This lesson trains 43 C2 idioms on Habits. 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.
Act the fool
To behave in a silly way.
The children were running around and making noise during the formal dinner.
Live in a dream world
To have unrealistic ideas or expectations.
He kept talking about becoming a millionaire overnight without any plan.
Cry wolf
To keep asking for help when there is no real danger, so that people stop believing you.
He had raised false alarms so many times that no one responded when the real emergency happened.
Get your act together
To organize yourself and start behaving or performing more effectively.
After several missed deadlines, the project team needed to improve their coordination.
Every cloud has a silver lining
There is something positive in every bad situation.
Although the project was delayed, the team learned valuable new skills.
Not be your bag
To not be something that interests or suits you.
She tried painting but quickly realized it did not appeal to her at all.
Make a pig's ear of
To do something very badly or make a mess of it.
The trainee tried to fix the report but only made it worse.
Bury your head in the sand
To refuse to face an unpleasant reality.
Instead of dealing with the financial problems, he pretended everything was fine.
Make a pig's ear of sth
To do something very badly or make a mess of it.
The trainee tried to fix the report but only made it worse.
Bite off more than one can chew
To try to do more than one is able to manage.
She accepted three major projects at the same time and quickly became overwhelmed.
A leopard can't change its spots
People cannot change their basic nature.
Despite promises to improve, he continued making the same mistakes.
A wild-goose chase
A hopeless or foolish search for something that does not exist or cannot be found.
The long investigation led to no results after following false leads.
Pride comes before a fall.
Being too confident or arrogant often leads to failure.
His overconfidence caused him to ignore important warnings.
Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb
If you are going to be punished anyway, you might as well do something bigger.
Since the deadline had already been missed, they decided to take the extra time to do a better job.
Burn the midnight oil
To work or study late into the night.
The students stayed up until dawn to finish their assignments.
Can't lay your hands on sth
To be unable to find something.
I know the book is somewhere in the house but I can't find it.
Learn your lesson
To learn from a mistake and not repeat it.
After losing his wallet he started being more careful with his belongings.
Teach sb a lesson
To punish or show someone the consequences of their actions so they do not repeat them.
The fine for speeding made him drive more carefully in the future.
Sit on your hands
To do nothing when action is needed.
The committee knew the problem but refused to take any action.
Live life to the full
To enjoy life as much as possible.
After recovering from illness she decided to make the most of every day.
That's sb all over
Used to describe someone's typical behavior, often in a critical way.
He promised to help but disappeared when the work actually started.
Take each day as it comes
To deal with problems as they arise without worrying too much about the future.
After the diagnosis she decided not to plan too far ahead.
Poker-faced
Showing no emotion or reaction.
The negotiator remained completely expressionless during the entire meeting.
Enough is as good as a feast.
You do not need more than enough; moderation is best.
They had already received a generous donation and did not need to ask for more.
Watch with half an eye
To watch something without paying full attention.
She was cooking dinner while keeping an eye on the children playing outside.
Do anything for a quiet life
To go to great lengths to avoid arguments or disturbances.
He agreed to every request just to prevent further complaints from his neighbors.
Make a mountain out of a molehill
To make a small problem seem much larger than it is.
The minor mistake was treated as a major disaster.
Get your mind round
To understand or accept something difficult.
The complex new regulations were hard to comprehend fully.
As a matter of course
As the normal or expected thing to do.
The company always conducted background checks on new employees.
Get off your backside
To stop being lazy and start doing something useful.
The manager was tired of seeing the team sitting around doing nothing.
Sit on the fence
To avoid making a decision or taking sides.
The politician refused to support either side in the debate.
Be on the blink
To be broken or not working properly.
The printer kept jamming and producing poor-quality copies.
A memory like a sieve
A very bad memory.
He kept forgetting where he had put his keys.
Turn over a new leaf
To start behaving in a better way.
After the warning he promised to work harder and be more punctual.
Fingers and thumbs
Clumsy or awkward with one's hands.
He kept dropping things while trying to assemble the furniture.
Highly strung
Very nervous and easily upset.
The young musician was extremely sensitive to criticism.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
It is easier to know what should have been done after something has happened.
Looking back, the solution seemed obvious.
Make hard work of
To make something more difficult than it needs to be.
The simple task was taking much longer than necessary because of poor organization.
Go down a treat
To be very well received or enjoyed.
The homemade cake was a big success at the party.
Do sth on autopilot
To do something without thinking because it has become completely habitual.
She had driven the same route to work for ten years and could do it without concentrating.
Of your own making
Caused by your own actions.
The problems were the result of his own poor decisions.
Get your goat
To annoy someone very much.
His constant interruptions during the meeting irritated everyone.
Beg the question
To avoid answering a question directly or to assume the truth of something that still needs to be proved.
Instead of explaining the decision, the minister repeated the same vague statement.