Author: Paul Huber

American Idiom: to bite the bullet

To bite the bullet means to make oneself to do something undesirable, unpleasant, or unavoidable.

A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages.

Watch the full video below to learn about the idiom, to bite the bullet

Video Transcript

to bite the bullet

I don’t like his class, but I need it to graduate. I’ll just have to bite the bullet and take his class.

To bite the bullet means to make oneself to do something undesirable, unpleasant, or unavoidable.

Here are example sentences :

My car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Even though I knew I was overcharged, I had to bite the bullet and pay up.

I don’t want to call Jennifer to give her the bad news, but I should bite the bullet and let her know.

Let’s do an exercise to better remember the Idiom.

For each question, replace a word or words in a sentence with the idiom so that the meaning of the sentence is not changed. You have five seconds per question.

Question 1:

I had an unbearable toothache, so I forced myself to do something undesirable and visited a dentist. 

I had an unbearable toothache, so I bit the bullet and visited a dentist.

Question 2:

She hates math, but she forced herself and took the required math classes in order to graduate.

She hates math, but she bit the bullet and took the required math classes in order to graduate.

Practice makes perfect!

A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel, and learn to speak English with Poly Languages.

Learn more Idioms with American Teachers here in POLY! Apply now!

American Idiom: a dime a dozen

A dime a dozen refers to things that are plentiful, common, and easy to acquire. 

A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages.

Watch the full video below to learn about the idiom, a dime a dozen

Video Transcript

a dime a dozen

In the beginning of the pandemic, face masks were hard to get. However, they are a dime a dozen now.

A dime a dozen refers to things that are plentiful, common, and easy to acquire.

Here are example sentences :

Many college graduates looking for a job are a dime a dozen. You must pay special attention to your cover letter and resume.Thomas is taking his time selecting the best cake for his sister’s wedding.

When the home team won the championship, seeing spectators hugging each other were a dime a dozen.

Let’s do an exercise to better remember the Idiom.

For each question, replace a word or words in a sentence with the idiom so that the meaning of the sentence is not changed. You have five seconds per question.

Question 1:

High paying jobs are not easy to get, but low paying ones are plentiful and easy to acquire.

High paying jobs are not easy to get, but low paying ones are a dime a dozen.

Question 2:

There are too many reality shows. They are very common.

There are too many reality shows. They are a dime a dozen.

Practice makes perfect!

A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel, and learn to speak English with Poly Languages.

Learn more Idioms with American Teachers here in POLY! Apply now!

American Idiom: to take one’s time

To take one’s time means to do something at one’s pace. It means to do something using as much time as one needs.

A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages.

Watch the full video below to learn about the idiom, to take one’s time.

Video Transcript

to take one’s time

You don’t need to rush. There’s no time limit on the test. Please take your time answering each question.

To take one’s time means to do something at one’s pace. It means to do something using as much time as one needs.

Here are example sentences :

Thomas is taking his time selecting the best cake for his sister’s wedding.

Patricia took her time getting ready for a party. She wanted to look her best for the party.

Let’s do an exercise to better remember the Idiom.

For each question, replace a word or words in a sentence with the idiom so that the meaning of the sentence is not changed. You have five seconds per question.

Question 1:

Don’t take as much time as you need to do a simple task. We don’t have all day.We have spent many hours talking about these errors. Let’s just start over from the beginning. 

Don’t take your time to complete a simple task. We don’t have all day.We have spent many hours talking about these errors. Let’s just go back to the drawing board.

Question 2:

We have a deadline to meet. You cannot do the project using as much time as you need. The investors strongly rejected our business plan. We need to redo our plan, starting over from the beginning. 

We have a deadline to meet. You cannot do the project taking your time.The investors strongly rejected our business plan. We need to redo our plan, going back to the drawing board.

Practice makes perfect!

A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel, and learn to speak English with Poly Languages.

Learn more Idioms with American Teachers here in POLY! Apply now!

American Idiom: to go back to the drawing board

To go back to the drawing board – means to start over from the beginning or an earlier stage of planning or development.

A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages.

Watch the full video below to learn about the idiom, to go back to the drawing board

Video Transcript

to go back to the drawing board

Our proposal got rejected. We have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a better plan.

To go back to the drawing board – means to start over from the beginning or an earlier stage of planning or development. 

Here are example sentences :

The design team went back to the drawing board to come up with a more appealing product.

Let’s start all over again. Let’s go back to the drawing board.

Let’s do an exercise to better remember the Idiom.

For each question, replace a word or words in a sentence with the idiom so that the meaning of the sentence is not changed. You have five seconds per question.

Question 1:

We have spent many hours talking about these errors. Let’s just start over from the beginning. 

We have spent many hours talking about these errors. Let’s just go back to the drawing board.

Question 2:

The investors strongly rejected our business plan. We need to redo our plan, starting over from the beginning. 

The investors strongly rejected our business plan. We need to redo our plan, going back to the drawing board.

Practice makes perfect!

A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel, and learn to speak English with Poly Languages.

Learn more Idioms with American Teachers here in POLY! Apply now!