Idioms for IELTS
Lesson 5
Fear and frustration
- jump out of your skin or nearly jump out of your skin
If you jump out of your skin or nearly jump out of your skin, you are suddenly very surprised or shocked by something.
Example: The first time I heard shots I jumped out of my skin but now I hardly notice them.
I was concentrating so hard I nearly jumped out of my skin when there was a sudden knock on the door.
- the last straw or the final straw
If you say that something is the last straw or the final straw, you mean it is the latest in a series of bad events and it makes you unable to deal with a situation any longer.
Example: The relationship had been in trouble for a while and Jack’s behaviour that night was just the final straw.
3.on edge
If someone is on edge, they are anxious and unable to relax.
Example: She seemed a bit on edge the whole evening, which I decided was due to work stress.
4.red tape
Red tape is official rules and documents that seem unnecessary and cause delay.
Example: After dealing with all the red tape and finally getting approval for the building, our funding has been cut.
- scare someone out of their wits
If something or someone scares you out of your wits, they make you very frightened or worried.
Oh, I’m so glad you ‘re all right! You scared us out of our wits. We heard you had an accident.
I NOTE I The verb frighten is sometimes used instead of scare.
Example: The tree crashed through the conservatory, frightening me out of my wits.
- be shaking like a leaf
If someone is shaking like a leaf, their body is shaking a lot, usually because they are very frightened.
Example: I didn’t think about the danger at the time. Afterwards I was shaking like a leaf.
- until you are blue in the face
If you say that someone can say or do something until they are blue in the face, you mean that however many times they say or do it, it will have no effect. [INFORMAL]
Example: The president can issue orders until he is blue in the face, but no one will take any notice.
- at the end of your tether
If you are at the end of your tether, you are very upset because you are no longer able to deal with a difficult situation.
INOTE I A tether is a rope or chain which is used to tie an animal to a post or fence.
Example: I had tried every solution I could think of. I was at the end of my tether.
- a bundle of nerves
If you say that someone is a bundle of nerves, you mean that they are extremely nervous.
INOTE I A bundle is a number of things that are tied or wrapped together.
Example: Elaine admitted she was a bundle of nerves when she had to sing in front of the queen.
- butterflies in your stomach
If you have butterflies in your stomach, you feel very nervous about something that you have to do.
Example: Now I’ve qualified as a competitor, I’m starting to feel the butterflies in my stomach already.
Example: If a jockey says he doesn’t get butterflies down at the start, he’s telling lies.
- frighten the life out of someone or scare the life out of someone
If someone or something frightens the life out of you or scares the life out of you, they frighten you very much. [INFORMAL]
Example: It used to frighten the life out of me when they tried to jump on the moving train.
Example: Further tests revealed that I needed major heart surgery. It scared the life out of me.
- get cold feet or have cold feet
If you get cold feet or have cold feet about something you have planned to do, you become nervous about it and are not sure that you want to do it.
Example: Leaving Ireland wasn’t easy and I had cold feet about it a couple of times.
13.not get a word in edgeways
If you cannot get a word in edgeways in a conversation, you find it difficult to say anything because someone else is talking so much. [BRITISH]
Example: For heaven’s sake, Sue, will you let me get a word in edgeways!
14.give someone the creeps
If someone or something gives you the creeps, they make you feel nervous or frightened. [INFORMAL]
Example: That statue in my parents’ hallway always gave me the creeps.
Exercise 1
Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
- I had……………….in my stomach before I walked out onto the stage.
- A) creeps b) butterflies c) nerves
2 . I’ve written to the newspapers until I’m blue in the……………..but they do nothing.
A ) face b )skin c) feet
3 . The door suddenly banged and frightened the………………out of me.
a ) life b ) leaf c ) wits
- After the car alarm went off, getting the key stuck in the lock was the last…………………
A ) edge b )straw c )word
- I’m at the end of my ………….. I can’t find my credit card anywhere.
a ) tether b )mind c )nerves
6 Could you please stop for a moment and let me get a…………….in edgeways?
a straw b foot c word