Dear community,
Over the last couple of weeks, we published a series on English
idioms and expressions on our blog. If you haven’t read that popular series
yet, you can do so here. With this discussion topic, I’d like
to give you the opportunity to practise what you’ve learnt from that series.
The exercise
Below, you see a list of English expressions and
idioms with the letters A to G next to it and a list of possible meanings with
the numbers 1 to 7 next to it. Your task is to match the expressions and idioms
to the correct meaning. Leave your answers in the comments below, and I will
let you know how well you did :-)
(A) Let someone off the hook
(B) Down for the count
(C) Don't count your chickens before your eggs have hatched
(D) Go on a wild-goose chase
(E) Give it a whirl
(F) Barking up the wrong tree
(G) There is a method to your madness
(1) There is a reason behind someone's mysterious behaviour
(2) Don't count on something that may or may not happen
(3) To be mistaken about the reason for something happening or the way to achieve something
(4) To not hold someone accountable for something (anymore)
(5) To be tired or defeated
(6) To search for something that is unsuccessful and a waste of time because what is being searched for does not exist or is somewhere else
(7) To give something a try, often for the first time
Good luck! And if you enjoyed practising idioms and expressions, you
have something to look forward to as I’m publishing a second exercise very soon!
Warmly,
Marieke, OLS Community Manager – English