TOEFL Basic idiom 1.
1. fill out = complete(an application form, for example)
ex) The teenager had some trouble filling the forms out by himself, so his mother helped him.
2. work out = to solve a problem
ex) Eventually, all the problems worked themselves out without any help from us.
3. be my guest = do what you want ; feel free ; help yourself
ex) Can I have another sandwich?
-Sure, be my guest. I made plenty.
4. call it a day = stop working for the day ; go home
ex) The boss was mad because Tom called it a day at noon and went home.
5. call off = cancel
ex) The reception in the garden was called off because of a thunderstorm.
6. day in and day out = constantly ; for a long time
ex) She smokes day in and day out.
7. die down = become less severe ; quiet down
ex) The hurricane became a less serious tropical storm when its winds died down.
8. go off = to make a noise; sound
ex) My alarm didn't go off this morning, so I missed my first class.
9. for good = permanently ; forever
ex) Ruth has returned to Canada for good. She won't ever live in the United States again.
10. give a hand (with) = assist, help
ex) Would you give me a hand lifting this heavy box?
TOEFL Basic idiom 2.
11. hand in = to submit or deliver s/t that is due
ex) Every student has to hand in an original composition each week of the semester.
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12. hand out = distribute
ex) Please help me hand out these test papers ; there must be a hundred of them.
13. in hot water = in trouble
ex) I'm in hot water at home for coming in late last night.
14. in no time = very soon ; very quickly
ex) It won't take long. I'll be finished in no time at all.
15. look over = to review
ex) I want to look my homework over again before I give it to the teacher.
16. make ends meet = balance a budget
ex) She makes ends meet by working two jobs.
17. pay attention (to) = concentrate on ; focus on
ex) You'll have to pay more attention in class if you want to get a good grade.
18. pick out = choose ; select
ex) Ann picked out a good book to give to her brother as a graduation gift.
19. ring a bell (with) = sound familiar to
ex) I've never met John Franklin, but his name rings a bell.
20. run into = meet unexpectedly
ex) It was a shock to run into an old friend from high school recently.
TOEFL Basic idiom 3.
21. stay up = not go to bed
ex) He stays up every night until after one o'clock, preparing his homework.
22. stop by = visit informally ; go to see
ex) Let's stop by the supermarket and pick up a few grocery items.
23. take a short cut = take a more direct or faster route than usual
ex) M: How did you get home so quickly?
W: I took a short cut through the fields.
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24. think over = consider
ex) I'd like to think over your offer first. Then can we talk it over tomorrow?
25. turn down = reject an offer
ex) Laverne wanted to join the military but the recruiting officer turned her application down because
Laverne is hard of hearing in one ear.
26. turn in = go to bed
ex) It's been a rough day. I'm going to turn in early and get a good night's sleep.
27. break down = stop functioning(a machine, for example)
ex) The elevator broke down, so we walked all the way up to the top floor.
28. break the ice = stop through social barriers(as a party)
ex) M: What a boring party. No one is talking to one another.
W: Maybe we should put on some music and start dancing. That might break the ice.
29. call on = visit
ex) Last night several friends called on us at our home.
30. calm down = relax
ex) Don't get so excited. Just calm down and tell us what happened.
TOEFL Basic idiom 4.
31. fall behind = to make less progress
ex) Eve fell behind in her studies and finally had to drop out of school.
32. be fed up (with) = not able to tolerate ; disgusted with ; annoyed by
ex) I am fed up with your complaining.
33. hit it off = become friendly(especially at a first meeting)
ex) I really hit it off with my new boss.
34. hold on = wait
ex) Could you please hold on a moment while I get a pencil and paper?
35. in the same boat = in the same situation ; having the same problem
ex) Jane and Mary are both in the same boat. They have been called for jury duty.
36. jump to conclusions = make a decision quickly without knowing all the facts.
ex) Now don't jump to conclusions. Wait until you gear what I have to say.
37. make sense = be practical and logical
ex) It makes sense to keep such information on file for reference.
38. make up one's mind = decide
ex) Sally is considering several colleges to attend, but she hasn't made up her mind yet.
39. pick up = to lift from the floor, table, etc., with one's fingers
ex) Harry picked up the newspaper that was on the front doorstep.
40. point out = indicate
ex) The teacher pointed out the mistakes in my composition.
TOEFL Basic idiom 5.
41. search me = I don't know ; I have no idea
ex) When I asked Derek why his girlfriend wasn't at the party yet, he said, "Search me. I expected
her an hour ago."
42. see eye to eye (with s/o)(on s/t) = have the same opinion ; be in agreement
ex) I'm glad that we see eye to eye on the matter of the conference location.
43. take a break = stop working for a short time
ex) It's ten o'clock-time to take a break.
44. take advantage of = utilize ; make use of ; exploit
ex) I took advantage of my neighbor's superior skill at tennis to improve my own ability at the game.
45. throw cold water on = discourage ; force to cancel(a plan, for example)
ex) John threw cold water on the whole project by refusing to participate.
46. try out = test a product before buying
ex) You can try out the new car before you decide to buy it.
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47. turn off = stop the operation (of an appliance, for example) ; shut off
ex) Please turn off the light when you leave the room.
48. turn on = start the operation (of an appliance, for example)
ex) Do you know who turned the air conditioning on?
49. break up (with) = stop being a couple (a boyfriend and girlfriend, for example)
ex) Their marriage broke up after a year.
50. breeze = s/t very simple and easy to do
ex) That exam was a breeze unexpectedly.
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