English Expressions You Should Know

Do English expressions sound like nonsense to you?

English is full of unique sayings that don’t always seem to make sense.

But learning these expressions is useful: You’ll be able to express yourself more easily and understand others better!

Look at the following expressions and guess their meanings! The answers are below.

1. Claim to fame

Your friend wants you to drive with her to a restaurant two hours away for a hamburger. 

She says: “I know it’s far, but we have to go! Their hamburger is their claim to fame!”

2. You could hear a pin drop

Yesterday, you told your family you were going to quit school and become a YouTube star. They looked at you in shock.

You tell your friend: “When I told my family about my career plans, you could hear a pin drop!”

3. OK, Boomer

Your old uncle tells you that women should not be allowed to work in politics.

You say: “OK, Boomer!”

4. No pain, no gain

Your brother wants to lose weight, but he complains about his hard workouts.

You tell him: “No pain, no gain!”

5. Silence is golden

Your friend’s grandmother died, and you don’t know what to say to make her feel better. You ask your mom for advice. 

She tells you: “You don’t need to say anything—silence is golden.”

Did you understand all the expressions? Check out their meanings below!

Claim to fame:

This is a reason why someone or something is famous.

You could hear a pin drop:

This describes complete silence—a situation so silent that you would be able to hear a tiny pin drop on the ground. It’s often used when people are very surprised by something.

OK, boomer:

This is said to older people called “Baby Boomers” (born between 1946 and 1964). It’s used when someone says something ignorant or old-fashioned.

No pain, no gain:

This expression means it’s necessary to work hard if you want to succeed.

Silence is golden:

This means that it is often better to remain silent than to speak; sometimes words aren’t needed.

English Expressions Reading Comprehension

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