Speak English Like a Native Speaker with Idioms: Learn Hundreds of American English Idioms in Dialogues

By Jackie Bolen

Learn hundreds of essential American English idioms to help you sound like a native English speaker.

 

Master new English expressions quickly and easily. You'll see the idioms used in dialogues, find out what they mean, and get an opportunity to practice what you've learned. It's everything you need to improve your English vocabulary.

 

Jackie Bolen has twenty years of experience teaching ESL/EFL to students in South Korea and Canada. With her help, you'll improve your English vocabulary skills in no time at all! 

 

Pick up Speak English Like a Native Speaker with Idioms if you want to...

• Have hundreds of important idioms in American English at your fingertips.
• Open doors for your future.
• See how important words and phrases are used in real life.
• Become more confident with English.
• Have some fun while learning vocab.
• Improve your TOEIC, TOEFL, or IELTS scores.

 

These are the idioms that you'll hear over and over again in real life. Spend time mastering them and you'll be speaking, reading, writing and listening in English like a pro. Gain some confidence, and improve your English. Yes, it really is that easy with these engaging and interactive vocabulary lessons!

 

Speak English Like a Native Speaker with Idioms by Jackie Bolen will help you stay motivated, while consistently improving your English skills. Buy the book today!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie Bolen
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224190935

Book preview

Speak English Like a Native Speaker with Idioms:

Learn Hundreds of American English Idioms in Dialogues

Jackie Bolen

www.eslspeaking.org

Copyright © 2024 by Jackie Bolen

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher/author at the following address: Jackie Bolen: [e-mail].

Table of Contents

Introduction.....................................................................4

About the Author: Jackie Bolen.....................................................5

On Cloud Nine...................................................................6

Making Waves..................................................................11

Idioms #1......................................................................13

Burning the Midnight Oil.........................................................18

Under the Weather...............................................................20

Love at First Sight...............................................................24

Running a Marathon.............................................................26

Idioms #2......................................................................28

Let Someone Off the Hook........................................................36

From Dawn Till Dusk............................................................38

The New Restaurant .............................................................40

The Last Straw..................................................................43

Idioms #3......................................................................45

Twist My Arm..................................................................54

Hitting the Books................................................................56

Nice Weather and Weekend Plans..................................................61

Finishing Work for the Day........................................................63

Idioms #4......................................................................65

The Dating Game...............................................................69

Break a Leg ....................................................................73

Idioms #5......................................................................75

No Pain No Gain................................................................81

Bad Weather...................................................................83

Chill Out......................................................................87

Idioms #6......................................................................89

Sparks Were Flying .............................................................95

Hitting the Pavement.............................................................97

You can't Judge a Book by Its Cover...............................................101

Bite the Bullet.................................................................103

Idioms #7.....................................................................105

Get Into Trouble ...............................................................114

A Real Headache...............................................................116

Before You Go................................................................122

Introduction

Welcome to this book designed to help you expand your knowledge of idioms, expressions and phrases in American English. My goal is to help you expand your vocabulary and to be able to speak and write more fluently.

Let's face it, idioms can be difficult to master, even for the best students. In this book, you'll find hundreds of English idioms and phrases that are used in boardrooms, over a meal, and with friends and family around the world.

The best way to learn new vocabulary is in context. That's why each idiom comes with some example sentences. You'll also find a simple explanation in plain English for each one as well as the origin of the idiom if it's known.

To get the most bang for your buck, be sure to do the following:

−  Review frequently.

−  Use each idiom or phrase in real life as soon as possible.

−  Don't be nervous about making mistakes. That's how you'll get better at English!

−  Consider studying with a friend to help each other stay motivated.

Good luck and I wish you well on your journey to becoming more proficient with idioms in American English.

About the Author: Jackie Bolen

I taught English in South Korea for 10 years to every level and type of student. I've taught every age from kindergarten kids to adults. Most of my time has centered around teaching at two universities: five years at a science and engineering school in Cheonan, and four years at a major university in Busan where I taught upper-level classes for students majoring in English. In my spare time, you can usually find me outside surfing, biking, hiking, or snowshoeing. I now live in Vancouver, Canada.

In case you were wondering what my academic qualifications are, I hold a Master of Arts in Psychology. During my time in Korea, I completed both the Cambridge CELTA and DELTA certification programs. With the combination of almost ten years teaching ESL/EFL learners of all ages and levels, and the more formal teaching qualifications I've obtained, I have a solid foundation on which to offer advice to English learners.

Please send me an email with any questions or feedback that you might have.

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/jackiebolen

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/eslspeaking

ESL Speaking: www.eslspeaking.org

Email: [e-mail]

You might also be interested in these books (by Jackie Bolen):

Short Stories in English for Intermediate Learners

Master English Collocations in 15 Minutes a Day

IELTS Academic Vocabulary Builder

On Cloud Nine

Jenny is talking to her friend about why she's feeling so good.

Tom: Hey Jenny, how's it going? You look like you're on cloud nine today!

Jenny: Thanks, Tom! Yeah, I aced my exam yesterday. I guess all those late-night study sessions really paid off.

Tom: Well, isn't that the icing on the cake? Your hard work finally paid dividends. I told you, slow and steady wins the race.

Jenny: Absolutely, Tom. I didn't want to count my chickens before they hatched, but I had a feeling things were going to turn out well.

Tom: That's the spirit, Jenny! You really knocked it out of the park. It seems like all your ducks are in a row now.

Jenny: Thanks, Tom. I'm just over the moon about it. But you know what they say, every cloud has a silver lining.

Tom: True that, Jenny. Sometimes life throws us a curveball, but it's all about finding the light at the end of the tunnel.

Jenny: Couldn't agree more, Tom. Now, I'm thinking of celebrating. What do you say we go grab a bite to eat? My treat!

Tom: Well, that's music to my ears! I'm always up for a good meal. Let's hit the road and grab some grub.

Jenny: Great!

Tom: You bet, Jenny! It's a date then. Let's explore some new restaurants.

Jenny: Agreed, Tom. It sounds like a plan. I'm starving!

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Vocabulary

on cloud nine: To be extremely happy or elated, often due to a great accomplishment or positive event.

the icing on the cake: An additional benefit or enhancement that makes a situation even better or more enjoyable.

slow and steady wins the race: Taking a patient and methodical approach to achieve success, emphasizing the value of persistence and consistency.

counting chickens before they hatch: Being overly optimistic or making plans based on expected success before it is certain.

knock it out of the park: To achieve a remarkable success or accomplishment, often beyond expectations.

all your ducks in a row: Having everything well-organized and in order; being well-prepared and ready for a particular situation.

over the moon: Extremely happy or delighted, often to the point of feeling euphoric.

every cloud has a silver lining: In difficult or challenging situations, there is always a positive aspect or opportunity.

curveball: An unexpected or surprising event or situation that deviates from the norm, often requiring quick adaptation.

finding the light at the end of the tunnel: Discovering hope or a positive outcome in a challenging or difficult situation.

music to my ears: Pleasant or welcome information; something that is pleasing to hear.

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Idiom Challenge

After winning the championship, Sarah was _____.

The promotion was great, and the bonus was like _____.

Tom believes in the philosophy that _____, and that's why he doesn't rush into things.

Jenna is excited about her new business venture, but I warned her about _____.

When the team scored the winning goal, the coach exclaimed, You really _____ with that play!

Before the big presentation, make sure you have _____,