Idioms A-Z: Explained
by IELTS Australasia — May 16th, 2018
When it comes to idioms, you’ll probably understand every word, but you might have trouble interpreting the meaning. You must dig more and go deeper to understand what is behind the phrase. Let’s examine the meanings and historical information of 10 popular idioms to expand your grasp of the English language.
Click each idiom to see the history, meaning and use in a sentence.
- A whole new ball game
Meaning
Join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful.
Origin
Bandwagon was originally the US term for a large wagon able to carry a band in a procession.
In a sentence
When your TV show does extremely well, advertisers will be competing to be the first to jump on the bandwagon.
- Jump (or climb) on the bandwagon
Meaning
Join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful.
Origin
Bandwagon was originally the US term for a large wagon able to carry a band in a procession.
In a sentence
When your TV show does extremely well, advertisers will be competing to be the first to jump on the bandwagon.
- Pass (or hand) (on) the baton
Meaning
Join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful.
Origin
Bandwagon was originally the US term for a large wagon able to carry a band in a procession.
In a sentence
When your TV show does extremely well, advertisers will be competing to be the first to jump on the bandwagon.
- Off (or way off) beam
Meaning
Join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful.
Origin
Bandwagon was originally the US term for a large wagon able to carry a band in a procession.
In a sentence
When your TV show does extremely well, advertisers will be competing to be the first to jump on the bandwagon.
- Beat a (hasty) retreat
Meaning
Join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful.
Origin
Bandwagon was originally the US term for a large wagon able to carry a band in a procession.
In a sentence
When your TV show does extremely well, advertisers will be competing to be the first to jump on the bandwagon.
- At someone’s beck and call
Meaning
Always having to be ready to obey someone’s orders immediately.
Origin
Beck in the sense of “significant gesture of command” comes from the verb beck, which is shortened form of beckon and is now found mainly in this phrase.
In a sentence
She is going to be confined to a wheelchair for the next three weeks but she’s not complaining as she will have a nurse at her beck and call.
- Bed of nails
Meaning
A problematic or uncomfortable situation.
Origin
Originally a board with nails pointing out of it, as used by Eastern fakirs and ascetics.
In a sentence
My parents are very judgmental and living with them can be a bed of nails.
- Make a beeline for
Meaning
Go rapidly and directly towards.
Origin
The bee was supposed to fly in a such a way when returning to its hive.
In a sentence
They hungry tourists made a beeline for the buffet that featured delicious food from all over the world.
- Beggar on horseback
Meaning
A formerly poor person made arrogant or corrupt through achieving wealth and luxury.
Origin
The proverbial saying set a beggar on horseback and he’ll ride to the devil.
In a sentence
It’s not surprising that he lost everything and is being investigated by the authorities as he was a beggar on a horseback.
- Work like a beaver
Meaning
Join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful.
Origin
Bandwagon was originally the US term for a large wagon able to carry a band in a procession.
In a sentence
When your TV show does extremely well, advertisers will be competing to be the first to jump on the bandwagon.
Source: Oxford Dictionary of Idioms
Grammar 101: Elude vs. allude
In the Grammar 101 series we look at commonly confused words. This time we cover elude vs allude. Elude is defined as 'to escape from or avoid a danger.' You can use elude when you want to avoid something. Allude can be defined as 'to suggest; or indirectly call attention to something.'
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