Let's get the ball rolling.
Wait, what does that mean?
Does it mean to roll the ball?
Are we playing bowling?
No.
To get the ball rolling means to start an activity.
It's an idiom.
And in English we have a lot of idioms.
So in this lesson we're going to do two things.
We're going to test your listening skill and in doing so we're going to learn 10 idioms together.
The listening test is from beginner to advanced.
So the first question is easy and the last question is very difficult.
And the same is true for the idioms.
The first idioms are easy and the last idioms are challenging.
So if you are ready to challenge yourself, test your listening and learn 10 idioms.
Let's start.
First, I will show you a question.
Then we will listen to an audio file together to answer the question.
And finally, I will explain the answer and we will learn one idiom from each question.
Let's just start with the first one, which is about a driving test.
Look at the question.
How did the speaker find the driving test?
It was much easier than expected.
It was as difficult as people said and it involved a celebration with food.
Let's listen.
I have to admit, I didn't sleep a wink last night.
I was absolutely terrified about the driving test, especially the parallel parking section, because everyone I know told me it was nearly impossible to pass on the first try.
I spent hours watching tutorials and practicing in my head.
But honestly, once I actually got behind the wheel and the instructor told me what to do, it was a piece of cake.
I managed to finish every single maneuver perfectly, and the whole thing was over in less than 10 minutes.
I don't know why I was so worried in the first place.
What was the answer?
Let's look at the script.
The speaker said it was a piece of cake.
A piece of cake, so the speaker was hungry.
No, when you say something is a piece of cake, it means it's very easy.
So a piece of cake, as an idiom, means something very easy to do.
So what is the correct answer?
Option a it was much easier than expected.
It was a piece of cake wait, a piece of cake.
Piece of cake, poc.
Do you know why the name of this channel is poc english?
Because learning english with this channel is a piece of cake, which means it's very easy.
Now let's go to the second question.
Which one is correct about the speaker?
They are planning a trip together, they are facing the same difficult situation or they live in a very small place.
Ready, let's go.
I completely understand why you're so stressed out about the sudden rent increase this month.
It's a huge jump in price and it caught everyone off guard.
But believe me, you aren't the only one struggling to figure out how to pay the bills.
Almost every single tenant in this building received the exact same notice on their door yesterday morning.
So we're all in the same boat.
Instead of panicking individually, I think we should sit down this evening and try to figure out a collective solution or talk to the landlord together.
So which one was the correct answer?
Let's have a look at the script.
The speaker said, so we're all in the same boat.
They're in the same boat.
What does it mean?
Are they traveling?
No.
A boat is small, so they're in a small place.
No.
To be in the same boat as someone else means to be in the same difficult situation, to face the same difficulties.
To be in the same boat.
So which one is the correct answer?
The correct answer is option B, they are facing the same difficult situation.
So far we have answered two questions and we have learned two idioms.
Piece of cake, be in the same boat.
Let's continue to the third question.
Question three, what is the relationship between the partners regarding marketing?
See, the question is a bit more challenging, so pay attention.
They have perfect vision.
They often disagree on that specific topic or they always look at the same data.
Are you ready?
Let's listen.
My business partner and I have been running this agency together for over a decade now, and we've built a very strong foundation of trust.
However, that doesn't mean we have the same personality.
In fact, we don't always see eye to eye when it comes to specific marketing strategies or which social media platforms we should invest our budget in.
He's much more traditional, while i like to take risks.
But even with those creative differences, when it comes to the core values and the long-term vision of this company, we are always in total agreement.
So which one is the correct answer?
It was a bit challenging, wasn't it?
Which is the correct answer?
Let's have a look at the script.
The speaker said.
In fact, we don't always see eye to eye when it comes to specific marketing strategies.
We don't see eye to eye.
What does it mean?
To see eye to eye with someone means to agree with someone.
To not see eye to eye Means to not agree with someone.
You see things differently.
You do not agree.
So the correct answer is option B. They often disagree.
And that was the third idiom.
To see eye to eye with someone.
Now let's go to the fourth question.
Question four.
The level is now increasing.
It's becoming more difficult.
So pay attention.
What is the speaker's opinion of Sarah's comments?
She was being too loud and aggressive.
She found the exact cause of the problem or she suggested a hardware repair.
Let's listen.
We spent nearly three hours in the conference room this morning desperately trying to figure out why our sales numbers have been dropping so drastically over the last quarter.
Some managers suggested the global economy was to blame, while others thought it was just a seasonal trend because of the bad weather.
We were going in circles until Sarah finally spoke up.
She argued that our website's checkout process was far too confusing for our older customers, causing them to abandon their carts.
I have to say, I think she hit the nail on the head.
It was the most logical explanation we heard all day.
Which one was the correct answer?
Look at the script.
This is what the speaker said.
I think she hit the nail on the head.
To hit the nail on the head.
What does it mean?
She was repairing something.
No, no.
To hit the nail on the head means to find the exact problem, to point out to the exact problem or issue that we're facing.
Hit the nail on the head.
Now, which answer is correct?
Option B. She found the exact cause of the problem.
She was accurate.
So to hit the nail on the head means to exactly find the cause of a problem or a situation.
Okay, we're halfway there.
Let's go to question five again.
The level is increasing.
Pay attention.
Why is the speaker concerned?
The colleague acted too early, the colleague is using a dangerous tone or the announcement was written poorly.
Let's have a listen.
Look, I appreciate your enthusiasm and the fact that you've already started drafting the press release and the internal announcement for the new regional manager.
It shows you're proactive.
However, I really think you've jumped the gun this time.
The board of directors hasn't officially signed the final contract yet, and there are still some legal details being debated behind closed doors.
If the deal falls through at the last minute and we've already told the whole world about it we're going to look incredibly unprofessional and disorganized.
Which one is the correct answer?
Let's look at the script.
This is what the speaker said.
However, I really think you have jumped the gun.
Jumped the gun?
What does it mean?
To jump the gun means to do something before the right time.
It's like without thinking about it and without considering all the aspects, you do something hastily, you jump the gun, and so the speaker said i think you've jumped the gun.
What does it mean?
Which option is correct?
Option a the colleague acted too early.
The colleague jumped the gun.
The colleague acted without thinking about the consequences.
Okay, that was the fifth idiom.
Let's move on to the sixth one, again more challenging.
So be careful.
What is the speaker's main problem?
They are having trouble with their diet, they took on too much responsibility and they are failing their university exams.
Let's listen.
At the beginning of the year, I felt like I could take on the world.
When I agreed to lead the city's largest charity auction, while simultaneously trying to finish my master's thesis and keep my full time job, I genuinely thought I could balance it all with good time management.
But now it's three months later.
I'm barely sleeping.
I'm working 18 hour days and I feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown.
It's become quite clear to me that I've bitten off more than I can chew this semester and I might have to drop one of these projects.
This is what the speaker said.
I've bitten off more than I can chew.
I have bitten off more than I can chew. and now I can't chew it.
Hmm, that's an idiom, but what does it mean?
It means I've done something which was more than my capacity.
It means I'm trying to do something which I can't.
Bite off more than you can chew.
You're taking on responsibility for which you do not have the capacity or the ability.
So which one is the correct answer?
Option b they took on too much responsibility.
They bit off more than they could chew.
I hope you're enjoying this test as much as i am.
Don't forget to give this video a thumbs up and if you're new to my channel, click subscribe.
Let's continue before i forget.
If you want to have the summary of this lesson and all other lessons on my youtube channel for free, you can download my ultimate english book, which has more than 520 pages of lesson summaries.
That's entirely for free, so go ahead, download it right now, and then let's continue.
Question seven what is the speaker telling the listener?
The listener is making a false accusation, the listener needs to be quieter or the it department is hiding something?
Let's listen.
I've noticed the way you've been looking at me all morning and i heard the rumors going around the office.
But if you honestly believe that I was the person who leaked those confidential financial files to the local press just to get back at the CEO, you are seriously barking up the wrong tree.
I didn't even have the login credentials for that specific secure folder until about two hours ago when IT gave them to me for a different project.
You're wasting your time interrogating me.
You should probably focus your attention on the accounting department instead.
This is what the speaker said.
You are seriously barking up the wrong tree.
Wait, are they saying that the listener is a dog?
The listener is barking up the wrong tree.
What does it mean to bark up the wrong tree?
That's an idiom.
It means you are blaming the wrong person or the wrong thing.
You are pointing at the wrong problem.
You are barking up the wrong tree.
So, based on the meaning of this idiom, which option is correct?
Option a the listener is making a false accusation.
The listener is blaming the wrong person.
The listener is barking up the wrong tree.
Moving on to questions eight, nine and ten, the last three questions are advanced questions and the idioms are also more difficult, so let's see if you can do this.
Question eight how does the speaker feel about the conversation?
They enjoy the casual small talk.
They are frustrated by the lack of directness, or they are confused about the garden's budget?
Wow, look at the options.
Let's go.
I've been sitting here in your office for over 20 minutes now and I've been very patient while listening to you go on and on about the current state of the global market, the new office furniture we just ordered and your ideas for the upcoming company holiday party in December.
It's all very interesting, but I know for a fact that's not the real reason.
You called me in here on a Friday afternoon.
Can we please just stop beating around the bush?
I'd much rather you be direct with me.
Just tell me clearly.
Am I being laid off or not?
Look at the script This is what the speaker said Can we please just stop beating around the bush?
Stop beating around the bush.
Does it mean?
To beat around the bush means to talk about unimportant things and avoid talking about the important thing.
When you're beating around the bush, you are avoiding the main topic.
You're talking about all these irrelevant, unimportant things, but you're not addressing the main issue.
You are beating around the bush.
And the speaker said can we please stop beating around the bush?
Let's get to the point.
So which option is correct?
Option B. They are frustrated by the lack of directness.
You're not being direct.
You are beating around the bush.
I love how challenging this listening test is.
Let's go to question nine.
What is Jennifer's social behavior at work?
She is physically aggressive towards others.
She is very friendly and open with everyone.
Or she avoids becoming close or intimate with colleagues.
Let's listen.
Ever since Jennifer joined our department six months ago, she's been a model employee, always on time, incredibly professional in meetings, and her work is always flawless.
However, I've noticed a very strange dynamic with her socially.
Whenever the rest of the team tries to invite her out for a quick Friday happy hour or even just tries to chat about our weekend plans during a coffee break, she subtly but firmly changes the subject back to work.
It's become obvious that she prefers to keep everyone at arm's length.
She's built a very thick wall between her private life and her professional persona.
So what does she prefer at work?
Look at the script.
It becomes obvious that she prefers to keep everyone at arm's length.
Keep everyone at arm's length.
Don't get closer.
If you keep someone at arm's length, you do not allow them to get closer to you.
So you do not allow them to become too friendly.
And so which one is the correct option?
Option C, she avoids becoming close or intimate with colleagues, which is good.
I think this is great at workplace.
Anyways, we're studying English.
We're not judging work behavior.
Let's move on to the last question.
This is the hardest.
This is the most challenging.
So I want you to put your thinking caps on Concentrate.
Let's go.
Question 10.
How does the speaker plan to travel through Japan?
By following a strict musical performance schedule?
By making decisions as they go without a fixed plan?
Or by using a GPS device that gives audio directions?
Let's listen.
In the past, I would never dream of going on vacation without a minute-by-minute itinerary, confirmed hotel vouchers and pre-booked museum tours.
But for this upcoming trip across Japan, I've decided to try a completely different philosophy.
We've only booked a hostel for our first night in Tokyo.
After that, we have no plans.
We're just going to play it by ear and let our curiosity decide where we go next.
So, how was it?
Challenging?
Let's have a look at the script.
This is what the speaker said.
We're just going to play it by ear and let our curiosity decide where we go next.
Very obvious, no?
Play it by ear.
What does that mean?
When you play something by ear.
You just go with the situation, do not plan, just go along and see what happens and then you deal with it.
You do something without planning, you play it by ear, you act spontaneously.
Now which one is the correct option?
Option b by making decisions as they go without a fixed plan because they want to play it by ear.
And that's it.
Now let's do two things.
First of all, how many correct answers did you have in this test?
Go down in the comments section and write the number of correct answers you had five four, six or even ten.
This was a challenging test, so i would love to hear your opinions.
And second, Here is the list of all the 10 idioms that we learned today.
Take a picture or a screenshot and make sure you will review them later.
Don't forget them.
I hope you've enjoyed this lesson.
See you soon.
Bye.
