This is lesson 16 from Idiom Part 3. Each idiom is followed by its definition and examples. After you learn them, you can use them in your daily conversation.
Previous English Idiom Lesson
In our previous English idiom lesson, we cover below:
English Idiom Part 3- Lesson 16- Idioms about Making Mistakes
1- Make a real mess of it = To handle something very poorly or make a big mistake.
He made a real mess of it by spilling coffee all over the important documents.
2- Fall flat on his face = To fail or make a mistake in an embarrassing way.
He tried to impress the crowd with a joke but fell flat on his face.
3- Get your fingers badly burnt = To suffer negative consequences from a risky action.
She got her fingers badly burnt by investing in a shady business deal.
4- Miss the boat = To miss an opportunity.
I wanted to apply for the scholarship, but I missed the boat by submitting my application too late.
5- Make a real pig’s ear of = To do something very badly or clumsily.
He made a real pig’s ear of his first attempt at cooking dinner.
6- Put your foot in it = To say something embarrassing or inappropriate.
I really put my foot in it when I asked about her ex-husband without knowing they had just divorced.
7- Shoot yourself in the foot = To harm yourself through your own actions or words.
He shot himself in the foot by insulting the interviewer during the job interview.
8- Bark up the wrong tree = To make a wrong assumption or pursue the wrong course.
If you think I’m the one who broke the vase, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
9- Take your eye off the ball = To lose focus on what’s important.
We took our eye off the ball and lost the lead in the final quarter.
10- A slip of the tongue = An accidental and often embarrassing mistake in speaking.
Calling her by her ex-boyfriend’s name was a slip of the tongue.
11- Bitten off more than you can chew = To take on a task that is too much to handle.
I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew by agreeing to organize the event alone.
12- A wild goose chase = A futile or hopeless pursuit of something that is difficult or impossible to find or achieve.
Searching for that old book in every bookstore was a wild goose chase.
13- Get the wrong end of the stick = To misunderstand something completely.
I think you got the wrong end of the stick about the meeting time; it’s actually tomorrow, not today.
Next English Idiom Lesson
In our next English idiom lesson, we cover below:
Idioms Related To Misunderstanding
Related Idioms
Here is the list of idioms related to this lesson.
Idiom Part 3 Outline
If you wish to explore all lessons that are covered in HiCafe Idiom Part 3, you can visit the Essential and Popular English idioms- Part 3 page.
English Fluency Resources
If you like to read all of lessons related to English expressions, phrases, idioms, proverbs, slang and words, you can visit our Improve English Fluency page.
