Today I’m going to share 10 expressions I’ve come across while translating a documentary recently. I thought it would be great to share it with you here.

Here are the expressions:

1. If it’s not broke, then don’t fix it
2. Works like magic
3. See eye to eye
4. Day in, day out
5. Learn the ropes
6. Be on one’s A-game
7. Voice of reason
8. Good to go
9. Night owl
10. No love lost

Do you know the meaning of each one? Try matching the expressions to the correct meanings listed below:

A. to be very effective, possibly in a surprising way
B. a person who is habitually active or wakeful at night.
C. continuously or repeatedly over a long period of time.
D. a strong hatred, hostility, or enmity between two people, with no attempt to conceal it.
E. ready or prepared for something.
F. to be in full agreement.
G. a person who influences others to act sensibly
H. when something is in a satisfactory state, there is no reason to try to change it.
I. learning how a particular task or job is done.
J. being on one’s highest level of play or performance.

The answers can be found below. Try the exercise before looking at the answers! If you want to go a step further, try searching online for how these expressions are used in sentences.

Answers

These are the answers to the exercise in this email. Make sure you try the exercise before reading this!

1. If it’s not broke, then don’t fix it –  when something is in a satisfactory state, there is noreason to try to change it.
2. Works like magic –  to be very effective, possibly in a surprising way
3. See eye to eye –  to be in full agreement.
4. Day in, day out –  continuously or repeatedly over a long period of time.
5. Learn the ropes –  learning how a particular task or job is done.
6. Be on one’s A-game –  being on one’s highest level of play or performance
7. Voice of reason –  a person who influences others to act sensibly
8. Good to go –  ready or prepared for something.
9. Night owl –  a person who is habitually active or wakeful at night.
10. No love lost –  a strong hatred, hostility, or enmity between two people, with no attempt to conceal it.