- Hear on the grapevine
This idiom means ’to hear rumors’ about something or someone.
Ex: I heard on the grapevine that she was pregnant, but I don’t know anything more. - Hit the nail on the head
To be right about something
Ex: Mike hit the nail on the head when he said most people can use a computer withou knowing how it works. - In the heat of the moment
say or do it without thinking because you are very angry or excited
Ex: She doesn’t hate you. She just said that in the heat of the moment. - It takes two to tango
both people involved in a bad situation are responsible for it
Ex: She blames Tracy for stealing her husband. ‘Well, it takes two to tango.’ - Get/jump on the bandwagon
Join a popular trend or activity.
Ex: You jump on the bandwagon when all your friends begin eating at a new popular restaurant. - Keep something at bay
Keep something away
Ex: She fought to keep her unhappiness at bay. - Kill two birds with one stone
This idiom means, to accomplish two different things at the same time.
Ex: I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Leeds visitingmy parents. - Last straw
The final problem in a series of problems.
Ex: This is the last straw. I’m calling the police. - Let sleeping dogs lie
to not talk about things which have caused problems in the past, or to not try to change a situation because you might cause problems
Ex: Jane knew she should report the accident but decided to let sleeping dogs lie. - Let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret or a surprise, often without an intention to do so
Ex: It’s a secret. Try not to let the cat out of the bag. - Not playing with a full deck
Someone who lacks intelligence.
Ex: Jim’s a nice guy, but with some of the foolish things he does, I wonder if he’s not playingwith a full deck. - Far cry from
Very different from
Ex: What you did was a far cry from what you said you were going to do. - Give the benefit of the doubt
to decide you will believe someone or something
Ex: I didn’t know whether his story was true or not, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. - Pull the wool over someone’s eyes
Deceive someone into thinking well of them.
Ex: You can’t pull the wool over my eyes. I know what’s going on. - See eye to eye
This idiom is used to say that two (or more people) agree on something.
Ex: My father and I see eye to eye on most things. - Take with a grain of salt
Consider something to be not completely true or right
Ex: I’ve read the article, which I take with a grain of salt. - Taste of your own medicine
Means that something happens to you,or is done to you that you have done to someone else
Ex: Tom talks way too much – but last night he met someone who talked even more than he does, and he got frustrated. He finally got a taste of his own medicine. - Whole nine yards
Everything, the entire amount, as far as possible
Ex: When I was little, my family always had lots of pets – dogs, cats,hamsters, fish, rabbits – the whole nine yards.
- Wouldn’t be caught dead
Would never like to do something
Ex: My father wouldn’t have been caught dead in a white suit.
Learn more: Top Phrasal Verbs for IELTS Speaking
