تعلم العامية الأمريكية : 20 عبارة شائعة الإستخدام
“skeleton in the closet” means that someone has a big secret they don’t want revealed
- We thought we really knew him but we found out he has many skeletons in his closet.
- He put his two cents in even though she didn’t ask him for advice.
- When I see trash along the road, careless lazy people spring to mind.
- The rainy weather threw a wrench in my plans to go to the beach.
“have spring in your step” means for someone to be full of energy
- The old lady has a lot of spring in her step.
“to have a sweet tooth” means for someone to crave things that contain sugar such as candy, cookies, and ice cream.
- My grandmother has a sweet tooth, so she always has desert after she eats dinner.
“a new lease on life” means for someone to gain energy and enthusiasm that they were lacking
- Joining the book club and making new friends gave the old woman a new lease on life.
“beating a dead horse” means that someone is wasting time and energy on something that can not be changed
- I told her she is beating a dead horse, asking her internet provider to lower her monthly bill.
“a drop in the bucket” means for something to be a small amount compared to what is actually needed
- The donations the church received to help refugees is a drop in the bucket because it will only cover food expenses and not housing.
“toot your own horn” means for someone to brag about their own talents
- My brother always toots his own horn by reminding me of every time he fixed something for me.
“won’t touch with a ten foot pole” means that someone does not want to be involved with something
- Discussing politics with my in-laws is a subject I don’t touch with a ten foot pole.
“spring for” means for someone to pay for something
- I’ll spring for lunch today since you paid last time.
“give someone the third degree” means to interrogate someone
- He gave me the third degree about the chicken missing from the plate.
“spring into action” means for someone to do something quickly
- As soon as I saw the toddler running into the street, I sprung into action and scooped him up.
“take it with a grain of salt” means for someone to not believe something completely or be skeptical
- You should always take what Alex says with a grain of salt
“a home away from home” means for someone to feel completely comfortable and at ease
- I like my new job so much, it’s like a home away from home.
“tempest in a teapot” means for a great commotion to occur over something of minor importance
- What celebrities wear has become a tempest in a teapot, taking up too much space in our media when we should be informed of things like social injustices.
“let the cat out of the bag” means for someone to reveal information or tell a secret
- I didn’t want anyone to know just yet that I am quitting my job and moving to a new city but my sister let the cat out of the bag and told our entire family.
“scratch someone’s back” means to do a favor for someone
- I’ll scratch your back if you help me clean up after the party.
“hit the nail on the head” means for someone to say the right thing or guess correctly
- She guessed the reason for my distraction was because I was watching a futbol match while talking with her and I admitted she hit the nail on the head.
