Questions and Answers
What does the expression 'burn the midnight oil' mean?
Which phrase describes a fresh start?
What does the term 'cold turkey' refer to?
In which situation would someone likely feel 'down in the dumps'?
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What does 'crunch time' refer to?
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What is the meaning of 'drive one crazy'?
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Which phrase describes a situation where one should be cautious?
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What does 'fair-weather friend' imply?
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What does it mean to 'drag one’s feet'?
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What situation is described by 'false alarm'?
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What is meant by 'easier said than done'?
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What does 'every cloud has a silver lining' suggest?
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What does the phrase 'hit the books' imply?
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What does it mean to 'hold your horses'?
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In what context would 'jump the gun' typically be used?
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What does it mean to 'know the ropes'?
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What does 'make ends meet' mean?
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What does the phrase 'fall for it' mean?
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What does 'fly off the handle' refer to?
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What does it mean to 'follow in the footsteps of' someone?
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What does 'from scratch' imply?
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What does it mean to 'get a kick out of something'?
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What does 'get with the program' suggest?
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What does it mean to 'give one's right arm'?
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What does 'go against the grain' mean?
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What does it mean to 'go bananas'?
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What does 'have one's hands full' signify?
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Study Notes
Phrasal Expressions and Their Meanings
- Burn the midnight oil: To stay up late working or studying, often until the early hours.
- Call it a day: To stop working and go home after completing tasks, usually when one feels satisfied.
- Catch some Z’s: A casual way to say going to sleep, particularly after a tiring day.
- Caught red-handed: Being caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal.
- Clean as a whistle: Describes something that is very clean; often used to emphasize tidiness.
- Clean slate: Represents a fresh start or a new beginning, usually after a mistake has been rectified.
- Cold feet: Refers to feelings of nervousness or anxiety, particularly before significant events like weddings.
- Cold turkey: To quit a bad habit abruptly, without gradual reduction.
- Cost an arm and a leg: Indicates something that is very expensive; emphasizes high cost.
- Crunch time: A critical period when deadlines are imminent, necessitating hard work and focus.
- Curiosity killed the cat: A proverb warning that excessive curiosity can lead to trouble.
- Days are numbered: Suggests that someone's time in a situation is limited or may soon end.
- Down in the dumps: A phrase describing a feeling of sadness or depression.
- Don’t count your chickens before they hatch: Advises against assuming success before it happens; wait for certain outcomes.
- Drag one’s feet: To delay or procrastinate when completing a task or making progress.
- Drive one crazy: Describes a behavior that is particularly irritating or annoying.
- Drive one up the wall: Similar to "drive one crazy," it indicates significant annoyance.
Additional Expressions
- Easier said than done: Describes a situation where talking about something is much simpler than actually doing it.
- Easy does it!: A caution to proceed carefully and not rush.
- Eating at someone: Describes a situation in which something bothers or disturbs someone.
- Every cloud has a silver lining: Suggests that even negative situations contain hopeful or positive aspects.
- Face-to-face: Refers to direct interaction between two people, in person.
- Fair-weather friend: A friend who is only supportive during good times but not during difficulties.
- False alarm: A situation where there is a mistaken panic or concern, often discovering that it wasn't necessary.
- Fall for it: Means to be tricked or deceived by a lie or prank.
- Fly off the handle: To become extremely angry suddenly or unexpectedly.
- Follow in the footsteps of: To imitate or take inspiration from someone admired, often in a professional or personal context.
- From scratch: To start something anew, particularly with no prior preparation or materials.
Experiencing and Managing Responsibilities
- Get a kick out of something: To derive enjoyment or pleasure from a particular activity or experience.
- Get with the program: To become aware of what is important and act accordingly.
- Give one’s right arm: To be willing to sacrifice a lot for something or someone valued.
- Give someone a hand: Can mean to help someone with a task or to applaud someone's efforts.
- Go against the grain: To act contrary to what is generally accepted or expected.
- Go bananas/Go crazy: To become extremely excited or agitated.
- Grab a bite to eat: To obtain something to eat, often quickly.
Other Common Sayings
- Green with envy: Describes a strong feeling of jealousy.
- Have one’s hands full: Indicates being busy with numerous responsibilities at once.
- Hit the books: A directive to study hard.
- Hit the nail on the head: To describe a perfect or accurate assessment of a situation.
- Hit the spot: Refers to something that perfectly satisfies a craving or need.
- Hold your horses: A request for patience or to slow down.
Additional Insights on Challenges
- In ages: Refers to a long duration, often used for time gone by without an event.
- In over one’s head: Describes someone who has taken on responsibilities too complex or numerous to handle.
- In the nick of time: Just barely in time to avoid a negative outcome.
- It’s a piece of cake: Indicates that something is very easy to accomplish.
- John Hancock: A colloquial term for a signature, referring to its uniqueness.
- Jump the gun: To act too soon or prematurely.
Knowledge and Skills
- Know by heart: Refers to memorizing something thoroughly.
- Know the ropes: Describes familiarity with a process or situation.
- Make ends meet: To manage one's finances so that income covers expenditures.
- Scare the living daylights out of: To frighten someone significantly.
- Sick as a dog: Describes someone feeling extremely ill.
- Skeleton in the closet: A hidden, often embarrassing secret.
Sleep and Awareness
- Sleeping like a baby: Refers to sleeping deeply and peacefully.
- Sleeping like a log: Denotes deep sleep where one is hard to wake up.
- Smell a rat: To suspect that something is not trustworthy.
- Spick and span: Describes a clean and tidy condition.
- Stab in the back: To betray someone, often unexpectedly.
- Stick one’s neck out: To take a risk, often for someone else's benefit.
- Sweet tooth: A strong desire or preference for sweet foods.
Communication and Reasoning
- Talking in circles: Describes unclear and repetitive speech that fails to make a point.
- That does not hold water: It signifies an argument does not stand up to scrutiny.
- That is a bunch of baloney: Refers to a lie or nonsensical statement.
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Description
Test your understanding of common idioms and phrases in English. This quiz focuses on expressions related to working late, stopping work, and going to sleep. Discover the meanings and usage of these fun idioms.
