Primary 6 Idioms and Phrases: Nan Hua 2019 Context, Meaning and Precision

This page preserves and improves the expression bank originally attached to a historical Nan Hua SA2 2019 vocabulary lesson. Not every item in the old list is technically an idiom, so this version separates idioms, fixed expressions and ordinary vocabulary.

Expression Guide

Expression	Meaning	Type / usage note
take heart	become encouraged or more hopeful	fixed expression
stand in good stead	be useful or beneficial in the future	idiomatic expression
ride high	be very successful or confident	idiomatic; context-sensitive
in a cold sweat	very anxious or frightened	idiomatic/figurative use
throw someone under the bus	sacrifice or blame someone to protect oneself	modern informal idiom; strong register
heart-touching	emotionally moving	adjective phrase, not a classic idiom; touching is often more natural
mull over	think carefully about something	phrasal verb
right away	immediately	fixed adverbial phrase
get through	complete, survive, pass through or make contact, depending on context	phrasal verb with multiple senses
vim and vigour	energy and enthusiasm	fixed expression; somewhat literary/old-fashioned
aftermath	the consequences following an unpleasant event	ordinary noun, not an idiom
trouble shared is trouble halved	sharing a problem can make it easier to bear	proverb-like saying
with a heavy heart	with great sadness	idiomatic expression
lighten up	become less serious, worried or strict	informal phrasal verb
troubled waters	a difficult, unstable or contentious situation	figurative phrase
out of business	no longer operating commercially	fixed phrase, largely literal
fair-weather friends	friends who stay only when circumstances are easy or favourable	idiomatic compound
make ends meet	have just enough money to cover ordinary expenses	idiom

Why Classification Matters

Calling every colourful expression an “idiom” hides useful differences. A learner should know whether an item is:

a true idiom whose figurative meaning cannot be read literally;
a phrasal verb;
a proverb or saying;
a fixed phrase;
or simply an ordinary noun or adjective.

Register Matters Too

Throw someone under the bus is highly informal and modern. Vim and vigour can sound old-fashioned or literary. Make ends meet fits discussions of household money. A phrase can be correctly defined yet still be wrong for the tone of a sentence.

Context-Fit Practice

A family has just enough income to pay its normal expenses.
A pupil becomes encouraged after hearing reassuring news.
A person spends the evening thinking carefully about a difficult choice.
A supposed friend disappears as soon as life becomes difficult.
Someone accepts sad news reluctantly.

Possible answers: make ends meet; take heart; mull over; fair-weather friend; with a heavy heart.

Misuse Check

Which expression is weak or inappropriate?

“The merchant was in a cold sweat because he feared losing his cargo.”
“The monastery was an aftermath.”
“She mulled over the decision for several hours.”
“The family worked hard to make ends meet.”

Answer: Sentence 2 misuses aftermath. An aftermath is what follows an event, not a place.

Transfer Task

Write a short scene using two expressions from different categories—for example, one idiom and one phrasal verb. Explain why each expression fits the situation and register.