LANGUAGE AND USE
Manage English Idioms – To Be
Whenever a person decides to study and learn English, their desire is to sound as a native speaker. One way to achieve this goal is to use a variety of idiomatic expressions in your speech. English is especially rich in these combinations and it is natural to use them to speak or write in different situations.
This is a presentation of the most common and modern idioms to include in your vocabulary and that of your students.
TO BE
To be at it - this expression can be used in two different situations:
- meaning working on something.
– e.g. He found the research task rather difficult, I guess. He was still at it when I went to bed last night.
- or to express annoyance on the side of the speaker.
– e.g. Oh, no! He is at it again! Please do not let him get carried away or we will be listening to the whole “adventure” for a fourth time.
- e.g. You are on now, leave your fears aside and start singing.
To be in is generally found in the following:
- referring to home or the office, a place where somebody usually happens to be.
– e.g. Call her back later, she is never in before 9.00
- Notice that in this case the natural opposite is to be out.
- e.g. Mr. Smithers is out at the moment, would you like to leave a message?
- meaning on fashion.
– e.g. Strapless dresses will be in this coming season.
This combination can also be used as an adjective.
- e.g. The Caribbean will certainly be the in-place for holiday makers this summer.
To be through conveys the meaning “having finished” in the following cases.
- finish a task.
– e.g. Are you through with the garden? Or do you still have things to do?
- a day’s work.
– e.g. I’ll be through in ten minutes and set off for home.
- a relationship.
– e.g. Tom? No, Haven’t I told you? I’m through with him.
- be fired from work – I was taken aback when I heard my boss saying I was through and that I did not have to go to work the following day!
- to be cancelled.
– e.g. The party is off due to some swine flu cases we’ve had in town.
- non eatable.
– e.g. The fish is off, throw it away. The smell is disgusting.
- not included in a restaurant menu.
– e.g. I’m sorry madam; potato soup is off the menu. Can I offer you something else?
- expression traditionally used at the horse races once the horses have left their starting post.
– e.g. They’re off!
- to leave a place.
– e.g. See you tomorrow, we’re off now!
- to have no appetite and it is used mainly to refer to animals which are suffering from some kind of indisposition.
– e.g. Poor Arwen is off her food, I guess I’ll take her to the vet today.
– e.g. He was up and about to leave when I arrived at the hospital
To be up to something conveys the idea that you are capable of doing something.
– e.g. It is a rather difficult task but I believe your son is up to it.
If you do not know what a person intends to do you may ask yourself what she is up to.
– e.g. Children! Why are you so silent? What are you up to?
If you want to say that somebody is up to date you can use to be with it (slang).
- e.g. He has taken up kite surfing; He is certainly with it!
To be in on something is used to express that a person is part of a secret.
– e.g. Don’t worry; you can talk about the plan in front of her. She is in on it.
To be inside means to be in prison
– e.g. He has been inside for the last three years; he may go out on parole soon.
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