SPI English · Idioms and Phrases
Idiom Meanings
An idiom is a group of words whose meaning is not the meaning of its words, so 'smell a rat' means to suspect something wrong, not to notice a smell.
Why this matters
Twenty questions in the bank ask what an idiom means, seventeen of them EASY. The wrong options are built from the idiom's own words read literally, so the student who knows the idiom gets the mark in seconds and the one who reads the words falls for the trap.
Concept 1 of 3: Read the picture, not the words
An idiom paints a small picture, and the meaning comes from what the picture suggests. A burnt finger is the hurt you get from touching something you should not have touched. So strike every option that reads the words as they stand, then pick the one that fits the picture and the sentence.
Definition
The method:
- Strike every option about the literal words: hats, rats, balls, ploughs, dice.
- Ask what the picture suggests, then check it against the rest of the sentence.
- The whole option must be right: a right meaning joined to a literal one is wrong.
Idioms whose words mislead:
- a dime a dozen: very common, of little value.
- at the drop of a hat: at once, without waiting.
- smell a rat: suspect that something is wrong.
- put one's hand to the plough: start work seriously.
- the ball is in your court: it is your turn to act or decide.
- burn one's fingers: suffer a loss, often of money, from a risky step.
- look high and low: search everywhere.
- no dice: no, it will not happen.
- once in a blue moon: very rarely.
- a piece of cake: something very easy.
- under the weather: slightly unwell.
- hit the sack: go to bed.
Worked example
Choose the meaning: Ravi let the cat out of the bag about his sister's surprise party. (a) freed a pet (b) told a secret by mistake (c) bought a new bag (d) lost his cat
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionEasy
Example 1 · Idioms and Phrases · Idiom Meanings
He burned his fingers in the stock market and has been timid about investing ever since. Choose the meaning of the underlined word:
The literal option is there on purpose
An option about the idiom's own words (a hat that drops, a rat that smells, dice on a table) is a trap for the student who has not met the idiom. It is almost never the key.
Half right is wrong
An option that joins the true meaning to a literal one, such as 'willing to act at once, and something under a hat', is not the meaning. Choose the option that is right all the way through.
No dice is not about money or games
No dice simply means no: the request was refused, or the plan is not possible.
Concept 2 of 3: Idioms about people
Many idioms describe a kind of person or how people treat each other: an enemy who hides, a person of no worth, someone who speaks plainly. Learn each one with the person it describes.
Definition
How to use this table:
- Learn each idiom with its charge: a snake in the grass and a wet blanket blame; calling a spade a spade praises honesty.
- An option with the wrong charge can be struck at once.
- Some idioms are about feelings between people, not one person: bad blood is hatred between two sides.
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a snake in the grass | a hidden enemy who pretends to be a friend |
| a wolf in sheep's clothing | a dangerous person who looks harmless |
| a man of straw | a weak person of no real worth |
| call a spade a spade | speak plainly and honestly |
| a white lie | a small lie told to avoid hurting someone |
| bad blood | hatred between people after a past quarrel |
| take someone to task | scold someone for a fault |
| a wet blanket | a person who spoils other people's fun |
| the black sheep | a member who brings shame on a family or group |
| a fair-weather friend | a friend only in good times |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionEasy
Example 2 · Idioms and Phrases · Idiom Meanings
Directions (for the 4 items which follow): Choose the exact meaning of the idioms/ phrases written in italics.
His most trusted friend proved to be a snake in the grass.
Bad blood is not an illness
Bad blood means ill feeling between people, usually after a quarrel. It has nothing to do with health or an accident.
A white lie is still a lie
A white lie is small and kind, told to spare someone's feelings. An option calling it a true statement reverses its meaning.
Taking to task is scolding
To take someone to task is to scold them for a fault. It does not mean giving them a task or more work.
Concept 3 of 3: Idioms about effort, success and failure
The other idioms describe how hard someone tries and how things turn out: fighting with all one's strength, getting ahead first, coming to nothing, or winning in the end.
Definition
Three groups to learn:
- Effort: fight tooth and nail, burn the midnight oil, leave no stone unturned.
- How it ends: steal a march on, have the last laugh, end in smoke, a blessing in disguise.
- Attitude: count your blessings, sit on the fence, turn over a new leaf.
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fight tooth and nail | fight with all one's strength |
| burn the midnight oil | work or study late into the night |
| leave no stone unturned | try every possible way |
| steal a march on someone | get ahead of someone by acting first |
| have the last laugh | succeed in the end after others doubted you |
| end in smoke | come to nothing, fail completely |
| a blessing in disguise | something good that first looked bad |
| count your blessings | be thankful for the good things you have |
| sit on the fence | not take sides, put off deciding |
| turn over a new leaf | start behaving better |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionEasy
Example 3 · Idioms and Phrases · Idiom Meanings
Directions (for the 4 items which follow): Choose the exact meaning of the idioms/ phrases written in italics.
I am sure they will fight tooth and nail for their rights.
Sitting on the fence is not resting
To sit on the fence is to avoid taking sides or to put off a decision. It says nothing about being lazy or failing.
End in smoke means failure, not fire
A plan that ends in smoke comes to nothing. Read it as ruin or failure, not as something burning.
Stealing a march is not stealing
To steal a march on rivals is to get ahead of them by acting first. It does not mean cheating, defying or resisting them.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (2)
Idioms about people10 rows
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a snake in the grass | a hidden enemy who pretends to be a friend |
| a wolf in sheep's clothing | a dangerous person who looks harmless |
| a man of straw | a weak person of no real worth |
| call a spade a spade | speak plainly and honestly |
| a white lie | a small lie told to avoid hurting someone |
| bad blood | hatred between people after a past quarrel |
| take someone to task | scold someone for a fault |
| a wet blanket | a person who spoils other people's fun |
| the black sheep | a member who brings shame on a family or group |
| a fair-weather friend | a friend only in good times |
Idioms about effort, success and failure10 rows
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fight tooth and nail | fight with all one's strength |
| burn the midnight oil | work or study late into the night |
| leave no stone unturned | try every possible way |
| steal a march on someone | get ahead of someone by acting first |
| have the last laugh | succeed in the end after others doubted you |
| end in smoke | come to nothing, fail completely |
| a blessing in disguise | something good that first looked bad |
| count your blessings | be thankful for the good things you have |
| sit on the fence | not take sides, put off deciding |
| turn over a new leaf | start behaving better |
Watch out for (9)
- The literal option is there on purpose→ Read the picture, not the words
- Half right is wrong→ Read the picture, not the words
- No dice is not about money or games→ Read the picture, not the words
- Bad blood is not an illness→ Idioms about people
- A white lie is still a lie→ Idioms about people
- Taking to task is scolding→ Idioms about people
- Sitting on the fence is not resting→ Idioms about effort, success and failure
- End in smoke means failure, not fire→ Idioms about effort, success and failure
- Stealing a march is not stealing→ Idioms about effort, success and failure
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