Essential idioms and phrases for students

Check out these idioms and phrases, which can be used when talking about school and learning.

Bite off more than you can chew

Meaning: to take on more than you can handle

Example: I bit off more than I could chew when I signed up for the extracurricular activities after school.

Blow off steam

Meaning: to do something to get rid of stress, to do something to relax after a period of hard work

Example: After two weeks of exams Andrew and his friends went camping for the weekend to blow off steam.

Bookworm

Meaning: Someone who reads a lot.

Example: Everyone knows she’s a real bookworm so she only got books for her birthday.

Brainstorm

Meaning: to think of new ideas

Example: Annie didn’t have a clue how to get started with the project so she decided to brainstorm with her group.

Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: to work or read late into the night

Example: I had to burn the midnight oil to get ready for the test.

By heart

Meaning: from memory

Example: Jane knows all the idioms by heart.

Cut to the chase

Meaning: get straight to the point

Example: Cut to the chase – what’s your idea for the project?

Eager beaver

Meaning: someone who is enthusiastic about school or work and works very hard

Example: She’s such an eager beaver, she never missed a lesson and always does her homework.

Hit the books

Meaning: to study

Example: I can’t go out this weekend, I have to hit the books because an exam is coming up.

Piece of cake

Meaning: something easy

Example: This test was a piece of cake, I didn’t have to study so much!

Pitch in

Meaning: contribute, help out

Example: Although Mary was in our group she didn’t pitch in with the project.

Ring a bell

Meaning: sound familiar

Example: Ben didn’t cover all the material for the exam, most questions didn’t ring a bell for him.

Skip class

Meaning: not go to class

Example: Lee had to go to the doctor’s this morning so he skipped class.

Teacher’s pet

Meaning: a student who is favored by the teacher

Example: Nobody likes a teacher’s pet.

To be under the weather

Meaning: to fill ill

Example: I’m under the weather, I think I’ll skip class.

With flying colours

Meaning: with distinction, successfully

Example: I passed my final exam with flying colours.

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