A概念英语--英语俚语.doc

15 Funny English Idioms You May Not Know An idiom is an everyday figure of speech or metaphorical expression whose meaning cannot be taken literary. Idioms often go against the logical “rules of language and grammar” despite being commonly used by the language’s native speakers. If you look closely at the literal meaning of most idioms, you will realize they are often downright hilarious. Here is a list of some of the funniest English idioms you may not know, most of which are drawn from British English. Learn to speak like a regular Brit, mate! 1. Do a Devon Loch Devon Loch was a racehorse that collapsed just short of the winning line of the 1956 Grand National race in the UK. If someone does a Devon Loch, they suddenly fail when everybody expects them to succeed or simply crumble at the very last minute when they were almost winning. Example:?It was shocking how Manchester United did a?Devon Loch?in the last minutes of the match against Arsenal. 2. Bob’s your uncle This idiom is a catch phrase used when ‘everything is alright’ and means that something will be done, sorted or successful. It’s the British equivalent of “…and that’s that,” or “there you go!” How it is used is often quite funny. Example:?You want to go to the market? Go straight on until you reach the main road, take the first right, and Bob’s your uncle–you’re there! 3. Do a runner When someone does a runner, he leaves a place in a hurry in order to avoid paying for something (like in a restaurant) or flees a difficult situation to escape punishment. Like many British idioms, this particular idiom originates from one of Shakespeare’s popular plays,?Anthony and Cleopatra, a gripping story of romance and tragedy that was first performed in 1606. Example:?At this point,?the con artist did a runner with all her money.?? 4. Enough to cobble dogs with This?incredulous phrase is used to refer to a surplus of anything. The humor in the image contained in the phrase becomes apparent when you consider that a c