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DURING teenage one tends to form opinions which often last a lifetime. Broadening horizons and new experiences give teenagers the opportunity to have their own point of view on various subjects. This is also a time for sharing perspectives with ones peers and elders. A knowledge of idioms which help describe people and situations not only ensures that one is never fumbling for words, but also helps one become an effective speaker. Have a lot to answer for: be the main cause of a problem or unpleasant situation. Tobacco companies which target adolescents have a lot to answer for. Something is not all its cracked up to be: something is not as good as people say it is. I saw Amitabh Bachchan’s latest movie but frankly I thought it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Have the edge over something: be slightly better than someone or something else. Nokia handsets have the edge over other brands because they are lighter. Leave a lot to be desired: is not as good as it should be. I have been cooking since I was a teenager, but still my skills in the kitchen leave a lot to be desired. Have all the makings of: is likely to develop into. My daughter’s physical education instructor tells me that she has all the makings of an athlete. A dead loss: completely useless. The excavation was a dead loss. We didn’t find anything of historical importance. Rough and ready: not very polite or well educated. My experience as a foreman taught me how to work with men who were a bit rough and ready. Get/jump/leap on the bandwagon: get involved in something that is already successful so that you can enjoy the advantages of its success. The success of some dotcom companies led many others to jump on the dotcom bandwagon. Play devil’s advocate: pretend to be against an idea so that others discuss it. I don’t think my boss was really in favour of redesigning the product, he was just playing devil’s advocate. Drive someone to distraction: make someone very angry or very bored. The loud music that my son plays drives me to distraction. Make an exhibition of oneself: do things in public that make one look stupid. Whenever she goes to the market wearing her skimpy dresses she makes an exhibition of herself. Under false pretences: tell lies about who you are or what you are doing. Beauty queen Laxmi Pandit is believed to have entered the Miss India contest under false pretences. Not do anything by halves: always make a great effort and do things very well. Her presentations are always very well made. She never does anything by halves. A laughing stock: someone who does something very stupid which makes others laugh at them. Ever since my neighbour got drunk and made a fool of himself at a party, he has been the laughing stock of the entire neighbourhood. Exercise Complete the following sentences with appropriate idioms: My first visit to the new multiplex in town was a disappointment. I thought.. Engineers who also have a management degree... those who don’t have an MBA. They generally rise to the top in the corporate world. I am not satisfied with the way my assignment has shaped up. I think it... I have done all I can to make the project a success but it has not helped. The project is... I have always told my children to do what they felt was right and not... My mother’s non-stop instructions to keep my room clean... I am very wary of people who... in public places because of their loud and coarse behaviour. My boss expects perfection from us. He tells us we should never... I have been...of the school ever since I forgot my lines on the stage during our school play. (Reference: Cambridge
International Dictionary of Idioms) |
