Idioms 11-21

Question 1

What does ‘to sit on the fence’ mean?

Answer 1

No tienes claro de qué lado estás con respecto a un tema.

Question 2

What English idiom means ‘No tener claro de qué lado estás con respecto a un tema’?

Answer 2

To sit on the fence

Question 3

What does ‘through thick and thin’ mean?

Answer 3

Significa que apoyarás a la otra persona pase lo que pase, en los buenos momentos y en los malos.

Question 4

What is the English idiom meaning ‘que apoyarás a la otra persona pase lo que pase, en los buenos momentos y en los malos’?

Answer 4

Through thick and thin.

For example, ‘I’ll support Luis though thick and thin’.

Question 5

What does ‘once in a blue moon mean’?

Answer 5

Rara vez.

Se usa para describir algo que no ocurre con frecuencia.

Question 6

What is the English idiom meaning ‘para describir algo que no ocurre con frecuencia’?

Answer 6

Once in a blue moon

For example, Luis likes eating a curry once in a blue moon.

Question 7

What does ‘it’s the best thing since sliced bread’ mean?

Answer 7

Es muy, muy bueno.

For example, ‘learning English is the best thing since sliced bread’

Question 8

What is the English idiom meaning ‘Es muy, muy bueno’?

Answer 8

It’s the best thing since sliced bread.

Question 9

What does ‘to take it with a pinch of salt’ mean?

Answer 9

No te lo tomes demasiado en serio.

For example ‘Luis says he likes flying’. Reply: ‘well, you can take that with a pinch of salt’.

Question 10

What is the English idiom meaning ‘No tomarlo demasiado en serio’?

Answer 10

To take it with a pinch of salt.

Question 11

What does ‘come rain or shine’ mean?

Answer 11

Pase lo que pase

For example ‘I’ll pick you up from the station, come rain or shine’.

Question 12

What is the English idiom meaning ‘Pase lo que pase’ ?

Answer 12

Come rain or shine.

Question 13

What does ‘to go down in flames’ mean?

Answer 13

Fracasar estrepitosamente.

For example ‘that exam went down in flames, I should have learnt my English idioms’.

Question 14

What is the English idiom meaning ‘Fracasar estrepitosamente’?

Answer 14

To go down in flames.

Question 15

What is the English idiom meaning ‘eso es cierto’?

Answer 15

‘you can say that again’.

Question 16

What does ‘you can say that again’ mean?

Answer 16

Eso es cierto.

For example ‘Luis hates exams’, the reply could be ‘you can say that again!’

Question 17

What does ‘to see eye to eye’ mean?

Answer 17

Estar totalmente de acuerdo.

For example ‘Luis and I always see eye to eye when it’s time to have a vermouth’

(Can also be used in the negative, for example ‘Luis and I never see eye to eye over the benefits of eating lettuce’.

Question 18

What does ‘to jump on the bandwagon’ mean?

Answer 18

Seguir una moda.

Cuando alguien empieza a hacer algo porque está de moda o lo hace solamente porque queda bien.

For example ‘those trousers don’t suit her at all, she’s just jumping on the band wagon’.

Question 19

What is the English idiom meaning ‘Seguir una moda’.

Answer 19

To jump on the band wagon.

Question 20

What does ‘as right as rain’ mean?

To what question might you reply ‘I’m as right as rain’?

Answer 20

Perfecto

‘ How are you?’

Question 21

What is the English idiom meaning ‘perfecto’, or ‘estar bien’?

Answer 21

To be ‘as right as rain’.

Question 22

What does ‘to beat around the bush’ mean?

Answer 22

Evitar decir algo.

Por ejemplo si no quieres expresar tu opinión o contestar con sinceridad.

‘Luis, stop beating around the bush, tell me if you want to take the dog for a walk!’

Question 23

What English idiom means ‘Evitar decir algo’.

Answer 23

To beat around the bush.

Question 24

What does ‘to hit the sack’ mean.

Answer 24

Irse a la cama.

I’m exhausted, I’m going to hit the sack.

Question 25

What English idiom means ‘Irse a la cama’?

Answer 25

To hit the sack.

Question 26

What does ‘to miss the boat’ mean?

Answer 26

Es demasiado tarde.

Cuando dejes pasar una oportunidad o una fecha límite.

For example, ‘I missed the boat getting a discount on that language course’.

Question 27

What English idiom means ‘es demasiado tarde’?

Answer 27

To miss the boat.

Question 28

What does ‘by the skin of your teeth’ mean?

Answer 28

A duras penas.

‘Phew, I passed that exam by the skin of my teeth!’

Question 29

What is the English idiom meaning ‘a duras penas’.

Answer 29

By the skin of your teeth.

Question 30

What is the English idiom meaning ‘Estar totalmente de acuerdo’?

Answer 30

To see eye to eye.

Question 31

What does ‘not my cup of tea’ mean?

Answer 31

No me gusta mucho.

For example ‘Kay, do you like watching football?’. The reply could be ‘it’s not my cup of tea’.

Question 32

What is the English idiom meaning ‘no me gusta mucho’?

Answer 32

It’s not my cup of tea