ESSENTIAL IDIOMS IN ENGLISH
SECTION I
Idiomatic expressions are accepted as part of simple, every day speech, but the foreign student by no means finds it easy to use idiomatic expressions fluently. When he attempts to translate such expressions directly from his native tongue, the meaning somehow eludes them and they find themselves resorting to involved circumlocutions.
The students may learn grammar and, with time, acquire an adequate vocabulary, but without a working knowledge of such idioms as to put out, to get along, to call for, to look up to, to look over, etc., their speech will remain awkward and stilled.
To be sure, complete control of the idiom of any language requires years of study and practice. Yet this is no reason why the study of idioms should be neglected. Such a study should be made part of, and integrated with, the regular teaching of grammar and vocabulary.
Lesson 1
1. to get on: (to enter, board) Compare: to get or catch a bus.
a) I always get on the bus at 34th Street.
b) William gets on the subway at the same station every morning.
2. to get off (to leave, descend from)
a) Helen got off the bus at 42nd Street.
b) At what station do you usually get off the subway?
3. top put on: (to place on oneself – said particularly of clothes) (S) *
a) Mary put on her scarf and left the room.
b) Why is John putting on his hat and coat?
c) Put your hat on before you leave the house.
4. to take off: (to remove – said also of clothes) (S)
a) John took off his hat as he entered the room.
b) Is Helen taking off her coat because it is too warm in this room?
c) Take your sweater off in this warm room.
5. to call up: (to telephone) (S)
a) I forgot to call up Mr. Jones yesterday, although I promised to call him up exactly at three o`clock.
b) Did anyone call me up while I was out?
6. to turn on: (to start, begin) (S)
a) Please turn on the light. This room is dark.
b) Someone turned on the heater in this room while we were out.
c) Do you know who turned it on?
7. to turn off: (to stop, terminate, extinguish) (S)
a) Shall I turn off the radio or are you still listening to it?
b) Please turn off the light. We do not need it now.
c) Shall I turn the oven off?
8. right away: (immediately, at once, very soon)
a) She says that dinner will be ready right away.
b) Can William come to my office right away?
9. to pick up: (to take – especially with the fingers) (S)
a) John picked up the newspaper which was on his desk.
b) Why didn´t you pick up the pencil which lay on the floor?
c) I would have picked it up if I had noticed it.
10. at once: (immediately, very soon, right away)
a) He asked me to come to his office at once.
b) I want you to send this telegram at once.
11. to get up: (to arise, to move from a lying, to a standing position) (S)
a) I get up at seven o`clock every morning.
b) What time does your brother usually get up?
c) The man was so weak that the nurse was unable to get him up.
12. at first: (originally, in the first instance)
a) At first he seemed to find English very difficult, but later he made very good progress.
b) At first I thought it was John who was telephoning to me.
* The Symbol (S) indicates that an idiom is separable – that a direct object may be placed between the verb and the prepositional particle. In these cases, examples are given of the idiom both separate and unseparated.
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