StudyEnglishWithShellee: 2014

Idioms can sometimes cause confusion among non naitve speakers, the main reason for this is because idioms can't be translated directly. I like to think of idioms as picture phrases and these picture phrases represent certain meanings to our minds and these pictures phrases have been made into expressions that we use in our everyday conversations. So, just for fun, I have put together some pictures with some common idioms. See if you can figure them out :)

You are a "chip off the old block".

Take a look at the picture - What do you see? There is a block of wood and then some chips of wood next to it.
So given this image, which of the following statements do you think best fits this picture image?

Some say Max is a chip off the old block because:

A) He reminds them of their father?
B) He reminds them of his father?
C) He reminds them of his son?

If you answered B then you are correct. In the above picture the wood chips came from the block of wood , therefore they are pieces of the same substance , just like a son may resemble his father. That resemblance can be in looks or in character. If I know someone that acts like or has some of the same physical characteristics of their father, I might use the expression, "you are a chip off the old block.

Adding Fuel to the Fire

Now, think about this picture - What happens when you add fuel to the fire? Well naturally adding fuel would make the fire would make the fire increase and intensify. So, which this in mind..... which of the following scenatios would logically fit this idiom's description?

Our workers are already upset, and you'll just add fuel to the fire if you

a. give them a bonus

b. pay for their medical care

c. cut their wages

The correct answer is c!

If someone is mad or upset about something and you say something to them that will just make them madder or more upset then you are "adding fuel to the fire" and their anger will intensify just like a fire does if you pour fuel on it.

A wake up call

Now this expression has two meanings a literal one and a figurative one. The literal meaning is a call that you recieve to wake you up just like you might receive in a hotel. So, keep this in mind when you try to figure out the figurative one. The literal expression means to wake you up from sleep, but what do you think the figurative expression means? See if you can figure it out.................

a wake-up call

The bombing of their embassy should have been a wake-up call that told them many people

a. liked what their country was doing

b. didn't like what their country was doing

c. didn't care what their country was doing

If you chose B that is correct. Way to Go!

Just like the literal expression, the figurative expression is used to state that someone needs to be "woken up" or to take notice of something - A wake up call is an event that warns someone that they need to deal with an urgent or dangerous problem. Another example would be: The minor heart attack was a wake up call to John that he needs to take better care of himself.