Idioms: Lick the lust, In the dark, Hit the jackpot, Make a mess of, A blue stock

[Sonia*]

Good Morning Teachers,

Please tell me the meaning of some idioms which I came across in the newspaper.
1)Lick the lust
2)In the dark
3)Hit the jackpot
4)Make a mess of
5)A blue stocking.

Please provide me some examples also.

Thanks a million.
sonia*

[Mister Micawber]

1)Lick the lust-- Not an idiom as far as I know. 'Lick' means 'beat; win against'.
2)In the dark-- ignorant
3)Hit the jackpot-- win a big prize; achieve unusual success
4)Make a mess of-- fail to succeed, but on the contrary, make the situation worse
5)A blue stocking.-- a woman with considerable scholarly, literary, or intellectual ability or interest.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Sonia*]

Hello Mister Micawber,

Thanks a million sir.

I am unable to use these idioms in the sentences.Please, I request you to provide me the sentences by using these Idioms.

So nice of you sir.

sonia*

[Tinatin]

I am so glad to be here I hope i will get everythin soon..

[Cerberus™]

Sonia, why don't you try and search through Google for examples? For instance, type "makes a mess of" (with quotation marks) and see what comes up.

[Sonia*]

Hey, its really a new thing for me.Thanks a million.I am so happy I have learnt a new thing.

Thanks a million.

sonia*

[Bamboo Dream]

I like learing idioms ~
They unfold many cultural details to us .
From them we can konw the diffrence between diffrent culture.
For example , I learned a new idiom today ---" like butterflies in my stomach " It is extremely vivid and funny to remember.

[Bamboo Dream]

Also , when I learned the idiom--"rain cats and dogs" ,I broke into laughter .
So humorous~So unforgettable~

[Subhash]

Dear Teacher
What are "idioms",How to use it?
Can you explain it?
Your's sincerely
Subhash

[Alan]

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Hi Subhash,

An idiom is an expression that can't be explained word for word as to its meaning. It is an expression that has to be learnt as a complete unit and something that has developed in the language over a period of time. An example above was 'in the dark'. If you say 'I'm in the dark' and use the expression as an idiom, you don't mean that there is no light in the room, which would be the literal meaning. As an idiom it means 'not knowing about something' as in: I'm sorry I don't know the answer to that because as far as that topic is concerned, I'm in the dark.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A day in the life of a parliamentary candidate

[Sonia*]

Thanks Alan,

I have understood the definition of "Idioms".Please tell me how "phrasel verbs" are different from Idioms.What are "phrasel verbs"?

sonia*

[Alan]

Hi Sonia,

I've written a series of stories using phrasal verbs. Here is the first one http://www.english-test.net/lessons/53/index.html

If you click on that, you'll see all the others listed on the lefthand side of the screen.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Not Really

[Richard]

Where are you, guys? any helpful friend?
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic44683.html
_________________
The limits of my language are the limits of my universe.
Ludwig Wittgenstein

[Cerberus™]

I have commented on it there.

[Richard]

Many thanks.
_________________
The limits of my language are the limits of my universe.
Ludwig Wittgenstein