like the old saying,  don't cry over spilled milk.

It's a little thing.

Question 11 I finally the  bullet and organize my taxes.

I finally bit the bullet.

Did you get the correct verb conjugation?

The idiom is to bite the bullet  bit is the past simple and this  

means to do something unpleasant  or difficult that is necessary.

I must do my taxes, for example.

I hate filing paperwork, but I'll  just have to bite the bullet.

I have to do it anyway or the garage is a mess.

Let's bite the bullet and  clean it up this weekend.

So I thought, you know, bite the  bullet, don't put a voice in there.

Wish they would have the courage to simply  bite the bullet and tell us the truth.

I'm just going to bite the bullet and reshape the  butter block because that's the right thing to do.

Question 12.

We're going to hot water when the boss  finds out we didn't send the proposal.

We're going to be in hot water, which  means you're going to be in trouble.

After forgetting his anniversary, John  found himself in hot water with his  

wife or the company violated safety  protocols and is now in hot water.

The Captain Flesh says you're in hot water.

Now look, she made sure both he  and his tech ended up in hot water.

His company, Tesla, has already  been in hot water this year.

Question 13 Stop beating around  and just tell me the final price.

Stop beating around the Bush.

This means to avoid the main issue or topic.

So it means to speak indirectly, and we usually  do this if the topic is sensitive or awkward.

But you might tell your friend when you ask your  boss for a raise, don't beat around the Bush.

Ask your boss directly.

Be direct.

Or you could say after beating  around the Bush for 10 minutes  

talking indirectly about the main  topic, he finally asked me out.

Which means he asked me on a romantic date.

If you beat around the Bush with people,  

they'll say, well, I'll give you a  small gift to say no, no, I need to.

I need, I need.

I really need your help.

Big help.

Let's not beat around the Bush.

You know, you've thought about it,  and today we're going to answer it.

There's no need to beat around the Bush here.

Your preview just needs to tell your reader  exactly what you have in store for them.

Question 14.

Everyone in California on the bandwagon and  learning how to play pickleball is jumping.

The idiom is to jump on the  bandwagon and this means to join,  

support or start doing something  because it's popular or trendy.

For example, I jumped on the bandwagon and learned  how to make the famous Dubai chocolate bar.

This sounds like I learned how to make it  simply because it's popular or trendy right now.

You could also say many companies have  jumped on the influencer bandwagon.

So notice here I'm using an adjective influencer  

to describe the bandwagon so they know the  topic of popularity or trend influencer.

The success of one film or genre  inspires others to jump on the bandwagon.

We're kind of hoping to jump on the the  bandwagon that drags it back the other direction.

Not a good time to jump on the bandwagon.

Question 15 Influencers are all dozen these  days, a dime a dozen, which means very common.

It can also mean inexpensive or easy to find.

Now keep in mind this sounds negative because it  implies a lack of uniqueness or special value.

For example, nowadays pickleball  teachers are a dime a dozen.

They're very easy to find.

Everyone is a pickleball teacher because  everyone's jumping on the bandwagon.

The pickleball bandwagon, or you could  say talented singers, are a dime a dozen.

In this competition.

Everyone is a talented singer, so  you really need to stand out to win.

You need to do something more  than just sing beautifully.

Investors know that ideas are a dime a  dozen, but execution is what really matters.

Cocktail consultants are a dime  a dozen and they come and put  

together menus and there's not really  a bar manager necessarily doing that.

Amazing job, now let's keep  going and you'll learn 20.

5 idioms to describe people #1A people person.

This is a must know idiom.

This is someone who enjoys interacting with  others and is good at building relationships.

For example, Jason is a real people person.

So notice here I'm using real  to modify it to intensify it.

And don't forget that article A people person,  so he always makes everyone feel welcome.

I'm a people person.

Or you can say we need a people person  for this customer service position.

Don't worry about taking notes because I  summarize everything in a free lesson PDF.

You can find the link in the  description #2A go getter.

I love this one.

It describes me and I'm sure it describes you.

A go getter is someone who is ambitious and  takes initiative to achieve their goals.

For example, the team hired  him because he's a go getter.

He is.

So notice you need the verb to be conjugated  with your subject in time reference.

He is.

He's a go getter.

Or you can say I like working  with go getters, so notice here.

I added that S to the noun to make it the whole  

category of people with go getters  because they push projects forward.

He's a go getter.

Or maybe you're thinking I'm a real go getter  when it comes to improving my English fluency.

Does that describe you?

If it does, put that's me, that's me,  

put that's me in the comments #3 I'm sure  this describes you as well, A smart cookie.

So this is someone who is intelligent  or clever, someone who is smart.

But you can just add cookie to  make it sound more casual and fun.

Emma is a smart cookie.

She.

Solved that complex problem in no.

Time.

She was a smart cookie.

Or you're a smart cookie if you can  figure out how to make that deal work.

So notice this is conditional  #4A social butterfly.

This is someone who is very outgoing  and enjoys socializing with others.

I wouldn't say that describes  me, to be honest, not the party,  

nor was a social butterfly  talking to everyone in the room.

Or you can say as a this is  a very powerful structure.

So remember this and I'll show  you more examples as we go on  

as A and then any of these  idioms as a social butterfly.

Pedro always knows what's  happening around the office.

Number 5A couch potato.

You may know this one.

It doesn't.

Describe me hopefully.

It doesn't describe you.

This is someone who spends a lot of time  sitting and watching TV or being inactive.

So generally when we say someone  is a couch potato, it's a negative.

We're calling them lazy.

So you might say I used to be a couch potato.

So that is in the past but not the present.

But now I enjoy going to the gym.

Or.

You might use the imperative in the negative  and say don't, don't be a couch potato.

Let's go for a walk after lunch.

So the opposite behavior of a couch  potato #6A Jack of all trades.

Do you know this one?

This is very common.

This is a person who is skilled in many different  

areas, but not necessarily an  expert in one of those areas.

For example, my uncle is a Jack of all trades.

He can repair computers, fix plumbing  issues, and cook gourmet dinners.

Or remember that as a Don't forget  that article if it's a singular.

So in this case, it is because it's a Jack.

As a Jack of all trades, she's able to  communicate to every department in the company.

So notice you have Jack, which is  a male's name in North America.

But this idiom is gender neutral.

You can use it with males and  females #7A straight shooter.

This is a positive idiom.

It's someone who is honest and straightforward.

So straightforward in the sense that  they tell you information directly.

I appreciate working with Peter.

He's a straight shooter or the  manager is a straight shooter.

She gives constructive criticism  directly #8 a big shot.

Do you know this one?

This is a person of great importance or  influence in a particular field or organization.

Now you might say to your friend or colleague,  

don't be intimidated by him  because he's a big shot.

So you might think that someone who is a big  shot isn't a people person, isn't approachable.

But don't be intimidated.

Oh, Ken Park, such a big shot.

Or you can say Evelyn's been acting  like a big shot since she got promoted.

In this case, it sounds negative.

So it's sounds like she's acting like she's  

more important than everyone  else because she got promoted.

So notice that verb in this case, acting  like a big shot #9 set in one's ways.

This is someone who is resistant to change  and prefers things to remain the same.

Does that describe you?

My grandmother is set in her ways, so notice  it needs to be possessive to the person.

And here's an example of how she set in her ways.

She still refuses to use a smartphone  or he's so set in his ways.

And don't forget that as it's always as on  ways that he instantly dismisses any new ideas.

So if he dismisses them it  means he doesn't consider them.

He just says no #10 I'll worry wart.

Hopefully this doesn't describe you.

This is someone who worries excessively so a  lot about things, often unnecessarily so you  

might say don't tell Sarah that the  client didn't like the presentation.

She's such a worry wart, so  she'll worry about it tonight,  

tomorrow, a month from now, even  though it's not a big deal her.

But you're such a worry wart.

Or you might tell your friend,  your sister, your husband.

Don't be a worry wart.

The project isn't due for weeks, so  they're staying up at night worried  

because they're a worry wart #11A cheapskate.

A cheapskate.

Have you heard this one?

This is someone who is unwilling  to spend money or is very frugal.

This has a negative sound to it.

For example, Tim brings his  own popcorn to the movies.

He's a cheapskate or don't be a cheapskate.

So again, that imperative in the  negative, don't be a cheapskate.

The more expensive one will  last longer #12 Of cold fish.

This is the opposite of a people person  and the opposite of a social butterfly.

This is someone who is  emotionally distant or unfriendly.

Dan may seem like a cold fish,  but I think he's just shy.

He's a cold fish, or he can  be a cold fish sometimes,  

especially in large groups #13A backseat driver.

Maybe you've been a backstreet  driver, or you've experienced this.

This is someone who gives unwanted advice or tries  

to control a situation so you can  say stop being a backseat driver.

You're making me nervous.

Nobody likes the backseat driver, Klaus.

Now this is very commonly used when someone  is actually driving and then the person  

beside you or in the back seat says turn left,  change lanes, go here, don't drive so fast.

That's being a backseat driver.

But you can also use this  in a non driving context.

For example, stop being a backseat driver  and let me handle the presentation my way.

So this is someone who's trying  to tell you change this, do this,  

add this, but you don't want  their advice #14 a busy body.

This is someone who is overly interested in  other people's personal or private matters.

You could say, I wish my neighbor  would stop being such a busy body.

So if you have a fence that divides your property,  

maybe your neighbor is always  trying to look over your fence.

That's a busy body.

Or you can say if you keep acting like a  busy body, nobody will want to work with you.

#15A.

Wet blanket.

Hopefully this doesn't describe you.

This is someone who dampens  the mood or kills the fun.

For example, it's only 9:00  PM and you want to go home.

Don't be such a wet blanket.

So you're having fun at the party,  but your friend, your cousin,  

your spouse says, oh, I'm tired, let's go.

So they're dampening the mood.

They're killing the fun.

I'm a wet blanket.

You can say I don't want to be a wet blanket,  but we need to discuss why our sales are down.

So having a negative  discussion can dampen the mood.

But sometimes you need to have those  tough conversations #16A loose cannon.

You don't want this person on your team.

This is someone who is unpredictable  and can cause trouble unintentionally.

You can say he's a bit of a loose  cannon, so a bit of is reducing it.

It's making it less intense.

We never know what he'll do next.

So he's unpredictable, but his actions  can have negative consequences.

Or you can say a few members  of the team or loose cannons.

So here, notice because I have  a few members that's plural,  

so I need to add my S to the noun loose cannons.

They never follow protocols,  

which are the instructions #17 do you  know this 1A bull in a China shop?

This probably describes me.

This is someone who is very clumsy or  careless, especially in delicate situations.

Now, in this case, China refers to delicate  porcelain or ceramics, not the country.

You could say, don't ask Sarah to help you move.

She's like a bull in a China shop.

So notice here I'm using to be like awe and  then the idiom which means she's careless.

She might break your items  as she's helping you move.

That probably describes me.

Or you can say I never go into antique shops.

I'm like a bull in a China shop.

So I might accidentally knock  something over that's very valuable.

Again, that describes me #18A dark horse.

This is someone or something  that is not well known but  

has the potential to surprise or succeed.

Talk about a dark.

Horse.

This is often used in  competitions, political sports.

He was a dark horse in the competition,  but in the end he won first place.

So he was not well known.

But then he won.

Or you can say she's a dark horse.

No one expected her to be promoted  so quickly #19A lone wolf.

This is someone who prefers to work alone  and doesn't like being part of a group.

Here's that structure with AS as a lone wolf,  he prefers handling projects on his own.

I'm a lone wolf.

Or you can say the lone wolf  approach doesn't work in our company.

We value teamwork and  collaboration #20A know it all.

Oh, you don't want to be this?

This is someone who behaves as though they know  everything and refuses to listen to others.

So again, because this is a negative, you  could use the imperative in the negative.

Don't, don't act like.

You could say don't be Or you can use to  act like don't act like a know it all.

You need to listen to other  ideas before making a decision.

Or you can say I don't want to seem like a know  it all, but I have experience with this issue.

21 A creature of habit.

You probably know this one, so let's  make sure you feel comfortable using it.

This is someone who prefers routines and  does things in the same way all the time.

This definitely describes me.

Amelia is a creature of habit so  she won't like these new changes.

In this case, that sounds more negative  that the person isn't open to change,  

so in that case it doesn't describe  me, but this next one does.

As a creature of habit, I've been eating  this steam breakfast for over 10 years.

This is true.

As my husband, he is sick of oatmeal every day.

But that's what we have #22 a breath of fresh air.

This is someone or something that is new,  refreshing and brings positive change.

You can say working with Emily  has been a breath of fresh air,  

so she brings new ideas to every meeting.

She brings a new perspective,  new energy, new personality.

She's a breath of fresh air and this is positive,  

you can say after the long meeting,  the interactive presentation.

So something was a breath of fresh  air and lifted everyone's spirits.

So it was a welcome change.

23A stickler.

I like this one.

Now you can say a stickler for the rules.

That's the full idiom.

But most natives we drop the for  the rules and just say stickler.

This is someone who insists on following  rules strictly and doesn't like bending them,  

so bending them means changing them slightly  if the consequence doesn't seem extreme.

For example, Greg is such a stickler he  won't even let us leave 5 minutes early.

So in this case, although the shift ends at 5,  

does it really matter if people  leave at 4:55 on a Friday?

So you bend the rules, you let  people leave 5 minutes early,  

but Greg will not because he's a stickler.

Or you could say I'm a manager  now, so I need to be a stickler.

I need to enforce the rules.

It's my job.

Number 24.

This is for all the parents, a class clown.

This is a person, usually a child, who is  always joking or causing trouble in a funny way.

But we generally use this with kids in school.

For example, my son was a complete  class clown, so complete intensifies it.

A complete class clown.

But now he's a big shot on Wall Street.

Or you can say often kids act like class  clowns because they're bored or unengaged.

An idiom 25 A tough nut to crack.

This is someone or something that is  difficult to understand or deal with.

You can say Tim is a tough nut to crack.

It's hard to get him to open up.

So to open up, that means to be  on honest about how he's feeling  

or the real details of his life to open up.

Or you can say the team has been  trying to solve this issue for weeks.

It's The issue is a tough nut to crack,  so it's difficult to solve or understand.

Think of all the idioms you've.

Learned.

Now you'll add 22 idioms  for work to your vocabulary.

Our first idiom to see.

Eye to eye to see, eye to eye.

This means that you agree with  someone or that there is agreement.

You could say it's important.

That the team sees.

Eye to eye on the projects objectives.

You can commonly use this in the negative to say  

we didn't see eye to eye on the project  objectives, which means you didn't agree.

We don't see eye to.

Eye, our next idiom, is very similar.

It's to be on the same page.

This is when you have a shared  understanding or agreement.

So to see eye to eye is always with agreement.

But to be on the same page is when  you have the same understanding,  

so similar but slightly different.

For example, we need to be on the same page  regarding the timeline for the project.

We commonly use this with Gatt.

We need to get the team on the same page.

So this sounds like right now the team isn't on  

the same page and Gatt is  used for that transition.

So we need to get the team on the same page.

Go.

From not a general understanding  to a general understanding.

We on the same page.

I love this one.

To hit the nail on the head,  this means that you describe  

exactly what is causing a problem or a situation.

So we simply your description is 100% correct.

For example, you really hit the nail on the.

Head with your.

Analysis.

Your analysis was 100%.

Correct.

You could also use this.

Something as the subject and say your  analysis hit the nail on the head.

Your analysis was 100% correct.

Now don't worry about writing all of  these idioms down because I summarize  

everything in a free lesson PDF so you  can look for the link in the description.

Our next idiom to have a lot on ones plate.

This likely.

Describes you it describes.

Everyone.

I have a lot on my plate.

This means you're very busy or you  have a lot of tasks to complete.

You might say I can't take on  any more projects right now.

I already have a lot on my plate.

You could also say I have a lot  on my plate with the conference.

So you could specify a specific task  and then say you have many individual  

tasks for that one item, the conference,  you have many different things to do.

I have a lot on my plate with the  conference to get the hang of.

This will make you sound very natural.

This is when you become skilled  with or familiar with something.

You could say it took a while, but I  finally got the hang of the new software.

So now you're familiar with the software,  you're skilled at using the software,  

or you could say using idioms was.

It's tricky at first, but I got the hang of them  and hopefully my videos are helping you do that.

So put in the comments.

I got the hang of idioms.

I got the hang of idioms because I'm sure  you'll get the hang of them very quickly.

Next to cut corners, this is a -1.

When you cut corners, it means you do something  in the quickest or the easiest way possible, but.

You.

Sacrifice quality.

Now, hopefully your company says, we can't  afford to cut corners with our safety measures.

And that means your company is going to do  things properly, even if it takes longer,  

even if it's more expensive, because  they're not willing to sacrifice quality.

And if your company doesn't say  that, they'll get a bad reputation.

And someone might say.

Don't.

Use that company.

They cut corners, which is  not not a positive thing.

You can't cut corners in life.

A ballpark figure.

This is a sports reference, but  it's extremely common in business.

You need to know this one.

A ballpark figure is an  approximation or a rough estimate.

So someone might ask, can you give me a  ballpark figure for the budget of the project?

They're asking you for an estimate.

So not a specific number, just an estimate.

The person could reply and say  we don't have the budget yet.

But if I had to ballpark it, if I  had to give you a ballpark figure,  

if I had to ballpark it, that's  what a native speaker would say.

If I had to ballpark it, I'd say $100,000.

So that's my estimate of the budget, but it's it's  not the exact number, it's just a ballpark figure.

Take a guess.

Ballpark figure.

Our next one, maybe you know  this to be in the same boat.

Have you heard this one?

This is when you're in the same  difficult situation as someone else.

We're in the same boat when  it comes to global warming.

We're all in the same situation.

It doesn't matter if it happens in India or  Africa or for New York, It affects us all.

We're all in the same boat.

I'm in the same boat.

Back to the drawing board.

This one is frequently used.

This is when you have to start a task or project  again because your previous attempt failed.

For example, the marketing  campaign didn't work as expected.

So it's back to the drawing board to pull strings.

Oh I love this one.

This is when you use your influence  to manipulate or control a situation.

For example, she managed to pull some  strings and get the project approved.

So this sounds like the project wasn't  approved, but she had influence.

Maybe she knew someone on the board  that was approving the project,  

so she used her relationship with that  person to get the project approved.

She pulled some strings to  get the project approved.

Someone might ask you how did you  get VIP tickets to Taylor Swift?

And you can reply back and  say I pulled some strings.

I pulled some strings.

Our next idiom to cross ones fingers.

This is used.

To hope for good luck or a positive outcome.

For example, I'm crossing my fingers that  

the client likes our proposal and  notice that I'm doing the gesture.

We commonly do the gesture in North America.

When we use this expression, we also  use this as a reply to say, I hope so.

So someone might say you'll do a great job on  

the presentation and you can  simply say fingers crossed.

But it's very common to do the gesture.

Does this gesture exist in your culture?

Let us know in the comments.

Say yes, it does or no, it doesn't.

I'm really curious to know.

Fingers crossed.

How about this idiom to be on the ball?

Do you know this one?

This means that you're alert and  quick to understand or respond.

So this is a +1.

Your boss might say, our team needs to be  on the ball to meet the tight deadline.

So the team needs to be very quick, very alert.

They need to be on the ball.

Our next idiom to throw in the towel.

I hope you never do this.

This means to give up or surrender.

So if you say English idioms are so  confusing, I'm throwing in the towel.

It means you're closing this video,  

you're unsubscribing from my  channel, and you're quitting.

So please don't throw in the towel.

She's throwing in the towel.

So put in the comments.

I won't throw in the towel.

I won't throw in the towel because sometimes  it might seem difficult, but keep at it.

I know you'll get the hang of it.

Number.

14 to have ones hands hide.

This means you're unable to take action  because of external circumstances.

So maybe you ask your boss for an extra  day of vacation and your boss says.

I'd like to help.

But my hands are tied due to company policy.

So the external situation or  circumstance is the company policy.

It forbids additional vacation days,  so your boss can't do anything.

Your boss's hands are tied.

So to deliver bad news, a native speaker will  commonly say, sorry, my hands are tied my.

Hands are tied.

Next, to burn the midnight  oil, something I never do.

This is when you work late into the night.

For example, we had to burn the midnight  oil in order to meet the deadline.

So I said this is something I never do.

And that's because I believe that I'm  more productive if I sleep for 8 hours.

So I would rather sleep for 8 hours and  then the next day I'll be very productive.

If I burn the midnight oil I'm going to waste an  entire day because I'm not going to be productive.

That's just my personal opinion.

Next to throw someone under the bus.

Oh this is a good one.

This is when you blame someone else or sacrifice  

someone for personal gain  or to avoid being blamed.

So let's say 2 coworkers  worked on a project together,  

but then one coworker publicly said the other.

Coworker is the.

Reason why the project?

Failed.

Even though they made.

All.

Decisions together.

That coworker is going to be  upset and they can say I can't  

believe she threw me under the bus at the meeting.

Sheldon threw us all under the bus.

#17 to be on thin ice.

This is when you're in a  risky or dangerous situation.

So let's say your boss says to you.

This is the.

Third time you're late, you're on thin ice.

That's not a good position to be because it means  that you're in a risky or dangerous situation.

In this case, you're at risk of losing your job.

You're on thin ice, so management will say this  to you to let you know that you're in trouble.

Here on thin ice.

Next to hit a snag.

This probably happens to people every single day.

This is when you encounter unexpected  problems, challenges, or difficulties.

So let's say you're about to launch a new  product and everything is going perfectly.

But then we hit a snag when the supplier  couldn't deliver the materials on time.

But don't throw in the towel,  because I'm sure you can.

Work through it.

#9 19 to keep one's eyes peeled.

This is when you stay alert and  watchful for something specific.

Your.

Co worker could say keep your eyes peeled for any  

updates on the project deadline so your Co  worker is telling you to watch carefully.

For those updates.

Keep your eyes peeled.

#21 that your boss is going to love to cut a deal.

This is when you reach an agreement.

So an agreement.

Is a positive.

Thing your boss will be happy, but this  usually happens after a period of negotiation.

You could say it took us a  while, but we finally cut a deal.

Cut a new deal.

#21 to be up in the air.

This is when things are uncertain,  undecided, or unresolved.

For example, the conference is up in the air.

So it's uncertain if you're even going to have  

a conference or the status  of it, the planning of it.

Everything is uncertain, undecided, unresolved.

It's up in the air.

Or you could say our plans are up in the air.

Nothing has been decided.

That's up in the air.

And finally #22 in the works.

In the works, this means in progress.

So currently being developed or finalized.

The conference is in the works.

We're working on it, we're  developing it, we're finalizing it.

Our plans are in the works.

So they're not up in the air anymore.

They're in the works.

Wow, now you have.

60.

New idioms in your vocabulary, Larry?

Put yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, put yes,  

yes, yes in the comments if you  want to keep learning idioms.

And if I see enough students who put yes, yes,  yes, I'll make another lesson just like this.

And of course, make sure you like this lesson,  

share it with your friends and subscribe to  your Notified every time I post a new lesson.

And you can get this free.

Speaking Guide where I share 6 tips on how  to speak English fluently and confidently.

You can click here to download it or  look for the link in the description.

And here's another lesson I know you'll love.

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