Some useful idioms

1. Turn over a new leaf

When you decide to do something different to change your life for the better, you are turning over a new leaf. 

Example: "This year I've joined a gym and I am exercising every day. I'm turning over a new leaf."

Turning over a new leaf is like turning over a new page ("leaf") in your life and seeing what is on the other side. 

Example: "Wow. Look how polite your son has become." Reply: "Yes. We had a big talk with him, and he has really turned over a new leaf."

You turn over a new leaf when you commit to changing your life for the better. 

Example: "I'm turning over a new leaf: I've decided to quit smoking."

2. Cross your fingers

An old superstition says that if you cross your fingers (usually two fingers of the same hand) it will bring good luck. 

Example: "I don't know what I will get for my birthday, but I am crossing my fingers that it will be a bicycle."

You cross your fingers when you try to make something happen by wishing that it will happen. A common saying: "Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best." 

Example: "Good luck on your test tomorrow. We'll be crossing our fingers for you!" Reply: "Thanks." 

The meaning of don't cross your fingers changes a bit. It means don't hope too much for what you want to happen, because there is a strong chance that it might not happen. It means that you should not have expectations that are too high. 

Example: "It would be great if our team won today, but don't cross your fingers."

 "We are hoping that John will get accepted to medical school, but we are not crossing our fingers."

3. Start from scratch

You start from scratch in cooking when you cook a meal starting with only the smallest food ingredients.

Example: "This cake is excellent. Where did you buy it?" Reply: "Actually, my mother made it from scratch." 

"My father is excellent with cars. He started with spare parts and built this engine from scratch." 

When you do or make something using the smallest parts, you start from scratch. 

Example: "My computer crashed and I lost all of my work." Reply: "That's terrible. What will you do?" Answer: "I'll do it again, starting from scratch."

Nguồn: Sưu tầm