1. Full of beans – A person who is lively, active and healthy.

==> I really enjoy being with my best friend because he is always full of beans.
2. On the ball – active and aware of things
==>Our staff is really on the ball to get projects done on time.
3. At all costs – do everything you can to achieve/succeed something
==> My dream is to become a successful businessman and I will work hard for it AT ALL
COSTS
4. Put yourself in somebody’s shoes – imagine that you are in somebody’s position in
order to understant his/her feelings
==> If you put yourself in my shoes, you would understand why I made that decision
5. To be up in arms about something – upset or angry about something.
==> She has been UP IN ARMS about the rent increase.
6. next to nothing – to cost very little
==>I went to the new discount store and bought these new shoes for only five dollars.
That’s next to nothing!
7. In deep water – in difficulty; in trouble or in a dangerous situation
==>He has not submitted his dissertation so he’s in deep water.
8. Give it one’s best shot – do the best that one can
==>This test question is really tough! I’ll give it my best shot, and I’ll get some marks
for doing my best.
9. in the nick of time – not too late, but very close
==>I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It’s a good thing, because I really
need this medicine!
10. hit the hay – go to bed
==> It’s after 12 o’clock. I think it’s time to hit the hay.
11. bushed – tired.
==>I am totally bushed after staying up so late.
12. on cloud nine – very happy; deliriously happy
==>She just bought her first new car and she’s on cloud nine.

13. A storm in a teapot

Meaning: A disproportionate reaction of anger, concern, or displeasure over some minor
or trivial matter.
Example: I really think you’re making a storm in a teapot over this. It’sjust a tiny scratch
on the car!
14. One-banana problem
Meaning: A problem, project, or task that requires little to no effort, expertise, or intelligence to
solve or complete.
Example: It’s only a one-banana problem at the most; even kids can solve it. I can’t understand
why people get stuck there.

15. A banana skin

Meaning: something which causes or is very likely to cause embarrassing problems
Example: The new tax has proved to be a banana skin for the government.
16. Apples and Oranges
Apples and oranges are fruits, but they have distinctly different color, taste. Therefore,
this idiom refers to two incommensurable items, i.e. a comparison of things that cannot
be compared.
Meaning: Completely different
Origin: The idiom first appeared as apples and oysters in John Ray’s 1670 Proverb
collection, and equivalent terms exist in many languages: “grandmothers and toads” in
Serbian to “love and the eye of an axe” in Argentine Spanish. What other funny fruits
turn unusual phrases?
Example: We can’t compare inner city hospitals and hospitals on the outskirts of the
city – they’re apples and oranges.
17. The apple of sb’s eye
Meaning: the person who someone loves most and is very proud of
Example: His youngest daughter was the apple of his eye.
18.Put something in apple-pie order
Meaning: in very good, well organized order
Example: I’ve put my entire life into apple-pie order.
19. eat humble pie
Meaning: to make an apology and accept humiliation
Example: I will not break my promise toeat humble pie and admit that I have made a mistake if
you can prove it.
20. Full of beans
Meaning: Energetic; frisky
Example: The children were too full of beans to sit still.
21. In a nutshell
22. Meaning: In a few words; concisely
Origin: The ancient Roman encyclopaedist Pliny the Elder claimed that a copy of
Homer’s The Iliadexisted that was small enough to fit inside a walnut shell. Almost 2000
years later in the early 1700s the Bishop of Avranches tested Pliny’s theory by writing
out the epic in tiny handwriting on a walnut-sized piece of paper and lo and behold, he
did it!
Example: The explanation is long and involved, but let me put it in a nutshell for you.
23. Walking on eggshells
Meaning: taking great care/try hard not to upset someone.
Origin: It is thought to have originated in politics when diplomats were described as
having the remarkable ability to tread so lightly around difficult situations, it was as
though they were walking on eggshells.
Example: Everyone at the company was walking on eggshells until we heard that no one
would be fired.
24.
A hair in the butter
Meaning: A problem or challenging situation
Example: To score band 8.0 in the IELTS test to get a scholarship is a hair in the butter to me.
25. A piece of cake
 26. Meaning: very easy
Example: Achieving Band 8.0 in IELTS is a piece of cake for almost every English
native speakers.
27. in high spirits – extremely happy
==> They’d had a couple of drinks and were in high spirits.
28.for ages – for a very long time
==>I waited for ages but he never showed up
29.fill in for someone – do someone’s work while he is away; substitute for
==>Bill is going to be filling in for me while I’m out on maternity leave.
30. under the weather – sick; not completely well
==>I noticed that the cat was looking a little under the weather.
31. have a chin-wag – have a long conversation between friends; have a chat
==>We had a good chinwag over a bottle of wine.
32. all in the same boat – in the same difficult situation as someone else
==>None of us has any money, so we’re all in the same boat.
33.  early bird (someone who gets up early)
==> I never miss sunrise. I’m an early bird.
34. work flat out – work very hard
==> The employees have been working flat out to get the job finished ahead of the deadline.

35. The in thing – something fashionable.

==>The new iPhone is really the in thing at the moment.

9. A hot potato – a controversial topic.

==>Abortion and capital punishment are hot potatoes in my country at the moment.

36 Fresh as a daisy: Someone who is lively and attractive, in a clean, fresh way.

My sister has been travelling for almost 24 hours, and she’s still as fresh as a daisy.

Couch potato

Spending too much time on the internet or watching TV.

My uncle is such a couch potato! He often spends his Saturdays watching American football on
TV.

Full of beans

A person who is lively, active and healthy.

My 6 year old nephew is full of beans! He has more energy than three adults.
A bad egg

Someone who is untrustworthy.

Hey, Sue, I think your neighbour is a bad egg. He has these scary looking guys in black leather
hanging around his place all the time.

Down to earth

Someone who is practical and realistic.

My aunt Karen is so down to earth. She can figure out any difficult situation, and offer a good
solution.

Party pooper

A person who is gloomy, and having no fun at a social gathering.

Listen, my friend, I’m so sorry to be a party pooper, but I have to study for my IELTS speaking
exam tomorrow.

Eager beaver

A person who is hardworking and enthusiastic.

My colleague drives me crazy! She is such an eager beaver that she always volunteers for
overtime.

On the ball

Ready and able.

Our department receptionist is really on the ball when it comes to fielding calls from annoyed
students.

36.