The “Music Idioms” image was created by Kaplan International. To see the original article or to discover how you can study English abroad.1. HIT THE RIGHT NOTE / STRIKE THE RIGHT NOTEIf you hit the right note, you speak or act in a way that has a positive effect on people. I don’t know how he managed to do it, but he just struck the right note and the meeting ended really positively, even the boss looked pleased!2. BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET / BLOW YOUR OWN HORN / TOOT YOUR OWN HORNWhen someone boasts about their own talents, abilities and achievements.
Well, you’re very good at blowing your own trumpet, you just never seem to prove it!3. IT TAKES TWO TO TANGOThis is used to suggest that when things go wrong, both sides are involved and neither party is completely innocent. I know you saw what he did, but it takes two to tango, they are both equally to blame.4. FIT AS A FIDDLEThis is used to describe someone who is in perfect health. It’s unbelievable. He must be at least 80 but he’s as fit as a fiddle!5. WITH BELLS ONThis means to arrive somewhere happy and delighted to attend.
Yes, I’m going to the party too, I’ll be there with bells on!6. LIKE A BROKEN RECORDUsed to describe someone who keeps talking about the same story over and over again. Would you please stop going on about her boyfriend, you sound like a broken record!7.
AND ALL THAT JAZZThis means that everything related to or similar is included. Celebrities definitely seem to be starting all the latest trends with fashion, hair and all that jazz.8. MUSIC TO MY EARSWhen you hear exactly what you wanted to hear.
This is a list of musical terms that are likely to be encountered in printed scores, music reviews, and program notes.Most of the terms are Italian (see also Italian musical terms used in English), in accordance with the Italian origins of many European musical conventions.Sometimes, the special musical meanings of these phrases differ from the original or current Italian meanings. In music theory, a phrase (Greek: φράση) is a unit of musical meter that has a complete musical sense of its own, built from figures, motifs, and cells, and combining to form melodies, periods and larger sections. A phrase is a substantial musical thought, which ends with a musical punctuation called a cadence.
When they read out the results and everyone heard that I got top marks, it was like music to my ears!!9. YOU CAN’T UNRING A BELLThis means that once something has been done, it cannot be changed and you have to live with the consequences. I’m afraid you can’t unring the bell now, everyone heard what you said.10. MARCH TO THE BEAT OF YOUR OWN DRUMWhen someone does things the way they want to, without taking anybody else or anything else into consideration. I’ve tried talking to him but he won’t listen.
All he knows is how to march to the beat of his own drum! Why don’t you try?11. SWAN SONGThis expression is used to describe a final act before dying or ending something. I am going to resign tomorrow.
![Phrases Phrases](http://www.piano-play-it.com/images/Legato.png)
This project was my swan song and now that it has been completed, I will leave.12. RING A BELLIf something rings a bell, it sounds familiar, but you can’t remember the exact details.
Harry Bertram? That name rings a bell, but I’m not sure if it was definitely him.13.
STRIKE A CHORDUsed to describe something that is familiar to you, reminds you of something or is connected to you somehow. That poem really struck a chord in me, it reminded me of my youth so much.14. CHANGE YOUR TUNE / SING A DIFFERENT TUNEWhen someone changes their opinion or their idea of something particular. You’ve definitely changed your tune since the last time I saw you!
You used to hate this town!15. FACE THE MUSICYou say this when someone has to accept the negative consequences of something that has happened.
I’m not ready to face the music. I need to figure it out for myself before I speak to them.16. FOR A SONGIf you buy or sell something for a song, it means it is very cheap. I can’t believe I managed to buy all of this for a song, maybe the shopkeeper didn’t know what they’re really worth!17. PLAY BY EARThis means to deal with something in an impromptu manner, without guidelines or rules. It refers to playing music without using written connotation.
I don’t know what I’m going to say when she gets here, I’ll just play it by ear.18. SEE YOU ON THE BIG DRUMA goodnight phrase used for children.
Okay, get some sleep now. See you on the big drum.19. AS CLEAN AS A WHISTLEUsed to describe something that is extremely clean. He may come across as someone who could’ve been involved in that robbery, but I have checked his records and they’re as clean as a whistle.20. BLOW THE WHISTLE / WHISTLE BLOWERIf you report an illegal or harmful activity to the authorities and give information about those responsible, then you are blowing the whistle and would be referred to as a whistle blower. John refused to make a statement for the police.
He was afraid of losing his job if he blew the whistle on his boss. CALL THE TUNEThis is used to describe the person who makes the important decisions about something. I’m afraid I can’t help you sir. Barbara calls the tune around here, so you’d have to speak to her.22.
PLAY SECOND FIDDLEThis is used to describe the person who takes a subordinate role behind someone more important. You’re much more experienced than he is, I don’t understand why you continue to play second fiddle. You deserve a higher position in the company!23.
WHISTLE FOR ITIf someone says this to you, it means they are determined to ensure that you don’t get what you are after. You can whistle for it as much as you like, this is an heirloom of our family and will stay with us!24. CLEAR AS A BELLIf something is as clear as a bell, it is very clear or easy to understand. His instructions were as clear as a bell, everyone knew exactly what they were supposed to do.25. FIDDLE WHILE ROME BURNSThis is used when people are procrastinating or wasting their time on unimportant matters while there are more serious problems to be dealt with.
The management committee seems to be fiddling while Rome burns, they haven’t shown any signs of taking immediate action.26. JAZZ SOMETHING UPUsed when someone is trying to improve something or add more style to it. This dress looks so dull on its own, maybe I should jazz it up a bit with this scarf.27. CHIME INUsed when someone interrupts or joins in a conversation, especially to repeat or agree with something.
I was telling the police officer what had happened, but everyone chimed in and started giving their versions of the story, and he couldn’t hear what I was saying!28. DRUM INTO ONE’S HEADWhen you teach someone how to do something through constant repetition. Our teacher drummed into our heads how important it is to understand the history of our own country.29. TICKLE THE IVORYThis is a humorous way of talking about playing the piano. My mother used to love playing the piano.
She’d tickle the ivory whenever she had a chance.30. JAM SESSION / JAMMINGPlaying music with various instruments in an improvised and informal setting.
A few of my friends came over to my house yesterday, and we had the most amazing jam session. We were jamming last night, and I came up with a brilliant idea for a new song!31. FINE TUNINGUsed to describe small adjustments made to improve something or to make it work better. My motorbike is almost ready.
My dad is quite happy with it, but I think it needs a little more fine tuning.32. WHISTLE-STOP TOURWhen someone visits a number of places quickly, only stopping at each for a short period of time.
We’re going to visit my family up North for the weekend, but it’s only going to be a whistle-stop tour, as we have so many relatives to visit there!33. WHISTLING IN THE DARKWhen someone believes in a positive result, even though everybody else is sure it will not happen. He seems pretty determined that he’s going to win the race, but judging from who he is up against, I think he’s only whistling in the dark.34. WHISTLING DIXIEIf someone is whistling Dixie, they talk about things in a more positive way than the reality. Mainly used in the US.
He heard what the doctor had to say, but he still seems to be whistling Dixie.35. MAKE A SONG AND DANCE ABOUT SOMETHINGWhen someone makes a big deal out of, or a fuss over, something that isn’t that important. I wish she’d stop making such a song and dance about me moving out, it’s not a big deal.36. ELEVATOR MUSICPleasant but boring pre-recorded music that is usually played in public places. I usually like his songs, but his new album just sounds like elevator music!37. DRUM UP SUPPORT / BUSINESS / INTERESTTry to get extra support/business/interest by various means. I’ve been trying to drum up support for the local Women’s Rights campaign by speaking to people in the neighborhood.
We need to try and drum up some interest from the local residents, otherwise we’ll never be able to go ahead with our building plans!38. WET YOUR WHISTLETo drink something alcoholic. Why don’t you join us tonight and wet your whistle?
It’s been a long time since we went out together!39. TRUMPET SOMETHINGTo deliberately broadcast some news so everyone can hear, with the intent to boast about something. He hasn’t stopped trumpeting his promotion ever since he got it last month! It’s very annoying.40. MARCH TO THE SAME TUNE / SING FROM THE SAME SONGSHEETWhen everyone follows the same plan, or says the same thing (can be used in the negative form too). I would say the reason why our business is failing is because everyone is not marching to the same tune!. He is always singing from the same songsheet as others.
I’ve never heard him come up with his own original idea!More for you:SONGS WITH IDIOMSMusic is constantly evolving, and so is the English language! So it comes as no surprise that they affect each other so much.English idioms are used in music to express feelings and describe situations, the same way music is used in English!Here is a list of popular songs that include idioms:‘Mountain Sound’ by Monsters of Men‘ Hold your horses now’ meaning wait or hold on.
As you’re learning on the piano, you’ll come across a lot of different words and terms that will seem like a foreign language. And that’s because they are!Most sheet music terms you’ll see are Italian, or have Italian roots, while others are taken from French, German, Latin, or Spanish.
But don’t worry — you don’t need to learn how to fluently to be a good piano player. There are many piano terms and symbols, but the 14 listed in the infographic below are some of the most common. If you understand these, you’ll be able to play many famous piano pieces in the way the composer intended — and as you continue learning!Share this Image On Your SitePlease include attribution to with this graphic.Special thanks to online piano teacher for her help with these music term definitions!. My daughter really wants to learn piano, so I am thinking about signing her up for classes. It sounds like there are a few terms that she will need to know to become a really good piano player, such as allegro and crescendo, as well as what a sharp sign is.
I think that it might be good to check up with her every lesson, just to see what she is learning. I will also encourage her to practice often so that she will be able to learn these terms and apply them to her playing. Thanks for sharing this great infographic!.