Communication Idioms
small talk | to politely chat with somebody about unimportant things | udvarias csevegés |
a slip of the tongue | to accidentally say something else | nyelvbotlás |
to be lost for words | when you can’t say anything or react in a situation | nem találni a szavakat |
off-the-cuff | when you say things like this you are not prepared and you haven’t thought about it before | egyből, kapásból |
in the same breath | to say two completely different things | egy levegővétellel két ellentétes dolgot mondani |
a pack of lies | things that are completely untrue | csupa hazugság |
to speak your mind | say your opinion clearly | őszintén beszélni |
loud and clear | expressing yourself clearly and definitely | tisztán és érthetően |
word for word | the exact words of someone | szó szerint |
matter-of-fact | not showing feelings | tárgyilagos |
won’t take no for an answer | when somebody refuses to accept a negative answer | nem fogadni el nemleges választ |
to miss the point | to misunderstand something | félreérteni valamit |
Complete the sentences with one of the idioms from the table above.
1. You shouldn’t be afraid to __________ , everyone here is interested in your opinion.
2. I know it was just an _________ remark but he really hurt my feelings.
3. She really paid attention at school. She repeated what the teacher had said _________.
4. The other day at class I said ‘clown’ instead of ‘frown’. Though it was just _____________, the whole class was rolling with laughter.
5. My god, your voice is so _________, I’m sensing you have some bad news for me.
6. Yes, I heard you _________. The whole street did.
7. You are totally _________ here. I didn’t say that you’re absolutely wrong, I said we should discuss it.
8. She was ______________ when he proposed to her.
9. I hate those parties where I have to make __________ with total strangers.
10.He said ‘no’ then ‘yes’ __________. He was totally confused.
11.My grandmother usually asks if I’m free on Sunday until I say I am. She just _________.
12.I knew by the way he looked at me that all he said was ________.
Key:
1. speak your mind
2. off-the-cuff
3. word for word
4. a slip of the tongue
5. matter-of-fact
6. loud and clear
7. missing the point
8. lost for words
9. small talk
10. in the same breath
11. won’t take no for an answer
12. a pack of lies
