Lesson 5: Idioms and Expressions

Idioms

1. abide by

> accept and act in accordance with a decision or set of rules

Example: All members must agree to abide by the club regulations


>also, remain faithful to

Example: A trustworthy abides by his word.

Your sentence: ________________________________________.

2. about time

> long past the right time

>approximately the right time

Example: It’s about time you went to bed.

Means:

• You should have gone to bed much earlier. ( often stated with emphasis on the word time)
• Now is the appropriate time for you to retire
  

Your sentence: ________________________________________.

3. about to

>ready to, on the verge of

Examples:

• I was about to leave when it began to rain.
• He hasn’t finished yet but he’s about to.

not about to

>having no intention of doing something

Examples:

• The shop steward was not about to cross the picket line.
• A: Are you staying longer? B: No, I’m not about to.