You can’t judge a book by its cover

Do you know the famous English saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover“?

Look at the conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

Nina: When I first saw Kelly, I didn’t have a good impression of her. But after talking to her, I realised she is a very nice person.

Anna: You can’t judge a book by its cover!

Does it mean…

a) the cover of a book is not important

b) you can never really know someone

c) you cannot know about a person or thing just by looking at the person or thing

d) you cannot know if someone is nice until you become friends with them

The answer is below ↓

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Answer:

c) you cannot know about a person or thing just by looking at the person or thing

Look before you…

Can you complete this famous English saying?

Look before you…

a) leap

b) run

c) swim

d) dive

The answer is below! ↓

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Answer:

a) leap 

(leap = jump)

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

The grass is always greener on the other side

Do you know the phrase “the grass is always greener on the other side“?

Look at this conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

Fred: I heard that Julie is going to change jobs again! This is the 6th time she has changed jobs this year!

Louise: I heard that too. She always thinks the grass is greener on the other side!

Does it mean

a) the other side has greener grass

b) people are never satisfied with their situation. They always think another situation is better

c) people enjoy going to different places and doing different things

d) people think that changing jobs often is a good thing

The answer is below ↓

 

Answer:

b) people are never satisfied with their situation. They always think another situation is better

 

 

Spring is in the air

Spring is in the air! It is still a little early for cherry blossom viewing, but the other day, I went for a drive to see if there were any early bloomers. I was not disappointed! Here are some photographs of the blossoms I found, and some other pretty flowers.

It won’t be long before we see bursts of spring colour everywhere! I must make the time to enjoy them this year, and of course, take many photographs.

[Easy English Blog] Plum Blossoms

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The plum blossoms are out! Here are some photos I took at a local shrine. The blossoms remind us that spring is “just around the corner”!

(just around the corner – very near)

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Here is a poem about plum blossoms by Sugawara no Michizane.

東風吹かば にほひをこせよ 梅花
主なしとて 春を忘るな
kochi fukaba / nioi okose yo / ume no hana / aruji nashi tote / haru o wasuru na

When the east wind blows,

flourish in full bloom, you, plum blossoms!

Even though you lose your master, don’t be oblivious to spring.

(Reference: See here)

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Right as rain

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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

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