American English Idiomatic Expressions in 52 Weeks :
An Easy Way to Understand English Expressions and Improve Speaking


Free American English Online Idiom Lessons


Using a systematic, week-by-week methodology to learn English Idioms, a practical and simple way is presented for ESL learners wanting to improve their English speaking skills. This book is a practical and simple approach to helping English language students learn the meaning and use of American English idioms and thereby develop confidence in the real-world use of English.

Language experts suggest the use of idioms in English conversations contributes to a speaker's confidence in their overall communicative proficiency in spoken English. The book, American English Idiomatic Expressions in 52 Weeks: An Easy Way to Understand English Expressions and Improve Speaking is a helpful tool to learn idioms through the unique method of placing idioms into functional and direct categories.



All Idiom Categories

 

Consequence Idioms: Referring to the effects or result of an action or circumstance
all hell broke loose all's well that ends well an eye for an eye
at a loss for words baptism by fire bark up the wrong tree
bear the brunt beehive of activity (a) between a rock and a hard place
blessing in disguise brain drain brush with death
a bum rap caught red-handed chickens come home to roost
crying shame damned if you do and damned if you don't dead heat
dickens of a time don't count your chickens before they hatch double-edged sword
drop like flies every cloud has a silver lining fall through the cracks
for goodness sake for heaven's sake from the frying pan into the fire
get deeper in go downhill gone to the dogs
had his/her bell rung hard row to hoe hard row to hoe
have it coming havoc strikes heads or tails
hell of a time hell to pay hit bottom
hit the jackpot hit the nail on the head hit the spot
hit-and-run hot potato hot water
if worst comes to worst in a bind in a hole
in a jam face the music in a pinch
in a spot  in any case  in hot water
in light of in order to in the cards
in the clear in the wake of in the wrong
in view of jump to conclusions Katie bar the door
keep one’s fingers crossed kick oneself knock one’s block off
land on one’s feet lay one’s cards on the table leave (someone) holding the bag
leave hanging (in the air) leave in the lurch let (someone) off the hook
let bygones be bygones let go of kettle of fish
let it lay let off let sleeping dogs lie
let the chips fall where they may like water off a duck’s back live down
long shot lose ground make one’s bed and lie in it
make up for something make waves a new lease on life
not a leg to stand on not lay a finger on someone off the hook
on one’s coat-tails on one’s shoulders out of kilter
out of the frying pan and into the fire out on a limb over a barrel
paint oneself into a corner par for the course play on/upon (something)
play with fire press (push) one’s luck pull through
rat out on raw deal run a risk 
run for it save one’s neck / skin school of hard knocks
school of hard knocks scratch one’s back serve time
set (someone) up set off skate on thin ice
skip it smack into smoke out
step on one’s toes stew in one’s own juice stick (someone) with
stir up straw in the wind straw that breaks the camel’s back
no strings attached sure thing swear off
take one’s own medicine take the rap tan someone’s hide
tar and feather that'll be the day through the mill
through thick and thin throw a monkey wrench into throw down the gauntlet
throw the baby out with the bathwater throw the book at throw to the wolves
touch off trip up turn out
up to water under the bridge way the wind blows 
wear and tear wear down wear out
wear out one’s welcome when the chips are down worse for wear