Listen to the author reading this blog post:
In Part 1 of my ‘Idioms with the word “world”’ post, I looked at a variety of frequent and contemporary expressions, including ‘out of this world’ and ‘the best of both worlds’. Today’s post continues the ‘world idiom’ theme and includes an expression for discussing how to fix the world’s problems and another for relaxing by watching other people.
When people discover that they know the same person, despite coming from different places, they sometimes express their surprise by saying It’s a small world:
“So, Maria tells me you used to teach my brother in London.” “Yes, it’s a small world, isn’t it?”
If you are talking about the possibility of something bad happening and you say it wouldn’t or won’t be the end of the world, you mean it would not be a disaster, even if it is disappointing:
Obviously, I’d like to get the job, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I didn’t. There are other jobs out there.
Someone who has the world at their feet has achieved great success and fame and is admired by a lot of people:
Aged just 23, the young ballerina had the world at her feet.
To see the world is to travel to many different places around the world:
I wasn’t ready to settle down – I wanted to see the world.
Meanwhile, if you sit in public somewhere and relax by watching people as they go past, you might say that you watch the world go by:
I sat on a bench in the sun, just watching the world go by.
Most ‘world’ idioms are positive, but not all. For example, if someone thinks the (whole) world revolves around them, they think they are very important and other people should consider them first when making plans:
The trouble with Lucy is she thinks the whole world revolves around her.
If you say that someone or something isn’t going to set the world on fire, you mean they are not exciting and they probably won’t be very successful:
I mean, she has a nice enough voice, but she’s not going to set the world on fire.
I’m going to finish with an idiom for something that we all do from time to time. If you have a conversation (usually a relaxed chat with a friend) about how the world’s problems could be solved, you might say you put or set the world to rights:
Ethan and I always end up putting the world to rights.
That concludes my ‘world’ idioms post. When did you last set the world to rights with an old friend? Tell me about it below.
Nice.What is it’s other use?
Worker
Thank you very much Kate, both part 1 and part 2 about the word ‘world’ with examples of idioms are the same in my country, I think the most popular feeling is like the one you give us: ‘Ethan and I always end up putting the world in order’.
Thank you from Georgia🇬🇪very useful!
You’re very welcome! How interesting that so many idioms are the same.
I want did
Ethan and I always end up putting the world to rights.
wow!thanks a million Kate!very useful from Zimbabwe
Thank you so much for beneficial information and clear explanation. It’s terrific to learn from you.
I’m delighted to hear it. Thanks so much for your lovely message!
I could help thinking, edgar allen phoe, sherlok holmes and the best baron from Munchhausen.
That s aspecial funny is n t you?
I always use the idiom of someone thinking that the world revolves around them because in many ways people want to be treated better than others even when they don’t deserve it
Hello
I am dreaming of a day when I can sit on a bench in Cambridge and just watch the world go by or wait for a friend to set the world to rights. How a great chance to listen to you and read you, my dear Kate. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Hello, as someone passionate about studying English, I deeply appreciate the content you publish. Albeit, I’ve got a small request to make. Please don’t get me wrong, but the audio quality is very low. Is there a way of fixing it?”
Your Lessons are insanely out if this world. But its about time you guys should have sonething like a quiz.
How about this?