Get out of hand

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

Emily: How was the party last night?

Aimee: It was fine until John and his friends came. Then it got out of hand. He brought 50 people!

Does it mean:

a) become large

b) become fun

c) become uncontrollable

d) become annoying

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: c) become uncontrollable

 

A watched pot…

Can you complete this famous English expression? It means that when you are waiting for something to happen, time passes slowly.

A watched pot…

a) never boils

b) boils over

c) cooks slowly

d) takes a long time

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: a) never boils

A watched pot never boils.

Nest egg

Do you know the English expression “nest egg“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Sarah: Do you have any savings?

Betty: Yes. I’ve been saving a few hundred dollars a month for years. It’s my nest egg.

Does it mean:

a) money saved for the future

b) money to spend soon

c) money in a bank account

d) egg in a nest

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: a) money saved for the future

by the skin of (one’s) teeth

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

 

At the drop of a hat

Do you know the English idiom “at the drop of a hat“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Nancy: Did Richard help you to move house at the weekend?

Susan: Yes. I called him and he came to help at the drop of a hat.

Does it mean:

a) immediately

b) after dropping a hat

c) after a few hours

d) hesitate

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: a) immediately

Get (one’s) act together

Do you know the English expression “get (one’s) act together“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Sandra: I’m not happy with the quality of Jennifer’s work. She has been making so many mistakes and coming to work late over the past few weeks. She needs to get her act together. 

Robert: I was thinking the same thing. If she doesn’t get her act together soon, I think we are going to have to fire her.

Does it mean:

a) be more considerate

b) stop making mistakes

c) be more proactive

d) be more organized and work in a better way

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: d) be more organized and work in a better way

 

Easy does it

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

David: We are going to be late for the concert. Why is there so much traffic on the road? 

John: Easy does it. We don’t want to have an accident. Just take your time.

Does it mean:

a) do something carefully and slowly

b) do something easily

c) do something difficult

d) do something dangerous

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: a) do something carefully and slowly