Foo - Idiomatic Expressions

Hi guys, as many of you know already, I'm french and english has many mysteries for me still and my English teacher game me a complete sheet of mysteries that all of you prolly know the meanings..

Can you tell me the definition and write an example for any of those "idiomatic expressions", in other words, can you do my english homework? :D

1. to get even with someone

2. by all means

3. to resort to

4. to crack down on someone/something

5. the cream of the crop

6. to show off

7. to get the gist of something

8. to do a dry run

9. to break even

10. to take the bull by the horns


And can you help me complete these proverbs by the way... and give me a sentence including them as examples

1. you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink (what's the meaning)

2. six of one....

3. don't cry over spilt milk

4. a bird in the hand...

5. keep your nose to the...


A big thanks to any of you guys who takes the time to help me, cauz it may seem easy for you but I don't know what these idiomatics mean...

I'll take the easy one. To get even is similar to getting revenge. Someone steals your mistress so to get even, you sleep with his mistress.

#2-by all means

Certainly...of course...please do...or simply, yes.

"You want to borrow my bike? By all means, go ahead and use it."

And can you help me complete these proverbs by the way... and give me a sentence including them as examples

1. you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink (what's the meaning)

2. six of one....

3. don't cry over spilt milk

4. a bird in the hand...

5. keep your nose to the...


A big thanks to any of you guys who takes the time to help me, cauz it may seem easy for you but I don't know what these idiomatics mean...


Here are my translations of some of the phrases. I'm sure someone else can come up with something better.

1. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink: You can't make someone do something just because you provide the opportunity.

2. Six of one, half dozen of another: It's a way of saying two things are the same. (6 = a half dozen)

3. Don't cry over spilled milk: Don't worry about little things, or things that have already happened. Move on.

4. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: What you have is more important than what you don't.

5. Keep your nose to the grindstone: Work hard and focus on what you're doing.

Please PayPal $25 USD to...


Hi guys, as many of you know already, I'm french and english has many mysteries for me still and my English teacher game me a complete sheet of mysteries that all of you prolly know the meanings..

Can you tell me the definition and write an example for any of those "idiomatic expressions", in other words, can you do my english homework? :D

1. to get even with someone
To repay in kind when someone does you an injustice

2. by all means
Q: "Do you mind if I put these here?" A: "By all means." (translation) Go right ahead -- Of course you may

3. to resort to
To use the most agressive tactics... Bob couldn't get the nut off with a wrench, he had to resort to using a torch to cut it off

4. to crack down on someone/something
To get agressive in controling behavoiur... Due to the increased cases of underage drinking, the police cracked down on the liquor stores[/b]

5. the cream of the crop
The best... Budwiser makes good beer, but Guinness is the cream of the crop

6. to show off
To exhibit proudly... Tom just finished restoring his old Raleigh, he took it to the park to show it off

7. to get the gist of something
What I'm helping you do... to understand

8. to do a dry run
The race committee had a few memebers do a dry run of the road couese to look for potential problems (Beta testing)

9. to break even
to get back what you spent on something.... no profit or loss

10. to take the bull by the horns
tp face a problem head on, to step ou to a challenge

And can you help me complete these proverbs by the way... and give me a sentence including them as examples

1. you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink (what's the meaning)
I can tell you what you should do, but I can't make you do it

2. six of one....half a dozen of the other
Tom: You want to go to Burger King or Mc Donald's
Bill: Six of one, half a dozen of the other (It makes no difference**

3. don't cry over spilt milk Don't worry about what has already happened,


4. a bird in the hand... is worth two in the bush
Jill: Wow, the company across town is offering me $10,000 more a year to got to work for them
Sue: Well, you know... a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (You've got a sure thing where you are, it might not be that good at the other company)

5. keep your nose to the...grindstone
Boss: If you keep your nose to the gringstone here, you'll advance rapidly with this company. (If you keep you mind on your job and do you work in a timely manner)


A big thanks to any of you guys who takes the time to help me, cauz it may seem easy for you but I don't know what these idiomatics mean...


Make sure I get the 'A'!

wow thanks Stacey, you are incredibly helpful as everyone here is for sure, but you did all my homework!

Oh my god, I wasn't aware of your time generosity, this is the most wonderful moment of my life... someone is caring about me...

Haha, I'm kiding but thanks a lot seriously and I did my homework, my homework was to ask an english person about those idioms

THANKS A LOT!

Gee and just as my head was swelling another hat size :cry: