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

Work category idioms: Referring to relating to a job, employment or occupations
as busy as a beaver at the wheel back to the grind
blue-collar worker burn the candle at both ends burn the midnight oil
by the sweat of one’s brow by the sweat of one’s brow call it quits
clear the decks clip joint close up shop
every walk of life bust my butt fool around
get axed get the sack girl Friday
goof off ground floor hang out one’s shingle
head-hunting hire out hold down a job
in the line of duty jack-of-all-trades keep after 
keep one’s nose to the grindstone keep someone on keep tabs on
knuckle down learn the ropes legman
legwork let go let grass grow under one’s feet
lift a finger (hand) man of the cloth (a) monkey business
nine to five off duty on call
pay off piece of cake pink slip
pound the pavement pull the plug roll up one’s sleeves
run around in circles snow under step down
take on too many irons in the fire travel light
up to one`s ears in work walk out walk the plank
walking papers work in work off
work on/upon work one’s fingers to the bone