Learn idioms related to technology. Here I have 10 interesting English idioms that are connected with technology. Nuts and bolts. Blow the fuse. Get your wires crossed.
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Harry
English idioms related to technology
Hi there, this is Harry, and welcome back to my English learning podcast Speak Better English.
Here I try to give you a little bit of help with your English learning. Help you with conversational English, business English, the use of idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs. If you want to contact me, I’ll give you the contact details at the end of this particular episode.
In this particular podcast episode, we’re going to take a little bit of a look at technology, and we’re going to learn English idioms related to technology.
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Let’s go through them one by one.
The first one:
to pull the plug
Meaning: to stop something in its tracks, to stop it immediately
Examples:
The government has pulled the plug on any future people being able to take advantage of this particular tax loophole by changing the legislation.
The business was not doing very well in the last 3 months, and the owners decided to pull the plug.
to blow a fuse
Meaning: when somebody blows a fuse, they get angry or agitated very quickly, and they really explode
When you plug in the toaster, you plug in the microwave, you plug in the hairdryer then a fuse blows, and everything stops working because we’ve overloaded the sockets.
Example:
The customer is going to blow a fuse if we don’t deliver it on time.
We can also use it in the negative.
Example:
I’m sorry, Dad, I had a slight accident with the car, but please don’t blow a fuse.
English idioms related to technology
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to get your wires crossed
Meaning: to misunderstand somebody; to become confused
If you work with electricity, you have to be very careful. If you get your wires crossed, you put the black wire or the blue wire in the wrong place; it can be quite dangerous.
Examples:
I think we’ve got our wires crossed here. What I’m talking about is next week’s meeting. What you seem to be talking about was last week’s meeting.
We got our wires crossed; I thought you were picking Jack up.
The next one is:
nuts and bolts (of something)
Meaning: the finest practical details of something rather than theories or ideas about it
Example:
Adam has worked in this business for 20 years; he knows the nuts and bolts.
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to be on the same wavelength
It is the opposite of ‘to get your wires crossed’
Meaning: to have the same thoughts, the same intentions; to understand exactly the same thing, to be in agreement with somebody
Example:
After the first few brief conversations, we already knew that we were on the same wavelength.
wheels within wheels
Meaning: a lot of bureaucracy, hidden or unknown reasons that make a particular situation very complicated, difficult and slow
Example:
Wheels within wheels. You’ve got to fill in this form, you’ve got to fill in that form, you’ve got to talk to this person. It takes forever to get something done.
English idioms related to technology
The next idiom is
(all the) bells and whistles
Meaning: additional fancy features and extras that make a product very attractive
Example:
This is the first time that we’ve launched a product in many years. We want it to be a real success; we want to capture the public’s imagination, so let’s really give it all the bells and whistles.
to be right on the button
Meaning: to be exactly right
Example:
He confirmed her suspicions; he was right on the button.
to be at the cutting edge
Meaning: to be right there in the lead, at the front
Example:
Apple is always at the cutting edge of technology. The company has become a leader in the industry.
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English idioms related to technology
make someone or something tick
Meaning: to get something or someone going; to get someone interested; to get something moving along
Example:
We need to introduce new people to the company that will help to make the business tick.
So there are the idioms related to technology.
Let me just give them to you one more time:
- to pull the plug on something
- to blow a fuse
- to get your wires crossed
- the nuts and bolts
- on the same wavelength
- wheels within wheels
- (all) the bells and whistles or all the bells and whistles
- to be right on the button
- at the cutting edge
- to make someone or something tick
Hopefully, you enjoyed that. If there is somebody out there that you think will benefit from this English learning podcast, please pass on the details.
You can contact me, and they can contact me on www.englishlessonviaskype.com
I’m always happy to hear from you. Thanks for listening. Join me again soon.
More information
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
Phrasal verbs related to SLEEP
12 English idioms relating to COMMUNICATION
Don’t forget to check out intermediate and advanced English lessons at Learning English with the BBC.
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