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Time to learn new words

Read this sentence.

• ‘A cold shiver ran through my spine.’

The highlighted phrase ‘cold shiver ran through my spine’ is an idiom which means ‘to be
anxious, frightened or excited’.

An idiom is a group of words in a fixed order that have a particular meaning which is different
from the individual meaning of each word. For example,

Idiom Meaning

down-to-earth sensible and realistic

add fuel to the fire to make the situation worse

get your ducks in a row to be more organised

hit the spot to have exactly the good effect that you wanted

Read each idiom. Match it with its meaning.

Idiom Meaning

1. to beat around the bush a. to do or say something exactly right

2. to burn the midnight oil b. to miss the chance to do something

3. to cost an arm and a leg c. to not make a decision

4. to cry over spilt milk d. to not take what someone says seriously

5. to put all the eggs in one basket e. to agree on something

f. to complain or feel bad about something
6. to hit the nail on the head
that has already happened

7. to miss the boat g. to work very hard and for long hours

h. to put all efforts or resources into one
8. to see eye to eye
course of action

9. to sit on the fence i. to be very expensive

10. to take with a grain of salt j. to not speak briefly and directly

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