Do you know the English expression “to have the best of both worlds“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Mandy: If you take the new job in London, but continue to live out in the countryside, you can have the best of both worlds.

Chris: True. But I’m not sure I want to spend over two hours a day on a train going into the city.

Does it mean:

a) have the advantages of two different things/situations

b) have the best time in the world

c) live two different lives

d) be in two different places

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: a) have the advantages of two different things/situations

Do you know the English expression “the lion’s share“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Rebecca: How are we going to divide the budget this year?

Sally: I’m not sure yet, but I think the lion’s share will be spent on marketing.

Does it mean:

a) the largest part of something

b) the smallest part of something

c) the lion’s portion

d) very little

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: a) the largest part of something

Do you know the English expression “hold your horses“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Jane: I’m going to quit my job next week and move to Singapore.

Helen: Hold your horses! Don’t you think you should consider that a bit more carefully?

Does it mean:

a) Keep hold of your horses

b) Don’t take your horses somewhere

c) Don’t do something

d) Wait a moment

The answer is below!　↓

 

Answer: d) Wait a moment

Can you complete this English expression? “It’s better to be safe than….”

It means that it’s better to take precautions, or be careful in advance, so something bad doesn’t happen later.

It’s better to be safe…

a) than stupid

b) than dangerous

c) than in a bad situation

d) than sorry

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: d) than sorry

It’s better to be safe than sorry

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

 

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

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

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

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

Do you know the English expression “by the skin of (one’s) teeth“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Terry: How was your exam? Did you pass?

Kate: I passed by the skin of my teeth! The pass mark was 50 and I got 51!

Does it mean

a) have toothache when doing something

b) by a narrow margin

c) by one point

d) with difficulty

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: b) by a narrow margin