In the Loop: a Reference Guide to American English Idioms
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IN THE LOOP A Reference Guide to American English Idioms In the Loop: A Reference Guide to American English Idioms Published by the Office of English Language Programs United States Department of State Washington, DC 20037 First Edition 2010 Adapted from: Something to Crow About by Shelley Vance Laflin; ed. Anna Maria Malkoç, Frank Smolinski Illustrated American Idioms by Dean Curry Special thanks to Elizabeth Ball for copyediting and proofreading this 2010 edition. Office of English Language Programs Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs United States Department of State Washington, DC 20037 englishprograms.state.gov Contents v Introduction vi How Each Entry is Arranged 1 Part 1: Idioms and Definitions 103 Part 2: Selected Idioms by Category 107 Part 3: Classroom Activities 121 Index Introduction Idiom: a group of words that means something In the Loop is a collection of common idioms different than the individual words it contains updated and compiled from two previous books of As with any language, American English is full idioms published by the Office of English Language of idioms, especially when spoken. Idioms Programs: Illustrated American Idioms by Dean add color and texture to language by creating Curry and Something to Crow About by Shelley Vance images that convey meanings beyond those of Laflin. In the Loop combines the popular aspects of the individual words that make them up. Idioms the previous books, while also updating the content are culturally bound, providing insight into the by including idioms that have come into use more history, culture, and outlook of their users. This recently and eliminating those that are rarely used. is because most idioms have developed over When available, background information is included time from practices, beliefs, and other aspects about the origins of the idioms. Additionally, In the of different cultures. As a culture changes, the Loop includes categories of commonly used idioms words used to describe it also change: some and suggestions to the teacher to aid in developing idioms fall out of use and others develop to classroom exercises for learning the meanings and replace them. With idioms in particular, the beliefs uses of idioms. In essence, this book is intended to or practices leading to their use may disappear while be both a teaching tool and a reference. the idiom itself continues to be used. Idioms can be Organization of this Book. In the Loop is divided so overused that they become clichés; or they can into three parts: Part 1, “Idioms and Definitions”; become slang or jargon, expressions used mainly by Part 2, “Selected Idioms by Category”; and Part specific groups or professions. 3, “Classroom Activities.” The idioms are listed Idioms can be complimentary or insulting. They can alphabetically in Part 1. Part 2 highlights some express a wide range of emotions from excitement of the most commonly used idioms, grouped into to depression, love to hate, heroism to cowardice, categories. Part 3 contains classroom suggestions and anything in between. Idioms are also used to to help teachers plan appropriate exercises for express a sense of time, place, or size. The range of their students. There is also a complete index at uses for idioms is complex and widespread. the back of the book listing page numbers for both main entries and cross-references for each idiom. The complexity of idioms is what makes them so difficult for non-native speakers to learn. How to Locate an Idiom. In Part 1, “Idioms and However, this complexity is also what can make Definitions,” idioms are listed alphabetically by idioms so interesting to study and learn; they first word. The only first words not used to place are rarely boring. Learning about idioms, in this the idioms in order are articles (a, the, some) and case those used in the United States, provides a pronouns and possessives (someone, one). Instead, way to learn not only the language, but a little these are placed at the end of the idiom, separated about the people who use it. by a comma. v How Each Entry is Arranged idiom’s main entry definition of the idiom 1 FEATHER IN (ONE’S) CAP, A an exceptional achievement 2 1. Cassandra managed through hard work to win a big contract for her company. It was a real sample sentences 3 feather in her cap. using the idiom 2. The scholarship Lee won to attend the university was a feather in his cap. Synonym: something to crow about Antonym: nothing to write home about 4 cross-referenced Compare to: feather (one’s) nest idioms for comparison additional information about the idiom 5 The practice of placing a feather in one’s cap is centuries old and appears to have been practiced in many different cultures. The feather was awarded and worn as a sign of a significant achievement by the wearer. In some cultures, such as in 16th century Hungary, it was even a crime to wear a feather when one had not earned the right to wear it. The idiom (1) is given first, followed by its information (5), includes notes such as the definition (2). Then, two or three example origins of the expression, restrictions on usage, sentences (3) are provided to illustrate how or any additional information that might help a the idiom is used. Occasionally, an idiom has learner understand when and how a particular more than one meaning. Where this occurs, idiom is used. each meaning for the idiom is numbered with Symbols Used in the Entries. Some idioms may corresponding numbers in the sample sentences. have one or two alternate words that are used All entries include the idiom (1), definition (2), interchangeably without altering the meaning. and sample sentences (3). One example of this is in a fix/bind/jam. In this The final two elements—cross-referenced idiom, fix, bind, or jam can be used without idioms (4) and additional information (5)— changing the idiom’s meaning. In such cases the are included only where relevant or available. possible alternates are separated by a slash (/). There are three types of cross-references used: Some idioms require context-specific subjects synonym, antonym, and compare to. Synonyms or objects. In these cases someone, something, are expressions that have the same meaning as or one are placed in parenthesis within the the idiom. Antonyms are expressions that mean idiom. (Someone) or (something) is used when the opposite of the idiom. Compare to includes the idiom’s object is different than the subject. expressions that might be mistaken as similar For example, in beat (someone) to the punch, to, or related to, the idiom. In the illustrated someone is a different person than the subject entry above, for example, feather (one’s) as in I beat him to the punch. The pronoun one nest has a completely different meaning than is used when the subject and object of the idiom feather in (one’s) cap, even though they both is the same person, as in ace up (one’s) sleeve refer to a feather. The final section, additional (He had an ace up his sleeve). vi Part 1 Idioms and Definitions ACID TEST A the most crucial or important test of worth 1. Parents might be willing to buy this new toy for their children but the real acid test is whether or not the ACE IN THE HOLE children themselves like it. a hidden but effective means of winning a 2. The acid test for laundry soap is not how well it cleans conflict in hot water, but how well it cleans in cold water. 1. The other team thinks they can win this basketball The expression originates from the use of nitric acid on gold game, but that’s only because we haven’t put our to determine whether the gold was genuine. best player in yet. He’s our ace in the hole. 2. It looked like the politician would lose the debate ACROSS THE BOARD until he brought up his ace in the hole, an argument equally for everyone, for everything, or in all that nobody could refute. cases The expression originates from some forms of the card game 1. The boss made some people angry. He gave 5% pay poker, in which players have both community cards and raises across the board but some people thought they private (“hole”) cards in their hands. To have an ace in one’s should have gotten more than others. private hand means that one can win the game without others suspecting ahead of time. 2. The car dealership was cutting prices across the board. Every car was on sale, not just a few. ACE UP (ONE’S) SLEEVE to have an effective but hidden means to ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS accomplish something the things that people do (actions) are more important than the things they say (words) 1. It looks like Joanne is going to lose, but I wouldn’t be too sure. She may have an ace up her sleeve. 1. She’s promised to be nicer to her sister from now on, but actions speak louder than words. 2. No matter how many times I think Paul might lose to me in a game of chess, he never does. He always has 2. Every politician will claim that he or she cares about an ace up his sleeve and wins every game. the problems of the average person, but actions speak louder than words. The expression originates from card games like poker, in which players might hide an extra ace up their sleeves to use in case This expression implies that we can learn about a person’s they were losing the game and wanted to cheat.