Preview - Interactive Activities – Symphony in slang (idioms)

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Symphony in slang (idioms)
Video page	https://multimedia-english.com/videos/lesson/symphony-in-slang-idioms-3726
Focus	Expressions
Description	This activity will help you learn lots of colloquial idioms in English.
Instructions	1- Look at the words and think of its meaning (and maybe pronunciation) 2- Move your mouse over the black button to check your answer. 3- If you were right, click on the green button, if wrong, click on the red.

Item	Match	Comments
The judge tried to pump me.	The judge tried to get information out of me.
I felt a tug at my elbow.	Someone was pulling on my arm.
I couldn’t cut the mustard.	I was not adequately skilled to do the work that was required.
She turned her back on me.	She ignored what I had to say.
The guy got in my hair.	He was a constant nuisance.
I heard it from the grapevine.	I heard a rumour.
He was connected with the railroad.	He worked for a railroad company.
The boss was short-handed.	The boss didn't have enough employees to do the necessary work.	Being short-handed means not having enough employees to do the necessary work because you need more "hands" to help you, more people.
I was beside myself with anger.	I was very very upset/crossed/angry.
The guy at the piano played by ear.	He played without the use of a sheet music.
He sent me up the river to do a stretch in the jar.	He sent me to jail for a long period of time.
I was feeling mighty blue.	I was very sad.
She had good looking pins too.	She had attractive legs.
He's all thumbs.	He's very clumsy.	As if all your fingers became thumbs, so you wouldn't be able to do things properly.
She gave me a date.	She agreee to spend time with me, to go out together.
I tried to chisel in.	I tried to interrupt their good times, get in the way.
I carried on.	I continued, I persevered
Our eyes met.	We noticed each another.
To be in a pickle.	To be in an uncomfortable situation.
She let her hair down and ate like a horse.	She acted in a relaxed manner and she ate a real lot.
Did you follow me?	Did you understand what I said?
My money was running out on me.	I was spending all my money quickly.
How’s tricks?	Hello	An informal greeting.
I threw myself at her feet.	I implored her for mercy and grace.
We were painting the town red.	We were enjoying parties all over the city.
I died laughing.	I laughed a real lot, uncontrollably.
It was raining cats and dogs.	It was raining very hard.
She put on the dog.	She wore a formal evening gown and looked very attractive in it.
The proprietor drew a gun on me.	The proprietor pulled out a pistol and pointed it at me.
Her clothes fit her like a glove.	Her dress was clinging tight on her body, the perfect size for her.
I got up with the chickens.	I rose up very early in the morning.	Roosters/cocks are known to crow at the sunrise, so this expression is synonymous with rising up early
What’s cookin’?	Hello	An informal greeting.
My little hole in the wall.	A small dingy room.
They sprung me.	I was released from prison.
We went around together for some time.	She was my girlfriend for a period of time.
I dropped in on Mary.	I made her a surprise visit.
I made a lot of dough.	I made a lot of money.
The groom had his hands full too.	He was very busy.
Every time I opened my mouth, I put my foot into it.	I kept saying the wrong thing.
I put on my white tie and tails.	I dressed in a formal tuxedo.
I was up against it.	I was in a very unfortunate situation.
I wrote a check and it bounced.	There was not enough money in the bank to cover my expenses.
He spent his money like water.	He was very generous with his money (or simply spent too much)
I gave him the slip.	I managed to escape from him.
After going through a lot of red tape.	After many bureaucratic and confusing processes.
I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth	I was born into a rich family
What’s new?	Hello	An informal greeting.
I got a job slinging hash.	I got a job serving food in a restaurant.	Especially a cheap establishment.
That burned me up.	I became very angry.
I got goose pimples.	I got nervous.	Goose pimples are those little lumps you get all over your skin when you feel cold, or nervous, or afraid, ...
I went to pieces.	I became very upset/sad.
In no time the law was on my heels.	Soon the police were very close to catching me.
A beautiful girl stepped into the picture.	I met an attractive woman and she became significant to me.
We chewed the rag awhile.	We had a little chat, a small talk.
I seemed to grow up overnight	My time as a child seemed to pass by quickly
It felt good to stretch my legs again.	It was nice to experience freedom again.
A tear ran down my cheek.	I cried softly.
He gave me the gate.	I was fired/dismissed from my job.
My breath came up short panted.	I was breathing harder than normal due to my excitement or tiredness.
I raised a big stink.	I protested vigorously.
I walked out on her.	I left her presence, especially in a rude manner.
At the crack of dawn.	In the beginning of a new day.
The cat had her tongue.	She didn't say anything.

Item

Match

Comments

The judge tried to pump me.

The judge tried to get information out of me.

I felt a tug at my elbow.

Someone was pulling on my arm.

I couldn’t cut the mustard.

I was not adequately skilled to do the work that was required.

She turned her back on me.

She ignored what I had to say.

The guy got in my hair.

He was a constant nuisance.

I heard it from the grapevine.

I heard a rumour.

He was connected with the railroad.

He worked for a railroad company.

The boss was short-handed.

The boss didn't have enough employees to do the necessary work.

Being short-handed means not having enough employees to do the necessary work because you need more "hands" to help you, more people.

I was beside myself with anger.

I was very very upset/crossed/angry.

The guy at the piano played by ear.

He played without the use of a sheet music.

He sent me up the river to do a stretch in the jar.

He sent me to jail for a long period of time.

I was feeling mighty blue.

I was very sad.

She had good looking pins too.

She had attractive legs.

He's all thumbs.

He's very clumsy.

As if all your fingers became thumbs, so you wouldn't be able to do things properly.

She gave me a date.

She agreee to spend time with me, to go out together.

I tried to chisel in.

I tried to interrupt their good times, get in the way.

I carried on.

I continued, I persevered

Our eyes met.

We noticed each another.

To be in a pickle.

To be in an uncomfortable situation.

She let her hair down and ate like a horse.

She acted in a relaxed manner and she ate a real lot.

Did you follow me?

Did you understand what I said?

My money was running out on me.

I was spending all my money quickly.

How’s tricks?

Hello

An informal greeting.

I threw myself at her feet.

I implored her for mercy and grace.

We were painting the town red.

We were enjoying parties all over the city.

I died laughing.

I laughed a real lot, uncontrollably.

It was raining cats and dogs.

It was raining very hard.

She put on the dog.

She wore a formal evening gown and looked very attractive in it.

The proprietor drew a gun on me.

The proprietor pulled out a pistol and pointed it at me.

Her clothes fit her like a glove.

Her dress was clinging tight on her body, the perfect size for her.

I got up with the chickens.

I rose up very early in the morning.

Roosters/cocks are known to crow at the sunrise, so this expression is synonymous with rising up early

What’s cookin’?

Hello

An informal greeting.

My little hole in the wall.

A small dingy room.

They sprung me.

I was released from prison.

We went around together for some time.

She was my girlfriend for a period of time.

I dropped in on Mary.

I made her a surprise visit.

I made a lot of dough.

I made a lot of money.

The groom had his hands full too.

He was very busy.

Every time I opened my mouth, I put my foot into it.

I kept saying the wrong thing.

I put on my white tie and tails.

I dressed in a formal tuxedo.

I was up against it.

I was in a very unfortunate situation.

I wrote a check and it bounced.

There was not enough money in the bank to cover my expenses.

He spent his money like water.

He was very generous with his money (or simply spent too much)

I gave him the slip.

I managed to escape from him.

After going through a lot of red tape.

After many bureaucratic and confusing processes.

I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth

I was born into a rich family

What’s new?

Hello

An informal greeting.

I got a job slinging hash.

I got a job serving food in a restaurant.

Especially a cheap establishment.

That burned me up.

I became very angry.

I got goose pimples.

I got nervous.

Goose pimples are those little lumps you get all over your skin when you feel cold, or nervous, or afraid, ...

I went to pieces.

I became very upset/sad.

In no time the law was on my heels.

Soon the police were very close to catching me.

A beautiful girl stepped into the picture.

I met an attractive woman and she became significant to me.

We chewed the rag awhile.

We had a little chat, a small talk.

I seemed to grow up overnight

My time as a child seemed to pass by quickly

It felt good to stretch my legs again.

It was nice to experience freedom again.

A tear ran down my cheek.

I cried softly.

He gave me the gate.

I was fired/dismissed from my job.

My breath came up short panted.

I was breathing harder than normal due to my excitement or tiredness.

I raised a big stink.

I protested vigorously.

I walked out on her.

I left her presence, especially in a rude manner.

At the crack of dawn.

In the beginning of a new day.

The cat had her tongue.

She didn't say anything.