Tea Break

Sep 23,2016

Carry coals to Newcastle

The meaning To do something pointless, useless or difficult to achieve. Exporting pine to Scandinavia is like carrying coal to Newcastle Etymology Newcastle Upon Tyne in England was UK’s first coal exporting port and has been well-known as a coal mining centre since the Middle Ages, although much diminished in that regard in recent years. Read More

Around 1 minute and 6 seconds to read

Sep 23,2016

A leopard cannot change its spots

The meaning A person cannot change who he is, especially if he has a bad character, no matter how hard he tries. The waiter tried to be friendly to his customers but a leopard can’t change its spots and he was still very rude. Etymology This idiom comes from the Old Testament (Jer. 13:23). The Read More

Around 51 seconds to read

Sep 23,2016

It’s raining cats and dogs

The meaning Raining very heavily Most learners of English will be familiar with the idiom It’s raining cats and dogs. Indeed, many people remember it because it’s such an odd expression and one which can conjure up quite entertaining images. However this idiom is rather old-fashioned. In a polite, formal situation the British might simply Read More

Around 1 minute and 7 seconds to read

Sep 23,2016

A piece of cake

The meaning A piece of cake is something that is very easy to achieve, a job that is simple, easy. The word cakewalk can be used with the same meaning. My driving test was an absolute piece of cake. Etymology The origin of the expression defers whether you are British or American. In the USA Read More

Around 1 minute and 5 seconds to read

Sep 23,2016

To slay the dragon

The meaning > To slay means to kill violently This man slayed several people when he tried to rob a bank Or to impress strongly Your jokes slay me To overcome a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, to achieve something that seemed impossible. To defend oneself in court Etymology > Slay the dragon comes from fairy tales, Read More

Around 51 seconds to read

Sep 23,2016

To be cool as a cucumber

The meaning Extremely calm, relaxed and in control of one’s emotions I don’t understand how you can stay cool as a cucumber when you give presentations to more than 100 people. I get so nervous and I always mix up my words. Etymology This phrase may have originated from the fact that even in hot Read More

Around 50 seconds to read

Sep 23,2016

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

The meaning To choose between two undesirable situations, It means one has a dilemma. In having to choose between tax rises and benefit cuts, voters find themselves between the devil and the deep blue sea Etymology The phrase was originally ‘Between the Devil and the deep sea’ (and some ‘the Dead Sea’ or ‘the Red Read More

Around 1 minute and 24 seconds to read

Sep 23,2016

To take the biscuit!

The meaning Usually only used in British English, to take the biscuit means to be the most disappointing, annoying, shocking, outrageous, or egregious thing to have happened or been done. The American equivalent is take the cake. So now he’s using the money he stole from people like us to fund his luxury lifestyle in Read More

Around 52 seconds to read

Fév 10,2016

Face the music

The meaning > Sometimes, when you have done something wrong, it’s better to accept the consequences rather than try and avoid them. A student who has failed to submit an assignment on time may say to a colleague «Right. I’d better go and face the music», meaning that he will go and meet the lecturer Read More

Around 50 seconds to read

Jan 13,2016

Bite the bullet

The meaning > The Macmillan English Dictionary defines the expression to bite the bullet thus: “to force yourself to do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding doing”. If you have toothache but have been avoiding going to the dentist because you are scared, the pain might finally become so great that you Read More

Around 52 seconds to read

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