Idioms & Phrases

Go the extra mile

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Do you know the English idiom “go the extra mile“?

Look at this conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

Zita: Harry made a great presentation, didn’t he? His PowerPoint slides were really impressive. They were better than mine!

Dillon: Yes, he always goes the extra mile when he makes a presentation.

Does it mean

a) be motivated in your work

b) make a bigger effort than is expected

c) travel a long distance

d) perform your job correctly

The answer is below! ↓

 

 

Answer: b) make a bigger effort than is expected

 

Look before you…

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Can you complete this famous English saying?

Look before you…

a) leap

b) run

c) swim

d) dive

The answer is below! ↓

jumping-jack

Answer:

a) leap 

(leap = jump)

The phrase means think about the dangers or consequences of doing something before you do it!

Right as rain

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DSC05401

It’s raining heavily today, so here is an idiom using the word “rain”.

The idiom is “right as rain”

Read the short conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Des: I heard you caught a cold last week. How are you feeling?

Angela: Well, I took a week off work and rested a lot, so I’m right as rain now.

 

Does it mean

a) nearly fine

b) not fine

c) completely fine

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: c) completely fine

Cold shoulder

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snowypath

It’s cold outside! So, today’s idiom contains the word “cold”.

Do you know the idiom “to give (someone) the cold shoulder“?

Can you guess the meaning?

Lisa : “I saw Kevin at the party last night. I said ‘hello’, but he gave me the cold shoulder.“

Sarah : “He gave me the cold shoulder last week too. I don’t think he wants to talk to us.”

Does it mean

a) be nice to someone/be friendly

b) ignore someone/be unfriendly

c) talk a lot with someone

d) be very angry

The answer is below! ↓

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b) ignore someone/be unfriendly

 

 

break the ice

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Do you know the English idiom “break the ice”?

Look at this example. Can you guess what it means?

 

A: How was your first lesson at English school?

B: It was good.

A: Did you talk to the other students?

B: Well, everyone was shy at first, but our teacher made us play a fun party game to break the ice. After that, we all talked to each other a lot!

 

Does “break the ice” mean

a) smash ice cubes

b) make people relax and feel comfortable with each other when meeting for the first time

c) play a game

d) make people relax and find out about the other person’s hobbies

 

The answer is below! ↓

crack-ice-in-the-lake

 

 

 

Answer: b) make people relax and feel comfortable with each other when meeting for the first time 🙂

 

A little bird told me…

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Do you know the phrase “a little bird told me“?

Look at these examples. Can you guess the meaning?

Example 1:

A: I heard you were looking for a new job.

B: How do you know? Who told you?!

A: A little bird told me. 

Example 2:

A: A little bird told me that it’s your birthday next week.

B: Yes, it is, but I don’t want anyone to know!

 

Does “a little bird told me” mean

a) a bird told me something.

b) someone told me something, but I don’t want to say who told me.

c) there is a rumour

 

Then answer is below. ↓

snowy-egret

 

 

 

Answer: b) someone told me something, but I don’t want to say who told me.

We use “a little bird told me” when we don’t want to say who gave us the secret/private information. 🙂

too big for (one’s) boots

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Do you know the idiom “too big for (one’s) boots“? Can you guess the meaning?

Example.

A: Paula used to be really nice, but she has changed recently.

B: I think so too. Since she became captain of the hockey team, she has been getting too big for her boots.

A: I don’t know why. It’s only a small, local team. She acts like she is captain of the national team!

 

Does “too big for (one’s) boots” mean

a) have big feet

b) behave in an arrogant manner, like one is very important or special

c) behave in a confident and friendly manner

d) be too talkative

The answer is below!　↓

football-boots

 

 

 

Answer: b) behave in an arrogant manner, like one is very important or special 🙂

a spring in (one’s) step

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Do you know the expression “to have a spring in (one’s) step“?

Read the conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

A: Harry seems to have a spring in his step lately.

B: Yes, I noticed that. It’s because he has a new girlfriend.

 

Does “to have a spring in one’s step” mean

a) to walk nervously

b) to be cheerful and energetic

c) to jump up and down

The answer is below! ↓

feet-going-places

 

 

Answer: b) to be cheerful and energetic

 

Cost an arm and a leg

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Do you know the English idiom “to cost an arm and a leg“?

Look at this example conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

A: “Wow! Is this your new car? It looks expensive.”

B: “Expensive? It cost an arm and a leg!”

———-

Does “to cost an arm and a leg” mean:

a) to be very cheap

b) to be very expensive

c) to be on sale

The answer is below! ↓

dogs-leg

 

 

Answer: b)

to cost an arm and a leg = to be very expensive!