Here are some more very commonly used idioms – try to use them and see how you get on!

In English classes at UIC you will learn idioms along with other vocabulary and more importantly will learn how to use them. This is one of the areas that you can improve in much better if you are in London than in your home country.

1. to pay lip service to (something) (an idea, a kind of behaviour etc) means to say that you will support something but then to do nothing about it – “the banks pay lip service to the idea of gender equality but then if you look around the management you see just a lot of men”

2. to toe the line means to conform to something – “there’s no point having an international agreement on free trade if the US won’t toe the line”

3. to do your own thing means to do what you want to do without following anyone else “I don’t want to settle down and conform, I just want to do my own thing”

4. to go your own way means to do what you want to do especially when it’s something different form others “we don’t have to do this together any more – you go your way and I’ll go mine”

5. to (try to) keep up with the Joneses means to try and have what others around you have – traditionally your neighbours. It’s not a good thing! “they are always worrying about keeping up with the Jones – I wish they would just be happy with what they’ve got”

6. to stand out like a sore thumb means to be easily noticed because youa re different to evetyone around you “I thought it was a fancy dress party  but I was the only one who did – I stuck out like a sore thumb”

7. to obey the letter of the law means to do exactly what the law says – in detail.

8. to be like a fish out of water means to feel uncomfortable because you are not familiar with, or do not fit in with the surroundings. “I was the only one at the party who didn’t know anyone and couldn’t dance – it was a bit uncomfortable and I felt like a fish out of water”

9. (a situation/problem/insult) to be like water off a duck’s back means that something doesn’t affect you – often an insult. “he’s so insensitive – he never takes any notice. Anything you say to him is just like water off a duck’s back”

10. to call a spade a spade means to say exactly what you mean – nothing subtle! “I don’t like fat people – I’ll say what I mean and call a spade a spade”

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