Interpersonal Communication- A Mindful Approach to Relationships, 2020a

go figure
Try to guess why. Our English teacher gives us five tests a week and this week–
no tests at all. Go figure.
in the nick of time
Just in time. The hero arrived in the nick of time to save the desperate damsel.
I’m up to my eyeballs in Very busy. I’m up to my eyeballs in work this week.
I had a blast/a ball
A great time. I had a blast/ball at Sandy’s slumber party.
win-win situation
Both sides win. Selling their old stock of iPhones 10s was a
win-win situation. They got rid of the useless phones, and we bought them
really cheaply.
I’m swamped
Very busy. Let’s get together next week–this week I’m swamped.
It’s a steal
Fantastic bargain. Getting a new computer for $300 dollars is a steal.
the sticks
Way out in the country. Who would want to live in the sticks–what would you
do for excitement?
break the ice
Start a conversation. Talking about the weather is a good way to break the ice
when you meet someone new.
give me a break
Leave me alone! Come on! Give me a break! I’ve been working all day longand
I just want to play a little bit of Angry Birds….
like talking to the wall A waste of time. Dealing with many teenagers is like talking to a wall–they won’t
even respond to your questions.
see eye to eye
Agree. I hardly ever see eye to eye with my parents.
It’s about time
It’s time. It’s about time you started your homework–it’s midnight!
pays peanuts
Pays hardly anything. This job pays peanuts–$1 an hour!.
sleep like a log
Sleep soundly. Last night I slept like a log and didn’t hear the thunderstorm at
all.
ace Do great. I aced the math test. I got 100%.
easy as pie
Super easy. The English test was as easy as pie.
blabbermouth
Someone who tells secrets. Don’t tell Sophie your secrets or the whole town will
know them.
don’t bug me
Don’t bother me. Don’t bug me–I’m busy.
by the skin of my teeth Barely manage something. I passed the geography test by the skin of my teeth.
can’t make head nor tail of I can’t understand. I can’t make head nor tail of this math chapter.
cool as a cucumber Very calm. The policeman was cool as a cucumber when he persuaded the man
not to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Reused here from Kifissia under a Creative Commons Attribution License.
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Table 4.2 Common Idioms
Clichés
is an idea or expression that has been so overused that it has lost its original meaning. 28 Clichés
are common and can often be heard. For instance, “light as a feather” or “happily ever after” are
common clichés. They are important because they express ideas and thoughts that are popular in
everyday use. They are prevalent in advertisements, television, and literature.
Improper language is not proper, correct, or applicable in certain situations. 29 There are two different
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