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Questions and Answers
What does 'don't count your chickens before they hatch' imply?
What does 'don't count your chickens before they hatch' imply?
What does the phrase 'drag one's feet' mean in a situation?
What does the phrase 'drag one's feet' mean in a situation?
What is the meaning of 'drive one up the wall'?
What is the meaning of 'drive one up the wall'?
What does it mean for something to be 'easier said than done'?
What does it mean for something to be 'easier said than done'?
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What does the phrase 'beat around the bush' mean?
What does the phrase 'beat around the bush' mean?
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What does 'easy does it' imply in a given context?
What does 'easy does it' imply in a given context?
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When someone is said to be 'bugged', what does this imply?
When someone is said to be 'bugged', what does this imply?
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What does the expression 'fair-weather friend' refer to?
What does the expression 'fair-weather friend' refer to?
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What is meant by the phrase 'every cloud has a silver lining'?
What is meant by the phrase 'every cloud has a silver lining'?
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Which phrase means to wish someone good luck?
Which phrase means to wish someone good luck?
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What does the phrase 'barking up the wrong tree' signify?
What does the phrase 'barking up the wrong tree' signify?
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What is indicated by the term 'false alarm'?
What is indicated by the term 'false alarm'?
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What is implied by someone who is 'bent out of shape'?
What is implied by someone who is 'bent out of shape'?
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What does the 'bottom line' refer to in a discussion?
What does the 'bottom line' refer to in a discussion?
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Which phrase means to emotionally hurt someone?
Which phrase means to emotionally hurt someone?
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What does it mean to 'brush up on something'?
What does it mean to 'brush up on something'?
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What does the phrase 'fall for it' mean?
What does the phrase 'fall for it' mean?
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What does 'get with the program' imply?
What does 'get with the program' imply?
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What is meant by 'have one's hands full'?
What is meant by 'have one's hands full'?
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When someone 'goes bananas', how do they typically feel?
When someone 'goes bananas', how do they typically feel?
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The expression 'give one’s right arm' indicates what?
The expression 'give one’s right arm' indicates what?
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What does 'go against the grain' mean?
What does 'go against the grain' mean?
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If someone is 'green with envy', what are they feeling?
If someone is 'green with envy', what are they feeling?
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What does the phrase 'grab a bite to eat' refer to?
What does the phrase 'grab a bite to eat' refer to?
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What does 'hit the books' mean?
What does 'hit the books' mean?
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What does 'hit the nail on the head' imply?
What does 'hit the nail on the head' imply?
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When someone is 'in over their head', what does that mean?
When someone is 'in over their head', what does that mean?
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What does it mean if something 'hits the spot'?
What does it mean if something 'hits the spot'?
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What does 'jump the gun' refer to?
What does 'jump the gun' refer to?
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What does 'know the ropes' mean?
What does 'know the ropes' mean?
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What does it mean to 'make ends meet'?
What does it mean to 'make ends meet'?
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What does the phrase 'sick as a dog' imply?
What does the phrase 'sick as a dog' imply?
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What does 'know by heart' signify?
What does 'know by heart' signify?
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What does the expression 'scare the living daylights out of' mean?
What does the expression 'scare the living daylights out of' mean?
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Which phrase indicates that someone has a desire for sweets?
Which phrase indicates that someone has a desire for sweets?
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What does 'stick one’s neck out' mean?
What does 'stick one’s neck out' mean?
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What does 'that does not hold water' refer to?
What does 'that does not hold water' refer to?
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Which phrase describes someone who is speaking in an unclear manner?
Which phrase describes someone who is speaking in an unclear manner?
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What does 'stab in the back' signify?
What does 'stab in the back' signify?
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What does 'spick and span' mean?
What does 'spick and span' mean?
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Study Notes
Idioms and Phrases
- Bad-mouth: To speak negatively about someone; affects social relationships.
- Barking up the wrong tree: Pursuing the wrong course or making a mistaken assumption.
- Beat around the bush: Avoiding the main topic or speaking indirectly, often seen in political speeches.
- Beat: A state of extreme tiredness; often used casually.
- Beats me: An expression of not knowing or being clueless about a question.
- Best of both worlds: Enjoying the benefits of two different situations simultaneously, e.g., part-time work allowing time for hobbies.
- Bent out of shape: Being very upset over something trivial or personal.
- Bite the bullet: Facing an unpleasant situation with courage or accepting one's responsibility.
Common Expressions
- Bottom line: The core issue or most important point to address in a discussion.
- Break a leg: A phrase used to wish someone good luck, especially in performances.
- Break someone’s heart: To emotionally hurt or disappoint someone, particularly in personal relationships.
- Break the ice: Initiating conversation or interaction to ease tension, often with a joke or fun activity.
- Brush up on something: To refresh skills or knowledge, often in preparation for an exam or task.
- Bug: To annoy or bother someone, typically in a lighthearted manner.
- Don’t count your chickens before they hatch: A caution against making assumptions before confirming outcomes.
- Drag one’s feet: To procrastinate or be slow in completing tasks.
Emotional States and Reactions
- Drive one crazy: To annoy someone significantly, often referring to irritations in daily life.
- Drive one up the wall: To cause extreme annoyance or frustration.
- Easier said than done: Acknowledges the difficulty in executing something compared to just discussing it.
- Easy does it!: A reminder to proceed carefully or avoid rushing.
- Eating at someone: Refers to something that is bothering or troubling someone emotionally.
- Every cloud has a silver lining: Suggests that even in negative situations, there is a potential positive outcome.
Social Interactions
- Face-to-face: Meeting or communicating in person, emphasizing direct interaction.
- Fair-weather friend: Someone who is only a friend during good times, but not during hardships.
- False alarm: A situation where concern is unnecessary and doesn't require a reaction.
- Fall for it: To be easily deceived or caught in a prank.
- Fly off the handle: To react angrily or lose temper suddenly, often over small issues.
- Follow in the footsteps of: To emulate or pursue a similar path as someone admired, especially recently.
Tasks and Efforts
- From scratch: To start something anew, particularly cooking or working on a project without pre-made materials.
- Get a kick out of something: To find enjoyment or pleasure in specific activities or experiences.
- Get with the program: To recognize and actively participate in ongoing tasks or responsibilities.
- Give one’s right arm: A way of expressing willingness to make significant sacrifices for others.
- Give someone a hand: Offering help or assistance in tasks.
- Go against the grain: To act in opposition to what is typically expected or considered normal.
Mental and Physical States
- Go bananas/Go crazy: Expressing extreme excitement or enthusiasm over something.
- Grab a bite to eat: Informal expression for getting food, typically a light meal or snack.
- Green with envy: Feeling jealous of someone’s success or happiness.
- Have one’s hands full: Being busy or overwhelmed by multiple responsibilities.
- Hit the books: An informal way to indicate serious studying or preparation for exams.
Miscellaneous
- In ages: Referring to not having done something for a significant period.
- In over one’s head: Taking on too many responsibilities or commitments.
- In the nick of time: Completing something just before the deadline.
- It’s a piece of cake: Describes something that is very easy to accomplish.
- John Hancock: A colloquial term for a signature.
- Jump the gun: To start something too early or prematurely, often without waiting for the right moment.
- Know by heart: To memorize something completely.
- Know the ropes: To be familiar with the details or procedures of a task or job.
- Make ends meet: To manage finances to cover basic needs or survive on a limited budget.
- Scare the living daylights out of: To frighten someone significantly.
- Sick as a dog: To describe someone feeling very ill.
- Skeleton in the closet: A secret or hidden issue that could cause embarrassment if revealed.
- Sleeping like a baby/log: Refers to someone sleeping very soundly and peacefully.
- Smell a rat: A feeling that something is not right or someone is being deceitful.
- Spick and span: Describes something that is very clean and well-organized.
- Stab in the back: To betray or harm someone who trusts you.
- Stick one’s neck out: To take a risk on behalf of someone else.
- Sweet tooth: A strong desire for sweet food or desserts.
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Description
Test your knowledge of common idiomatic expressions with this quiz! Understand phrases like 'bad-mouth', 'barking up the wrong tree', and 'beat around the bush' and how they apply in everyday situations.
