English slang 001

Question 1

spill the beans

Answer 1

to tell something that shouldn’t be told; to disclose something confidential:

● He spilled the beans, and she knew all about the party in advance.

Question 2

short on cash

Answer 2

To be short on cash means not to have much money:

● Unfortunately, I’m short on cash and so I can’t afford to buy that car.

Question 3

to know something like the back of your hand

Answer 3

to be familiar with a place or route:

● Ashley knows Los Angeles like the back of her hand, so you can ask her about interesting places to visit.

Question 4

bear with me

/ber/

Answer 4

to ask someone to patiently wait as you finish a task or something you are doing:

● If you’ll just bear with me for a moment, I’ll find you a copy of the drawings.
● Let me explain it to you. This will be a little bit technical, so bear with me.

Question 5

be crawling with something

Answer 5

to be completely covered with or full of a particular type of thing:

● After the bomb scare, the airport was crawling with police.
● The bread they gave us was crawling with ants and completely inedible.
● The city is absolutely crawling with stray cats.
● Their homes have no running water and the walls are crawling with termites.

Question 6

be fit as a fiddle

Answer 6

to be very healthy and strong:

● My grandmother’s 89, but she’s as fit as a fiddle.

Question 7

a dime a dozen

Answer 7

common and not special:

● Plastic toys like this are a dime a dozen (=they are common and not special).

Question 8

sit tight

Answer 8

1) to stay where you are:

● You’d better sit tight and I’ll call the doctor.
● You sit tight, and I’ll go get help.

2) to refuse to change your mind:

● My parents tried to persuade me not to go alone, but I sat tight.

Question 9

pitch in

Answer 9

to start to do something as part of a group, especially something helpful:

● If we all pitch in together, it shouldn’t take too long.
● When I bought this house, all my friends pitched in to help fix it up.
● My brother pitched in with an offer of help.

Question 10

blow off steam

Answer 10

to do or say something that helps you to get rid of anger, strong feelings or energy:

● Call me any time you need to blow off some steam.

Question 11

You can say that again!

Answer 11

It means I completely agree with you!

• It’s really hot today!
• You can say it again!

Question 12

be at the top of your game
(be on top of your game)

Answer 12

to be performing extremely well in a sport, job, etc. so that you could not perform any better:

● I want to beat Andy when he’s at the top of his game.
● The pitcher is completely on top of his game tonight—the batters barely stand a chance to get a hit.
● A singer at the top of her game when performing before her hometown audience.

Question 13

hit the sack

Answer 13

to go to bed in order to sleep:

● I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, so I think I’ll hit the sack.

Question 14

get/start the ball rolling

Answer 14

to make something new begin or happen:

● We have to get the ball rolling on this project soon.

Question 15

ride shotgun

Answer 15

ride shotgun means to ride in the seat next to the driver

Question 16

hit the spot

Answer 16

to be exactly what is needed:

● That bacon sandwich really hit the spot!
● Expect this film to hit the spot.

Question 17

hit the books

Answer 17

hit the books means to study hard:

● I have to hit the books this weekend — I have two exams next week.
● I can’t go out tonight. I need to hit the books.

Question 18

let the cat out of the bag

Answer 18

to allow a secret to be known, usually without intending to:

● I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag.

Question 19

be over the moon

Answer 19

to be very pleased or happy:

● She was over the moon about/with her new bike.

Question 20

run out the door

Answer 20

to leave in a hurry:

I’m just about to run out the door.