Definition:

Idiomatic expressions are a type of informal language in which they have a meaning different from the meaning of the words in the expression

Why Do We Use Idioms?

Idioms add colour to our conversation and enable us to read between the lines (understand the hidden meaning). By learning more idioms and phrasal verbs, this will build your vocabulary and help to improve your lexical resource. It will then help to improve your band score and lead to test-day success.

Some examples of idiomatic expressions:

1. Pain in the neck – an irritating, annoying person

Oh, he’s such a pain in the neck! Always just when I’m going home, he gives me some extra work to do.

2. A people person – an outgoing person who gets along with people really well and is a good listener

Tom is enthusiastic and positive and he is a people person.

3. A party animal – someone who likes to attend parties often

Are you going out again tonight? You are such a party animal.

Jack is out every Friday, and Saturday. If there was a party on, he’d be out on a Sunday as well. He is such a party animal!

4. Cheapskate – a mean person who doesn’t like spending money

He was always a cheapskate even though he was earning $200,000 a year.

He is a cheapskate when it comes to his clothes. He’s never bought a new shirt or a new pair of trousers in all the years that I’ve known him.

5. Happy camper – a person who is always happy and satisfied. We often use ‘happy camper’ in the negative.

The apartment was much smaller than I expected, and I was not a happy camper.

He’s finally got that promotion. He is a real happy camper.

6. Nerd – someone who is very interested in science or technology, particularly in computers

He spends all weekends at his laptop, he is such a nerd.

7. Life and soul of the party – someone who is energetic and good fun during social occasions.

It was a great night, Jim was life and soul of the party.

8. Dipstick – a person who seems to be stupid (very informal)

I don’t know whether to laugh or be angry at his behaviour. What a complete dipstick!

9. Down-to-earth – someone who is practical and close to reality, who accepts other people as equals

Despite his wealth, he was a down-to-earth man. He was very generous and had a kind heart.

10. Early bird – a person who wakes up, arrives to work, etc. before the usual time

This expression comes from the English proverb “The early bird catches the worm”.

My Mum is the early bird in our family, she gets up at 5 o’clock in the morning.

11. Larger than life – someone who is more exciting or interesting than other people

All who knew him would agree that his personality was larger than life, he was a joy to be around.

12. Wimp – a weak person, someone who lacks confidence.

I always avoid confrontations, I am such a wimp.

13. Golden boy – a winning person that everyone is fond of.

Ray Wilkins was a golden boy of English football.

14. Eager beaver – someone who’s always willing to do something.

When he was at school, he used to run home, get his homework done, get his football kit, get out and train. A real eager beaver.

15. Slave driver – someone who makes other people work really hard

My boss is such a slave driver, I had to work two weekends in a row.