idioms

From rags to riches

/ italkyoutalk

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

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

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

On the fence

/ italkyoutalk

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

Peter: Where are you going on your vacation – Paris or Rome?

Dean: I’m on the fence. I’d like to go to both places, but I don’t have the money.

Does it mean:

a) to be sitting on a fence

b) to not have any money

c) to be undecided

d) to make a decision

The answer is below!↓

abandoned black and white blurred background countryside

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Answer: c) to be undecided

Bite (one’s) tongue

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to bite (one’s) tongue“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Sara: The boss gave us the wrong sales data in the meeting.

Mandy: Did you tell her?

Sara: No, she was in a bad mood so I bit my tongue.

Does it mean:

a) physically bite one’s tongue

b) laugh

c) lie

d) not say anything

The answer is below!↓

nature lion south africa whitelion

Photo by Piet Bakker on Pexels.com

 

Answer: d) not say anything

Pull the plug

/ italkyoutalk

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

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Answer: a) stop or cancel something

Find (one’s) feet

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to find (one’s) feet“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Ira: How is your new job? Have you found your feet yet?

Gina: Yes, It’s fine now. It’s not as difficult as I expected.

Does it mean:

a) look for your feet

b) become confident in something new

c) become the best in something new

d) follow someone’s footsteps

The answer is below!↓

woman and two men sitting on chairs beside table in room

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

 

Answer: b) become confident in something new

Keep tabs on (someone)

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to keep tabs on (someone)“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Evan: My mum is keeping tabs on me. She always asks me where I’m going and what I’m doing.

John: Maybe she thinks you will get into trouble!

Does it mean:

a) put something called tabs on someone

b) watch someone carefully

c) help someone

d) shout at someone

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: b) watch someone carefully

Get out of hand

/ italkyoutalk

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!↓

adult background beach blue

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

 

Answer: a) become uncontrollable

 

Nail it!

/ italkyoutalk

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

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Answer: a) do something well

Pull the wool over (someone’s) eyes

/ italkyoutalk

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

Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com

 

Answer: d) deceive someone

Know (something) inside out

/ italkyoutalk

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

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Answer: b) have detailed knowledge of something