Study English

Don’t rock…

/ italkyoutalk

Can you complete this popular English expression? It means one shouldn’t do or say something that will cause problems.

Don’t rock…

a) the boat

b) the music

c) the car

d) the people

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: a) the boat

Don’t rock the boat!

Burn (one’s) bridges

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “burn (one’s) bridges“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Michael: When I quit my job I told all the managers they were useless and the company was terrible.

Tessa: Well, you burnt your bridges, didn’t you?! I don’t think you can ever go back there again!

Does it mean:

a) burn bridges

b) be rude

c) destroy relationships

d) tell people what you really think of them

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: c) destroy relationships

Bury (one’s) head in the sand

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “bury (one’s) head in the sand“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Jackie: Has your husband been to see the doctor about his health issues yet?

Vera: No, he’s burying his head in the sand. He refuses to even talk about it with me.

Does it mean:

a) avoid something by pretending it doesn’t exist

b) refuse to talk to someone

c)  refuse to see a doctor

d) put one’s head in the sand

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: a) avoid something by pretending it doesn’t exist

 

Smell a rat

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to smell a rat”? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Eddie: I just had a strange phone call. The man said he was calling from my bank and he asked me for my personal information.

Steve: Did you give it to him?

Eddie: No. I smelled a rat when he asked me for my account number and PIN.

Does it mean:

a) smell a rat

b) get angry

c) sense that something is suspicious

d) think something is amusing

The answer is below!　↓

 

Answer: c) sense that something is suspicious

Glad to see the back of (someone)

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “be glad to see the back of (someone)”? Read the conversation below. Can you guess what it means?

Roger: I heard Harry has quit. His last day is Friday.

Norman: Good. I never liked him. I’ll be glad to see the back of him.

Does it mean

a) want to see someone’s back

b) be glad someone is leaving

c) be glad to hear someone is going

d) ask someone to leave

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: b) be glad someone is leaving

Wrap your head around (something)

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “wrap your head around (something)”? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Polly: How are you getting on with your maths homework? Question number 5 is difficult, isn’t it?

Jake: Very difficult. I can’t wrap my head around it.

Does it mean:

a) understand something which is complicated

b) understand something which is boring

c) twist one’s head

d) understand something which is very long

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: a) understand something which is complicated

Barking up the wrong tree

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “barking up the wrong tree“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Lisa: I think Irene stole the money from the staff room. She looked guilty when the boss spoke to us about it before.

Angela: I think you are barking up the wrong tree. Irene wasn’t even in work on the day it was stolen.

Does it mean:

a) to complain too loudly

b) to be joking

c) to be mistaken

d) to accuse someone of something

The answer is below!　↓

 

Answer: c) to be mistaken

When pigs fly

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “when pigs fly”? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Catherine: Do you think Pete will get promoted at work?

Dana: When pigs fly! No one ever gets promoted in that office.

Does it mean:

a) flying pig

b) never

c) no one is good enough

d) in the future

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: b) never