Idioms for July

There are many interesting and fun idioms which involve independence. Let’s look at some below:

1. “Stand on your own two feet”

Meaning:
This is used to encourage someone to be less dependant on other people, to use their own skills and knowledge to live or work without relying on others.

Example:
“Michael, you can’t expect Tina to help you with your homework every week. You have to learn to stand on your own two feet.”

2. “Tied to the apron strings”

Meaning:
This idiom is speaking about someone who relies too much on their mother, wife or other care-giver. An Apron is a piece of clothing traditionally placed over your head and tied around your waist with long strings when cooking food, if someone were connected (or ‘tied’) with these apron-strings they would not be able to travel far from the person wearing it!

Example:
“Paul won’t come out and play with us. He’s too tied to his mom’s apron strings.”

3.“Yes-man”

Meaning:
This is an idiom describing someone who agrees with anything other people say, because they want to be liked by those people. When being applied to women, the idiom does not change sex!

Example:
“Hmmm….Amanda’s a real Yes-man, I wouldn’t be confident that she actually knows what she’s doing.”

4. “A pillar of strength”

Meaning:
This is used to describe someone who is very independent and cannot be forced to change their mind or betray their beliefs and ideas.

Example:
“Nana is so useful to our school. She’s a real pillar of strength when it comes to supporting the children”

5. “Coming into (your) own”

Meaning:
This idiom is used to describe someone who is displaying new confidence, skills or abilities.

Example:
“I’m so proud of your performance in that English quiz Betty. You are really coming into your own!”