Interesting Phrases & Idioms

Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that cannot be taken literally.  In other words, when used in everyday language, they have a meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary.  Every language has its own idioms.  Learning them makes understanding and using a language a lot easier and more fun!
For example, “break a leg” is a common idiom.

Literal meaning:  I command you to break a bone in your leg and you should probably go to the doctor afterwards to get it fixed.
Idiomatic meaning:  Do your best and do well.  Often, actors tell each other to “break a leg” before they go out on stage to perform.

PHRASE: "TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER"

If you say you're trying to keep your head above water, you mean you are just managing to survive despite not having much money.

Examples:

Our company isn't doing very well but we're just about keeping our head above water.

I'm struggling to pay the bills; I don't know if I can keep my head above water.

TAKE A NOTE: 

To be in deep water means to be in trouble or a difficult situation that is hard to deal with.

Examples:

We're going to be in deep water if someone finds out that we broke that window.

Two wheels are better than four

When someone says two wheels are better than four they mean riding a bike is better than driving a car.

Examples:

If you want to get healthy, get out of your car and onto your bike; two wheels are better than four!

The traffic is really bad in the city so two wheels are definitely better than four.

TAKE A NOTE: 

A two-for-one offer or promotion in a shop means you can buy two of the same products but pay the price of just one.

Example:

I hope you like eating cabbage; I got them on a two-for-one offer at the supermarket, so we've got lots to eat.

In the Idioms and Phrases section, you will find key phrases with an explanation, example sentences, and other ways of saying the same phrase.

Use the audio files to listen to a native English speaker and repeat after the sound to learn these idioms and phrases while learning how to speak English fluently.