Explanation + Extra Activities
10 funny expressions and idioms in English:
- Hold your horses
Meaning: This idiom means to slow down, be patient, or wait. It’s often used when someone is rushing or getting ahead of themselves.
Example: “Hold your horses! We don’t need to leave for another hour.” - Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
Meaning: This is said when someone takes more food than they can actually eat, meaning they were overly ambitious in estimating how much they could consume.
Example: “I can’t finish all this food. I guess my eyes were bigger than my stomach.” - Keep your pants on
Meaning: It’s a humorous way of telling someone to stay calm or be patient, similar to “hold your horses.”
Example: “The pizza is coming, just keep your pants on!” - Knock someone’s socks off
Meaning: To greatly impress or amaze someone.
Example: “That magic trick was so amazing, it really knocked my socks off!” - The best thing since sliced bread
Meaning: Used to describe something that’s considered an incredible or revolutionary improvement or innovation.
Example: “This new phone is the best thing since sliced bread!” - Speak of the devil
Meaning: This phrase is said when someone you were just talking about appears unexpectedly.
Example: “We were just talking about you, speak of the devil!” - To rain on someone’s parade
Meaning: To spoil someone’s plans or ruin a good moment.
Example: “I hate to rain on your parade, but it looks like your event might get canceled due to the weather.” - When pigs fly
Meaning: This expression is used to indicate that something will never happen, as pigs can’t fly.
Example: “Sure, I’ll tidy my room when pigs fly.” - Break a leg
Meaning: A way of wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance or important event.
Example: “I know you’re nervous about your audition, but break a leg!” - To get up on the wrong side of the bed
Meaning: This phrase is used to describe someone who is grumpy or in a bad mood, often without a clear reason.
Example: “Why are you so cranky today? Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?”
These idioms are often used in a lighthearted or humorous context, adding color to everyday conversations!
Extra Practice
Here’s a fun quiz with 20 questions based on the idioms you provided. For each situation, choose the most appropriate idiom from the options.
1. Your friend ordered three large pizzas but only ate two slices. What would you say to describe this situation?
a) Hold your horses
b) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
c) Knock someone’s socks off
2. You have an important exam coming up. Your friend encourages you by saying something to wish you good luck. What do they say?
a) Break a leg
b) When pigs fly
c) To rain on someone’s parade
3. You’re excited about a new gadget you just bought, and you think it’s a fantastic innovation. What phrase would you use?
a) Speak of the devil
b) Knock someone’s socks off
c) It’s the best thing since sliced bread
4. You’re running late, but your friend tells you not to worry because you have plenty of time. What might they say?
a) Hold your horses
b) Get up on the wrong side of the bed
c) Speak of the devil
5. You’re at a birthday party, and someone accidentally spills juice all over the birthday cake, ruining the moment. What expression fits this situation?
a) To rain on someone’s parade
b) Break a leg
c) Keep your pants on
6. You were talking about a friend, and suddenly, they walk into the room. What do you say?
a) Hold your horses
b) Speak of the devil
c) When pigs fly
7. Your sibling is impatiently waiting for dinner, but the food isn’t ready yet. What could you tell them?
a) Knock someone’s socks off
b) Keep your pants on
c) The best thing since sliced bread
8. You’re feeling grumpy and irritable for no apparent reason. How might someone describe your mood?
a) Get up on the wrong side of the bed
b) When pigs fly
c) Break a leg
9. Your friend wants to start a project before the supplies arrive, but you think they should wait. What would you say?
a) Hold your horses
b) Knock someone’s socks off
c) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
10. A magician performs a trick that leaves the audience in awe. How would you describe their performance?
a) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
b) It knocked their socks off
c) He rained on their parade
11. Someone at a party boasts that they’ll never clean their room. You don’t believe them. What would you say?
a) Speak of the devil
b) Break a leg
c) When pigs fly
12. Your friend loves their new phone and tells you how it’s much better than the old one. What phrase fits their description?
a) The best thing since sliced bread
b) To rain on someone’s parade
c) Speak of the devil
13. Your friend says something discouraging just as you’re about to go on stage for a performance. How would you describe what they did?
a) To rain on someone’s parade
b) Get up on the wrong side of the bed
c) Hold your horses
14. You’re rushing to catch a train, but your friend keeps telling you that you still have plenty of time. What do they say?
a) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
b) Keep your pants on
c) Knock someone’s socks off
15. A teacher is passing out a big meal at a school event, and a student takes much more food than they can finish. What might the teacher say?
a) Get up on the wrong side of the bed
b) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
c) Speak of the devil
16. You’re about to start your soccer match, and your coach encourages you. What do they say?
a) Break a leg
b) When pigs fly
c) To rain on someone’s parade
17. Your friend tries to start eating before everyone has gathered at the table. What do you tell them?
a) Keep your pants on
b) Knock someone’s socks off
c) Hold your horses
18. You’re feeling a little cranky and annoyed when you wake up in the morning, for no specific reason. How might someone describe your mood?
a) Knock someone’s socks off
b) Get up on the wrong side of the bed
c) Break a leg
19. A new invention comes out that makes life a lot easier for everyone. What might people say about it?
a) It’s the best thing since sliced bread
b) When pigs fly
c) Speak of the devil
20. You were just talking about a celebrity, and then you see them on TV. What would you say?
a) Speak of the devil
b) Hold your horses
c) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
Answers:
- b) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
- a) Break a leg
- c) The best thing since sliced bread
- a) Hold your horses
- a) To rain on someone’s parade
- b) Speak of the devil
- b) Keep your pants on
- a) Get up on the wrong side of the bed
- a) Hold your horses
- b) It knocked their socks off
- c) When pigs fly
- a) The best thing since sliced bread
- a) To rain on someone’s parade
- b) Keep your pants on
- b) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach
- a) Break a leg
- a) Keep your pants on
- b) Get up on the wrong side of the bed
- a) It’s the best thing since sliced bread
- a) Speak of the devil