Skating on thin ice

February 3, 2014February 3, 2014 / italkyoutalk

Do you know the phrase “skating on thin ice”? Can you guess what it means?

Example:

A: Jason hasn’t prepared his sales presentation for this afternoon yet.

B: Really? Does he know the president will be at the meeting?

A: I think so. He said he doesn’t need to prepare.

B: He’s skating on thin ice. If he makes a bad presentation, there will be a lot of trouble.

To be skating on thin ice means:

a) to be on an ice rink

b) to be indecisive

c) to be in a dangerous/risky situation

d) to be depressed

The answer is below! ↓

Answer: c) to be in a dangerous/risky situation

Warm as toast

January 28, 2014 / italkyoutalk

Have you heard the expression “warm as toast“?

My friend used this phrase yesterday. I hadn’t heard it for a long time.

Yesterday, I visited my friend’s house. It was very cold outside. My friend took my coat and said,

“Sit next to the heater. You will soon be as warm as toast!”

Can you guess the meaning?

Does it mean

a) You’ll burn next to the heater.

b) You’ll feel comfortable and cosy.

c) You’ll feel too hot.

The answer is below!

Answer b) to be warm as toast = to be warm, comfortable and cosy!

[English Quiz] – Shopping Vocabulary

January 21, 2014January 21, 2014 / italkyoutalk

How is your “shopping” vocabulary? Find out with this short quiz from I Talk You Talk Press.

The pass mark is 80%. Click the button below to start the quiz. Good luck! 🙂

Start Quiz

Where there’s a will….

January 9, 2014January 9, 2014 / italkyoutalk

Can you complete this famous English saying?

Where there’s a will

a) there’s a way

b) there’s a dream

c) there’s a chance

The answer is below!

Answer a) Where there’s a will there’s a way

Meaning: If you really want something, you will find a way to get it, even if it is very difficult. In this phrase, “will” means “desire/motivation/strong wish”.

Example conversation:

A: Dennis really wants to get a job teaching English at a top university in Japan, but it’s difficult these days. There aren’t many jobs.

B: I’m sure he’ll succeed. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

English Quiz – Christmas Food

December 23, 2013December 17, 2013 / italkyoutalk

How well do you know about Christmas food? Find out in our short quiz!

Click the button below to start the quiz. Good luck! 🙂

Start Quiz

It’s the thought that counts

December 18, 2013December 16, 2013 / italkyoutalk

Do you know the English phrase “It’s the thought that counts“?

Read the following conversation. Can you guess the meaning? 🙂

A: What did your grandmother get you for Christmas?

B: She bought me red socks, but I don’t like red!

A: Well, it’s the thought that counts!

B: That’s true.

Question:

“It’s the thought that counts” means:

a) we must count our thoughts

b) a person’s kindness is more important than the gift

c) a person must think carefully before buying a present

The answer is below ↓

Answer: b) a person’s kindness is more important than the gift

So, if someone gives you a present you don’t want, or don’t like, you should still be grateful. The person thought about you. That was very kind of them!