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Episode Thirty-Six:
Clothing Related Idioms
In this lesson, we will discuss clothing related idioms. Although you may hear words that are the name of clothing, it doesn’t mean the definition is related to that type of clothing. Here are a few examples to help you better understand.
wolf in sheep’s clothing
Definition: A mean or evil person who pretends to be nice and caring
Example: Jerry is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Inside his home, he screams at his family, but in the community, he serves many volunteer organizations.
with hat in hand
Definition: humbly asking for a favor
Example: With hat in hand, the man asked the girl’s parents to marry her.
wear the pants
Definition: make the decisions for the family; be the boss
Example: The wife clearly wears the pants in their marriage. She tells him what to do all the time.
wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
Definition: to show one’s emotions publicly
Example: James wears his heart on his sleeve. You always know what he’s thinking.
tighten one’s belt
Definition: reduce spending in order to save money
Example: After Christmas, we need to tighten our belt a little.
roll up one’s sleeves
Definition: get ready to do a tough task and work hard
Example: Christie rolled up her sleeves and began to work on her new business plans.
put on one’s thinking cap
Definition: think deeply and analyze something from all possible aspects
Example: We need to put on our thinking caps about how to pay for college.
play one’s cards close to one’s chest
Definition: be extremely private about a situation; not let others know about your plans
Example: Robert was paying his cards close to his chest when it came to how he would propose to Danielle.
out-of-pocket
Definition: required to be paid personally, instead of paid by an insurance company or other business
Example: My out-of-pocket expense for that doctor’s visit was only $15.
on a shoestring
Definition: on a limited budget
Example: The newlyweds were living on a shoestring
old hat
Definition: not new
Example: Driving is old hat to me.
line one’s own pockets
Definition: earn money in an illegal way
Example: The politician lined his own pockets from people who want to win big government projects.
hit below the belt
Definition: attack someone in an unfair way
Example: My sister hit me below the belt when she started talking about the time I was fired from a job.
have an ace up one’s sleeve
Definition: have a secret plan to succeed, even if the situation looks difficult
Example: The president’s popularity with women gives him an ace up his sleeve in the election.
a feather in one’s cap
Definition: an accomplishment to be proud of
Example: She is a successful businesswoman and mother with many feathers in her cap.
give someone the shirt off one’s back
Definition: give you anything you need, even if it costs them something; show extreme kindness and generosity
Example: Chris is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He would give you the shirt off his back.
bursting at the seams
Definition: extremely excited
Example: I’m bursting at the seams about my new job!
burn a hole in one’s pocket
Definition: to feel the need to spend money immediately
Example: After I got my first paycheck, that money is burning a hole in my pocket.
at the drop of a hat
Definition: right away, without waiting.
Example: If we need help with the kids, our neighbor is always willing to help at the drop of a hat.
air one’s dirty laundry
Definition: talk about personal problems in public.
Example: After the divorce, Sherry aired all their dirty laundry.
Until next time, Happy learning!
Se você quiser aprender mais idiomas, pode fazer meu curso intensivo de idiomas de conversação: 60 idiomas para entender melhor os falantes nativos de inglês em StudyWithAndrea.com/idioms.
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The following is a TOEFL Reading practice test to help you prepare for the Reading section of the TOEFL test.
Instructions: Read the sample passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
TOEFL Reading Practice Passage
Gorillas are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forest of central Sub-Saharan Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas (both critically endangered), and either four or five subspecies. They are the largest living primates. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 95 to 99% depending on what is included, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the chimpanzees and bonobos.
Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Sub-Saharan Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200 to 4,300 metres (7,200 to 14,100 ft). Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.
(#1) Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking, although they sometimes walk upright for short distances, typically while carrying food or in defensive situations. (#2) A 2018 study investigating the hand posture of 77 mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (8% of the population) found that knuckle walking was done only 60% of the time, and they also supported their weight on their fists, the backs of their hands/feet, and on their palms/soles (with the digits flexed). (#3) Studies of gorilla handedness have yielded varying results, with some arguing for no preference for either hand, and others right-hand dominance for the general population. (#4)
The eastern gorilla is more darkly colored than the western gorilla, with the mountain gorilla being the darkest of all. The mountain gorilla also has the thickest hair. The western lowland gorilla can be brown or grayish with a reddish forehead. In addition, gorillas that live in lowland forest are more slender and agile than the more bulky mountain gorillas. The eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla. Like humans, gorillas have individual fingerprints. Their eye color is dark brown, framed by a black ring around the iris. Gorilla facial structure is described as mandibular prognathism, that is, the mandible protrudes farther out than the maxilla. Adult males also have a prominent sagittal crest.
A gorilla's lifespan is normally between 35 and 40 years, although zoo gorillas may live for 50 years or more. Colo, a female western gorilla at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was the oldest known gorilla at 60 years of age when she died on 17 January 2017.
Questions
1. According to the passage, gorillas can live in
a. a variety of altitudes.
b. several different countries in Africa.
c. thick forests.
d. lowland forests only.
2. All of the following is true about gorillas EXCEPT
a. they primarily eat smaller animals.
b. they live in a forest habitat.
c. their genetics are similar to humans.
d. their diet consists of vegetation.
3. Look at the word predominantly in paragraph 1. The word predominantly in this passage refers to
a. impulsively
b. unfortunately
c. mainly
d. lastly
4. Look at the word inhabits in paragraph 2. The word inhabits in this passage refers to
a. lives in
b. protects
c. goes
d. works
5. The author implies that
a. most gorillas prefer using their left hand over their right.
b. gorillas rarely walk on their knuckles.
c. gorillas regularly walk upright for long distances.
d. studies haven't solidly proven which hand gorillas prefer using.
6. Why does the writer mention that the eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla?
a. To validate the importance a broad chest in western gorillas
b. To define the meaning of "broad"
c. To highlight a physical difference between types of gorillas
d. To demonstrate that most gorillas are identical in physical build
7. Which of the following statements is true for BOTH eastern and western gorillas.
a. Both eastern and western gorrilas are brown with red foreheads.
b. Both eastern and western gorrilas have unique fingerprints.
c. Both eastern and western gorrilas have thin hair.
d. Both eastern and western gorrilas have light brown eyes.
8. In Paragraph 3, look at the four numbers (#1, #2, #3, #4) that indicate where the following sentence would be added to the passage.
Such a range of hand postures was previously thought to have been used by only orangutans.
Where would the sentence best fit?
(View all the correct answers below.)
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Answers: 1. d 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. d 6. c 7. b 8. #3
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Andrea Giordano is the founder of StudyWithAndrea.com and has taught more than 1,000,000 students from 180 countries. Andrea holds a Master of Education (TESOL) from Shenandoah University, and is the former Executive Director of TESOL and ESL programs at Campbellsville University. Andrea is a proven leader in online English teaching and is driven by her passion to help you speak English clearly.
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