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English Idioms in Different Styles English idioms are regarded as the most expressive and time-honored usage and form a vigorous part of the language. Generally speaking, English idioms have different styles, most of which are used in a colloquial situation. Quite a number of idioms can be found in any situation, some in formal style or in slang. 1. Idioms used in colloquial style: to serve someone right to be a good punishment for someone. After all youve eaten itll serve you right if you get a pain in your stomach. to get off with (used in England) to start a relationship with (someone of the other sex). She got off with him 5 minutes after the party started. no buts about it no doubt about it. There are no buts about it. to get along to leave. I must be getting along now. to fall out to quarrel. Jean and Paul have fallen out. every last every, not leaving out any. Pick up every last bit of paper from the floor. cat and dog life a life full of quarrels and arguments. to let on

to tell a secret. Don’t let on that I told you. Don’t let on about the meeting. to see the back of to be through with; to have no more to do with I should be glad to see the back of him. to want some doing to need a great deal of effort. This difficult job wants some doing. good and very; completely. Ill do it when Im good and ready. in good with enjoying the favor or good opinion of. Its nice to be in good with your teacher. down to the ground perfectly; completely. That suits me down to the ground. to smell a rat to guess that something wrong is happening. I smell a rat in the matter. not think of not consider; not be able to. I wouldnt think of hurting a child! to fill the bill to be exactly suitable. "Im thirsty." "Would a glass of cold beer fill the bill?" a little bit to some degree; rather. "He thinks its all a little bit stupid." 2. Idioms used in any situation: to pass over to fail to deal with; to try not to mention something. Let

us pass over his rude remarks in silence. to lay (something) up to collect and store for future use. I got enough supplies laid up for the vacation. to go over to repeat. Ill go over the explanation of how it works. to go along to agree with. We’ll go along with your suggestion. to hold up to delay. The building of the new road has been held up by bad weather. (often used in passive voice) to make short work of to finish quickly and easily. He made short work of cleaning the room. 3. Idioms used in formal situations: prior to before It happened prior to my arrival. previous to before. We must make full investigations previous to reaching a conclusion. to give countenance to something to support His father refuses to give countenance to his plans to marry. with the result that so that. I was in the bath, with the result that I didnt hear the telephone. as a result of because of He was late as a result of the meeting. bereft of completely without. She is bereft of all

hope. possessed of in a state of having. The family is possessed of a large fortune. 4. Idioms used as slang: to put the screw on someone to force someone to do as one wishes, esp. by threatening Dont put the screw on the young man. to push off (used especially in giving an order) to go away. "What are you doing in this room? Push off at once!" to cut and run to escape by running. Last night she cut and ran from here. the whole bag of tricks everything. I did the whole bag of tricks carefully. to butter up to flatter someone. I dont know why you butter him up. high on the hog well and richly. Theyve been living high on the hog. (Lin Chenzhang. 1997 An Introduction to English Lexicology pp290-293 Wuchang: Wuhan University Press.)