Acknowledgements 3
Using this book 4

Learning about idioms
In this section the units deal with key aspects of what idioms are and how you can use
them.
1 What are idioms?
2 When and how are idioms used?
3 Using reference resources
4 Common metaphors in idioms
5 Using idioms accurately
6 Playing with idioms
7 Idioms from other varieties of English
8 New idioms

Types of idiom
In this section the units deal with specifi c individual types of idiom.
9 Similes
10 Binomials
11 Proverbs
12 Euphemisms
13 Cliches and fi xed statements
14 Other languages

Idioms from the topic area of …
In this section the units are organised around the aspect of life from which the idioms have
originated.
15 Sailing
16 War and confl ict
17 Transport
18 Animals
19 Parts of the body
20 Games and sport
21 Ancient myths and history
22 Shakespeare
23 Literature
24 Science and technology

Idioms to talk about …
In this section the units are organised around the topic or functional area where they are most
likely to be used.
25 Films, plays and books
26 Relationships . friends and family
27 People . character and behaviour
28 People . appearance
29 Crime and punishment
30 Work
31 Business news
32 Business meetings
33 Money
34 Society
35 Daily life
36 Positive feelings
37 Negative feelings
38 Problems

Idioms used in …
This section focuses on some of the written contexts where idioms are frequently found.
39 Journalism
40 Advertising
41 Formal writing

Idioms used in conversation
This section focuses on ways in which idioms are typically used in spoken language.
42 Advising and warning
43 Telling stories
44 Responding to what people say
45 Agreeing and disagreeing
46 Expressing success and failure
47 Emphasising

Idioms using these keywords:
In this section each unit focuses on one keyword which has given rise to a particularly large
number of English idioms.
48 Play and game
49 Half
50 Two
51 All
52 No
53 Hand
54 Heart
55 Life and live
56 Dead and death
57 Mind
58 Hard
59 Fall
60 Own

Key 126
List of phonemic symbols 161
Index 162