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![](/i/favi32.png) Conversation Questions and Activities to Aid in the Learning of EnglishConversation Questions and Activities to Aid in the Learning of EnglishFree Talk Hand BookConversation Questions and Activities to Aid in the Learning of English
Arranged according to tense, topic, and levels of difficulty
By Prof. Mark McDowell, M.A. Mark’s ESL World ~ http://www.marksesl.com
130
You nearly scared me to death. (frightened me very much)
Give me a hand (give me some help)
Get it off your chest (talk about something that’s bothering you)
A green thumb (good at growing plants)
Had them in stitches (had them laughing hard)
Know the ropes (experienced in how to get things done)
A last resort (the last thing to me done when all else fails)
He’s got something up his sleeve (something deceptive, tricky, ulterior motive)
I laughed my head off (laughed a lot)
That won’t fly (not logical, won’t be accepted)
On the run (hiding from the police)
I’ll take a rain check on that. (decline an invitation, but agree to do it as some
later unspecified time)
Let’s paint the town red (go out and have a great time, drinking and dancing, etc.)
A skeleton in my closet (an old potentially damaging secret)
A square deal, fair and square (an honest business deal, fair to all)
Worlds apart (completely disagree)
Crash (sleep)
Dutch treat or going Dutch (each person pays his own way when going out in a
group)
That’s in the ballpark. (seems close to being correct)
Enough is enough (stop doing that)
Par for the course (average)
Off the beaten path (not in a well traveled location)
Across the tracks (in a poor area of town)
Needle in a haystack (difficult to find)
It takes two to tango. (takes two people to have an argument, both are
responsible)
It serves you right. (got what you deserved)
He got what he deserved. (was justly punished)
I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes. (in his situation)
Spill the beans (tell a secret that has a big effect)
Two peas in a pod (cozy and comfortable)
Flabbergasted (shocked, surprised, stunned)
You can say that again (I really agree with you; does
not
mean to actually
repeat)
Idiomatic conversation:
“My new wheels set me back a pretty penny.” “It’s the bomb; can you give me a
lift.
” “No problem.” “Thanks.” “No charge.” “Just drop me off at my friend’s pad;
I’m gonna crash there for the night.”
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