ENGLISH IDIOMS

An idiom is an expression with a meaning that can be difficult to guess from the meanings of its separate words.

Talk to a brick wall means talk to an unresponsive person.
Hear something from the horse´s mouth means get the information directly from the person concerned.

Common areas for idioms in business are war (hit your targets), gambling (there´s a lot of money at stake) and shipping (don´t rock the boat).

Complete the sentences with idioms from the box below:

a.  put you in the picture                  e. get a word in edgeways
b.  talking at cross purposes             f.  beating about the bush
c.  get straight to the point                g.  heard it on the grapevine
d. have a quick word                         h.  on the same wavelength

Use your dictionary to complete these sentences with the phrases above:

1. Ok, I´ll ……………………… I´m afraid we´re going to have to let you go.
2. “You and your boss seem to agree on most things”.  “Yes, we are …………………………..”.
3. Susan, I know you are busy, but can I ……………………… with you?
4. Some important decisions were taken at yesterday´s meeting.  Let me ……………………………………….
5. I think we have been …………………………. I meant next month, not this month.
6. Anja dominates all our meetings.  Once she starts you can´t ……………………….
7. He never gives you a straight answer.  He´s always ……………………………
8. I …………………………………… that he´s been fired.  Is it true?

Can you look for some more idioms on the dictionary?  Then translate them.