AUTUMN IDIOMS

       Autumn Idioms  

•  Autumn years - It is often used to refer to the later years in     someone’s life

 

"In his autumn years, Peter was able to enjoy his garden a lot more”

• Apple of my eye – someone who is cherished above everyone

       

 “Even though Frank has three children, his youngest has always been the apple of his eye"

• Old chestnut – it refers to a story or a joke that has been told so

                                    many times that it becomes uninteresting.

        *chestnut: castaña / chestnut (tree) castaño                  

           

   Ted: “The best years of your life are when you’re a child”.

   Sue: “Not that old chestnut again!”

• Golden handshake– Used in business English to refer to a large sum of money that is given to an employee (normally high level) when they leave.

       “The CEO was given early retirement and a golden                                                  handshake of £800,000 when the company was restructured”.
             *CEO: chief executive officer- director/ presidente ejecutivo

• Turn over a new leaf – to reform and begin again

  

“He has learned his lesson and has turned over a new leaf“.  

•   Take a leaf out of someone’s book – to follow   

                                                         someone’s example

"Alex has really done well to turn his life  around. You should take a leaf out of his book”.

• Lost in the mists of time – means that something has been forgotten because it happened a long time ago.      * mist: bruma

     

 

            “The true significance of these traditions has been lost in the mists of time“.

•  To drive someone nuts – to make someone go crazy.  * nuts: nueces / frutos secos

              “That noise is driving me nuts. Please stop at once!”

•  To be nuts about someone or something – to be obsessed with someone or something. 

 

       “I am nuts about that girl. I'd do anything for her”   

•  To squirrel something away – to hide or store something like a squirrel.  

    * squirrel: (n) ardilla / (v) guardar, poner a buen recaudo

 “Lisa squirreled away a lot of money while she was working and now she can enjoy her retirement”  

WINTER IDIOMS

                                              Winter Idioms  

Keep someone in the dark (about something) – deliberately keep someone uninformed. This expression can be used in personal or business situations because it is neither formal nor casual in tone. 
“There are rumors of my company merging with another one, but my boss is keeping us 
  in the dark about it.”        *merge- fusionar  * in the dark -desinformado

Have one’s head in the clouds  

To be daydreaming and not paying attention to what is happening aroun you right now. To be out of touch with the everyday world and to be unrealistic because of it.

"Bob, are you listening? Do you have your head in the clouds?" asked the teacher.

    





 
  
See which way the wind is blowing - to see how a situation is developing before you make a decision about it.

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“I think I'll see which way the wind is blowing before I vote at the board meeting.”

*board meeting- reunion de la junta

Break the ice – to create a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. 
         “He told a few jokes to break the ice.”












Skate on thin ice– be in a risky, difficult or dangerous situation.                                          *Skate/be on thin ice- estar en terreno peligroso 

                  “They knew that by publishing the article they were skating on thin ice.”

• 
  “Kate knew she was skating on thin ice by returning home so late.”  
   To give someone the cold shoulder – to ignore someone.
             
  
  *give the cold shoulder –      
    ningunear, ignorar 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I thought she really liked me, but   the next day she gave me the cold shoulder.”        
  Put something on ice – to postpone doing something.
     *Put something on ice – dejar congelado, aparcado
  
  
  
   “The plans for the new building have been put on ice until next year.”
  
  “The plans for the new building have been iced until next year.”
  “The plans for the new building are on ice until next year.”
     
  Be snowed under – to have too much work to do.
  
  
   “I'm absolutely snowed under with work at the moment.”   *be snowed under – estar desbordado
  
  
  
  
   Get/have cold feet – when you suddenly don’t feel brave enough for something.     *Get / have cold feet – echarse para tras, entrar miedo 
  
  
  “Sally got cold feet at the last moment and called off the wedding.”