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nature idioms

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Nature idioms

a drop in the ocean

If an amount is a drop in the ocean, it's a very small portion of the amount that's needed.

a ray of sunshine

Something is a ray of sunshine if it brings happiness to someone.

a voice (crying) in the wilderness

You're a voice in the wilderness, or a voice crying in the wilderness, if you're expressing an unpopular opinion or insight.

answer the call of nature

If you answer the call of nature, you go to the toilet.

at sea | all at sea

If you're at sea, or all at sea, you're confused about something and not sure what to do.

beat around the bush | beat about the bush

If you beat around the bush, or beat about the bush, you don't say something directly, usually because you don't want to upset the person you're talking to.

can't see the forest for the trees

If you can't see the forest for the trees, you can't see the whole situation clearly because you're looking too closely at small details, or because you're too closely involved.

can't see the wood for the trees

If you can't see the wood for the trees, you can't see the whole situation clearly because you're looking too closely at small details, or because you're too closely involved.

down to earth

If someone is down to earth, they are practical and sensible.

go with the flow

If you go with the flow, you relax and go along with whatever is happening.

in deep water

If you're in deep water, you're in some sort of trouble or in a difficult situation.

make a mountain out of a molehill

If you make a mountain out of a molehill, you make a small problem seem to be a much bigger problem.

make hay while the sun shines

If you make hay while the sun shines, you make good use of the chance to do something while it lasts.

neck of the woods INFORMAL

A neck of the woods is a neighbourhood or a district, usually rural.

reach for the moon | reach for the stars

If you reach for the moon, or reach for the stars, you are aiming to achieve something great, or do something very challenging.

the tip of the iceberg

You can say something is the tip of the iceberg when it's just a small part of something much bigger.

under a cloud

If someone is under a cloud, they are suspected of having done something wrong.

under the weather

If you are under the weather, you're not feeling well.

virgin territory

You can say something is virgin territory if it's never been explored before or never been done before.

weather a storm

If you weather a storm, you survive a dangerous event or deal with a difficult situation.

nothing like it on earth: used to say that something is very unique or rare, or so incredible that there is nothing else to compare it to in the entire world (often used in an exaggerated way)  Ex: The view from the top of our roof stretches across San Diego Bay, there is nothing like it on earth.

go to the ends of the earth: to do everything and anything possible to achieve something. It’s often followed with “+ to do something” (similar to: “move heaven and earth”) Ex: Lucy’s mother often goes to the ends of the earth for her, making sure she has everything she needs, and always giving full support.

move heaven and earth: work very hard to do something  (similar to: “go to the ends of the earth”) Ex: Taylor would move heaven and earth to give his wife a special surprise for her birthday.

What/Where/Why on earth?: “on earth” is used to add emphasis or force to the question word  Ex:   Why on earth are we going to that restaurant?! You know I really don’t like it!

Environmental idioms

To go solar – to collect solar energy through the solar energy panels

To go green – to change one’s lifestyle for the safety and benefit of the environment

Environmentally friendly – designed not to harm the environment

A green belt – an area around the town where no buildings are allowed to protect the countryside

Carbon footprint – an amount of carbon dioxide a person/company etc produces to measure their effect on the environment

Flower/tree/bush idioms

Oops-a-daisy! – an expression of encouragement said to a child who has fallen/has hurt him or herself, an expression of mild annoyance used when something has gone wrong a late bloomer – someone who is slower than their peers to develop in a particular field a needle in a haystack – something that is difficult/impossible to find because it is hidden among many other things a shrinking violet – a (comically) shy person as fresh as a daisy – healthy, energetic, youthful flowery – a word used to describe speech, writing, or language that uses elaborate (but not necessarily effective) literary words or devices grass roots – at the most basic level of an organisation out of the woods – out of danger pushing up the daisies – dead and buried the grass is always greener on the other side – other people’s situations always seem superior to one’s own to bark up the wrong tree – to follow the wrong line of thought, to make a false assumption or mistake, to completely misunderstand something to beat about the bush – to approach or discuss a matter without directly getting to the point, to put off getting to the point in a conversation to come up (smelling) roses – to emerge from a situation in a favourable manner to have green fingers/a green thumb – to have gardening skills to hit the hay – to go to bed to hold out an olive branch – to offer a reconciliation to lead someone up the garden path – to deceive someone by giving them misleading information/clues to let something go/run to seed – to neglect something, to let something deteriorate to let the grass grow under your feet – to delay in taking an action/opportunity to nip something in the bud – to put an end to something before it has the chance to grow out of hand and into a problem (or metaphorical weed)

Nature idioms quiz:

1. a drop in the ocean

If something is described as being a drop in the ocean, it is

a. a small part of what's needed b. a huge part of what's needed c. all that's needed 2. a ray of sunshine

The kids in the hospital had a ray of sunshine in their lives when

a. some famous footballers visited them b. they were taken to sit outside in the sun c. the nurses checked their blood pressure 3. a voice (crying) in the wilderness

Ken says he feels like a voice crying in the wilderness because

a. he likes the sounds of wild animals b. he hurt his leg while hiking in the forest c. nobody seems to support his opinions 4. answer the call of nature

While they were driving, Louisa said she had to answer the call of nature, so Mario

a. gave her his phone b. said they'd go camping on the weekend c. stopped the car when they found a bathroom 5. at sea | all at sea

Grant felt all at sea because

a. he was sick of his job b. he was enjoying sailing c. it was his first day at university 6. beat around the bush | beat about the bush

It's hard not to beat around the bush when you have to

a. put out a bushfire b. give someone some good news c. tell someone some bad news 7. can't see the forest for the trees

Our operations manager can't see the forest for the trees because

a. he doesn't know where to look b. he's too deep in the forest c. he's too involved in day-to-day matters 8. can't see the wood for the trees

The safety officer can't see the wood for the trees because

a. she's too focused on safety issues b. she thinks all the trees look the same c. she doesn't know which way to look 9. down to earth

Which person would most people expect to be the most down to earth?

a. a poet b. an artist c. a farmer 10. go with the flow

I'm trying to go with the flow more and

a. float down the river b. be more relaxed about things c. control every aspect of my life

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