AUDIO

13 expressions
to help you
sound like a
native speaker!
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 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.
If someone “hits the roof”, they A I’m really sorry about

become really angry very quickly. crashing your car.

“Behind the scenes, negotiators were B No problem. It’s fixed now

working hard to secure a new peace deal.” so it’s water under the bridge.

2 Let the cat out of the bag 5 The goosebumps

If you “let the cat out of

the bag”, you tell When you get “goosebumps”, the hairs on your skin
someone a secret. (often your arm) stand up, and small bumps (high,
A Did you tell Pete that we round areas) appear on your skin. This is often
were preparing a surprise caused when you’re feeling cold, frightened, excited,
party for him? amazed...
B Yeah, sorry, I accidentally “That song really does something to me – it gives me the
let the cat out of the bag. goosebumps.”

3 A rip of 6 Go on about something

If you say that something is a “rip of”, you feel that

you’ve been “robbed” because you’ve paid too much If you “go on about something”, you keep talking
for something that isn’t worth so much. about it or mentioning it in an annoying way.
A We paid far too much for that statue. “She keeps going on about the time she won the game.
B Yeah, it was a complete rip off! It’s so annoying”

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7 Have it in for someone / have got it in for someone 11 Get the sack

If someone “gets the

sack”, they lose their job.
Other similar expressions
include “get fired” or
“let someone go”.
He got the sack after
If someone “has it in for you”, they seem to hate arguing with the client.
you, and spend a lot of time criticising you, hurting He got fired after arguing
you, harming you… with the client.
“The boss invited everyone to the conference except me. They let him go after
I think she’s got it in for me.” arguing with the client.

8 Kiss and make up 12 Better safe than sorry

If two people in a relationship

“kiss and make up”, they
become friends again after a This expression means that it’s better to
fight or argument. do something properly and safely than to have
“They had an argument last week an accident.
about the new house, but they’ve A I’ve got to get to the meeting in 10 minutes.

kissed and made up now.” B Well, drive safely. Better safe than sorry!

9 To clutch at straws 13 To make someone’s day

If someone is “clutching at straws”, they’re acting

desperately, and are ready to do or accept anything
to get out of a bad situation, even if it will never be
successful.
“He offered to do the work for half what he normally charges,
but he was just clutching at straws.”

10 Cross your fingers

If someone “makes your day”, they make you

If you physically “cross your fingers” (by putting
your middle finger over your index finger), you want
someone to have good luck. As part of this, you can
say, “Fingers crossed!”
A They said they’d be sending the exam results tomorrow.
B Fingers crossed!
happy, especially when you’re having a really
boring or bad day.
“That free cake and coffee the cashier gave me really made
my day.”
“Go ahead, make my day" is a famous phrase by detective
Harry Callahan from the Clint Eastwood movie Sudden
Impact (1983). Callahan says this to a criminal he’s arrested,
inviting him to try to get his gun so Callahan can have an
excuse to shoot him, and “make his day”.

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13 expressions to help you
sound like a native speaker!
Exercises!
Let’s see how much you can remember!

Answers on page 42

1 Word choice 3 Memory challenge

Choose the correct words to complete each sentence. Now see if you can remember the expressions without any help!
Can you remember what the expressions mean? 1. Don’t worry about it. It’s all under the
1. That statue I bought was a complete rip up / off! bridge now.
2. Don’t worry about it. It’s all water under the 2. Those tickets were a complete off!
bridge / tunnel. 3. She’s just at straws if she thinks they’ll
3. A They should have the results tomorrow. agree to those terms.
B : Fingers angled / crossed! 4. Stop on about the time you met the
4. They’ve already cuddled / kissed and made up. queen.
5. That kind gesture really made / did my day.” 5. A They said they’d let me know tomorrow.
6. I made / got the goosebumps when he told me he B : crossed!
loved me. 6. I was the only one who didn’t get a pay rise. I think
they’ve got it for me.
7. He hit the when he saw the results.
8. The card thanking us for all our good work really made
my .
9. They’ve had another argument, but they’ll probably
and make up tomorrow.
10. Hearing them sing that beautiful song just gave me
the bumps.
11. You’ll get the if you do that again.
12. Did you let the out of the bag?
13. Drive safely! Remember, better _______ than sorry!

2 Gap fill
Comple each sentence with the correct words from below.
Can you remember what the expressions mean?
on roof sorry in sack cat straws
1. Better safe than !
2. Stop going about it.
3. They’ll never agree to that. He’s just clutching at

4. She got the for being rude to her boss.

5. She’s never nice when I’m around. I think she’s got it
for me.
6. She hit the when she saw how little food
was left.
7. I accidentally let the out of the bag. Sorry!

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