Do you know the English expression “to come down with (something)“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Ken: Are you OK? You don’t look so good.
George: I have a headache. I think I’m coming down with something.
Does it mean:
a) lie down
b) sit down
c) get an illness
d) give someone something
The answer is below!↓
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Answer: c) get an illness
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
I was in the local newspaper a few weeks ago. We won the 2019 Language Learner Literature Award, so the local paper was interested in our story.
I live in rural Japan, and many people read the local paper. Since I was in the paper, people have been saying “I saw you in the paper!”
I know some of these people. They are neighbours, acquaintances, and clients. But there are some people I don’t know. Some people I have never met see me and say “I saw you in the paper!”
Maybe this is what it is like to be famous!
By Heather @ I Talk You Talk PressI Talk You Talk Press
Do you know the English expression “to get the show on the road“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Marge: It’s 9:00! The meeting starts at 9:30, and we have so much to prepare.
Ben: Let’s get the show on the road. You set up the computer, and I’ll photocopy the documents.
Does it mean:
a) end something
b) travel
c) take part in a show
d) start something
The answer is below!↓
Photo by Startup Stock Photos on Pexels.com
Answer: d) start something
Do you know the English expression “to prick up (one’s) ears“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Wendy: Did the children listen in class today?
Denise: Yes, they pricked up their ears when I told them they had an important test next week.
Does it mean:
a) touch one’s ears
b) listen carefully
c) stop listening
d) lift one’s ears
The answer is below!↓
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Answer: b) listen carefully
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
The other day, I visited a primary school to give a talk to the children about being a writer. The children were 9-10 years old. Many of them were very interested in the job of a writer, and some of them want to be a writer when they are older.
They asked me what they should do if they want to become a writer. I told them to read books and develop their imaginations. They had so many questions that there wasn’t time for me to answer them all.
The school has a special programme. Every month, they invite someone to speak to the children about their job. I think it is a good system. The children can start to think about the job they want in the future, and they can learn about different ways of life.
When I was a child, my school didn’t have a programme like that. We had a careers room with lots of pamphlets about jobs. We could go to the room and learn about jobs. There was a careers advisor who sometimes came to our school. We could talk to her about different jobs. It would have been good if people from the community came to the school and talked about their jobs. It would have been interesting.
I hope the children enjoyed my visit to the school, and I hope it was useful for them. Maybe in the future, some of them will become writers!
By Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press
Do you know the English expression “on the dot“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Iain: What time does the meeting start?
Chris: Ten o’clock on the dot! Don’t be late!
Does it mean:
a) a few minutes later
b) a few seconds earlier
c) exactly on time
d) maybe
The answer is below!↓
Photo by Black ice on Pexels.com
Answer: c) exactly on time
Do you know the English expression “to mess around“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Kelly: I hate working with Julie. She is always messing around.
Natalie: I know. She never does anything seriously.
Does it mean:
a) annoy people
b) make a mess and not do something seriously
c) make a mess
d) waste time and not do something seriously
The answer is below!↓
Photo by energepic.com on Pexels.com
Answer: d) waste time and not do something seriously
Do you know the English expression “through thick and thin“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Mike: I’m sorry to hear your dog died.
Trisha: Thanks. I am so upset. I had him for many years. We were together through thick and thin.
Does it mean:
a) in good times and bad times
b) when one is poor and one is rich
c) many years
d) when one is large and one is small
The answer is below!↓
Photo by O Zante on Pexels.com
Answer: a) in good times and bad times
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com
I’m not allowed to have a dog or a cat in the place I live. I really want a dog. When I was a child, my family had dogs. Having a dog in the house is normal for me. We treated our dogs as family members. I enjoyed walking our dogs every day after school.
I have lived in different houses and apartments during my time in Japan. None of the places have allowed cats or dogs. I rent my house. The contract says no pets are allowed, so I can’t get a dog.
Sometimes I think about the type of dog I’d like. I like big dogs. My sister has a Labrador. Maybe a Labrador would be nice. I also like Japanese dogs, like Shiba or Akita. If I had the chance, maybe I would get a Japanese dog. I wonder, what language would I use with the dog? Would I use English? Or Japanese? Or both? Maybe the dog could become bilingual! But this is just a dream. I can’t have a dog.
When I go back to England to visit my family, I look forward to seeing my family, and I also look forward to seeing and playing with their dogs. It is a precious time for me.
By Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press
Do you know the English expression “down the drain“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Jeff: My computer broke just as I was finishing the report. I hadn’t backed up my work so it all went down the drain.
Evelyn: I’m sorry to hear that, but you should back up your work regularly.
Does it mean:
a) fall down a drain
b) be difficult to find
c) be wasted or lost
d) not back up work
The answer is below!↓
Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com
Answer: c) be wasted or lost
I Talk You Talk Press EXTRA 
You must be logged in to post a comment.