Imagine a squirrel in a park, running away from a dog. The squirrel darts around and runs up a tree. The dog sits at the bottom of the tree barking and trying to get a glimpse of the squirrel. What the dog doesn’t know is, that he is barking up the wrong tree. The squirrel is in a different tree entirely. Here is the idiom ‘to bark up the wrong tree’.
This idiom, as you have probably guessed, means that someone is wrong about the reason why something happened. It can also mean that someone is going about something in the wrong way.
The idioms we look at here are all related to nature in some way. What I love about these idioms is that they easily evoke an image, and the meanings, while not always transparent, can probably be guessed. Have a look at 6 more here and see if you can guess what they mean and if they exist in your own language.
8 idioms in English for everyday life to test your English reading comprehension
1. Get your ducks in a row
If you get your ducks in a row, you get your tasks well organized and everything is under control for the next step.
Examples:
- "You need to get your ducks in a row before the class!"
- "I suggest you get your ducks in a row, because you are all over the place."
2. Barking Up the Wrong Tree
As illustrated above, this means that someone is pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action.
Examples:
- "My boss thinks that the clients are dissatisfied because of the product, but she is barking up the wrong tree, it is clearly something else."
- "The detective realized he had been barking up the wrong tree when new evidence pointed to a completely different suspect."
3. Water Off a Duck’s Back
For this one, imagine rain falling on a duck’s back. Does it stay there? Or does it slide off the duck’s oily feathers? Since ducks have feathers coated with a natural waterproof oil, this means water rolls off without soaking in. This idiom refers to people letting negativity slide away without it affecting them.
Examples:
- "The coach’s harsh feedback was like water off a duck’s back to the experienced player, who knew it was all part of improving."
- "Some people were upset about the decision, but for the CEO, the complaints were like water off a duck’s back."
4. Water Under the Bridge
This idiom refers to the water that flows in a river, water flows under the bridge and into the distance. Once water has passed under a bridge, it cannot return. This refers to past events that are no longer considered important or worth worrying about. It is about leaving the past behind and moving forward and reflects a spirit of forgiveness and letting go.
Examples:
- "We had some disagreements in the past, but that’s all water under the bridge now - we’re good friends again."
- "She apologized for missing the deadline, and I told her not to worry; it’s water under the bridge."
5. Can’t See the Forest/Wood for the Trees
Imagine looking at the elements that make up a tree, like the leaves, the bark, the branches, or how the roots disappear into the earth. By looking at individual elements of a single tree, without stepping back and looking at the whole forest, means that you miss the beauty of the forest itself.
This is idiom is about being so focused on small details that the overall situation is overlooked. It is about reminding us to take a step back and view the bigger picture. In British English we often use the word ‘wood’ to mean ‘forest’, so in British English you are more likely to hear someone say ‘He can’t see the wood for the trees’.
Examples:
- "The team is so caught up in minor design tweaks that they can’t see the wood for the trees and are neglecting the user experience."
- "Sometimes you get so bogged down in daily tasks that you can’t see the forest for the trees and forget your long-term goals."
6. A Fish Out of Water
How comfortable does a fish out of water feel? Not good, that’s for sure! This idiom is about how uncomfortable or disoriented you feel in an unfamiliar or unsuitable environment. Put a top executive in a hospital emergency room, or a schoolteacher in the stock exchange for a day. How comfortable do you think they would feel?
Examples:
- "When she started her new job in a completely different industry, she was like a fish out of water, unsure of how to fit in."
- "Being in a small, quiet town made him feel like a fish out of water after living his whole life in a bustling city."
7. The Tip of the Iceberg
Icebergs, floating masses of ice, have only about 10% of their volume visible above the waterline, with the other 90% under the water. This scientific phenomenon inspired the idiom, highlighting that what is seen often represents only a fraction of the entire situation.
It became popular in the 20th century, particularly in business and problem-solving contexts and exists in many languages. Do you have an equivalent in your language?
Examples:
- "The recent layoffs are just the tip of the iceberg; the company is facing much deeper financial troubles."
- "The tension you see between the two coworkers is only the tip of the iceberg—there’s a long history of unresolved conflict."
8. Make Hay While the Sun Shines
This idiom originates from the UK, where the sun doesn’t shine that often. It harks back to medieval England, when farmers needed sunny weather to cut, dry, and store hay. If they delayed, rain could ruin the crop. This idiom reminds us to act promptly and make the most of favorable conditions.
Examples:
- "Since the kids are at a friend’s house for the afternoon, we should make hay while the sun shines and get some cleaning done."
- "With good weather predicted for the weekend, we decided to make hay while the sun shines and repaint the house exterior."
Mother-tongue equivalents
These idioms have been present in the English language for centuries, and all of them are still very common in everyday language. They may exist in your native language in one form or another. It is interesting to reflect on any idioms that use elements of nature in your own language because they often reflect the culture, the climate, or customs of the countries they originate from.
Exercises
Choose the correct option:
1. What does "water off a duck’s back" mean?
a) Ignoring insults or criticism
b) Moving forward with determination
c) Facing challenges head-on
d) Being overly sensitive
2. Which idiom signifies forgetting past issues?
a) Barking up the wrong tree
b) Water under the bridge
c) Tip of the iceberg
d) Can’t see the forest for the trees
3. The idiom "barking up the wrong tree" means:
a) you have the wrong idea
b) you are travelling in the wrong direction
c) you are selfish
d) you have many regrets
4. What does "can’t see the forest for the trees" imply?
a) Missing the bigger picture
b) Being out of place
c) Moving on from the past
d) Taking advantage of opportunities
5. "A fish out of water" refers to:
a) A person who is out of place
b) Someone who is very adaptable
c) A rare and unusual situation
d) A challenging problem
6. The idiom "tip of the iceberg" highlights:
a) Overcoming obstacles
b) Only a small part of a larger issue
c) The beauty of nature
d) Moving forward despite difficulties
7. "Make hay while the sun shines" means:
a) Act promptly and seize opportunities
b) Work tirelessly without rest
c) Wait for the right moment
d) Reflect on past mistakes
Answer Key: 1. a; 2. b; 3. a; 4. a; 5. a; 6. b; 7. a
Keep testing your knowledge!