IDIOMS

Out of the blue

Meaning:

Suddenly and unexpectedly

If someone does something or something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and surprises you because you didn't expect it.


Example:

Late last summer, out of the blue, Sue announced she was getting married and leaving her home country soon. We were all shocked to hear that.

We had been told it would be sunny all day, so we went hiking. However, it started to pour (rain heavily) out of the blue in the afternoon..

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

Meaning:

This idiom is used to say that someone gets out of a difficult or bad situation, but eventually goes into a more difficult or worse one.

If you say "Out of the frying pan and into the fire", you mean someone has moved from a bad or difficult situation to a worse one.

Example:

If the government accepts his new proposal, the nation will be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. ( = It will make the situation worse.)

A: I've finally finished my assignment. It was very difficult, but the next one looks much harder.
B: Out of the frying pan and into the fire..
Be over the hill
Meaning:

To be too old to do something.

If you call someone to be over the hill, you say rudely that he/she is old and no longer attractive or productive, not suitable for something, or not capable of doing something useful.


Example:

Sam, a famous football player, has decided to retire next year. Although he is only 34, he thinks he is over the hill as an athlete.

At the age of 85, she says she's never felt she's over the hill. She always finds something good she can do for other people.
Pop the question
Meaning:

To ask someone to marry you

Culturally, it is usually the man who pops the question to a woman.


Example:

Steve has been dating Stephanie for two years. He decides that he wants to marry her. He is very nervous though, so he goes to ask advice from his best friend Eric.

"I think I'm going ask Stephanie to marry me. What do you think I should do?" asks Steve.

"You've decided to pop the question? That's wonderful! I think you should buy her roses and take her out for a nice dinner," replies Eric.
Play it by ear
Meaning:

Decide what to do or say according to a situation as it develops.

If you play it by ear, you act by responding a situation as it happens, rather than following a plan you made in advance.

Example:

We can't plan for today's interview. Let's just go and play it by ear.

They can't predict what will happen in tomorrow's game, so they decided to play it by ear.
Pop quiz
Meaning:

A short test that is given in class without any warning beforehand.

A pop quiz is a quiz (a short test) that your teacher gives you without any advance notice to check if you have been studying.

Example:

Mrs. Jones, an ELC teacher, is famous for giving her students a lot of pop quizzes.
Put all your (my, their, etc.) eggs into one basket
Meaning:

Depend totally on one single person or course of action.

If you put all your eggs into one basket, you put all your energy and time to one thing or purpose. If it fails, you will have no other possibilities left.


Example:
I know you really want to go to BYU, but don't put all your eggs into one basket. Apply to a few other colleges too.

I'll invest my money in several companies, not this one only. I don't want to put all my eggs into one basket.