Common English Expressions and Invitations

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Questions and Answers

What does the expression 'to play it by ear' mean?

To deal with a situation as it develops (correct)

To forget to make any plans

To go along with a pre-planned agenda

To make detailed arrangements

What does it mean to be 'over the moon'?

To be very happy (correct)

To be indifferent

To be extremely busy

To be confused

What is the correct usage of 'we've got this' in a conversation?

Let’s not take responsibility.

I will cover the costs, so don’t worry. (correct)

I don’t want to handle this.

We are not able to pay.

What does 'to bear in mind' mean?

To consider or remember a piece of information Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'out of this world' emphasize?

How fantastic something is Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'call it a night'?

To finish an event late at night Signup and view all the answers

What was the situation regarding Will's meal at the golf club?

The golf club charged an unexpected high price. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the narrator decide to 'play it by ear' regarding the weather?

They anticipated it being sunny without planning. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a less formal way of saying 'I've got this'?

I got this. Signup and view all the answers

How did the narrator feel about the expenses incurred during Will's birthday celebration?

They expressed no regrets despite the high costs. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to have a crack at something' mean?

To attempt something for the first time Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'let off steam'?

To release anger or frustration Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase means to work late into the night?

To burn the midnight oil Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to strike a balance' refer to?

To find a compromise Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to count one's blessings' imply?

To be grateful for good things Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to stick one's neck out' mean?

To take a bold risk Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes an immediate reaction without thoughtful consideration?

Knee-jerk reaction Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to facilitate' mean?

To make something easier Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to go belly up' mean?

To fail completely Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to scrutinize' involve?

To examine closely Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase means to publicly support a cause?

To advocate Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to integrate' mean?

To combine different elements Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to articulate' imply?

To express clearly Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Common Ways to Ask Someone to Attend an Event

"Are you free on..." is a common way to ask someone to attend an event, such as "Are you free on Sunday? We're thinking of going out for a pub lunch"
"Do you fancy..." is another way to ask if someone wants to do something, for example, "Do you fancy going out for a bite to eat?"

Significant Birthdays

It is is common to shorten significant birthdays, such as "Will's 30th" for "Will's 30th birthday."

English Expressions

To play it by ear: To deal with a situation as it develops, rather than making plans in advance. Example: "I don't know how many people are coming. We'll just have to play it by ear."
To be over the moon: To be very happy. Example: "My sister was over the moon when I offered to babysit her children for the night."
We've got this/ we got this: To offer to pay for something. Example: "Don't worry about lunch today, I've got this."
To bear in mind: To remember or to consider a piece of information. Example: "Bear in mind that I only cooked for 10 people, but over 30 turned up."
Out of this World: To emphasize how fantastic something is. Example: "The decorations were out of this world."
To call it a night/ to call it a day: To stop an activity for the night/ day. Example: "At 10:00 p.m. we decided to call it a night."

Lifestyle and Well-Being

At Face Value: Accepting something as it appears without questioning its true nature. Example: Don't take nutrition advice at face value, verify from reliable sources.
To Have a Crack at Something: To attempt or try something, often for the first time with enthusiasm. Example: Never tried rock climbing before, but decided to have a crack at it during team building.
To Burn the Midnight Oil: To study or work late into the night, often to complete a task or meet a deadline. Example: With exams nearing, Sarah found herself burning the midnight oil to cover all the required material.
To Strike a Balance: Finding a compromise or middle ground between two competing factors. Example: Essential to strike a balance between work and leisure for a healthy lifestyle.
To Let Off Steam: Doing or saying something to release anger or frustration. Example: So Furious that I had to go for a walk to let of steam and release my anger.
To Count One's Blessings: To make an effort to be grateful for the good things in your life. Example: When feeling down, try to count your blessings.
To Bloom: To become healthy, happy, and confident, often used in relation to maturity. Example: Carl bloomed during his holiday in the countryside thanks to fresh air and healthy food.

People

To Stick One's Neck Out: Taking a risk or exposing yourself to possible criticism or danger by doing or saying something. Example: Despite controversy, Jane decided to stick her neck out and support the new policy.
A Knee-Jerk Reaction: An immediate, automatic response to a situation, often without careful consideration. Example: Our knee-jerk reaction to hearing about rising crime rates was to demand more police patrols.
To Split Hairs: To argue or worry about small, unimportant details or differences. Example: My husband sometimes splits hairs over insignificant matters.
Pecking Order: Social hierarchy within a group, reflecting different levels of importance. Example: There's a clear pecking order in their group of friends with Sally being top of the pile.
Shrewd: Good at understanding and making judgments about situations, often able to make decisions for their advantage. Example: CLA was a shrewd business person, making wise investment decisions when she was young.
Obstinate: Refusing to change one's opinion or actions despite pressure. Example: Henry was a very obstinate teenager, refusing to admit he might be wrong.
Placid: Very calm and not easily excited or annoyed. Example: Despite the halo around her, Ally remained placid.

Work

To Pull Some Strings: Using influence or connections, often secretly or unethically, to achieve a desired outcome. Example: Tom was able to get his sister a prestigious position by pulling some strings.
To Have a Field Day: Taking advantage of a situation, typically for personal benefit and often at the expense of others. Example: Tabloid journalists had a field day writing sensational stories about the scandal.
To Be Privy To: Having access to or knowledge of secret or confidential information. Example: The CEO's assistant is privy to all the important decisions in the company.
On the Back Burner: Low priority, not being dealt with at the present moment. Example: Let's put this project on the back burner and focus on more pressing matters.
Cushy: Very easy and comfortable, requiring little effort. Example: Ellen got a cushy job that pays well but allows her lots of free time.
To Get Your Foot in the Door: Entering a company or organization at a low level with a chance of promotion. Example: Lena got her foot in the door as an intern but worked her way up to department head.
To Go Belly Up: To fail completely and have to close down (used to describe a business). Example: The business went belly up after just a year of trading.

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Description

This quiz focuses on common ways to invite someone to events and significant birthdays in English. It also explores popular expressions used to convey various sentiments, such as happiness or spontaneity. Test your knowledge of these everyday phrases and see how well you can use them in conversation.