English phrases

Cold shoulder

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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

 

 

break the ice

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Do you know the English idiom “break the ice”?

Look at this example. Can you guess what it means?

 

A: How was your first lesson at English school?

B: It was good.

A: Did you talk to the other students?

B: Well, everyone was shy at first, but our teacher made us play a fun party game to break the ice. After that, we all talked to each other a lot!

 

Does “break the ice” mean

a) smash ice cubes

b) make people relax and feel comfortable with each other when meeting for the first time

c) play a game

d) make people relax and find out about the other person’s hobbies

 

The answer is below! ↓

crack-ice-in-the-lake

 

 

 

Answer: b) make people relax and feel comfortable with each other when meeting for the first time 🙂

 

A little bird told me…

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Do you know the phrase “a little bird told me“?

Look at these examples. Can you guess the meaning?

Example 1:

A: I heard you were looking for a new job.

B: How do you know? Who told you?!

A: A little bird told me. 

Example 2:

A: A little bird told me that it’s your birthday next week.

B: Yes, it is, but I don’t want anyone to know!

 

Does “a little bird told me” mean

a) a bird told me something.

b) someone told me something, but I don’t want to say who told me.

c) there is a rumour

 

Then answer is below. ↓

snowy-egret

 

 

 

Answer: b) someone told me something, but I don’t want to say who told me.

We use “a little bird told me” when we don’t want to say who gave us the secret/private information. 🙂

too big for (one’s) boots

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Do you know the idiom “too big for (one’s) boots“? Can you guess the meaning?

Example.

A: Paula used to be really nice, but she has changed recently.

B: I think so too. Since she became captain of the hockey team, she has been getting too big for her boots.

A: I don’t know why. It’s only a small, local team. She acts like she is captain of the national team!

 

Does “too big for (one’s) boots” mean

a) have big feet

b) behave in an arrogant manner, like one is very important or special

c) behave in a confident and friendly manner

d) be too talkative

The answer is below!　↓

football-boots

 

 

 

Answer: b) behave in an arrogant manner, like one is very important or special 🙂

Every cloud has a silver lining

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Do you know the proverb “Every cloud has a silver lining“?

Can you guess what it means?

Example:

A: Teresa lost her job at the post office. She was very upset at first, but now she has found a better job at the bank.

B: Well, every cloud has a silver lining!

 

Does it mean

a) bad things happen to good people

b) good things happen to unlucky people

c) something good comes out of a bad situation

d) something bad comes out of a good situation

The answer is below!　↓

clouds-110661299948507xJ3

 

 

Answer: c) something good comes out of a bad situation 🙂

a spring in (one’s) step

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Do you know the expression “to have a spring in (one’s) step“?

Read the conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

A: Harry seems to have a spring in his step lately.

B: Yes, I noticed that. It’s because he has a new girlfriend.

 

Does “to have a spring in one’s step” mean

a) to walk nervously

b) to be cheerful and energetic

c) to jump up and down

The answer is below! ↓

feet-going-places

 

 

Answer: b) to be cheerful and energetic

 

Haste makes Waste

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Do you know the English proverb “Haste makes waste“?

Look at this conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

A: What score did the teacher give you for your essay?

B: She gave me 30%!

A: 30%!? That’s bad!

B: I know. I made so many mistakes.

A: Really? How long did it take you to write the essay?

B: I had no time. I wrote it in 15 minutes.

A: 15 minutes!? Haste makes waste!

B: You’re right…

 

Question: What does “haste makes waste” mean?

a) if we do something too quickly, we will make mistakes

b) if we type quickly, we will get a bad score

c) if we hurry, we can waste time

The answer is below! ↓

thumb-down-silhouette

 

 

Answer: a) if we do something too quickly, we will make mistakes

 

Cost an arm and a leg

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Do you know the English idiom “to cost an arm and a leg“?

Look at this example conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

A: “Wow! Is this your new car? It looks expensive.”

B: “Expensive? It cost an arm and a leg!”

———-

Does “to cost an arm and a leg” mean:

a) to be very cheap

b) to be very expensive

c) to be on sale

The answer is below! ↓

dogs-leg

 

 

Answer: b)

to cost an arm and a leg = to be very expensive!

 

Skating on thin ice

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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! ↓

ice-skater-skating-woman

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

Warm as toast

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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!

toaster-and-slices-of-bread

 

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