English sayings

Go back to the drawing board

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Do you know the English expression “to go back to the drawing board“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Eddie: How is the marketing project going?

Robert: Terrible. We will have to go back to the drawing board.

Eddie: That’s too bad. We spent a lot of money on it.

Does it mean

a) go and draw something

b) buy some drawing boards

c) start something again because it failed

d) make a new plan on a drawing board

The answer is below!　↓

ask blackboard chalk board chalkboard

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Answer: c) start something again because it failed

By the skin of (one’s) teeth

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

Lloyd: Did you pass your maths test?

Steve: By the skin of my teeth! The pass mark was 60, and I got 61!

Does it mean:

a) be nervous

b) have skin on (one’s) teeth

c) by a narrow margin

d) by a wide gap

The answer is below!↓

nature summer yellow animal

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Answer: c) by a narrow margin

From rags to riches

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Do you know the English expression “to go from rags to riches“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Sue: I love that singer. She had a hard life for many years, but now she is very successful.

Marcy: I heard she went from rags to riches within five years. Amazing!

Does it mean:

a) to go from being a bad singer to a good singer

b) to go from being poor to being rich

c) to wear rags even though you are rich

d) to pretend one is rich

The answer is below!↓

bullion gold gold bars golden

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Answer: b) to go from being poor to being rich

Pull the plug

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Do you know the English expression “to pull the plug”? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Kate: Is the city government going to build a new swimming pool?

Steve: No, the new mayor pulled the plug on it. He said it was too expensive.

Does it mean:

a) stop or cancel something

b) pull out the plug in a pool or bath

c) promote something

d) make something cheaper

The answer is below!↓

background board brown design

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Answer: a) stop or cancel something

Get out of hand

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Do you know the English expression “to get out of hand?” Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Peter: How was the party last night?

Neil: It was OK until Harry came. Then it got out of hand. He brought fifty friends with him and they caused trouble.

Does it mean:

a) become uncontrollable

b) become more expensive

c) become annoying

d) become handy

The answer is below!↓

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Answer: a) become uncontrollable

 

Nail it!

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Do you know the English expression “to nail it“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

June: How was your daughter’s driving test?

Nelly: She nailed it!

June: That’s great!

Does it mean:

a) do something well

b) do something badly

c) put a nail in something

d) persevere

The answer is below!↓

black claw hammer on brown wooden plank

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Answer: a) do something well

Pull the wool over (someone’s) eyes

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Do you know the English expression “to pull the wool over (someone’s) eyes“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Sandra: My son told me that he had done all his summer homework, but his teacher called me today and said that he hadn’t done anything!

Anna: I don’t think he expected the teacher to call you. He thought he could pull the wool over your eyes!

Does it mean:

a) put wool in someone’s eyes

b) blind someone

c) do something when the other person isn’t looking

d) deceive someone

The answer is below!↓

gray yarn ball

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Answer: d) deceive someone

Know (something) inside out

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Do you know the English expression “to know (something) inside out“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Fatima: I need help marketing my business.

Dennis: You should ask Lisa. She studied it at university. She knows marketing inside out.

Does it mean:

a) have secret knowledge of something

b) have detailed knowledge of something

c) only know the theory of something

d) know the history of something

The answer is below! ↓

business charts commerce computer

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Answer: b) have detailed knowledge of something

In a huff

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Do you know the English phrase “to be in a huff“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Teresa: What’s wrong with John?

Olive: He’s in a huff because the boss won’t let him take a week off work next month.

Does it mean:

a) happy

b) sad

c) miserable

d) annoyed

The answer is below!↓

blank business composition computer

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Answer: d) annoyed

On the mend

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Do you know the English expression “to be on the mend?” Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Yvonne: How is your father? I heard he had a car accident a few months ago.

Jane: He’s still in hospital, but he’s on the mend. He should be able to come home in a few days.

Yvonne: That’s good.

Does it mean:

a) become better

b) become worse

c) mend something

d) be able to walk

The answer is below! ↓

healthy clinic doctor health

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Answer: a) become better