Idioms – Fear and Frustration

Hey guys!

Everybody knows the importance of learning some idioms and colloquial expressions, especially when you live in a foreign country. We always learn a lot of them by communicating with native speakers or watching movies and series. In this section, you learn some idioms and expressions to communicate in a more natural way when speaking English in a foreign country.

Here are a few Idioms related to the topic Fear & Frustration.

* at the end of the tether – having no strength or patience left. (estar por um fio)

I had tried every solution I could think of. I was at the end of my tether.

* a bundle of nerves – to be extremely nervous. (ficar com os nervos à flor da pele, uma pilha de nervos)

He admitted being a bundle of nerves during the presentation.

* butterflies in your stomach – to feel very nervous about something you have to do. (frio na barriga)

I got butterflies in my stomach during my wedding celebration.

* frighten / scare the life out of someone – to frighten someone very much (espantar, assustar)

I used to frighten / scare the life out of my friends when I was a teenager.

* get / have cold feet – to become nervous about something and not sure that you want to do it. (dar para trás, amarelar)

I had cold feet about taking this trip as it would be very long and pricey.

 * not get a word in edgeways – to find it difficult to say something because someone else is talking too much. (não ter chance de falar)

For heaven’s sake, John, will you let me get a word in edgeways!

* give someone the creeps – to make someone nervous or frightened. (dar arrepios em alguém)

This abandoned house always gives me the creeps.

* jump out of your skin – to suddenly get very surprised or shocked about something.  (ficar assustadíssimo)

The first time I watched this horror movie I jumped out of my skin!

* the last / final straw – when something is the last in a series of bad events that makes you unable to deal with a situation no longer. (a gota d’água, o fim da picada, o cúmulo, no limite)

Our relationship has been in trouble for a while, but last night was the last straw.

* on the edge – to be anxious and unable to relax. (viver uma vida louca, sem limites ou sossego)

She seemed to be on the edge due to her stressful job.

* red tape – official rules and documents that seem unnecessary and cause delay. (burocracia)

After dealing with all the red tape, we finally got the governmet’s approval to build the house.

* scare someone out of their wits – to make someone very scared or frightened. (matar de susto)

You scared us out of our wits with the accident, I’m glad you’re ok now.

* be shaking like a leaf – when your body shakes because you are frightened. (tremer como vara verde)

I was shaking like a leaf when I heard a strange noise coming from the basement.

* until you are blue in the face –  For a great or unending length of time; until one has done it to exhaustion. (a todo custo, até não poder mais)

He can issue orders until he is blue in the face, but no one will ever take any notice.

I hope you learned some new idioms today, see you next time!