English Vocabulary – Idioms with Children and Babies

Hi!

Well, we all know how important idioms are, so today we are going to learn some new ones.

In case you don’t remember, an idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own.

So we need to learn what each idiom is and cannot depend on the words to help.

Idioms with children and babies

Babe in arms – a babe in arms is a very young child or a child still young enought to be held in someon’s arms.

For example:
“Have you seen Lara’s daughter? She’s still a babe in arms”

Babe in the woods – A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person. Someone who is still very innocent.

For example:
“Henry is like a babe in the woods at his company: everyone takes advantage of him”

Blue-eyed boy – Someone’s blue-eyed boy is their favourite person.

For example:
“Paul is the teacher’s blue-eyed boy”

Boys will be boys – Boys will be boys means that boys, or men, will behave in certain ways, often noisily or irresponsibily.

For example:
“My children are always being noisy with their friends. But boys will be boys”

Child’s play – If something is child’s play, it is very easy and simple.

For example:
“For me, playing the guitar is child’s play, it’s so easy”

In embryo – If something is in embryo, it exists but has not developed.

For example:
“Jenny has a great idea for a new shop but it’s still in embryo and needs a lot more work”

Like a kid in a candy store – If someone is like a kid in a candy store, they are very excited and happy about something.

For example:
“When I go into Channel, I’m like a kid in a candy store!”

Mummy’s boy – A man who is still very dependent on his mother is a mummy’s boy.

For example:
“John needs to grow up. He’s such a mummy’s boy! His mom still makes him lunch and he’s 30 years old”

New kid on the block – A new kid on the block is a person who has recently joined a company, organisation, team, etc, and does not know how things work yet. He is the new person and usually doesn’t know anybody.

For example:
“I really like Ben, he’s the new kid on the block in the art department and he’s really nice”

Sleep like a baby – If you sleep very well, you sleep like a baby.

For example:
“People that say they sleep like a baby have never had children!”

Throw the baby out with the bath water – If you get rid of useful things when discarding inessential things, you throw the baby out with the bath water.

For example:
“Most of his ideas were terrible except for one, so let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water”

Which is YOUR favourite idiom?