Idioms for IELTS
Lesson 14
Happiness and sadness
1.a long face
If someone has a long face they look very serious or unhappy.
Example: He came to me with a very long face and admitted there had been an error.
2.look on the bright side
If you look on the bright side, you try to be cheerful about a bad situation by concentrating on the few good things in it or by thinking about how it could have been even worse.
Example: I tried to look on the bright side, to be grateful that I was at least healthy.
I N O TE I You can also just talk about a bright side of a bad situation.
Example: There is a bright side to this depressing situation, at least for one group of people: American tourists. They’re getting more for their dollar right now.
3.make someone’s day
If someone or something makes your day they make you feel very happy.
Example: There was such a sincere expression of friendliness on both their faces that it was a joy to see. It really made my day.
- not a happy bunny
If you say that someone is not a happy bunny, you mean that they are annoyed or unhappy about something. [BRITISH, INFORMAL]
Example: I’m receiving around 100junk emails a day. I’m not a happy bunny.
- on top of the world
If you feel on top of the world you feel extremely happy.
Example: The combination of cold, crisp snow and warm sunshine makes you feel on top of the world.
- over the moon
If you are over the moon about something that has happened, you are very happy about it. [mainly BRITISH, INFORMAL]
Example: ‘Caroline must be pleased about her new job?’ ‘Yes, she’s over the moon.’
- a shoulder to cry on
A shoulder to cry on is someone who is sympathetic to you when you are upset and listens when you talk about your problems.
Example: For a lot of new mums, the health visitor is the perfect shoulder to cry on when it all gets too much.
I N OTE I You can also say that one person cries on another’s shoulder.
Example: He had let her cry on his shoulder when her mother died, taking her calls in the middle of the night.
- break someone’s heart
If you break someone’s heart you make them very unhappy by ending a relationship with them or making it clear that you do not love them.
Example: She left him later that year and broke his heart.
I NOTE I You can also say that someone has a broken heart when they feel very sad because a relationship has ended.
Example: If you’re a poet, you get some good poetry out of a broken heart.
INOTE I You can also say that someone is heartbroken or is broken-hearted.
Example: Mary was broken-hearted when he left her.
If a fact or a situation breaks your heart it makes you very sad.
- down in the dumps or in the dumps
If you are down in the dumps or in the dumps you feel depressed.
Example: Try to support each other when one of you is feeling down in the dumps.
Example: I was in the dumps when I met Jayne. I was clearly not living the kind of life I should live.
- full of beans
If you are full of beans you are very happy and energetic.
I NOTE I This originally referred to a horse that was well-fed and therefore full of energy.
Example: Jem was among them, full of beans after his long sleep.
- get a kick out of something
If you get a kick out of something you enjoy it very much. [INFORMAL]
Example: These doctors take on huge workloads and get a kick out of being busy, helping people, curing patients and saving lives.
- get on top of you
If something gets on top of you it makes you feel sad or upset, and you are not able to deal with it.
Example: I was so fed up. Everything was just getting on top of me.
- have a whale of a time
If you have a whale of a time, you enjoy yourself a lot. [INFORMAL]
Example: Kids of all ages will have a whale of a time at the amusement park.
Exercise 1
Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
- Look on the…………….side. You still have a job.
A ) good b ) bright c ) top
- I’m over the………………..about Rosie’s news.
a ) moon b ) world c side
- Why have you got such a……………..face?
A ) long b ) bad c ) low
- He always gets a…………………..out of being recognized in the street.
a ) hit b ) kick c ) whale
- Don’t let that dreary job get on…………………of you.
a ) down b )side c ) top
- He’s been looking very down in the……………. lately.
A ) face b ) world c ) dumps
- She’s become her old self again – laughing and full of…………………
- a) kicks b) beans c ) dumps
- She was on top of the ………………, showing everyone her engagement ring.
A ) world b ) moon c ) time