Touching Essays
Idiom | Explanation + Example | 1) | Don't give up the day job. | You are not very good at that. You could definitely not do it professionally.
"I really like the way you sing, but don't give up your day job. | 2) | Cash cow. | An easy way to earn money regularly.
"Income tax is a real cash cow for the government." | 3) | Bite off more than you can chew. | Trying to do something that is too difficult or time consuming to finish.
"I'm glad you want to prepare the report by yourself. Just be sure that you don't bite off more than you can chew." | 4) | Clear the air | Discuss something that was causing people to feel upset.
"There seems to have been a misunderstanding. I'd like to explain what happened, just to clear the air." | 5) | Turn your back on | Give up on, or abandon.
"I needed your help but you just turned your back on me" | 6) | Not cut out for | Not suitable for something.
"He tried mountain climbing, but he simply was not cut out for it." | 7) | Scrape the bottom of the barrel | The very last, or the very worst.
"These are the last volunteers we could find. We really had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find them." | 8) | A class act | Sophisticated, above average.
"He offered to help, even though he doesn't know me. He's a real class act." | 9) | Clean up your act | Improve your behavior.
"If you are ever going to improve your English skills, you must start getting in to class on time and doing your homework. Why don't you clean up your act?" | 10) | Get your act together | Get more organized.
"You have been late for work every day this week. If you want to keep this job, you must get your act together." | 11) | A piece of the action | Participation in an activity.
"I heard that you are looking for partners in your new investment. If you don't mind, I would like to get in on a piece of the action." | 12) | Actions speak louder than words. | People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.
"Why
"I really like the way you sing, but don't give up your day job. | 2) | Cash cow. | An easy way to earn money regularly.
"Income tax is a real cash cow for the government." | 3) | Bite off more than you can chew. | Trying to do something that is too difficult or time consuming to finish.
"I'm glad you want to prepare the report by yourself. Just be sure that you don't bite off more than you can chew." | 4) | Clear the air | Discuss something that was causing people to feel upset.
"There seems to have been a misunderstanding. I'd like to explain what happened, just to clear the air." | 5) | Turn your back on | Give up on, or abandon.
"I needed your help but you just turned your back on me" | 6) | Not cut out for | Not suitable for something.
"He tried mountain climbing, but he simply was not cut out for it." | 7) | Scrape the bottom of the barrel | The very last, or the very worst.
"These are the last volunteers we could find. We really had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find them." | 8) | A class act | Sophisticated, above average.
"He offered to help, even though he doesn't know me. He's a real class act." | 9) | Clean up your act | Improve your behavior.
"If you are ever going to improve your English skills, you must start getting in to class on time and doing your homework. Why don't you clean up your act?" | 10) | Get your act together | Get more organized.
"You have been late for work every day this week. If you want to keep this job, you must get your act together." | 11) | A piece of the action | Participation in an activity.
"I heard that you are looking for partners in your new investment. If you don't mind, I would like to get in on a piece of the action." | 12) | Actions speak louder than words. | People's intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say.
"Why