English Idioms and Their Meanings
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Questions and Answers

What does it mean when someone says they 'screwed up'?

  • They planned something well.
  • They made a mistake. (correct)
  • They finished a task successfully.
  • They enjoyed an event.
  • When someone invites you to 'hang out', what are they generally suggesting?

  • To attend a formal event together.
  • To spend leisure time together. (correct)
  • To engage in a serious discussion.
  • To attend a business meeting.
  • What does the expression 'have a blast' typically mean?

  • To have a serious discussion.
  • To have fun. (correct)
  • To feel sad.
  • To make a mistake.
  • What does it mean to 'feel for someone'?

    <p>To understand and empathize with their feelings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes something that is considered 'cheesy'?

    <p>Something that is awkwardly emotional or overly romantic.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'it's no big deal' imply?

    <p>It is not a serious issue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When someone calls a shirt 'cool', what are they expressing?

    <p>They are impressed by its appearance or style.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes when the phrase 'be cool' is used?

    <p>To encourage someone to be relaxed and not stressed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the typical use of the expression 'let's wrap this up'?

    <p>To conclude or finish a discussion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does it mean if someone feels 'corny'?

    <p>They feel overly emotional and somewhat embarrassed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'alive and kicking' imply about a person?

    <p>They are energetic and full of life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the expression 'break a leg' mean in a performative context?

    <p>A way of wishing someone good luck.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In conversation, if someone tells you to 'bear up,' what are they encouraging you to do?

    <p>Stay cheerful during tough times.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term 'ring a bell' is used when something:

    <p>Awakens a vague memory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When someone says they want to 'blow off some steam', they are looking to:

    <p>Relax and relieve stress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If someone advises you to 'go out on a limb,' they are suggesting that you:

    <p>Engage in risky behavior or opinions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The expression 'not your cup of tea' signifies that someone:

    <p>Dislikes or is unskilled at something.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'cut the crap' mean in a conversation?

    <p>To stop meaningless talk and get to the point.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When someone says 'cost an arm and a leg,' they are referring to something that is:

    <p>Excessively expensive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If you are told to 'hang tough', it means you should:

    <p>Stay determined and resilient.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When someone is said to be 'out of their depth', it means they:

    <p>Are overwhelmed and lack skills.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'make a long story short' imply when it's used in conversation?

    <p>To summarize and get to the point.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If someone suggests to you to 'pull yourself together', they are telling you to:

    <p>Regain composure and focus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phrase 'force someone's hand' refers to:

    <p>Making someone do something against their will.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Alive and Kicking

    • Meaning: To be healthy and full of energy.
    • Example: "How are you? I'm alive and kicking!"

    Break a Leg

    • Meaning: To wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
    • Example: "Good luck on your exam! Break a leg!"

    A Fighting Chance

    • Meaning: A small but real possibility of success, especially with effort and luck.
    • Example: "We have a fighting chance if we work hard."

    Bear Up

    • Meaning: To cope with a difficult situation bravely and remain cheerful.
    • Example: "She's bearing up well after her divorce."

    Ring a Bell

    • Meaning: To sound familiar or awaken a memory, but not fully remembered.
    • Example: "That melody rings a bell, but I can't remember the song's name."

    Blow Off Some Steam

    • Meaning: To do something to relieve stress and strong emotions.
    • Example: "Let's go for a walk to blow off some steam."

    Go Out on a Limb

    • Meaning: To do something risky or have an unpopular opinion.
    • Example: "I'm going out on a limb here, but I think this plan will work."

    Be One's Cup of Tea

    • Meaning: To like or be good at something.
    • Example: "Going out in the rain is not really my cup of tea."

    Beside the Point

    • Meaning: Not relevant or important.
    • Example: "That's beside the point. We need to focus on the main issue."

    Make a Long Story Short

    • Meaning: To summarize a story or explain something concisely.
    • Example: "To make a long story short, I met Tony and we went to the game."

    Fire Away

    • Meaning: To give someone permission to ask a question or speak.
    • Example: “Can I ask you something? Sure, fire away!”

    A Piece of Cake

    • Meaning: Something very easy to do.
    • Example: "Attracting customers is a piece of cake for my products."

    Think the World of Someone

    • Meaning: To admire and like someone very much.
    • Example: "He thinks the world of his mother."

    So Be It

    • Meaning: To accept a situation you cannot change, even if unhappy.
    • Example: "I've told you she's not worth it, but if you insist, so be it."

    Beat Around the Bush

    • Meaning: To avoid talking about the main point or important topic.
    • Example: "Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want."

    Easy Does It

    • Meaning: To do something slowly and carefully, especially when moving something large.
    • Example: "Easy does it! We don't want to drop that."

    The Time of One's Life

    • Meaning: To experience something extremely enjoyable.
    • Example: "I'm having the time of my life on my trip!"

    Cut the Crap

    • Meaning: To tell someone to stop saying untrue or irrelevant things.
    • Example: "Cut the crap and tell me what really happened."

    Call It a Day

    • Meaning: To stop what you are doing because you have done enough or don’t want to do it anymore.
    • Example: “After 5 hours at the concert, we decided to call it a day.”

    You Wish

    • Meaning: To tell someone that what they want is very unlikely or impossible.
    • Example: "You wish you could have that car, but it's way too expensive."

    Out of One's Depth

    • Meaning: To lack the knowledge, experience, or skills to cope with a situation.
    • Example: "I was out of my depth trying to fix my car."

    Go It Alone

    • Meaning: To do something by oneself, without the help of others.
    • Example: "She's going it alone in her new business venture."

    Pull Yourself Together

    • Meaning: To regain focus and concentration, especially in a stressful situation.
    • Example: "You need to pull yourself together if you want to succeed."

    Cost an Arm and a Leg

    • Meaning: To be very expensive.
    • Example: "That house by the beach would cost an arm and a leg."

    Lose It

    • Meaning: To lose one's temper or control and become angry.
    • Example: "He lost it when he saw his ex with someone else."

    What's Eating You?

    • Meaning: To ask why someone seems annoyed or upset.
    • Example: "You seem upset. What’s eating you?”

    Force Someone's Hand

    • Meaning: To make someone do something unwillingly.
    • Example: “The birth of his third child forced his hand to get a part-time job.”

    From the Get-Go

    • Meaning: From the beginning of a process or activity.
    • Example: "I never liked her from the get-go."

    Act Your Age

    • Meaning: To tell someone to behave appropriately for their age.
    • Example: "Act your age! You're too old to be acting like that."

    Believe it or Not

    • Meaning: To imply that something is true even though it seems unlikely.
    • Example: "Believe it or not, I understand what you mean."

    Let Me Just Say

    • Meaning: To politely introduce a point that the speaker considers important.
    • Example: “Let me just say that I’m very grateful for all your help.”

    Hang Tough

    • Meaning: To remain determined and not give up, even when facing challenges.
    • Example: "Hang tough! We've faced worse than this."

    It's Raining Cats and Dogs

    • Meaning: To describe very heavy rain.
    • Example: "It's raining cats and dogs outside! Don’t forget your umbrella."

    Be My Guest

    • Meaning: To politely give someone permission to do or take something.
    • Example: "Would you like some more cake? Be my guest."

    Thank Goodness

    • Meaning: To express relief or gratitude that something is alright.
    • Example: "Thank goodness you're okay!"

    Give Someone an Update

    • Meaning: To provide someone with the most recent information.
    • Example: “Can you give me an update on the project progress?”

    Take Care

    • Meaning: To say goodbye to someone in a friendly way.
    • Example: "See you later! Take care."

    Go Ahead

    • Meaning: To give permission to start or continue doing something.
    • Example: “Do you mind if I sit here? No, go ahead.”

    Hang In There

    • Meaning: To encourage someone not to give up, even when facing difficulties.
    • Example: "Hang in there! Things will get better eventually."

    You Gotta Be Kidding Me

    • Meaning: To express surprise at something ridiculous or untrue.
    • Example: "You gotta be kidding me! That’s impossible."

    Nothing for me

    • Meaning: To politely refuse an offer.
    • Example: “Would you like anything to drink? Nothing for me, thank you.”

    Way To Go

    • Meaning: To express praise or approval for someone's achievement.
    • Example: "Way to go! You did a great job."

    Go For It

    • Meaning: To encourage someone to try something or make an effort.
    • Example: "Go for it! You can do it!"

    Sure Thing

    • Meaning: To express agreement or reply politely to "thank you."
    • Example: "Can you help me with this? Sure thing!"

    Buck

    • Meaning: A slang term for a US dollar.
    • Example: "That product costs 100 bucks."

    Crash

    • Meaning: To fall asleep very quickly, due to exhaustion.
    • Example: "I’m tired, I think I'm going to crash."

    Wrap Something Up

    • Meaning: To finish something.
    • Example: “Let’s wrap up this meeting by 3:00 p.m.”

    Screwed Up

    • This slang is used when someone makes a mistake and is frustrated.
    • It is commonly used by English speakers.

    Have a Blast

    • A metaphor meaning to have lots of fun.
    • It originates from the word "Big".

    Hang Out

    • An expression used to invite someone to spend time doing fun activities together.
    • Often used in casual settings with close friends or family.
    • Can also be used when doing nothing but someone asks what you are doing.

    Feel For Someone

    • Indicates deep understanding and empathy for someone.
    • It means you can relate to their feelings and understand what they're going through.

    Be Cheesy or Be Corny

    • Describes something awkward, overly emotional, or cliché.
    • Can also refer to excessive romance or sentimentality that becomes embarrassing.

    No Big Deal

    • Used to downplay the significance of a situation.
    • Implies that something is not a major problem and you are okay with it.

    Be Cool

    • An expression of admiration or approval.
    • It can be used to describe someone's personality, appearance, or even an object.

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    Description

    Explore common English idioms and discover their meanings with examples. This quiz is designed to enhance your understanding of everyday expressions and how to use them in conversation. Test your knowledge of phrases like 'Break a Leg' and 'Blow Off Some Steam.'

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