English Vocabulary: “Idioms related to building”

Good morning everyone!

Remember we spoke about idioms? Well today we are going to learn some more. Today we will be learning idioms connected to the concept of building.

To bank on something/someone – something or someone you can be sure of.
Example: “I’d bank on my brother being late; he always is”

To lock the barn door after the horse has bolted – to be careful or try to make something safe when it’s too late.
Example: “Buying a burglar alarm after the break in is like locking the barn door after the horse has bolted”

To be banging/hitting your head against a brick wall – to waste time trying to do something with little or no success.
Example: “Trying to get John to study is like banging my head against the wall: it’s a waste of time”

To burn your bridges – to do something that makes it impossible for you to change your plans and go back to the situation you were in before.
Example: “Laura has burned her bridges at work, she argued with everyone when she decided to leave”

Rome wasn’t built in a day – it takes a long time to do an important job.
Example: “Don’t worry about finishing today, Rome wasn’t built is a day”

Build a case against someone – to put together the evidence needed to make a legal or disciplinary case against someone.
Example: “The lawyers have been building a case against that mafia boss for years”

Castles in the air – to daydream.
Example: “Jane loves sitting outside and building castles in the air”

Make oneself at home – to act as if you were at home.
Example: “Welcome, please make yourself at home and let me know if you need anything”

On the house – something provided free by a business, especially in a bar or restaurant.
Example: “If you get a glass of wine, the snacks are on the house”

People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones – do not complain about other people if you are as bad as they are.
Example: “Irina has no money but she tells everyone to be careful with theirs. I told her that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”

To hit the roof – to become very angry, to go into a rage.
Example: “When I heard Greg had stolen my necklace, I hit the roof”

The elephant in the room – a problem or situation that everyone knows about but no one mentions.
Example: “We all know that they are getting divorced although they haven’t said anything. It’s a huge elephant in the room”