Idioms

“I don’t know how Miguel is going to get his mom to buy him a PS3, but I’m sure he has an ace up his sleeve.

Ace up Your Sleeve

You have an advantage that Is kept hidden until needed.

Our design for a solar-powered go-cart didn’t work, so it’s back to square one.

Back to Square One

Return to the beginning or to start over.

“You’ve been working on your report since before breakfast,” mother said, “why don’t you call it a day.”

Call It a Day

Day!!!

To stop working for the day.

“When Anthony looked inside our fish tank, he said, “That fish is as dead as a doornail.”

Dead as a Doornail

Totally dead or hopeless, without a chance of success.

Ms. Anaya made Jacky admit that she was wrong, and now she has to eat crow.

Eat Crow

To be forced to do something that is disagreeable.

Michael was caught cheating and now he has to face the music.

Face the Music

To face the consequences of what you do.

Jose don’t want to go over his friend’s house, so he hope he would let him off the hook.

Get off the Hook

To get out of a situation

When Manny saw the teacher’s expression he saw the handwriting at the wall and confessed to taking the last cookie.

Handwriting on the Wall

Could tell that he was found out or discovered

Omar forgot left his homework on the kitchen table, so he knew he was going to be in the dog house at school.

In the Dog House

Face his punishment

“All I said was, ’Could you please not give us so much homework, Ms. Anaya,’ and she jumped down my throat.” explained Jesus to his mother.

Jump Down your Throat

To talk or scream at someone in a sudden, angry way

Even when her mother yelled at Maysha for spilling the juice on the table, she kept a stiff upper lip.

Keep a Stiff Upper Lip

To be brave, to not show emotion, to not cry

Ethan was very confident before the Holiday program, but he really laid an egg because he didn’t know the song.

Laid an Egg

To give an embarrassing performance, not do a good job.

Fatima used some old wrapping paper, scissors, and crayons and made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear book cover for Karina.

Make a Silk Purse out of a Sow’s Ear

To make something Valuable or pretty out of something worthless or old

Marcos didn’t care if he had recess or not, it was no skin off his nose, so he didn’t stop talking and got the class their 4th check mark.

No Skin off Your Nose

It doesn’t matter one way or the other.

Bart had not been honest with Marge as to where he was going and now he is on the hot seat.

On the Hot Seat

In a difficult position, in big trouble

Steven’s mom told him to put his best foot forward on the day of the big test.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

To do your best, to make the best attempt possible

The entire class kept Ms. Anaya’s present on the Q.T.

Q.T.

Quietly, secretly, without anyone knowing

Ms. Anaya told Evelyn to roll with the punches as she was the only one to leave our class for SFA.

Roll with the Punches

To adjust to a difficult situation

Alex was trapped by a group of boys near the drinking fountain, then he saw Adrian round the corner and said, “You’re a sight for sore eyes!”

Sigh for Sore Eyes

A welcome , unexpected, and pleasant surprise

Angela decided to take the bull by the horns and to immediately tell her teacher she had not done the homework the night before.

Take the Bull by the Horns

To act bravely in a troublesome situation

Up a Creek Without a Paddle

Nathan lost his regions project, and it due today. He’s up a creek without a paddle.

In deep trouble and unable to do anything about it

Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

Yesterday we took the part one of the math test and today we are waiting the other shoe to drop.

To wait in suspense for something to be finished.

You can Lead a Horse to Water but you can’t Make him Drink

Jose got a new pensile but he sill uses his old stubby one. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

You can encourage, but no force, someone to do something

Zip your lips

Ms. Anaya asked the class to zip their lips.

To be quiet