Preview - Interactive Activities – Symphony in slang (idioms)

SmartMemo

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

Item

Match

Comments

I was up against it.

I was in a very unfortunate situation.

I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth

I was born into a rich family

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

To be in a pickle.

To be in an uncomfortable situation.

We were painting the town red.

We were enjoying parties all over the city.

They sprung me.

I was released from prison.

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 wrote a check and it bounced.

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

In no time the law was on my heels.

Soon the police were very close to catching me.

The proprietor drew a gun on me.

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

Did you follow me?

Did you understand what I said?

What’s new?

Hello

An informal greeting.

I seemed to grow up overnight

My time as a child seemed to pass by quickly

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, ...

It was raining cats and dogs.

It was raining very hard.

Our eyes met.

We noticed each another.

The guy got in my hair.

He was a constant nuisance.

The guy at the piano played by ear.

He played without the use of a sheet music.

I was feeling mighty blue.

I was very sad.

I made a lot of dough.

I made a lot of money.

I tried to chisel in.

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

I gave him the slip.

I managed to escape from him.

I was beside myself with anger.

I was very very upset/crossed/angry.

Her clothes fit her like a glove.

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

What’s cookin’?

Hello

An informal greeting.

A beautiful girl stepped into the picture.

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

I died laughing.

I laughed a real lot, uncontrollably.

He gave me the gate.

I was fired/dismissed from my job.

He spent his money like water.

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

I couldn’t cut the mustard.

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

At the crack of dawn.

In the beginning of a new day.

She gave me a date.

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

That burned me up.

I became very angry.

The cat had her tongue.

She didn't say anything.

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.

After going through a lot of red tape.

After many bureaucratic and confusing processes.

We went around together for some time.

She was my girlfriend for a period of time.

She let her hair down and ate like a horse.

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

She put on the dog.

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

The judge tried to pump me.

The judge tried to get information out of me.

It felt good to stretch my legs again.

It was nice to experience freedom again.

I heard it from the grapevine.

I heard a rumour.

I carried on.

I continued, I persevered

My little hole in the wall.

A small dingy room.

I felt a tug at my elbow.

Someone was pulling on my arm.

He was connected with the railroad.

He worked for a railroad company.

My breath came up short panted.

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

I threw myself at her feet.

I implored her for mercy and grace.

My money was running out on me.

I was spending all my money quickly.

I went to pieces.

I became very upset/sad.

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.

A tear ran down my cheek.

I cried softly.

I got a job slinging hash.

I got a job serving food in a restaurant.

Especially a cheap establishment.

She had good looking pins too.

She had attractive legs.

I walked out on her.

I left her presence, especially in a rude manner.

I dropped in on Mary.

I made her a surprise visit.

I raised a big stink.

I protested vigorously.

How’s tricks?

Hello

An informal greeting.

She turned her back on me.

She ignored what I had to say.

We chewed the rag awhile.

We had a little chat, a small talk.

The groom had his hands full too.

He was very busy.

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.