English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions

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Descriptions of people

(personality - character - appearance)

(page 2:   call a spade  →  down to earth)

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call a spade a spade	A person who calls a spade a spade speaks openly and truthfully about something, especially difficult matters. What I like about the new manager is that he calls a spade a spade - it makes things so much easier for everyone.
fat cat	To refer to a rich and powerful person as a fat cat means that you disapprove of the way they use their money or power. The place was full of fat cats on their big yachts.
cat's whiskers (also: cat's pyjamas)	This expression refers to someone who considers themselves to be better than others in a particular area : beauty, competence, intelligence, sport, etc. Ever since she got a promotion, she thinks she's the cat's whiskers!
chip off the old block	A person who is a chip off the old block resembles one of their parents in appearance, character or behaviour. James is a chip off the old block - he reacts the same way as his father.
class act	To say that someone, for example an athlete or entertainer, is a class act means that they are very good at what they do. Her career is just beginning but she's already a class act.
cog in the machine	If you say that someone is a cog in the machine, you mean that, while they are necessary, they only play a small part in an organization or plan. The police quickly realized that the suspect was just a cog in the machine.
couch potato	If you refer to someone as a couch potato, you criticize them for spending a lot of time sitting and watching television. Don't be such a couch potato. There are better ways of spending your time than in front of the TV.
not cut out for something	If you are not cut out for something, you are not the sort of person to succeed or be happy in a particular activity. I started studying medicing but I quickly realized  I wasn't cut out for it.
dead loss	Someone described as a dead loss is absolutely useless or a complete failure. When it comes to gardening, my brother is a dead loss.
dead man walking	A dead man walking is someone who will inevitably be in great trouble very soon, especially a person who is about to lose their job or position. Because of the way he handled the recent riots, the minister is a dead man walking.
dog in the manger	A person referred to as a dog in the manger is someone who stops others from enjoying something he/she cannot use or doesn't want. She hates the guitar so she won't allow her son to learn to play it - a real dog in the manger!
doubting Thomas	A 'doubting Thomas' is a person who will not believe something without proof, or without seeing it for themselves. I had to show him my membership card.  What a doubting Thomas!
down at heel	A person who is down-at-heel is someone whose appearance is untidy or neglected because of lack of money. The down-at-heel student I first met became a successful writer.
down to earth	Somene who is down to earth is not a dreamer but a realistic and practical person who has sensible reactions and expectations. Don't ask Suzy for help.  She's fun, but not very down to earth.

Prepositions of Location

This guide in .pdf.     All of the English Guides

Prepositions of location describe where something is.

on	behind	above
under	next to	below
in	between	around
inside	among	on the right
outside	across from	on the left
in front of	opposite

Practice
Study the prepositions in the box below and select the correct preposition for each of the sentences according to the position in the map.

next to between across from

1.  The drug store is the police station.
    

2.  The police station is the bank and the store. 
    

3.  The school is the restaurant.
    

4.  The drug store is the movie theater and the post office.
    

5.  The train station is the school.
    

Practice
Study the prepositions in the box below and select the correct preposition to describe the position of the objects in the picture.

in front of          behind between above below on the right on the left

1.  The dog is the sun.

2.  The house is the car.

3.  The tree is to the of the house.

4.  The sun is the dog.

5.  The car is the house.

6.  The dog is to the of the house.

7.  The house is the dog and the tree.

Practice
Study the prepositions in the box below and select the correct preposition to describe the position of the objects in the picture below.

on under in

1.  The vase is the table.

2.  The cat is the table.

3.  The flowers are the vase.

Practice
Write sentences to describe where the objects are in the picture.

Prepositions - above/behind/between/in front of/on/under

example     ball/table    

1.  basket/table  
     
2.  tree/bicycle  
     
3.  cloud/table  
     
4.  bicycle/tree  
     
5.  dog/the bicycle and the table  
     

            

 

Giving Directions How do I get to _______? Turn right. Turn left. Go straight. Go one block. Go past _______ It's on the corner of ______ and ______.

Practice
Select the correct directions.

1.  I'm at the police station.  How do I get to the church?

 Go straight on Main Street.  Turn left on Second Street.  Go two blocks.  It's on the right.
 Go straight on Main Street.  Turn left on Central Avenue.  Go one block.  Turn left.  It's on the right.
 Go straight on Main Street.  Turn right on Second Street.  Turn left on Central Avenue.  It's on the right.

2.  I'm at the school.  How do I get to the movie theater?

 Turn left onto First Street.  Go past the hospital.  Go one block.  It's on the right.
 Turn right onto First Street.  Go one block.  Turn right on Main Street.  Go past the post office and the drugstore.  It's on the right.
 Go straight on Central Avenue.  Turn right onto Second Street.  Go two blocks.  It's on the left.

3.  I'm in the movie theater.  How do I get to the school?

 Turn right onto Second Street.  Go one block.  Turn right.  Go past the restaurant.  It's on the right.
 Go straight on First Street.  Turn left.  Go one block.  Go past the hospital.  It's on the left.
 Go straight on Main Street.  Turn left on First Street.  Go one block.  Turn right onto Central Avenue.  It's on the right.

Instructions Find the errors in the sentences.  Write the sentences correctly. example She are a student. --> She is a student. 1. The school is next the supermarket.    2. The beaty shop is opposite the bank.    3. The library is in front the park.    5. The movie teater is on the right.    4. The church is behin the hospital.