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


Free American English Online Idiom Lessons





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

Service category idioms: Referring to assistance or being helpful
at someone’s beck and call attend to someone bail someone or something out
be my guest best interests at heart do someone good
fall back on something or someone get behind (a person or idea) give me a lift
give one’s right arm give out give someone a hand
give someone one’s word give someone the benefit of the doubt give someone the green light
give someone their due give the devil his due go (someone) one better
go about go after go ahead
go for a spin go halves go to bat for
greasy spoon hand in hand out
hand-me-down hand-out hand-out
have (got) to have my ears lowered have one on me
heaven help us how about keep the home fires burning
knuckle under look out look to
piggyback pitch in play ball with someone
see to it serve one’s purpose set loose
shoot the works take in tide (someone) over
tied down treat someone turn to
under one’s wing wait on (someone) hand and foot wait table
wait up for wind up