Chapter 20 · Earth and Nature

Learner's Dictionary. Chapter 20, Earth and Nature. Idioms.

Down to earth

She's very down to earth despite her success.

Move heaven and earth

They moved heaven and earth to save the forest.

The ends of the earth

He would travel to the ends of the earth for her.

The salt of the earth

My grandparents are the salt of the earth.

Over the moon

She was over the moon about the trip.

Once in a blue moon

We go hiking only once in a blue moon.

Reach for the stars

Work hard and reach for the stars.

Have one's head in the clouds

He always has his head in the clouds.

Save for a rainy day

I put some money aside for a rainy day.

Break the ice

We played a fun game to break the ice with our new tour group.

In deep water

He's in deep water after that mistake.

Test the waters

We're testing the waters before launching the product.

Keep one's head above water

Small businesses are trying to keep their heads above water.

Go with the flow

Don't plan everything — just go with the flow.

Can't see the forest for the trees

He's so busy with details that he can't see the forest for the trees.

Out of the woods

The project isn't out of the woods yet.

Make a mountain out of a molehill

It's just one bad grade — don't make a mountain out of a molehill.

Between a rock and a hard place

She was between a rock and a hard place when choosing her job.

The calm before the storm

The school was quiet — the calm before the storm of exam week.

Take the wind out of someone's sails

Her answer took the wind out of his sails.

A perfect storm

Rain, traffic and a flat tire — it was a perfect storm.

Spread like wildfire

The news spread like wildfire.

Turn over a new leaf

After the summer, he turned over a new leaf and studied hard.

Nip something in the bud

We had to nip the problem in the bud.

Take root

The idea slowly took root in our town.