Could you check my attempt about building idioms?
Well, I have some homework today. I'm looking for idiomatic expressions! There are no solutions to this exercise so I am unable to correct myself.
I'd be very grateful if you could check my work and let me know if these expressions are correct. I would like to know if they are used often and/or if there is a better option that can be used.
Using the following verbs, I have to add a noun or equivalent in order to change them into an idioms (It must change the verb's literal meaning). The verbs are as follows: Ask, Break, Catch, Change, Cut, Draw, Give, Hold, Lay, Lose, Make, Pass, Pay, Read, Take and Keep.
This is what I did:
Ask the way
Break the ice
Catch a cold
Change one's mind (?? I can't find a better choice)
Cut corners
Draw a conclusion
Give the impression, give a compliment ( I'm not too satisfied about this one)
Hold one's tongue
Lay the table
Lose one's temper
Make a living.
Pass an exam (not satisfied either, can you give another option? )
Pay a compliment (is this too formal? Does compliment fit better with pay or with give?)
Read one's mind. (I repeat one's mind here, I can't find another one)
Take offence.
Keep a promise.
Thanks in advance!
8 Answers
Cogu, Chuck wanted to write you to let you know he has some other answers in addition to the ones you have here. If you need any of them explained, he'll be happy to tell you what they mean...
Using the following verbs, I have to add a noun or equivalent in order to change them into an idioms (It must change the verb's literal meaning). The verbs are as follows: Ask, Break, Catch, Change, Cut, Draw, Give, Hold, Lay, Lose, Make, Pass, Pay, Read, Take and Keep.
This is what I did:
Ask around
Break a leg!
Catch a clue
Change your tune
Cut the crap (very rude....don't say that). Cut the nonsense.
Do I need to draw you a picture?
Give me a break!
Hold your horses!
Lay down with dogs and you're bound to get fleas.
Lose your cool.
Make hay.
I think I'm going to pass out.
Pay your dues. Pay up. Pay the piper. Pay it forward.
Read between the lines.
Take a hike.
Keep your mouth shut. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Thanks in advance! Chuck says, "Don't worry about it."
Hey there, you've made a great start but if it's ok I'll just start with a couple of corrections for your post.
Well, I have some homework today. I'm looking for idiomatic expressions! and there is no solution in this exercise, so I can't correct myself in this occasion.
as there will be no set answer to these exercises I won't be able to correct myself on this occasion.
I'd be very grateful if you could check my attempt, and tell me if some of these expressions are wrong, they are not actually too used, or if there is another much better choice.
... check my attempt and tell me if any of these expressions are incorrect, rarely used or if there may be a better translation.
Given the following verbs, I have to add them a noun or equivalent for becoming them into a idiom (they must change the verb's literal meaning). The verbs are these: Ask, Break, Catch, Change, Cut, Draw, Give, Hold, Lay, Lose, Make, Pass, Pay, Read, Take and Keep. This is what I do:
I have been given the following verbs and by adding a noun or it's equivalent I need to change them into idioms. ....
Now for the idioms:
Ask the way - this is quite literal, perhaps a better option would be 'ask for it' = to deserve it (usually trouble or punishment - eg. She really asked for it when she acted so rudely).
Break the ice. Very good (ie - to try to become friends or be social with someone)
Catch a cold. Good.
Change one's mind (?? I can't find a better choice) - that's good, we also have 'change of heart' which means to change your mind aswell 
Cut corners. Excellent.
Draw a conclusion. Perfecto.
Give the impression, give a compliment ( I'm not too satisfied about this one)
- give the impression is good, she the gives me the impression that no-one is good enough for her.
Hold one's tongue - great
Lay the table - sí
Lose one's temper - bueno
Make a living. - excellente
Pass an exam (not satisfied either, can you give another option? ) - what about 'make a pass at' it can either refer to 'flirting' or if it's about a plane it could mean to fly over something attempting to land.
Pay a compliment (is this too formal? Does compliment fit better with pay or with give?) - both are fine, pay is probably more idiomatic so that's good - you could also have pay a visit, pay respects etc
Read one's mind. (I repeat one's mind here, I can`t find another one) - what about 'read between the lines' ie trying to determine someone's intentions or what they're really trying to say?
Take offence. - offense with an 's' - good
Keep a promise. excellente
Hope that helps - well done, you did a great job
Given the following verbs, I have to add them a noun or equivalent for becoming them into a idiom
Just a suggestion that your sentence I quote here should be:
"Given the following verbs, I have to add to them a noun or equivalent for turning them into a idiom"
The only thing I could see is that it should probably be 'give an impression' you could use 'give the impresion that.....' and it would be ok. I'm not sure if I understood your exercise though so no more ideas...
"ask for the moon"
"catch my drift"
"lay down one's cards"
"read my lips"
"to pay respects"
"pass the word" if you prefer something else with "pass"
Give the impression, give a compliment ( I'm not too satisfied about this one)
Try: Give up or Give in
Give the impression, give a compliment ( I'm not too satisfied about this one)
Lay the groundwork
Pay a compliment
Pay it forward
Pass the buck which means casting blame for something on someone else. buck slang for a dollar o literally a male deer. Pass an exam is correct but I don´t that it is an idiom.
Wow! These are all good. I think "pay a compliment" is more common and idiomatic than "give a compliment". "Give the impression" is very common, but if you're looking for a real idiom, "Give up the ghost" is maybe a stronger answer.
Also, "Read one's mind" is a good idiom, but it is a bit literal. A better one might be "Read between the lines".
"Lay the table" is also an idiom, and again if you like something even stronger, try "Lay down the law".
Good work!
