The World of Words: Vocabulary for College Success ... - eLibrary

96 Chapter 3 Words for Feeling, Expression, and ActionI NSIGHT INTO I DIOMSFeelings and ActionsIf you try to look up an idiom in the dictionary but cannot find it,don’t sweat it. (Don’t worry.) Many print dictionaries do notdefine idioms. You will find, however, that it’s easy to find themeanings of idioms on the Internet. The many online dictionariesof idioms include www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/.You can go to this site and just type in an idiom, such as “burythe hatchet” to get the definition. However, most websites don’tgive the source of idioms. Bury the hatchet has an origin rootedin history. Centuries ago, warring Native American tribes buriedhatchets in the ground to symbolize that they had made peace.This chapter’s idioms are about expression, feelings, and actions.a. Don’t sweat it means don’t worry.b. To bury the hatchet means to make peace.c. If something can’t hold a candle to something else, it isinferior to that other thing.d. To hit the books means to study.e. To drive someone up the wall means to bother or annoy them greatly.f. People who are at loose ends don’t have a direction, and don’tknow what they will do.g. To hit the nail on the head means to get something exactly right.Practice chapter words one more time by filling in the letter ofthe correct idiom into the blank before each sentence.1. It’s hard to be around him because his frenetic activitycan __________.2. At the meeting, the two belligerents were able to__________; they actually became friends!3. I’ll admit that I’m __________ and can’t even contemplatewhat life will be like after graduation.4.–5. You say “__________, but I’m afraid that if I don’t__________, I’ll get an appalling grade on the exam.”Links to lists of English idioms and their meanings can be found at the StudentCompanion Website for this book: www.cengage.com/devenglish/richek8e.Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.