Learn 5 Common English Idioms to Describe People

Krystal, Level 1 Listening and Speaking Instructor

Sometimes, even when you know a lot of English, you can have difficulty finding the right words or phrases to describe people’s appearance and personality. Having the right words to describe the different people that you meet is helpful. Here are 5 English idioms that you may hear when people are describing others.

1.   Has a heart of gold – hǽz ə hɑ́rt ə́v gól

• A person who has a heart of gold is very kind and considerate.
• Example: She has a heart of gold. She’ll always help anyone with anything.
• ʃí hǽz ə hɑ́rt ə́v góld. ʃíl ɒ́lwèz hɛ́lp ɛ́niwən wɪθ ɛ́niθɪ̀ŋ

Image courtesy of inkfoundry.com 

2.   Pain in the neck - pén ɪn ðə nɛ́k

• A person who is a pain in the neck is very annoying or a bother.
• Example: My little sister is a pain in the neck.
• máj lɪ́təl sɪ́stər ɪ́z ə pén ɪn ðə nɛ́k.

3.   Happy-go-lucky – hǽpi gó lə́ki

• A person who is happy-go-lucky is very cheerful and carefree all the time.
• She is a happy-go-lucky girl. She’s always so cheerful.
• ʃí ɪ́z ə hǽpi- gó- lə́ki gə́rl. ʃíz ɒ́lwèz só tʃɪ́rfəl.

4.   Hard as nails – hɑ́rd ǽz nélz

• A person who is (as) hard as nails is unsentimental and shows no sympathy.
• He doesn’t care who he hurts. He’s as hard as nails.
• hí də́zənt kɛ́r hú hí hə́rts. híz ǽz hɑ́rd ǽz nélz.

5.   Average Joe – ǽvərɪdʒ dʒó

• A person who is an average Joe is someone who’s just like everyone else; a normal person.
• He is an average Joe student. He isn’t rich and famous.
• hí ɪ́z ǽn ǽvərɪdʒ dʒó stúdənt. hí ɪ́zənt rɪ́tʃ ǽnd féməs.

Now you give it a try. Can you think of people you can use these idioms to describe?

Is there an English idiom you don’t understand? Post your idiom question below as a reply, or send me an e-mail (kkillcre@aum.edu) and tell me about it. I’ll try to help you understand it better.

Happy Learning!

Image courtesy of chappellroberts.com