Tag: idiom

“To be a big fish in a small pond” – English idiom

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To be a big fish in a small pond

Example sentences from the web:

  • As long as you stay, you’re a big fish in a small pond… …and can blame everyone for holding you back.
  • Steve has both a Ph.D. and an M.D., yet he’s content with his practice at a rural hospital; he prefers to be a big fish in a little pond.
  • I’ve got to get out of this town. It’s just too small. I’m tired of being a big fish in a small pond. I want to move to a big city like New York or Los Angeles.

NOTICE that this idiom could be used with a different meaning, referring to someone who is important in a small group or organization, but who won’t be so important in a larger one.

  • “If he is such a great actor, why doesn’t he move to New York City?”
    Reply: “He likes being a big fish in a small pond.”

This idiom is explained very well here: http://painintheenglish.com/ 

“For example, a man started his own heating / air conditioning repair company. He had 4 locations and a fleet of 10 trucks. He was a prominent businessman in the community and his business netted $1 million per year. In a town of 25,000 people, he was in the top 1% of incomes and because he brought so much money into the community, he had a certain leverage with the city council. They would be very careful to allow building permits near his businesses without checking with him first.

However, if that man moved to a large city, for example: New York City, then 4 locations, 10 trucks, $1 million / year would not be special at all. For a small town (pond), he had a big business (he was a big fish), but in a large lake (New York City), he was a much smaller business (much smaller fish) by comparison”.

“Out of the blue” – English idiom

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Out_of_the_blue

Example sentences from the web:

  • My cousin turned up out of the blue on Christmas Day.
  • My sister Mary appeared on my doorstep out of the blue, after years with no word from her.
  • You turn up out of the blue, begging for my help in something completely illegal!
  • Stephanie called me out of the blue yesterday morning.
  • He just broke up with me out of the blue, and I have no idea why. 

Words you may not know:

TO TURN UP (past simple: “turned up”)=> to appear or come to light unexpectedly or after being lost.
TO BEG (gerund: begging) => to ask someone to give or do something; to implore.

“It’s a piece of cake” – English Idiom

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It's_a_piece_of_cake_001

Example sentences from the web:

  • I thought it was gonna be a piece of cake coming back here, but this is hard.
  • It should not be too painful for the Member States to meet each other half way under these circumstances; on the contrary it should be a piece of cake.
  • Climbing that mountain was a piece of cake.
  • With your experience, it should be a piece of cake.

“Slippery customer” – English idiom

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Slippery_customer_-_website
A_slippery_customer_-_bookImage source

Other examples from the web:

  • Watch out for that girl with the red hat and don’t believe what she says. She’s a slippery customer.
  • He’s a slippery customer, that Tim, I’ve never felt comfortable with him.

Watch out = to be careful; to remain vigilant.
To snatch = to take something or someone quickly and suddenly; to grab.
Untrustworthy = not able to be trusted.
Cunning = getting what is wanted in a clever and often deceptive way.

“Dig in your heels” – English idiom

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Dig_in_your_heels

Conjugation of  the verb “to dig“.

Examples from the web:

– Even though the developer offered them more than their houses were worth, the owners dug their heels in and refused to sell up and make way for the office block.

 

–  I’m digging in my heels. I’m not going back.

5 ‘world’ English idioms

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5 “world” English idioms video

1) They’re on top of the world since they had a baby.

=> They are extremely happy about it.
=> IDIOM: to be on top of the world.

2) I think the world of my parents.

=> I value and respect them.
=> IDIOM: to think the world of someone.

3) Nothing much. Just sitting here watching the world go by.

=> I am doing almost nothing, I’m just sitting around.
=> IDIOM: to watch the world go by.

4) He had the whole world at his feet by the time he was 30.

=> He had become extremely successful, popular and admired.
=> IDIOM: to have the world at your feet.

5) Congratulations on your new job. You’re really moving up in the world.

=> You are becoming more and more successful.
=> IDIOM: to move up in the world.