Word Skills Intermediate - Unit 15

Question 1

talk down to smby

Answer 1

talk to smby as if they are less intelligent than you

Question 2

put your foot in it

put your foot in your mouth

Answer 2

INF say smth that makes you embarrassed or upset

Question 3

get smth across (to smby)

Answer 3

succeed in making smby understand what you’re trying to say

Question 4

talk sense

Answer 4

say things that are sensible and correct

OPP - talk nonsense “You’re talking nonsense.”

Question 5

speak up

Answer 5

speak more loudly

Question 6

speak your mind

Answer 6

say exactly what you think in a direct way

Question 7

(to so smth) behind smby’s back

Answer 7

without smby knowing
OPP - to smby’s face
“I told her she was a liar, right to her face.”

Question 8

answer smby back

US - to talk back to smby

Answer 8

to answer rudely to smby in power

“He talked back to his boss too many times and got fired.”

Question 9

tell smby off (for doing smth)

Answer 9

INF - speak angrily to smby for doing smth wrong

Question 10

can’t get a word in edgewise

Answer 10

not be able to say anything because someone else is talking too much
“I can’t get a word in edgewise when Jill is around.”