Word Bank
IDIOMS LIST
I know some people become a bundle of nerves, when they think about idioms, but they don’t have to be a pain in the neck. Idioms are great, and learning them is a super way to improve your English.
Alive and kicking
To be feeling strong, well and healthy.
“My grandmother was in bed all last week, but now she is alive and kicking, and feeling fantastic
Running a temperature
This idiom used to describe somebody that has a really high temperature.
“I don’t feel very well today, it is very possible, I am running a temperature “
To be as fit as a fiddle
When you describe somebody as fit as a fiddle, it means they are healthy and physically fit.
“Grandfather Mathews is 74, but amazingly he did a marathon last month, I swear he is as fit as a fiddle.”
Taking a chill pill
A nice idiom that is probably the easiest to figure out.
When you are asked to take a chill pill, it means you need to calm down a little and take it easy
To rub salt in old wound.
This means to make a bad situation or event worse.
After missing the plane, Sarah friends sent her photo of them on the beach, just to rub salt in the wounds.
At death’s door
This idiom refers to somebody being in really poor health and it is thought they may not recover. “after the accident, she was at deaths door, know, only time will tell what will happen”
Bitter pill to swallow
If you imagine putting a really bitter pill into your mouth, it wouldn’t taste very nice. We use this idiom when somebody has to accept a very negative outcome.
“Britain EU vote result was a bitter pill to swallow for all brits living in EU countries.”
Bundle of nerves
If a person is described as a bundle of nerves, this means they are very nervous and usually very anxious about everything.
“It was obvious James wasn’t going to get the job, I can bet he was a bundle of nerves at the interview.”
Go under the knife
To go under the knife, means to have a medical operation whereby the surgeon uses his knife on you.
“I’m really not looking forward to going under the knife tomorrow, although this operation is really serious.”
A dose of one’s own medicine
This idiom carries with it a negative notion and is used when referring to doing something to somebody that that person normally does to other people.
“After always taking to lunch money from smaller kids, it was funny watching Mike get a dose of one’s own medicine, as Paul’s big brother took his lunch money.
A pain in the neck
This has nothing to do with an actual pain in one’s neck. This idiom is used to describe somebody or something that is very irritating.
“I don’t like meeting Emma for coffee, she is such a pain in the neck, and always complains about the staff, food and general service which is fine.
Do you know any other medical or health related idioms? If so, please send me a message and let me know. To get more wonderful English idioms, check out the tags below for other great pages.
