Learn English Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases through Stories
Understanding Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms
-An idiom is a phrase that has a meaning different from the actual words used. You can't understand an idiom by just looking at the individual words.
Idiomatic Expressions
-An idiomatic expression is a type of phrase that is common in a language and doesn't always mean exactly what the words say.
It includes idioms, collocations (common word pairs), phrasal verbs, and other expressions that are not literal.
In the upcoming story, Lily confronts her fears, conquers challenges, and eventually attains success, using idioms such as "break the ice," "bite the bullet," "hold your horses," and "hit the nail on the head" to guide her journey.
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Look out for the following Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions used in the story...
Idioms
1. break the ice
2. bite the bullet
3. hit the nail on the head
4. butterflies in one's stomach
5. throw oneself into something
6. give something your best shot
7. hold your horses
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Dreams on Stage: A Tale of Courage and Triumph
Once upon a time in a quaint English village, there lived a young woman named Lily. Lily had always dreamed of becoming a famous actress, so when auditions for the village play were announced, she decided to audition.
1.quaint=attractively unusual or old-fashioned
2.audition= a performance used to evaluate individuals for specific roles, especially in acting and singing
On the day of the auditions, Lily was feeling nervous. She had never acted in front of an audience before, and the thought of performing in front of her neighbours made her stomach churn.
3.stomach churn= to feel a strong sense of discomfort or anxiety.
But she knew she had to break the ice somehow, so she took a deep breath and walked into the audition room.
As she entered, she saw the director, Mr. Thompson, sitting at the front of the room. He looked stern, and Lily felt a sudden urge to run away. But she knew she had to bite the bullet and give it her best shot.
Lily performed her monologue, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. When she finished, there was a moment of silence, and then Mr. Thompson smiled and said, "Well done, Lily! You've got the part!"
4.monologue= a long speech by one actor in a play, movie, or performance.
Lily couldn't believe it. She had expected the auditions to be much harder, but it seemed that she had hit the nail on the head with her performance. She thanked Mr. Thompson and left the room, feeling elated.
5.elated= extremely happy and excited.
Over the next few weeks, Lily threw herself into rehearsals. She worked hard, determined to prove herself as an actress. There were moments when she felt like giving up, but she knew she had to hold her horses and keep pushing forward.
6.rehearsals= practice sessions for a performance or a play.
Finally, the night of the performance arrived.
The village hall was packed with
people, and Lily felt a surge of excitement as she stepped onto the stage.
She delivered her lines with confidence, and the audience responded with thunderous applause.
7.packed= completely full of people.
8.surge of excitement= a sudden and powerful feeling of enthusiasm or joy.
9.thunderous applause= loud and enthusiastic clapping from an audience.
After the show, Lily was surrounded by her friends and family, all congratulating her on a job well done. She couldn't stop smiling, knowing that she had achieved her dream.
10.achieved her dream=successfully realised her long-held ambition or goal.
From that day on, Lily became known as the village's rising star. And whenever she felt nervous about performing, she would remember the words of Mr. Thompson: "Break the ice, bite the bullet, and hit the nail on the head. You've got what it takes to succeed."
11.rising star=someone who is showing a lot of talent and is likely to become very successful in their field.
The above idioms and idiomatic expressions help to tell the story of Lily's journey towards achieving her dream of becoming an actress.
Explanation and Usage Examples of Idioms
(a) Give it her best shot (idiom)
Meaning: to do something the best you can
Example Sentence:
But she knew she had to bite the bullet and give it her best shot.
Example Use: "It's your final exams. Give it your best shot."
(b) Butterflies in one's stomach(idiom)
Meaning: To feel nervous and anxious.
Example Sentence:
-Lily performed her monologue, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach.
Example Use: "I always get butterflies in my stomach before giving a speech."
(c) Hold your horses (idiom)
Meaning: to wait or to be patient.
Example Sentence:
There were moments when she felt like giving up, but she knew she had to hold her horses and keep pushing forward.
Example Use: "Hold your horses, the results will be announced soon."
(d) Throw oneself into something (idiom)
Meaning: To do something with a lot of enthusiasm and energy.
Example Sentence:
Over the next few weeks, Lily threw herself into rehearsals.
Example Use: "He threw himself into his work, determined to finish the project on time."
Vocabulary Practice
Fill in the blanks with the right words from the vocabulary list!
a. The ___________ village had cobblestone streets and thatched-roof cottages.
b. Lily felt nervous before the ___________ for the school play.
c. In her ___________, Lily delivered an emotional speech that moved the audience.
d. When she got the lead role, Lily was ___________ beyond words.
e. The cast had numerous ___________ to perfect their performance.
f. The audience gave a ___________ when the curtain fell.
g. Lily felt a ___________ as she stepped onto the stage.
h. The theatre was ___________ with people eager to see the show.
i. Lily had finally ___________ of becoming an actress.
j. With her talent and dedication, Lily became a ___________ in the acting world.
We hope you've enjoyed learning some common idioms through the story of courage and triumph.
These idiomatic phrases, along with the 15 idioms previously discussed, provide a rich context for ESL learners to understand and practice figurative language in English.
Thank you so much for reading & Happy learning!
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