Lesson 1: Understanding Common Idioms
Expressions That Don't Mean What They Say
Welcome to our B1 series on Idioms! Have you ever heard an English phrase that made no sense, even though you knew all the words? For example, "It's raining cats and dogs." This is an idiom1—a common fixed expression2 where the meaning is figurative3. Understanding idioms is a key step to understanding native speakers and sounding more natural yourself.
What are Idioms?
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal4 meaning of the individual words. You must learn the whole phrase as a single piece of vocabulary.
| Idiom | Real (Figurative) Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| to be over the moon | To be extremely happy or delighted. | She was over the moon when she passed her exam. |
| a piece of cake | To be very easy. | I thought the test would be difficult, but it was a piece of cake. |
| to feel under the weather | To feel a little sick or unwell. | I'm not going to work today; I'm feeling under the weather. |
| once in a blue moon | Very rarely; not often. | I see my cousins once in a blue moon because they live far away. |
| to cost an arm and a leg | To be very expensive. | I want to buy a new iPhone, but it costs an arm and a leg. |
| to break a leg | "Good luck!" (A strange way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance). | Before my presentation, my friend told me to "break a leg". |
Usage Note: How to Use Idioms Correctly
- Don't Change the Words: Idioms are 'fixed expressions'. You cannot change the words. We say 'a piece of cake', not 'a slice of cake'.
- Know the Situation: Idioms can be informal. 'Costs an arm and a leg' is great to use with friends, but you might not say it in a formal business meeting.
- Don't Overuse Them: Using one or two idioms in a conversation can make you sound fluent. Using too many can sound unnatural.
In Conversation
Srey sees Bora looking very happy.
Srey: Hey Bora! You look over the moon! What happened?
Bora: I just finished my final university exam.
Srey: Was it difficult?
Bora: I thought it would be, but it was a piece of cake! I studied so hard that it felt easy.
Srey: That's great! I have my big presentation tomorrow. I hope I don't get sick and feel under the weather.
Bora: Don't worry, you will be great. Go break a leg!
Srey: Thank you! I only get a chance to present to the whole company once in a blue moon, so I want to do well.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. If a task is "a piece of cake," it is ______.
- a) very difficult
- b) very delicious
- c) very easy
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) very easy
2. Your friend says, "Break a leg!" before your job interview. What do they mean?
- a) Be careful.
- b) They hope you get hurt.
- c) Good luck!
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) Good luck!
3. "I rarely see my family because they live in another country. I see them ______."
- a) over the moon
- b) once in a blue moon
- c) under the weather
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) once in a blue moon
edit Your Mission
- My Idioms: Choose two idioms from the lesson. Write a personal sentence for each one. (e.g., "Buying a new moto can cost an arm and a leg.")
- Find an Idiom: Listen to an English song or watch a short clip from a movie. Can you hear any idioms? Write it down, even if you don't know the meaning.
- Speak: Your mission is to use one idiom from this lesson in a conversation with a friend this week. (e.g., "That test was a piece of cake!")
book Lesson Glossary
- Idiom (noun) - Khmer: สำนวน / ឃ្លា慣用語 - A common phrase whose meaning is different from the meaning of its individual words. ↩
- Fixed Expression (noun phrase) - Khmer: កន្សោមពាក្យថេរ - A phrase whose words are always used in the same order. ↩
- Figurative (adjective) - Khmer: ជានិមិត្តរូប - An abstract or imaginative meaning, not the normal meaning. ↩
- Literal (adjective) - Khmer: តាមព្យញ្ជនៈ - The most basic, original meaning of a word or phrase. ↩