- Air one’s dirty linen in public. Meaning: to discuss someone’s private problem to others.
- Example:
- “Astrid is untrustworthy. I heard it when she was airing Vivi’s dirty linen in public yesterday.”
- Example:
- As comfortable as an old shoe. Meaning: very comfortable/familiar.
- Example:
- “Ana’s family is very friendly. I felt as comfortable as an old shoe when I stayed at her home last night.”
- Example:
- Best bib and tucker. Meaning: someone’s best clothing.
- Example:
- “This prom night only happens once in our life. You have to wear your best bib and tucker.”
- Example:
- Bore the pants off. Meaning: to frighten someone very badly.
- Example:
- “Did you heard about the current plane crash? I thought it was Albert’s flight. It really bored my pants off.”
- Example:
- Emperor’s new clothes. Meaning: a situation in which people are afraid to criticize something because everyone seems to think it’s good. This idiom is used when many people believe that it is not true.
- Example:
- “It’s like an emperor’s new clothes when my sister tell us the reason why she runaway.”
- Example:
- Hand in glove with (someone). Meaning: very close with someone.
- Example:
- “I used to be hands in glove with my friends, but we are like strangers now.”
- Example:
- Hang on (someone’s) coattails. Meaning: to have one’s fortune or being successful because of another person.
- Example:
- “He won’t be a manager if he didn’t hang on Andrew’s coattails.”
- Example:
- Wear sackcloth and ashes. Meaning: to behave that you are very sorry for something you have done.
- Example:
- “Tristan is still mad at me even though I have apologized to him and wore my sackcloth and ashes.”
- Example:
- Talk through one’s hat. Meaning: to say something without knowing/understanding the facts.
- Example:
- “I really hate my aunt because she always thinks that she’s right and talk through my hat.
- Example:
- Stuffed shirt. Meaning: a person who is too rigid/formal.
- Example:
- “Just have a seat and relax. Don’t be a stuffed shirt.”
- Example:
Compiled and written by @mettaa_ for @EnglishTips4u on Thursday, May 25, 2017.
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