Idioms, Cliches, and Slang

"Follow your nose" is an idiom that means to trust your instincts or intuition to guide you in making decisions or finding your way. It suggests listening to your inner feelings or gut reactions when facing choices or problems.

Formal English generally refers to the correct and proper use of language as defined by grammar and syntax rules. Slang is informal language used in specific social groups or contexts, often deviating from the formal rules of standard English.

The correct idiom for the sentence would be "Martin had the answer on the tip of his tongue but Lucy said it first." This idiom means someone was about to provide an answer but another person beat them to it.

No, "let's" is an abbreviation of "let us."

I don't think anyone has ever counted them!

It means to waste time. Most people like to dilly dally rather than finishing a job.

The idiom "apple of your eye" means someone or something that is very precious or loved above all others. It suggests a deep affection or admiration for that person or thing.

"Trojan horse" and "sheep in wolf's clothing" are both idioms that convey the concept of someone or something appearing harmless or friendly on the outside but actually concealing a sinister motive or nature.

"The early bird catches the worm" is an expression that means it's advantageous to act early or ahead of others, but the literal meaning of the words does not convey this message.

It's not an idiom. The definition of "at stake" is what is being risked in the situation or venture. A stake is a share or ownership in something.

Back slang is a type of reverse language thought to have been invented in Victorian England by market sellers. To speak back slang, you just say the words backwards. Some of the terms have actually become modern words, such as "yob" or "yobo" for "boy" or "boyo."

Here's a good link to a site where there are a lot of good back slang terms listed.

"oh duh" is a slang phrase used to express surprise or realization about something that should have been obvious. It is typically used when someone belatedly understands or acknowledges something that seems obvious in hindsight.

The idiomatic use of preposition refers to common phrases or expressions where a preposition is used in a fixed way that may not follow strict grammatical rules. For example, "on the other hand," "in love with," or "at odds with." These combinations of words have specific meanings that are understood by native speakers through usage and convention.

The slang word "spaz" comes from the word spastic. It is often used to describe someone who is clumsy, uncoordinated, or overly energetic. However, it can be considered offensive and derogatory to individuals with disabilities.

To "turn up the volume" means to increase the energy of electricity powering a speaker, thus increasing the amplitude of the waveforms it generates.

An idiom is a specific type of figurative language that expresses a particular meaning unique to that phrase, often not directly connected to the words used. Other types of figurative language, such as metaphors or similes, compare things directly using words or phrases that aren't meant to be taken literally. Idioms are culturally specific and can be challenging for non-native speakers to understand.

It depends on the context. It can mean to physically pick something up in your hands or arms. It can mean to feel better. It can mean to clean up an area by picking up debris or clutter. It can mean to pay the bill or "pick up" the cheque. It can mean to casually attract someone romantically or sexually. It can mean to acquire or learn something without formal study or arrangements. It can mean to detect something. It can mean to attractively accentuate another item.

It can also be a noun. It can mean a type of truck. It can mean the act of doing any of the above meanings. It can mean the reception of signals by electronic apparatus. It can mean a device that produces an electrical signal in response to some other signal.

When someone says "you hit the nail on the head," they mean that your statement or observation is accurate and precise. It implies that you have made a correct assessment or diagnosis about a situation or issue.

The phrase "pick yourself up off the floor" is an idiomatic expression that means to recover or regain one's composure after a setback or difficult situation. It is figurative language and not to be taken literally.

Ireland is sometimes called the Achilles Heel of England due to historical conflicts and tension between the two countries, particularly during periods of British colonization and Irish nationalism. This term suggests that Ireland has been a persistent source of vulnerability or weakness for England throughout history.

The idiom "stuffed to the gills" means that something is completely full or packed to its maximum capacity. It is often used to describe a situation where there is no more space left.

A cliche is a phrase or opinion that is overused and can betray a lack of original thought. For example, using the term Abandon Ship. Many use this phrase outside its original meaning. Its original form was a command to leave a ship which was sinking or in a state of destress which could effect human life.

Now however, the phrase is used in any situation to mean people leaving a situation or event. An instance of this would be a number of people leaving their jobs because the company is in trouble or even to leave a party which is dead or boring and people would say "no fun here, I'm going to abandon ship" meaning they are leaving the party.

You're going to have a hard time understanding idioms because the definition is a phrase that makes no sense unless you know the definition!

Phrases can be understood by the context, as in the sentence "He was dancing to beat the band, and everyone was amazed at his energy." You can figure out that "to beat the band" basically means he was really dancing hard, even if you are not familar with the phrase.

It means that you retract something you said earlier because it turns out that you were mistaken. For example, if I tell my friend David that he will never pass the physics final, but he ends up doing so, I'd be in a position of having to "eat my words," or admit that I was wrong.