“We just don’t see eye to eye.” (Image: David Castillo Dominici, FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
Idiom #1 – My sister and I just don’t see eye to eye.
= We don’t agree.
You can use “see eye to eye” for agreement in general:
I quit my job because I didn’t see eye to eye with my boss.
Or you can use “on” + the specific topic of agreement/disagreement:
My brother and I don’t see eye to eye on politics.
Idiom #2 – It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
= It was extremely quiet.
If a pin dropped onto the floor, it would make very little noise; it would be hard to hear the pin drop unless the room was completely silent. So saying “it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop” emphasizes that it was extremely quiet.
Idiom #3 – Something about that opportunity smells fishy to me.
= There is something suspicious; there is potentially something dishonest.
Fish often has a strong, unpleasant smell. If something “smells fishy” it means it seems suspicious, it seems like it might not be completely correct or true. You can also say it sounds fishy or seems fishy.
Another idiom to say you suspect something is wrong: “I smell a rat.”
“He hasn’t been playing well lately; he seems to be losing his touch.”
Idiom #4 – I think my favorite basketball player is losing his touch.
= He’s not playing as well as he used to in the past; his ability has decreased.
You can use this idiom with any activity, not just sports.
For example, if you normally write really great reports, but you’ve been writing mediocre reports lately, you can say “I’m losing my touch!” because you seem to be losing your ability; you aren’t doing as well as you did in the past.
Idiom #5 – Beer is an acquired taste for many people.
= Many people don’t like beer the first time they try it, but they learn to like it over time.
You can use “acquired taste” for other things (such as musical styles, activities, types of books, etc.) – not just food or drink.
