Common English Idioms from The Big Bang Theory (Part 2)

If you’ve already read our blog post on Common English Idioms from The Big Bang Theory (Part 1), you might have learned some useful idioms. Here is part 2 of the post, and I hope you’ll learn some more after reading the post. Don’t forget to put them into practice as much as you can! We love to hear how you use the English idioms from The Big Bang Theory below.

Strap on a pair

Meaning: To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation where one has so far failed to do so.

Example:

1. Penny: Look, Sheldon, all I’m saying is strap on a pair and go talk to Amy.
2. Mike: You know, I’m just gonna take off and break up with her over the phone. Martin: You can’t do that. Oh, come on, Mike, strap on a pair.

 

Good grief

Meaning: An expression of surprise or frustration.

Example:

1. Good grief! You’re not going out dressed like that, are you?
2. Oh, good grief—I left my key at home.

Penny for your thoughts

Meaning: said when you want to know what another person is thinking, usually because they have been quiet for a while

Example:

1. You’ve been strangely quiet tonight, sweetie—a penny for your thoughts?
2. A penny for your thoughts, Hugh! You haven’t said anything all evening!

Breaking the ice

Meaning: to make people who have not met before feel more relaxed with each other.

Example:

1. Someone suggested that we play a party game to break the ice.
2. If you start to feel weird or uncomfortable at the party tonight, try to think of something fun to break the ice.

Bored out of one’s mind

Meaning: Extremely bored to the point of distraction, frustration, or irritation.

Example:

1. Sheldon: Oh, he’ll be back. Wine and a girl in the dark, he’s gonna be bored out of his mind.
2. I was bored out of my mind reading that document this afternoon.

 

Put it on the back burner

Meaning: If something is on the back burner, it is temporarily not being dealt with or considered, especially because it is not urgent or important

Example:

1. We are running out of money. Maybe we’ll have to put our travel plans on the back burner for a while.
2. I’m going to be putting work stuff on the back burner for a while once my son is born.

Let’s shove off

Meaning: to leave; used to tell someone angrily to go away.

Example:

1. Well, it looks like it’s time to go. Let’s shove off.
2. Now let’s get cracking. Shower, shirt, shoes, and let’s shove off

 

Get cracking

Meaning: to start doing something quickly.

Example:

1. Get cracking (= hurry), or we’ll miss the train.
2. Sit down to your homework and get cracking!

Break a leg

Meaning: A phrase of encouragement typically said to one who is about to perform before an audience, especially a theatre actor (= Good luck!)

Example:

1. “I’m gonna have my first stage performance tomorrow.” – “Ohh, break a leg!”
2. Hey, hope you break a leg tonight.

Good to go

Meaning: To be prepared and ready to do something

Example:

1. Let me grab my bag and then I’m good to go.
2. “Do you have all the hiking gear?” “Yeah, I’m good to go.”

Okay! I know there are still many other common idioms from The Big Bang Theory that we can learn. Just learn a little bit at a time! For those who are not interested in this TV Series, grab another one from our blog on Best TV Series for English learners here and get started!

And don’t forget to share with us how you use those English idioms from The Big Bang Theory.

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