Idioms for IELTS
Lesson 2
Involvement and interest
- mean business
If you mean business, you are serious and determined about what you are doing.
Example: One of them pointed a shotgun at me. I could see he meant business.
- a nosey parker
A nosey parker is someone who wants to know too much about other people. [BRITISH, INFORMAL]
Example: The village’s nosey parker, Olive, likes to spy on her neighbours with binoculars.
I NOTE I ‘Nosey’ is sometimes spelled ‘nosy’.
- poke your nose into something or stick your nose into something
If someone pokes or sticks their nose into something, they interfere in something that does not concern them. [INFORMAL]
Example: He has no right to go poking his nose into my affairs. Why did you have to go and stick your nose in?
I NOTE I Keep your nose out of something means the opposite of poke your nose into something.
Example: Nancy realized that this was his way of telling her to keep her nose out of his business.
- steer clear of something
If you steer clear of someone or something, you deliberately avoid them.
Example: I’d advise anyone with sensitive or dry skin to steer clear of soap.
- try your hand at something
If you try your hand at something, you try doing it in order to see whether you are good at it.
Example: After he left school, he tried his hand at a variety of jobs – bricklayer, baker, post man.
6.up to your ears
If you are up to your ears in work or in an unpleasant situation, you are very busy with it or are deeply involved in it.
Example: I can’t come out this evening – I’m up to my ears in reports.
- Whet someone’s appetite
If something whets your appetite for a particular thing, it makes you want it.
Example: Winning the World Championship should have whetted his appetite for more success.
- your heart isn’t in something
If your heart isn’t in something you are doing, you are not enthusiastic about it.
Example: She was a successful teacher, popular with her pupils and her colleagues, but her heart wasn’t in it.
- not be your cup of tea
If something is not your cup of tea, you do feel very interested or enthusiastic about it.
Example: I’ve never been the greatest traveler. Sitting for hours on motorways is not really my cup of tea.
INOTE I You can also say that something or someone is your cup of tea when you like them or feel interested in them.
Example: I don’t have much time for modern literature. Shakespeare’s more my cup of tea.
10.have an axe to grind
If someone has an axe to grind, they have particular attitudes about something, often because they think they have been treated badly or because they want to get an advantage.
Example: It would be best if an independent agency, that doesn’t have an axe to grind, could deal with this case.
INOTE I You can also say that you have no axe to grind to deny that your strong opinions about something are based on personal reasons.
Example: The unions insist they have no axe to grind, because they will represent workers wherever they are based.
- in the picture
If someone is in the picture, they are involved in the situation you are talking about.
We were a great team. I was kept in the picture from the beginning.
- jump on the bandwagon
If someone jumps on the bandwagon, they suddenly become involved in an activity because it is likely to succeed or it is fashionable.
Example: There will always be people ready to jump on the bandwagon and start classes in whatever is fashionable, with little or no training.
INOTE I Verbs such as climb, get and leap are sometimes used instead of jump. These expressions are usually used in a disapproving way.
Example: A lot of people are climbing on the bandwagon of selling financial services to women.
13.keep a low profile
If someone keeps a low profile, they avoid doing things that will make people notice them.
The president continues to keep a low profile on vacation in Maine.
INOTE I You can also use low-profile before a noun.
Example: There is no need for the presence of any police officers. This is a low-profile event.
14.a labour of love
A labour of love is a task that you do because you enjoy it or feel strongly that it is worth doing.
Example: They restored the Victorian greenhouse, an expensive labour of love.
Exercise 1
Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
- Come to our arts and crafts evening and try your……………….at something different.
- a) nose b ) heart c )hand
2 .Don’t stick your……………into matters that don’t concern you.
a )ears b )nose c )hand
- Everyone stayed late yesterday – we’re up to our………………in work at the office.
a ) hearts b) ears c )noses
4 .The rebuilding of the church organ was a real labour of……………….
a ) love b )heart c )business
- The new committee at the sports club are making lots of changes and they really mean _
- a) heart b) labour c) business
6 . We believe that the judge is fair and has no to grind.
a )axe b )bandwagon c ) appetite