- This list will help you bring new phrases to the table
- Enrich your written English skills by incorporating these idioms into your next essay
Open the door to English success with these interesting housing and furniture idioms. Photo: Shutterstock Look around your home; it is adorned with an array of essential furniture, from sofas to dining tables and other features that make a house a home. Apart from helping us in our daily lives, some of these items can also be used as idioms to enrich our written English skills. This week, we showcase 10 phrases inspired by home furniture to support your writing.
1. Bring the curtain down
Meaning: to end something
Example: The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games brought down the curtain on two weeks of competition.
2. Bring something to the table
Meaning: to provide something that will benefit something or someone
Example: As the leader of the team, Brian brings excellent decision-making skills to the table that guide the team to success.
As sweet as English can get: these idioms will get your sugary cravings going
3. Darken someone’s door
Meaning: to go to or appear at a place where one is not welcome
Example: After the divorce, Jane cut ties with her former husband and told him never to darken her door again.
4. Get out of bed on the wrong side
Meaning: to start the day in a bad mood or with a negative attitude
Example: Jerry is not behaving well; it seems he got out of bed on the wrong side this morning.
5. Glass ceiling
Meaning: an invisible barrier that prevents individuals, particularly women and minorities, from moving to higher positions in the workplace
Example: The new CEO promised to break the glass ceiling by implementing a series of initiatives to promote gender equality and inclusiveness.
6. Have something on one’s plate
Meaning: to have tasks, responsibilities or obligations to attend to
Example: Daphne has a lot on her plate, with several project deadlines approaching and two new assignments.
7. Lift the curtain
Meaning: to make something publicly known; to reveal or disclose details
Example: The government will hold a press conference this week to lift the curtain on their new policies and provide the public with detailed information.
8. Open the door (to something)
Meaning: to give new opportunities or possibilities; to allow something new to begin
Example: The company’s inclusive policy has opened doors for people with different abilities to apply for jobs.
9. Part of the furniture
Meaning: something or someone that is so familiar as to be regarded as a permanent feature, often taken for granted
Example: Standing tall for generations, the old tree has become part of the furniture in the community, serving as a meeting spot for residents.
10. Show someone the door
Meaning: to ask or demand that someone leave or be dismissed from a place or situation
Example: The guard showed the rude visitor the door because of their disrespectful behaviour.