American English Idiomatic Expressions in 52 Weeks :
An Easy Way to Understand English Expressions and Improve Speaking

How can English language learners increase fluency and comprehensibility in their spoken English? The ability to communicate accurately and effectively using English idioms is more important than ever in the globalized economy.

English as a Second Language (ESL) students face difficulties learning English idioms. Non-native speakers often find it very difficult to understand the full meaning of English language conversations because, in many cases, these discussions contain a large number of idioms.

Learning idioms is especially challenging because, compared to standard English vocabulary, understanding these expressions is not found by referring to a dictionary. To assist the 2nd language learner in understanding the meaning of idioms, the American English Idiomatic Expressions in 52 Weeks provides English language learners with a systematic and structured week-by-week method in which to understand and acquire American English idioms.

The classification system created was intended to be intuitive, practical and simple for ESL learners by placing idioms into functional and direct categories.

All Idiom Categories

Disagree Idioms: Refers to having a different opinion or reaction to something
an axe to grind at cross purposes at loggerheads
at odds beg to differ bone of contention
change (one's) mind change (one's) tune change of heart
come between come to blows cut down to size
dead set against something dirty look dish out
do in don't give me any of your lip don't have a cow
double-cross draw fire drop dead
falling-out fight fire with fire fight tooth and nail
fix his / her / your wagon for the birds free-for-all
gang up on someone get off my case get your goat
head-on give (someone) a hard time give a person hell
give someone the brush-off give the boot go at it hammer and tongs
go jump in a lake hold back in one’s hair
in spite of jump all over someone jump down someone’s throat
gun for someone jump on someone look down on someone
look down one’s nose at someone or something no cigar no deal
no dice not for all the tea in China nothing doing
out of favor with someone out of tune pick a quarrel
pocket of resistance put a damper on put down
put off put one’s foot down put someone in his or her place
raise a fuss raise Cain rake someone over the coals
ram (something) down one’s throat rock the boat rough and tumble
rule out run up against (something) sail into
score to settle (a) settle a score with someone shaken up
short shrift sick and tired sick of (someone or something)
sing (whistle) a different tune sixes and sevens skin alive
slap in the face squawk about stab someone in the back
swim against the tide/current take a dim view of thumb one`s nose
turn one’s back on turn thumbs down turn up one’s nose at
twist one’s arm under a cloud up against
vote down wade into wide of the mark
yeah right