I love a good idiom!

Idioms. Brits love them. What's an idiom? It's an expression which is culturally understood, but the words used have a different meaning to what is said. Confused??

Ok, so I think a few examples are needed. The 'half a dozen' idioms I've chosen are all well known to Brits, but to anyone else, the actual meaning may come as a surprise.

Don't give up your day job.

Said to someone who has tried to do something, but has failed badly. In other words, don't ever think about leaving your current job and start doing the failed task professionally.

"I tried to make you a birthday cake but look, it's a disaster!"

"Yes, I can see that. Don't give up your day job!"

Steal 'someone's' thunder

A situation where you try and take the praise or attention for someone else's work.

"I don't like Mike. I worked really hard on that project with him and he's talking like he did everything!"

"That's what Mike is like, also trying to steal someone's thunder".

To beat around the bush

You could say that Brits are very good at beating around the bush. It means to deliberately not focus or talk about a topic. To avoid talking about what's important.

"If you have a problem with me just say it. Stop beating around the bush!"

Make a mountain out of a molehill

It's used to describe a situation where someone is making a small, unimportant issue into something big for no reason.

"Why do you keeping mentioning about the cup I broke, I said sorry. Stop making a mountain out of a molehill!"

Keep your hair on!

Said to someone who is getting angry and you want them to calm down.

"Ok, ok, keep your hair on. I was only 5 minutes late!"

Better late than never.

I say this quite often to students, when they are late to class. It implies that it's still good that they came, even if they're late, rather than not come at all.

"I'm sorry that I missed the beginning of the class".

"No problem. Better late than never".

So there you are. Just a small example of expressions used by Brits, which may just come in handy for you one day. Until next time.......

#nativespeaker, #brzegdolnylekcje, #idioms