idioms

Leave (something) behind

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

Jill: I had a bad day today.

Maki: What happened?

Jill: I got to work and realised that I’d left my presentation documents behind. I had to go back home for them and was late for the meeting.

Does it mean:

a) leave something in a dangerous place

b) put something behind you

c) bring something with you

d) forget to take something with you

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: d) forget to take something with you

You are what you eat

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Do you know the English expression “you are what you eat“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Liam: Chocolate for breakfast?! I don’t think that’s a good idea.

Brenda: Why not? I enjoy it.

Liam: You are what you eat. You should eat something healthy. You are always eating chocolate. Too much is not good for you.

Does it mean:

a) you become what you eat

b) you can eat what you want

c) what you eat has an effect on your health

d) health and food are not related

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: c) what you eat has an effect on your health

Add fuel to the fire

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Do you know the English expression “to add fuel to the fire“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Edwin: John and Roy had an argument in the pub the other night.

Will: How did it end?

Edwin: It would have ended amicably, but Harry added fuel to the fire by saying that Roy liked John’s wife, so John punched him!

Does it mean:

a) make something burn

b) heat up a place

c) annoy someone

d) make a bad situation worse

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: d) make a bad situation worse

 

A slap on the wrist

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Do you know the English expression “a slap on the wrist“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Nicola: What happened to the two students who were caught cheating in the final exam?

Todd: They just got a slap on the wrist. The principal only gave them a warning. He is too soft. If I were the principal, I would have given them a score of zero.

Does it mean:

a) a severe punishment

b) a light punishment

c) no punishment

d) to hit someone on the wrist

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: b) a light punishment

Drop (someone) off

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Do you know the English expression “to drop (someone) off“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Nina: Are you going into town?

Cindy: Yes, why?

Nina: Would you mind dropping me off at the station?

Cindy: Not at all.

Does it mean:

a) take someone to a place in your car

b) walk together with someone

c) dump someone

d) refuse someone

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: a) take someone to a place in your car

Take after (someone)

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Do you know the English expression “to take after (someone)“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Francis: Who do you and your brother take after?

Janine: I take after my father. He is shy and so am I. My brother takes after my mother. She talks a lot, and so does he!

Does it mean:

a) to try to be like (someone)

b) to want to be like (someone)

c) to like (someone)

d) to be like (someone)

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: d) to be like (someone)

Walk out on (someone)

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

Paul: I watched a really sad movie last night.

Lisa: What was it about?

Paul: It was about a young boy. He had many problems because his father suddenly walked out on him and his mother.

Does it mean:

a) abandon

b) go away for a few years

c) make someone walk far

d) damage

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: a) abandon

Pick out

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

Olga: What did you do last Saturday?

Dana: I went clothes shopping.

Olga: Did you find anything nice?

Dana: Yes, I picked out a beautiful dress for my brother’s wedding.

Does it mean:

a) try on

b) see

c) notice

d) choose

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: d) choose

Own up to (something)

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

Sue: Who broke the TV?

Kevin: I don’t know for sure. No one has owned up to it yet, but I think it was Peter. I saw him looking worried before.

Does it mean:

a) admit you are responsible for something

b) blame someone else for something

c) tell everyone about something

d) keep something a secret

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: a) admit you are responsible for something

Big fish in a small pond

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Do you know the English expression “to be a big fish in a small pond“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Will: Ben is annoying me. After winning the company’s best salesperson award and getting the promotion, he thinks he is the most important person in this company.

Mark: I know. But he doesn’t realise that he is a big fish in a small pond. Our company is tiny compared to other ones in the same industry. If he worked for a company in London he wouldn’t win anything!

Does it mean:

a) someone who is in a high position in a small place or organization

b) someone who is in a high position in a big place or organization

c) someone who is successful and makes other people jealous

d) someone who is in a low position but suddenly becomes successful

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: a) someone who is in a high position in a small place or organization