Hi everyone!
Today I would like to share a great online resource which will undoubtedly help you better understand the crazy world of idioms – Rolls off the tongue. This website provides you with great images which clearly illustrate the meaning behind the most commonly used idioms of the English language.

So, what is an idiom and why are idioms so difficult? Basically, idioms are groups of words that are used together (nouns, verbs, prepositions) in informal situations. Their meaning is usually very difficult to work out as the meaning of the individual words grouped together does not help you understand the meaning of the idiom at all – in other words, idioms never mean what they ‘say’ or what you think they say. As a result, you have to learn each individual idiom, it’s meaning and how it is used – this can of course be a long unenjoyable task as so many different idioms are used every day in the English language.

Some examples of commonly used idioms are:
-break a leg
-live it up
-spill the beans
-pay through the nose
What do you think these idioms mean?

The meanings of the above idioms are not what you would assume – the literal meaning of each individual word does not in any way help you understand what the group of words put together means. Here is an explanation of each of the above idioms:
-break a leg: this is commonly used to wish someone luck such as before an exam or before a performance
-live it up: this is used to express the idea of making the most of life, of enjoying every minute and not wasting any time with unimportant unenjoyable tasks
-spill the beans: this has absolutely nothing to do with beans – it is used to describe the fact that you are sharing a secret or telling someone information that nobody else knows
-pay through the nose: this is used rot explain that you are paying much more money for something than you should – the price has seriously been inflated, you are being overcharged for something which should cost a lot less

So, now that you have been introduced to some idioms and know what they mean, how can we make idiom learning easier and more enjoyable? That’s where the website Rolls Off The Tongue can help.

Have a look at the following cartoon:

The above cartoon very cleverly illustrates the idiom RULE OF THUMB. Not only are you given a great cartoon to help you remember the idiom’s meaning, but you are also given several useful explanations and exercises so that this idiom can become part of your long-term memory and you can start using it. For instance, all cartoons on the website (not only the above idiom) provide you with:
a) an interesting explanation of the idiom’s ORIGIN – how and why the expression started, there is usually a funny little story associated with each idiom
b) useful information about the idiom’s USAGE – whether it is formal or informal, or British or American English
c) background information about it’s IDIOMATIC MEANING – more detailed information about what it means so that you have a deeper understanding
d) interesting information about it’s LITERAL MEANING – anything regarding the exact words that are used which may help you remember the idiom
e) a paragraph explaining WHY IT IS FUNNY – just in case you do not find it funny or do not culturally understand the idiom, a deeper explanation is given to help you
f) a SAMPLE SENTENCE – so that you can see how the idiom is used and can use it yourself more confidently if you have a sample to follow
g) some MULTIPLE CHOICE exercises – in this section you need to match the meaning with the idiom and are given several different options – a useful exercise to further cement the idiom and it’s meaning in your brain

It’s a great website, isn’t it? Want to test your knowledge of some more idioms? Here are some more pictures. Click on the meaning below each cartoon to go directly to the explanation of that idiom:Which idiom does this cartoon illustrate?
SLIP OF THE TONGUEWhich idiom does this cartoon illustrate?
OUT OF THE BLUE 

Visit the Rolls Off The Tongue website and visit it often! I would suggest checking back once a week to learn some new idioms, to test your idiom knowledge, or even to test your friends! This website is great for young and old, for native speakers and for English learners. Have fun with this and challenge yourself to use as many idioms as possible – enjoy!
Nicole

© Nicole Sammer, Sydney English Teacher, 2015.

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