Idioms with Landscapes & Scenery

nature idioms and sayings – Idioms with Landscapes & Scenery

Here are some nature idioms with pictures about the beautiful landscapes around our earth.

Idioms with Landscapes & Scenery – beach sayings

Who doesn’t love going to the beach? The sun, sea, the sand, and the sangria! There’s nothing better than feeling the warm sand between your toes and taking a dip in the salty ocean.

Beaches are ram-packed with tourists during the summer months so it’s no wonder there are some sayings about the beach.

 

Here are some idioms about the beach:

• beach body
  meaning – a slim/toned body ready to be shown in the hot weather
  example – I need to hit the gym 4 times a week if I want a beach body this summer.
• life’s a beach
  meaning – life is great/fun/relaxing (just like a day at the beach)
  example – I’ve got a great job and a lovely girlfriend. Life’s a beach.
• the coast is clear
  meaning – there is no danger of being caught, attacked or seen
  example – The wolves went into the forest. The coast was clear for the rabbits to feast on the grass.

beach sayings – picture examples

Idioms with Landscapes & Scenery – dirt/mud sayings

Have you ever been to Glastonbury festival? Due to our lovely English weather (in the summer!), it has been many a time a mud bath! Like literally a river of mud with tents being washed away and all the hippies swimming in it. That is what we call mud.

 

There is in fact a band called ‘Mud’ who released a song called ‘the hippie hippie shake’. You should break up all this study with a and give it a listen. 07 Hippy Hippy Shake – Mud – YouTube

Did you like the song? It’s a fun one, isn’t it?

Anyway, going back to the topic at hand…Dirt is dry mud. When there has been no rain for a while.

 

Here are some idioms about dirt:

• as clear as mud
  meaning – not very easy to understand
  example – My girlfriend is as clear as mud. I don’t know if she wants to get married or break up.
• dirt cheap  
  meaning – very cheap
  example – The street food in Malaysia is dirt cheap and delicious.
• dirt-poor   
  meaning – extremely poor I visited some slums yesterday.
  example – The people are dirt-poor, it upsets me.
• stick in the mud
  meaning – a dull person who avoids new things/adventure
  example – Damon is a stick in the mud, he won’t come paintballing.

dirt/mud sayings – picture examples

Idioms with Landscapes & Scenery – ground phrases

We would describe the ground as the hard surface of the Earth that we walk on. It can be natural like sand or man-made like concrete. The general term is ‘the ground’.

 

There is in fact a saying about keeping your feet on the ground meaning to remain calm after becoming successful. Even the one and only Beatles use it in one of their songs.

The Beatles – Help! – YouTube

 

Here are some idioms about the ground:

• cover a lot of ground
  meaning – travel a long distance or review lots of topics/information
  example – We’ve still got a lot of ground to cover before the exam.
• from the ground up
  meaning – from the beginning to completion
  example – The dog ate my coursework, I need to do it again from the ground up.
• gain ground
  meaning – make progress, become more popular/widely known
  example – Wilkins is gaining ground over Newman. He might be able to overtake him on the final lap.
• get something off the ground
  meaning – start operating/functioning
  example – We need to get this project off the ground ASAP.
• ground-breaking
  meaning – innovative, new, original
  example – Ground-breaking research means we have cures for many diseases.
• grounded
  meaning – a punishment for children where they are not allowed out
  example – I was always grounded as a child, but I used to sneak out the window at night.
• hit the ground running
  meaning – start and continue doing something with enthusiasm
  example – The team have hit the ground running. I predict at least 5 goals from them.
• keep one’s ear to the ground
  meaning – listen for information or gossip
  example – I’m not sure when the tickets go on sale, I’ll keep my ear to the ground.
• keep one’s feet on the ground
  meaning – remain calm and sensible after becoming successful
  example – My multimillionaire dad still sees his school friends and drinks cheap wine. He keeps his feet on the ground.
• lose ground
  meaning – fall behind, fail to keep one’s position
  example – The Lib Dems have lost ground, it’ll be interesting to see the results of the next election.
• moral high ground
  meaning – a person considers their actions morally superior to others
  example – Becky always takes the moral high ground. She is no saint.
• stand one’s ground
  meaning – face a situation bravely, don’t retreat
  example – Stand your ground, the bullies will soon get bored.

ground phrases – picture examples

hill phrases

A hill is a raised part of land that is usually covered in grass. It’s like a rounded mini mountain but not as steep.

 

Here are some idioms with hills:

• go downhill    
  meaning – deteriorate
  example – Grandpa is rapidly going downhill. You had better go to the hospital straight away.
• head for the hills   
  meaning – flee, quickly depart
  example – I’m going to take my dad’s bottle of rum and head for the hills.
• king of the hill 
  meaning – the leader/champion/most successful
  example – Edward is retiring today. That means I’ll become king of the hill.
• over the hill   
  meaning – old, past your best
  example – I’m over the hill, but it’s better to be over the hill than buried under it.
• up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire
  meaning – go upstairs to bed
  example – Make sure the kids are up the wooden hill before 10.
• uphill battle/struggle    
  meaning – a continuously challenging task
  example – Having three kids and four pets is an uphill battle. I’m constantly tired and skint.

hill phrases – picture examples

land idioms

Land is all the Earth that isn’t covered in water. You can also use the term to describe your property or a country e.g.

• Get off my land, you’re trespassing.
• The land in the north of Portugal is great for growing crops.

 

Here are some land idioms:

• in the land of the living
  meaning – alive/awake
  example – It’s 2 pm and my teenage sons still aren’t in the land of the living.
• lay of the land
  meaning – the current situation
  example – I’m going to figure out the lay of the land before I decide to invest.
• live in cloud cuckoo land
  meaning – a fantasy land
  example – You’re living in cloud cuckoo land if you think your wife will take you back.

land idioms – picture examples

mountain expressions

If I said to you Everest, the Andes, the Alps… what am I talking about? You guessed it – mountains. They are huge, elevated parts of the Earth’s crust which rise into the sky. They provide great entertainment for hikers and skiers.

 

Here are some idioms with mountains:

• make a mountain out of a molehill
  meaning – exaggerate a minor issue
  example – Andy is such a drama queen, he is always making mountains out of molehills.
• mountain to climb
  meaning – facing a very difficult task/challenge
  example – The new president is doing a great job, but he still has a mountain to climb.
• move mountains
  meaning – be able to achieve very difficult things
  example – I believe our world cup squad can move mountains this year.

mountain expressions – picture examples

pond sayings

A pond is a small body of still water that is either natural or man-made. Lots of creatures and plants live in ponds. A pond is similar to a lake but it’s smaller.

 

Here are some pond idioms:

• a big fish in a small pond
  meaning – someone who is important in a small area
  example – Joe was a big fish in a small pond. When he went to uni, that all changed.
• across the pond
  meaning – the other side of the Atlantic
  example – Their accent is strange, they must be from across the pond.

pond sayings – picture examples

rock sayings

Rocks are large masses of stone that can be used in building. The difference between a rock and a stone is the size. Stones are small and rocks are big. The biggest is a boulder which is a huge, rounded rock that can’t be lifted by hand.

 

Did you know, you can describe a person as a rock? A rock is strong, tough, and reliable. If you know someone like this, a partner, a parent, a friend, someone who helps you through difficult times…they are your rock.

Do you know the actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson? He got his name for being a tough guy.

 

Here are some rock idioms:

• between a rock and hard place
  meaning – in a predicament, faced with two unpleasant alternatives
  example – Nigel is between a rock and a hard place. It’s divorce or stay together and be miserable.
• on the rocks
  meaning – a relationship/business is suffering/experiencing difficulties
  example – The business is on the rocks. We’re struggling to make a profit.
• rock bottom
  meaning – the lowest possible level
  example – House prices have hit rock bottom, now is the time to buy.
• rocky road
  meaning – a difficult journey (in life)
  example – The twins are on a rocky road, they’re not coping with the death of their mother.

rock sayings – picture examples

sea/ocean sayings

Don’t you just love swimming in the sea? Going to the beach on a blisteringly hot day and jumping into the sea to cool you down has to be one of the best things in life.

 

So, ocean or sea? what’s the difference? Well… just the size really, a sea is a smaller part of the ocean that is enclosed by land. You’d have to go on a boat to get out to the open ocean, unless you’re a keen swimmer that is.

Before we start looking at the expressions, I’ll give you the pronunciation of both:

• Sea – pronounced just like the letter ‘c’.
• Ocean – pronounced o-shun.

 

Here are some sea/ocean idioms:

• a drop in the ocean
  meaning – a small amount compared to what is required
  example – my signature is only a drop in the ocean. the campaign needs 100,000.
• at sea
  meaning – confused about something
  example – We’re at sea about whether to stay in our house of buy a bigger one.
• make waves
  meaning – cause trouble or make an impression
  example – The boss told me not to make any more waves or I’ll be fired.
• plenty more fish in the sea
  meaning – when a relationship fails, there are more people to have relationships with
  example – Everyone is telling me there’s plenty more fish in the sea, but I only want Hugh.
• sea legs
  meaning – keep your balance and not feel sick on a moving ship
  example – I can’t got on a cruise, I haven’t got sea legs.

sea/ocean sayings – picture examples

slope expressions

A slope is part of the ground that goes upwards or downwards at a small angle for a length. It could be a long or a short slope. If it’s too steep, it’s called a hill.

 

Here are some idioms with slope:

• slippery slope
  meaning – a course of action that will lead to disaster
  example – I’ve stolen a few things from the corner shop. I’m worried I’m on a slippery slope.
• slope off
  meaning – quietly leave a place without being noticed
  example – I sloped off around midnight, I wasn’t in the party mood.

slope expressions – picture examples

stone expressions

A stone is a hard clump of minerals that comes from the ground and can be used in building. A stone is typically smaller than a rock but essentially they are the same thing.

 

Here are some idioms with stone:

• a stone’s throw away    
  meaning – something is close
  example – My girlfriend lives a stone’s throw from me, we see a lot of each other.
• cast the first stone 
  meaning – the first person to attack/criticise/accuse
  example – I don’t want to cast the first stone, but it’s Kelly’s fault our business is in trouble.
• etched/set in stone  
  meaning – permanent/fixed/can’t be changed
  example – The contract isn’t set in stone, we can still make some tweaks.
• keep one’s nose to the grindstone          
  meaning – continuously work hard
  example – You’ve kept your nose to the grindstone all year. You deserve a juicy bonus.
• leave no stone unturned      
  meaning – try every way possible to achieve something
  example – We’ll leave no stone unturned in the hunt for the missing teenager.
• like getting blood from stone    
  meaning – very difficult to get something from someone
  example – Good luck trying to get your money back from Michael. It’s like getting blood from a stone.
• people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones   
  meaning – don’t criticise other people’s faults if you have them yourself (a hypocrite)
  example – She shouts at me for smoking, but she takes drugs. People in glass houses…
• stone cold         
  meaning – very cold
  example – I woke up this morning and the rabbit was stone cold in his hutch.
• stone cold sober            
  meaning – not intoxicated, completely sober
  example – I couldn’t get drunk last night, I was stone cold sober all night.

stone expressions – picture examples

tide sayings

Have you ever been to the beach and fallen asleep on the sand then suddenly… You get wet feet. The tide has come in quickly and washed you and your belongings away.

The tide is to do with the sea/ocean and how it rises and falls at different times of the day.

 

Here are some tide idioms:

• ride with the tide  
  meaning – accept the majority decision
  example – Rupert is really chilled out, he just rides with the tide.
• swim against the tide   
  meaning – not follow what everyone else is doing
  example – We can’t swim against the tide, we need to give the consumers what they want.
• tide over   
  meaning – a small amount of something to help someone until they acquire more
  example – I lent my sister £30 to tide her over until pay day, my niece needs some things for school.
• tide turns
  meaning – a change in fortunes
  example – The greens were 3-0 down at half time. The tide has turned and they’re 4-3 up.

tide sayings – picture examples