The elephant in the room
Everyone at dinner speaks politely, although two guests have stopped talking to each other. The problem is obvious, but nobody mentions it.
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
English dictation exercises
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The final straw
The train is repeatedly late, crowded, and unreliable. One more cancellation finally makes a commuter decide to drive instead.
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
The upper hand
Two companies negotiate, but only one owns the technology both sides need. That advantage gives one side much greater control over the agreement.
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
To bend over backwards
A colleague changes her schedule, calls three suppliers, and stays late to solve your problem. Saying she tried hard does not capture the extraordinary effort.
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
To cut it fine
Your train leaves in twenty minutes, but the journey to the station normally takes eighteen. You might arrive, although almost nothing can go wrong.
3-second sample
American, British, Australian
To get a word in edgeways
One person has talked for ten uninterrupted minutes. You have something useful to add, but every pause disappears before you can begin.
3-second sample
American, British, Australian
To jump ship
A company loses its biggest clients, and several senior employees immediately accept jobs elsewhere. Their timing suggests more than an ordinary career change.
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
To not lift a finger
Three people cook, carry boxes, and clean the room while a fourth person watches from the sofa. How do you emphasise that the watcher contributed nothing?
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
To pull the plug
A promising project keeps losing money. Its sponsor finally ends the funding, and the whole operation must stop immediately.
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
To put someone on the spot
During a public meeting, someone unexpectedly asks you to choose which colleague should lose their budget. Everyone waits for your immediate answer.
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
Torn between
One job offers meaningful work near your family. Another offers better pay in a city you love. Both choices matter, and neither feels easy.
6-second sample
American, British, Australian
Touch a nerve
A casual remark about school closures suddenly changes your friend's expression. You did not intend harm, but the subject connects with a painful experience.
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
Up in the air
You may travel next month, but the dates, budget, and permission are undecided. The trip has not been cancelled, yet nothing is settled.
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
Up to scratch
A report contains good ideas, but several figures are wrong and key evidence is missing. It is not terrible, although it cannot be accepted yet.
3-second sample
American, British, Australian
Up to speed
You return after two weeks away. The project has changed, and you need the latest decisions before you can contribute confidently again.
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
When it comes to
Your friend is generally relaxed, but money makes her extremely careful. You want to narrow a broad description to that one particular subject.
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
Word of mouth
A tiny café buys no advertisements, yet every table is full because customers keep recommending it to friends and colleagues.
3-second sample
American, British, Australian
A matter of time
A new café is already popular, and you are confident it will need a bigger space, but you do not know when. Which phrase expresses that expectation?
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
A mean streak
A usually charming colleague sometimes humiliates people for amusement. Which phrase describes that unkind side of the person's character?
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
A mixed blessing
Working from home saves your commute but makes you feel isolated. Which phrase captures the benefit and drawback together?
6-second sample
American, British, Australian
A short fuse
A colleague becomes furious over tiny delays that most people barely notice. Which phrase describes this tendency to anger quickly?
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
Keep a low profile
After an embarrassing mistake, a colleague avoids interviews and public events for a while. Which phrase describes this deliberate lack of attention?
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
Last-ditch effort
Several repairs have failed, and one final solution must work before the building closes. How can you describe that desperate final attempt?
4-second sample
American, British, Australian
Lose your head
An alarm rings, and a normally calm colleague panics and forgets the simple safety steps. Which idiom describes that loss of control?
5-second sample
American, British, Australian
