Summary of Essential English Idioms for Study
Essential English Idioms for Study: Master Academic Phrases
Introduction
This study guide presents common phrases and idioms about thinking and school. These expressions appear frequently in academic conversations, essays, and everyday speech. Understanding them helps you interpret nuance, improve writing, and participate in discussions more clearly.
Definition: An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is not predictable from the meanings of its individual words. A phrase is a small group of words that form a meaningful unit in language.
Categories and How to Use Them
1. Phrases about thinking and mental skills
Definition: Expressions that describe ways of thinking, reasoning, or using one’s mental abilities.
- Think on your feet — react quickly and intelligently in a changing situation.
- Example: During the seminar, she had to think on her feet when the projector failed.
- Think for yourself — form your own opinions rather than follow others.
- Example: In this course we encourage you to think for yourself and critique sources.
- Think ahead — plan for future events or consequences.
- Example: Think ahead about your assignment deadlines so you don’t rush at the end.
- Think twice — reconsider before acting because of possible risks.
- Example: Think twice before submitting data without checking accuracy.
- Think straight — reason clearly and logically (often used in the negative).
- Example: After the shock, he couldn’t think straight for several minutes.
- Make up your mind — decide.
- Example: Make up your mind about the topic by Friday.
- Go from bad to worse — situation deteriorates; metaphorically can apply to ideas or plans.
- Example: If you ignore peer feedback, your draft may go from bad to worse.
2. Phrases about knowledge and expertise
Definition: Expressions describing what someone knows or how skilled they are in a subject.
- Know your stuff — have solid knowledge in a subject.
- Example: The tutor really knows her stuff in organic chemistry.
- Know like the back of your hand — know a place or topic very well.
- Example: He knows the campus like the back of his hand.
- Have a good head for (something) — be naturally good at calculations, facts, or a type of skill.
- Example: She has a good head for statistics.
- Get the hang of (something) — learn how to do it or understand it.
- Example: After a few labs, I got the hang of the pipetting technique.
3. Phrases about memory and attention
Definition: Expressions that describe remembering, forgetting, and attention.
- Slip your mind — forget.
- Example: The meeting slipped my mind; apologies for missing it.
- Take it in / think it in / have got something in — fully understand and remember what you read or hear.
- Example: Read the article twice so you can really take it in.
4. Phrases about effort, attitude and evaluation
Definition: Expressions about trying hard, judging others, or showing preference.
- Do your best / try your best — make the maximum effort.
- Example: Try your best on the exam and review the rubric thoroughly.
- Pull your weight — do your share of work in a group.
- Example: In group projects everyone must pull their weight.
- Not think much of (someone/something) — have a low opinion.
- Example: The reviewer did not think much of the preliminary results.
- Think the world of (someone) — have a very high opinion or affection.
- Example: The professor thinks the world of her research assistant.
5. Phrases about school attendance and progress
Definition: Expressions describing staying in or leaving formal education and how things develop.
- Leave school — stop attending school or college before finishing studies (often "drop out").
- Example: Some students leave school to pursue apprenticeships or family businesses.
- Get/start off on the wrong foot — begin a relationship or project poorly.
- Example: We got off on the wrong foot
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Thinking & School Idioms
Klíčové pojmy: Think on your feet: react quickly and intelligently, Think for yourself: form your own opinions, Know your stuff: have solid knowledge in a subject, Get the hang of: learn how to do something, Slip your mind: forget something unintentionally, Pull your weight: contribute fairly in group work, Think ahead: plan for future events or deadlines, Think twice: reconsider before acting, Know like the back of your hand: be intimately familiar with something, Make up your mind: reach a decision, Leave school: permanently stop attending school, Think straight: reason clearly and logically
## Introduction
This study guide presents common phrases and idioms about **thinking** and **school**. These expressions appear frequently in academic conversations, essays, and everyday speech. Understanding them helps you interpret nuance, improve writing, and participate in discussions more clearly.
> Definition: An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is not predictable from the meanings of its individual words. A phrase is a small group of words that form a meaningful unit in language.
## Categories and How to Use Them
### 1. Phrases about thinking and mental skills
> Definition: Expressions that describe ways of thinking, reasoning, or using one’s mental abilities.
- **Think on your feet** — react quickly and intelligently in a changing situation.
- Example: During the seminar, she had to think on her feet when the projector failed.
- **Think for yourself** — form your own opinions rather than follow others.
- Example: In this course we encourage you to think for yourself and critique sources.
- **Think ahead** — plan for future events or consequences.
- Example: Think ahead about your assignment deadlines so you don’t rush at the end.
- **Think twice** — reconsider before acting because of possible risks.
- Example: Think twice before submitting data without checking accuracy.
- **Think straight** — reason clearly and logically (often used in the negative).
- Example: After the shock, he couldn’t think straight for several minutes.
- **Make up your mind** — decide.
- Example: Make up your mind about the topic by Friday.
- **Go from bad to worse** — situation deteriorates; metaphorically can apply to ideas or plans.
- Example: If you ignore peer feedback, your draft may go from bad to worse.
### 2. Phrases about knowledge and expertise
> Definition: Expressions describing what someone knows or how skilled they are in a subject.
- **Know your stuff** — have solid knowledge in a subject.
- Example: The tutor really knows her stuff in organic chemistry.
- **Know like the back of your hand** — know a place or topic very well.
- Example: He knows the campus like the back of his hand.
- **Have a good head for (something)** — be naturally good at calculations, facts, or a type of skill.
- Example: She has a good head for statistics.
- **Get the hang of (something)** — learn how to do it or understand it.
- Example: After a few labs, I got the hang of the pipetting technique.
### 3. Phrases about memory and attention
> Definition: Expressions that describe remembering, forgetting, and attention.
- **Slip your mind** — forget.
- Example: The meeting slipped my mind; apologies for missing it.
- **Take it in / think it in / have got something in** — fully understand and remember what you read or hear.
- Example: Read the article twice so you can really take it in.
### 4. Phrases about effort, attitude and evaluation
> Definition: Expressions about trying hard, judging others, or showing preference.
- **Do your best / try your best** — make the maximum effort.
- Example: Try your best on the exam and review the rubric thoroughly.
- **Pull your weight** — do your share of work in a group.
- Example: In group projects everyone must pull their weight.
- **Not think much of (someone/something)** — have a low opinion.
- Example: The reviewer did not think much of the preliminary results.
- **Think the world of (someone)** — have a very high opinion or affection.
- Example: The professor thinks the world of her research assistant.
### 5. Phrases about school attendance and progress
> Definition: Expressions describing staying in or leaving formal education and how things develop.
- **Leave school** — stop attending school or college before finishing studies (often "drop out").
- Example: Some students leave school to pursue apprenticeships or family businesses.
- **Get/start off on the wrong foot** — begin a relationship or project poorly.
- Example: We got off on the wrong foot