Do you want to sound more like a native English speaker? One easy way to do that is to learn more
fixed expressions, and to try to use them when you’re speaking. Here are 13 really useful ones for you.1 Hit the roof
If someone “hits the roof”, they
become really angry very quickly.
“Behind the scenes, negotiators were
working hard to secure a new peace deal.”4 (It’s) water under the bridge
We use this expression to
refer to something that’s
in the past and isn’t
important any more,
even though at the time
it was quite serious.
A I’m really sorry about
crashing your car.
B No problem. It’s fixed now
so it’s water under the bridge.3 A rip of
If you say that something is a “rip of”, you feel that
you’ve been “robbed” because you’ve paid too much
for something that isn’t worth so much.
A We paid far too much for that statue.
B Yeah, it was a complete rip off!6 Go on about something
If you “go on about something”, you keep talking
about it or mentioning it in an annoying way.
“She keeps going on about the time she won the game.
It’s so annoying”2 Let the cat out of the bag
If you “let the cat out of
the bag”, you tell
someone a secret.
A Did you tell Pete that we
were preparing a surprise
party for him?
B Yeah, sorry, I accidentally
let the cat out of the bag.5 The goosebumps
When you get “goosebumps”, the hairs on your skin
(often your arm) stand up, and small bumps (high,
round areas) appear on your skin. This is often
caused when you’re feeling cold, frightened, excited,
amazed...
“That song really does something to me – it gives me the
goosebumps.”16 / http://www.learnhotenglish.com/product/skype-class / For Skype / Phone speaking classes, e-mail [email protected]AUDIOto help you
sound like a
native speaker!
13 expressions