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This week's Essential English Learning Tip:
IDIOMS

Idioms are an essential part of speaking English like a native.  There are so many idioms, but below are 10 of the most common that natives use on a daily basis.  You can read and or listen to the idioms and the 3 examples for each.

A barrel of laughs – Someone or something that makes you laugh a lot.

1. I saw a famous comedian last night, he was such a barrel of laughs.
2. Come and meet my friend.  He is a barrel of laughs.  You will love him.
3. We had a barrel of laughs at the pub last night.  We were sitting around the bar, drinking and telling a lot of jokes. 

A bone to pick with someone - Discuss a problem or issue caused by another person.

1. Where is your brother? I have a bone to pick with him.
2. Oh, by the way, I have a bone to pick with you.  Why did you leave the heater on all night last night?
3. I am in so much trouble.  Dad said he has a bone to pick with me and we will discuss it when he gets home from work tonight.

Above board - Legal, not underhanded.

1. I paid the bill and received a receipt so I know everything is above board.
2. I sold our old computer to the boy next door and gave him a receipt, so it’s all above board.
3. I am going to advertise the job but you should apply, that way everything is above board.

Against the grain – Rub or go the wrong way.

1. Giving her a refund goes against the grain of our policy because there is nothing wrong with our product.
2. Letting my daughter go to the party goes against the grain because I think she is too young.
3. It goes against the grain to give Bill a penalty for being late when you didn’t give Betty a penalty for being late yesterday.

A stone’s throw - Short distance.

1. We live a stone’s throw away from the local pub.
2. I was sitting a stone’s throw away from Mel Gibson at the baseball game last week.
3. We moved into our new house - it’s just a stone’s throw away from our old house.

A bite to eat - A lunch, a snack or small meal.

1. Let’s go and get a bite to eat.
2. Are you hungry?  Feel like having a bite to eat?
3. Last week I went to a great café for a bite to eat. They had delicious cakes.

A bundle of nerves – Very nervous or scared.

1. When I walked into the room to do my TOEIC test, I was a bundle of nerves.
2. I hate job interviews, every time I have one, I am a bundle of nerves.
3. Hey, calm down, you are a bundle of nerves.  You will never succeed if you speak to your customers in that state.

Add fuel to the fire - Make a situation worse.

1. Sally is angry and upset right now, telling her more bad news will only add fuel to the fire.
2. Our customers are complaining and it will only add fuel to the fire if we don’t refund their money.
3. I’m not going do what I promised and I know it will add fuel to the fire. 

A tough call - A difficult decision, a hard choice.

1. Peter: “Who will win tonight’s game?”
   Jenny: “I don’t know, it’s a tough call, they are both such good teams”.
    

2. Bill: “Which job do you think I should choose, the one that offers more money or the one with more benefits?”
   Vanessa: “I don’t know, it’s a tough call.”
    

3. Mark: “Do you think I can run 10 Kilometers?”
   Kim: “I don’t know, it’s a tough call, because you have not done any exercise for so long.”

Backstabber or stab in the back – A person who says something bad about someone when they are not there.

1. She told me I did a good job but then stabbed me in the back by complaining to my boss about me.
2. I thought she was my friend but she stabbed me in the back criticizing me to everyone.
3. I’m not going to mention this to anyone – I’m not a backstabber.