Book of Idioms, Episode 8

The vale of tears : [literary]
- the difficulties in life
* In the vale of tears, we must take what we're sent.


It's not what it's cracked up to be
This idiom means that something that is predicted, people talk about, say, is not as good as they say or predicted it is.
Ex : The current leader of ours isn't what it's cracked up to be, it's just as disappointing as the previous one.
Speak with one voice
- if a group of people speak with one voice, they all express the same opinion [esp. in politics]
* The Democratic and Republican leadership spoke with one voice in support of the peace agreement.


To Walk Free: To escape punishment for an alleged crime. The implication is that someone "walking free" is guilty of the crime, but has escaped punishment due to a legal technicality. (This is probably not correct in terms of raw language, but it is how people use the expression. )

The worm turns
- say that sb who is usually very quiet or doesn't complain when they are treated badly, suddenly starts to behave differently and fight against the way they are being treated.
e.g. Michael used to bully the other boys, esp. Patrick, but I don't think he ever expected the worm to turn.


A cliché (or cliche) is an idea, saying, or expression, that is overused; it is used too much. Because of this, the cliche is no longer accepted as an original thought; its value is, therefore, greatly diminished. Normally, speakers want to sound thoughtful and intelligent. To say a cliche is to not sound thoughtful, nor intelligent.


Think the world of someone
- To admire, respect, or like someone very much
* She was one of our best employees. The customers thought the world of her.


If worse comes to worst
- used before a statement in order to suggest that there is a solution to your problems, even if the problems develop in the worst possible way
* If worse comes to worst and we lose the house, we can always move in with Annie's parents.


Someone must have had worms for breakfast (spoken)
- say that someone can not sit still
* What's the matter with you? Did you have worms for breakfast?


Two wrongs don't make a right: (spoken)
used to say that just because someone has done something harmful or unfair to you, this does not mean that you should do the same type of thing to them.


Tickled Pink
This phrase means ''being very excited, delighted.
She was tickled pink when I told her that she was still like a blossoming teenager in her seventieth birthday.
➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary . You might also like ⏬

➤ Idioms about Animals

➤ Idioms of Expression

➤ Idioms on Food

➤ Idiomatic Expressions

➤ Origin of Idioms

➤ Proverbs

➤ Idioms on Situation

➤ Idioms on Temperature