English Idioms and Sayings

[bmo]

Originally Posted by RonBee

For the second one, try:

• Statistics shows couples that tied the knot in church stay together longer and are less likely to divorce.

Re:

• There's a silver lining behind every cloud.

Meaning: some good can be found in every situation, no matter what.


Re:

• You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.

Meaning: you are more likely to be able to get somebody to do what you want if you "sweet talk" them than if you threaten them or otherwise make negative remarks.

:)

Thanks. It looks like other examples are okay. "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar" is a good one; I have never heard of it.

BMO

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by RonBee

There's a silver lining behind every cloud

In BE, we say 'Every cloud has a silver lining'.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by tdol

In BE, we say 'Every cloud has a silver lining'.

I have been informed that that's the AE expression too.

:wink:

[RonBee]

What about:

• He drinks like a fish.

What does that one mean?

:)

[RonBee]

a pain in the neck

Meaning: an annoyance. Someone who is a pain in the neck is annoying.

Example:

• Ron sure is a pain in the neck lately.

:wink:

[RonBee]

Give me a hand

Meaning: help me

Example:

• Would you give me a hand with this?

Or:

• Would you like a hand with that?

[RonBee]

the apple of your eye

Meaning: the object of great affection

Example:

• He dotes on that little girl. She's the apple of his eye.

[whl626]

Originally Posted by RonBee

the apple of your eye

Meaning: the object of great affection

Example:

• He dotes on that little girl. She's the apple of his eye.

Can it be on the reverse ? He's the apple of her eye ?

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by whl626

Can it be on the reverse ? He's the apple of her eye ?

Sure.

:D

[bmo]

Dear teachers,

Would you please take a look at the following idoms and examples? I am not sure the difinations are correct and the examples are grammatically sound. Thanks a lot. I notice there are quite a few viewers; ESL learners are interested in idioms and sayings like I am. Thanks. BMO

1. (As) sick as a dog.
Very sick.

Example: “Linda, Brian is on the phone, he is asking if you are going to the Sunday school?” “Mom, please tell him it is something I ate at the party last night; I am sick as a dog, I can’t make it.”

Do I need a "the" in front of Sunday school? Should "Sunday" be capitalized? Anything else wrong?

2. A man is known by the company he keeps.
By looking at your associates, people can tell what kind of person you are.

Example: I am worried about my son. He hangs around with these people with long hair, tattoos in arms and chest, holes in pants, some wearing nose, tongue, and lip rings. A man is known by the company he keeps; I wish he would associate with well-dressed, mannered, and church-going people.

3. (Buying) a pig in a poke
Buying something without first checking it out can bring a surprise.

Example: I am glad the old fashioned, arranged marriages of our great-grandparent’s generation are over. Without seeing each other until the wedding day, how would they know the person they were marrying did not have two noses? It was like buying a pig in a poke – it could be full of surprises.

Should grandparent be plural and anything else wrong?
Have a good day to you all.