Pharases7😉

Question 1

Pull a fast one on/with

The shopkeeper tried topull a fast oneon me. He gave me a £5 note as change instead of a £20 note.

Don’t you try andpull a fast onewith me! I know you’re not really sick. Get back to work.

Answer 1

Topull a fast onemeans to deceive or play a trick on someone. We say youpull a fast oneon or with somebody. The phone sellerpulled a fast oneon Neil.

Question 2

Suck it and see

I’m really not confident riding a bike in the centre of town. But all my friends do it, so I guess I’ll justsuck it and see.

I decided to dye my hair blonde, but I’m still not sure about it. I’llsuck it and see. I can always dye it black again!

I’m notsurewhether thispaintis therightcolourfor thebedroom- we’ll just have to suck it andsee.

Answer 2

The phrasesuck it and seeis used when you do something new and you’re not sure whether you will like it or not – like a new job.

Question 3

To cut your teeth

Dan cut his teeth on a local newspaper before landing a job on a national daily.

He cut his teeth running the junior football club before becoming a professional referee.

Answer 3

‘to cut your teeth’ means to acquire initial practice or experience in a particular job or activity. We could say it’s where you get your basic skills.

Rob
Correct – so where do you think you cut your teeth for this job Fefei?

Feifei
I cut my media teeth at university.

Question 4

Shrinkflation
Shrink:become smaller +inflation

I paid the same price for this chocolate bar as I always have, but when I unwrapped it, it was smaller – I guess that’s shrinkflation!

It appears lots of brands are practising shrinkflation these days, probably to cut costs and maximise their profits.

I don’t believe it! There used to be 20 biscuits in the packet, but now shrinkflation means there are only 16!

Answer 4

Myskirtshrank in thewash.

Thesetrousersmust have shrunk - I can’t do thezipup.

Have you shrunk? Youlookso muchthinner!

Question 5

La-la land

Los Angeles
She’s clearly living in la-la land – how can we ever afford to buy a house with the little money we earn?

My boyfriend’s living in la-la land if he thinks I’m going sailing with him – I get seasick!

Answer 5

That’s la-la land – a phrase to describe someone who is unreasonable or out of touch with reality. I know the feeling – I’ve got lots of work to do too and I’m going on holiday tomorrow… I don’t suppose you could help me?

Rob
Feifei you really are living in la-la land – I’ve told you I haven’t got any time.

Question 6

A different kettle of fish 🐠

So we could say writing English isa very different kettle of fishfrom speaking it?

I loved the first film but the sequel wasa different kettle of fish.

Heating a ready meal in the microwave is one thing but preparing a freshly cooked meal isa different kettle of fish.

Camping on the beach would be amazing but camping in the rain would bea different kettle of fish!

👍Havingknowledgeis one thing but beingabletocommunicateit toothersis another kettle offish.

Answer 6

The phrase isa different kettle of fish– we say it to mean a situation or subject that is being discussed is completely different from the one you are talking about.

(informal)a completely different situation or person from the one previously mentioned

Question 7

At the drop of a hat

My husband just can’t stop spending - he buys clothesat the drop of a hat!

If I knew what to do next, I’d quit my jobat the drop of a hat. Until then, I’ll stay where I am.

My wife’s expecting a baby so I might have to rush to the hospitalat the drop of a hat.

Answer 7

When I saidat the drop of a hatI meant ‘mmediately’. If I had enough money, I would go to Australia immediately – without delay.

Question 8

Catch-22

I need my parent’s car, but my mum says I need permission from my dad, then my dad says I need permission from my mum. I can’t get permission from either. So I’m in a catch-22 situation.

To apply for a short-term student visa to study English in the UK, you have to be able to speak some English but you want to come to England to learn English! It’s catch-22 for many potential students.

Answer 8

, it just describes a situation where you can’t win. Basically, you can’t do one thing until you have done another thing which you can’t do until you have done the first thing.

It’s impossible situations

Question 9

Friends in high places

Wang managed to get a promotion but I’m sure it’s only because he knows people in high places.

Thanks to his friends in high places, my boyfriend managed to get tickets for the sold-out rock concert. Yeah!

Despite failing her exams, Jane still managed to get a place at university – I’m sure she has friends in high places.

Answer 9

These are powerful and important people we know and might be able to help us in some way.

Question 10

Brass neck

My ex-boyfriend’s got a brass neck, coming round and asking me to do his washing!

The customer has a brass neck asking for a refund when it was obvious he had already worn the shoes.

She’s got a brass neck telling the boss that he wasn’t very good at his job – I would never say that!

Answer 10

So having a brass neck means you are extremely confident about your own actions but you don’t understand that your behaviour might be unacceptable to others.
shameless cheek or impudence: After breaking off the engagement she had the brass neck to keep the ring.
گستاخی بی شرمانه

Question 11

To downsize
The growth of online sales in the UK has forced many retail businesses to downsize. Some of them have reduced their number of outlets in the high street.

Now that I am going to university, my parents have decided to downsize. They are selling the house, moving to a flat and using some of the money to travel the world.

Answer 11

That’s the word companies use to describe cutting a number of jobs and making employees redundant. ‘Downsizing’ is the noun.

Question 12

Stab someone in the back

A lot of young people think you have to stab people in the back to get ahead in business, but you don’t.

She told me she was in love with me, but then she stabbed me in the back and went out with Dave.

I wouldn’t trust Laura if I were you. She’s nice to your face, but then she stabs you in the back.

Answer 12

To stab someone in the back means to betray someone. He knew that I wanted to handle the new video project, and he said he’d help me get it. But in the meeting he told the boss that I didn’t have enough experience to do a project like that.

Question 13

Don’t reinvent the wheel

Don’t reinvent the wheel; we already have a plan that seems to work well.

He spent days working out the new course syllabus when we had planned it already – he’s just reinvented the wheel!

Nancy’s new idea is just the same as the old one – she’s just reinvented the wheel!

🍃 There’s no point in us reinventing the wheel.

Answer 13

‘to waste time and effort doing something that someone has done before’.

Question 14

Frenemy

She seems so false, I wouldn’t trust her – she’s just a frenemy.

Tania’s been my frenemy for years – I’d go for a quick drink with her but that’s it!

Tom’s just my frenemy – I pretend to like him but really I can’t stand him!

Answer 14

If you pretend to be friends with someone but in reality you don’t like each other then they are your ‘frenemy’. I wonder if I was her frenemy?

Freind+enemy