IELTS Idioms for Fear and Frustration

ielts-idioms-for-fear-and-frustration
1) at the end of your tether
Meaning- If you are at the end of your tether, you are very upset because you are no longer able to deal with a difficult situation.
Example- I had tried every solution I could think of. I was at the end of my tether.

2) a bundle of nerves
Meaning- If you say that someone is a bundle of nerves,  you mean that they are extremely nervous.
Example- Elaine admitted she was a bundle of nerves when she had to sing in front of the queen.

3) butterflies in your stomach
Meaning- If you have butterflies in your stomach,  you feel very nervous about something that you have to do.
Example- Now I've qualified as a competitor,  I'm starting to feel the butterflies in my stomach already.
Example- If a jockey says he doesn't get butterflies down at the start, he's telling lies.

4) frighten   the life out of someone or scare the life out of someone
Meaning- If someone or something frightens the life out of you or scares the life out of you, they frighten you very much.  [INFORMAL]
Example- It used to frighten the life out of me when they tried to jump on the moving train. Further tests revealed that I needed major heart surgery. It scared the life out of me.

5) get cold feet or have cold feet
Meaning- If you get cold feet or have cold feet about something you have planned to do, you become nervous about it and are not sure that you want to do it.
Example- Leaving Ireland wasn't easy and I had cold feet about it a couple of times.

6) not get a word in edgeways
Meaning- If you cannot get a word in edgeways in a conversation,  you find it difficult to say anything because someone else is talking so much. [BRITISH]
Example- For heaven's sake, Sue, will you let me get a word in edgeways!

7) give someone the creeps
Meaning- If someone or something gives you the creeps, they make you feel nervous or frightened.   [INFORMAL]
Example- That statue in my parents'  hallway always gave me the creeps.

8) jump out of your skin or nearly jump out of your skin
Meaning- If you jump out of your skin or nearly jump out  of your skin,    you are suddenly very surprised or shocked by something.
Example- The first time I heard shots I jumped out of my skin but now I hardly notice them.
Example- I was concentrating so hard I nearly jumped out of my skin when there was a sudden knock on the door.

9) the last straw or the final straw
Meaning- If you say that something is the last straw or the final straw,   you mean it is the latest in a series of bad events and it makes you unable to deal with a situation any longer.
Example- The relationship had been in trouble for a while and Jack's behaviour that night was just the final straw.

10) on edge
Meaning- If someone is on edge,  they are anxious and unable to relax.
Example- She seemed a bit on edge the whole evening, which I decided was due to work stress.

11) red tape
Meaning- Red tape is official rules and documents that seem unnecessary and cause delay.
Example- After dealing with all the red tape and finally getting approval for the building,  our funding has been cut.

12) scare someone out of their wits
Meaning- If something or someone scares you out of your wits, they make you very frightened or worried.
Example- Oh, I'm so glad you're all right!  You scared us out of our wits.  We heard you had an accident.
Example- The tree crashed through the conservatory, frightening me out of my wits.

13) be shaking like a leaf
Meaning- If someone is shaking like a  leaf, their body is shaking a lot, usually because they are very frightened.
Example- I didn't think about the danger at the time. Afterwards, I was shaking like a leaf.

14) until you are blue in the face
Meaning- If you say that someone can say or do something until they  are blue in the face,  you mean that however many times they say or do it, it will have no effect.  [INFORMAL]
Example- The president can issue orders until he is blue in the face,  but no one will take any notice.


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