Learn 10 great C2 (advanced / proficient) English idioms that can help you sound like a native speaker!
Hi everyone! In today’s blog we are going to be looking at 10 great C2 (advanced/proficient) English idioms. Learning these idioms will not only enrich your vocabulary, but will help you on your journey to sound like a native speaker. I have also created a video lesson on this topic, you can check it out below!
#1: to bite off more than you can chew
definition: you agree to do more than you are capable of and this causes stress
A: Are you OK Kelly?
B: No. I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. I told Bruce that I could finish all of these reports by Friday, but I just don’t think I’ll have the time.
I think our governor bit off more than he can chew with his plan to reduce crime by 90% in six months.
#2 to lend someone a hand OR to give someone a hand
definition: to help someone with a practical task
Carol is going to lend /give me a hand with my website this weekend.
Hey, can you lend /give me a hand with these boxes? They’re a little too heavy for me.
#3 to get ahead of yourself
definition: to become too excited, confident or worried about something that hasn’t happened yet
Remember, “too” is used to give a negative feeling.
Don’t get ahead of yourself and think you’ve already won the match. There’s still a long way to go.
Getting ahead of yourself when you shouldn’t may lead to disappointment.
#4 to scrape the ( bottom of the) barrel
definition: there are no more good options/ideas, so you choose or think of inferior options/ideas
The company is scraping the barrel by hiring unqualified candidates due to the immense shortage of manpower.
My fashion design professor asked all of the students to think of 10 interesting hat designs for summer. By number 7, I was really scraping the barrel. My ideas kept getting worse.
#5 to cut corners
definition: you do something to save time or money, but you sacrifice the quality
Do you think reducing staff training from two weeks to 1 week is being more efficient, or is it just cutting corners?
A: I might just Google the answer.
B: Don’t start cutting corners. Look in your book for your answer.
#6 to be at the end of one’s tether
definition: you are at your limit in terms of energy, ideas, resources – you can’t go on
This idiom expresses frustration, usually because of exhaustion.
After dealing with Bob’s constant complaints, Jake was at the end of his tether.
Not a single doctor can tell me what’s wrong with my back. I’m in so much pain, but nobody can see anything wrong. I’m at the end of my tether.
#7 to take something with a grain of salt / a pinch of salt
definition: you do not believe something because you think it’s exaggerated or just a half-truth – it’s not completely true
“To take something with a grain of salt” is more common in American English and “to take something with a pinch of salt” is more common in British English.
When Parker tells you that he was on hold for an entire day, just take it with a grain of salt. He tends to exaggerate. He was probably only on hold for 3 minutes.
I read that this new superfood will help you lose weight quickly, but I would take that with a grain of salt.
#8 to stoop to someone’s level
definition: you do something morally wrong because someone else is doing it
Tess and I got into an argument. Later, she started writing nasty, personal things about me on Facebook. I can also say a few nasty things about her on Facebook. But, I’m not going to stoop to her level. I’ll just ignore her and hope this whole thing blows over.
I know your friends cheat on their tests, but stooping to their level isn’t going to help you in the long run.
#9 to give someone the benefit of the doubt
definition: you decide to believe someone because…
1) you don’t have proof they are lying
2) maybe they are telling the truth
3) you want to be a trusting person
Rick has a history of lying, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt when he told me that he was late for work because his grandma had needed his help.
I don’t think Sara intentionally told Jarvis about your pregnancy. I would give her the benefit of the doubt and say it was a genuine accident.
#10 There’s a method to this (the/her/my/his etc.) madness.
definition: my method might seem crazy, but I have an actual strategy
“There’s a method to the madness” is more common in American English and “there’s method in the madness” is more common in British English.
My brother is so unorganized, yet he runs a successful accounting firm. Obviously there’s a method to his madness.
A: Why do you keep your jam jars turned upside down?
B: There’s a method to my madness. When I make jam, I turn the jars upside down so they seal naturally and stay preserved.
I love the way you explain everything, I really appreciate you creating all this material. I had watched some videos from your YT Channel because I want to improve my English level and I can say, I finally understand some topics that I could not understand when I went to college. I am very grateful I found a teacher like you. I hope you are doing well.