Idioms — Set 89

Set 89 of Idioms covers 5 idioms: sleep like a log, chew the scenery, sweep someone off their feet, bury the hatchet, go down like a lead balloon. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. sleep like a log · idiom/slip laɪk ə lɔɡ/

   to sleep very deeply and soundly

   After hiking all day, I was so exhausted that I slept like a log and didn’t wake up once during the night.

   Origin: From the 1800s — a heavy log lies still on the ground without moving, like a person in extremely deep sleep.

2. chew the scenery · idiom/tʃu ðə ˈsinɚi/

   to overact or behave dramatically

   The actor was supposed to deliver a simple speech, but instead, he chewed the scenery with an over-the-top performance.

   Origin: From American theater in the 1890s — bad actors over-emoted so violently they appeared to chew the painted scenery.

3. sweep someone off their feet · idiom/swip ˈsʌmwʌn ɔf ðɛr fit/

   to make someone fall in love or be deeply impressed

   From the moment they met, he swept her off her feet with his charm and kindness.

   Origin: From the 1700s — captures the sensation of romantic love so strong it lifts a person physically off the ground.

4. bury the hatchet · idiom/ˈbɛri ðə ˈhætʃɪt/

   to end a conflict and make peace

   After years of fighting, the two families finally buried the hatchet and agreed to move on.

   Origin: From Native American tradition — burying a tomahawk during peace ceremonies meant ending hostilities permanently.

5. go down like a lead balloon · idiom/ɡoʊ daʊn laɪk ə lɛd bəˈlun/

   to be received very poorly or fail badly

   His joke about the economy went down like a lead balloon—nobody laughed, and the room fell silent.

   Origin: A 1900s expression — a balloon made of heavy lead couldn't float and would crash, like a joke that completely failed.