This lesson trains 25 C2 idioms on Food, Sleep & Comfort. Idioms signal fluency when used naturally — forcing them into every sentence hurts your score. Practise in the runner first, then revisit every expression in the glossary. Review mode after completion shows how each idiom fits its context.
a taste of your own medicine
The same unpleasant treatment that you have given other people.
During a discussion of everyday comforts, the facilitator introduced “a taste of your own medicine”, an expression meaning “The same unpleasant treatment that you have given other people”.
upset the apple cart
Spoil someone's plans.
In a conversation about meals and sleep, “upset the apple cart” was explained as an expression meaning “Spoil someone's plans”.
burn the midnight oil
Work or study late into the night.
In a lifestyle workshop on food and sleep, participants used “burn the midnight oil” to communicate this idea: “Work or study late into the night”.
enough is as good as a feast
You should not have more than you need.
During a wellbeing discussion about rest and comfort, the facilitator introduced “enough is as good as a feast”, an expression meaning “You should not have more than you need”.
burning the candle at both ends
Go to bed late and get up early, working too hard.
During a discussion of everyday comforts, the trainer referred to “burning the candle at both ends”, a useful expression for the idea “Go to bed late and get up early, working too hard”.
bite off more than one can chew
Take on more than you can manage.
While taking part in a wellbeing discussion about rest and comfort, the speaker highlighted “bite off more than one can chew”, which means “Take on more than you can manage”.
eat [someone] for breakfast
Defeat or criticise someone easily and fiercely.
In a discussion of everyday comforts, participants used “eat [someone] for breakfast” to communicate this idea: “Defeat or criticise someone easily and fiercely”.
there are plenty more fish in the sea
There are many other people or opportunities.
During a discussion of everyday comforts, the facilitator introduced “there are plenty more fish in the sea”, an expression meaning “There are many other people or opportunities”.
dog eat dog
A situation where people compete ruthlessly.
In a wellbeing discussion about rest and comfort, “dog eat dog” was explained as an expression meaning “A situation where people compete ruthlessly”.
catch some z's
Sleep.
During a conversation about meals and sleep, the facilitator introduced “catch some z's”, an expression meaning “Sleep”.
have [someone] eating out of the palm of your hand
Have complete control over someone.
In a conversation about meals and sleep, participants used “have [someone] eating out of the palm of your hand” to communicate this idea: “Have complete control over someone”.
done to a turn
Cooked perfectly.
While taking part in a lifestyle workshop on food and sleep, the speaker highlighted “done to a turn”, which means “Cooked perfectly”.
you can lead a horse to water [but you can't make it drink]
You can offer an opportunity but cannot force someone to use it.
During a discussion of everyday comforts, the trainer referred to “you can lead a horse to water [but you can't make it drink]”, a useful expression for the idea “You can offer an opportunity but cannot force someone to use it”.
flog a dead horse
Waste time on something that cannot succeed.
In a lifestyle workshop on food and sleep, “flog a dead horse” was explained as an expression meaning “Waste time on something that cannot succeed”.
make a pig's ear of [something]
Do something very badly.
During a lifestyle workshop on food and sleep, the facilitator introduced “make a pig's ear of [something]”, an expression meaning “Do something very badly”.
beat a retreat
Withdraw from a position or plan.
In a conversation about meals and sleep, “beat a retreat” was explained as an expression meaning “Withdraw from a position or plan”.
make a pig's ear of
Do something very badly.
During a wellbeing discussion about rest and comfort, the trainer referred to “make a pig's ear of”, a useful expression for the idea “Do something very badly”.
wild horses couldn't make me
Nothing could force me to do it.
While taking part in a wellbeing discussion about rest and comfort, the speaker highlighted “wild horses couldn't make me”, which means “Nothing could force me to do it”.
straight from the horse's mouth
From the person directly involved.
While taking part in a conversation about meals and sleep, the speaker highlighted “straight from the horse's mouth”, which means “From the person directly involved”.
eat [someone] out of house and home
Eat all the food in someone's house.
During a conversation about meals and sleep, the trainer referred to “eat [someone] out of house and home”, a useful expression for the idea “Eat all the food in someone's house”.
you can lead a horse to water [but you can't make him drink]
You can offer an opportunity but cannot force someone to use it.
In a lifestyle workshop on food and sleep, participants used “you can lead a horse to water [but you can't make him drink]” to communicate this idea: “You can offer an opportunity but cannot force someone to use it”.
not lose sleep over [something]
Not worry about something.
In a discussion of everyday comforts, “not lose sleep over [something]” was explained as an expression meaning “Not worry about something”.
take the [biscuit/cake]
Be the most annoying or extreme example.
In a wellbeing discussion about rest and comfort, participants used “take the [biscuit/cake]” to communicate this idea: “Be the most annoying or extreme example”.
have [someone] eating [out of/in] the palm of your hand
Have complete control over someone.
While taking part in a discussion of everyday comforts, the speaker highlighted “have [someone] eating [out of/in] the palm of your hand”, which means “Have complete control over someone”.
the [frosting/icing] on the cake
Something that makes a good thing even better.
During a lifestyle workshop on food and sleep, the trainer referred to “the [frosting/icing] on the cake”, a useful expression for the idea “Something that makes a good thing even better”.