Got them all. I actually use many of these expressions in regular conversations, especially “ducks in a row” and “writing is on the wall”. Both used in the workplace!
I was born and raised in America and i never heard the idiom about keeping your ducks in order!!! I know the meaning of having an ax to grind but still got it wrong as his choices didnt seem to explain it clearly. I got 13 out of 15! Hope u all got 15 out of 15. Here in Scotland its called ' flogging a dead horse'! Enjoy.
Same score, different country of origin (native language). Never heard of the ducks either, but that was pretty straightforward. Can't say the same about the ax, but still manageable. Sadly, forgot the two that got me, but I'm pretty sure they both were in B1 (well, maybe the second one was in B2). C2 was a joke, really...
I got them all. For all but the last one, I really don't remember where I learned it. For the last one, though, I had a roommate in grad school in the 1970''s who was very literate in multiple fields. He taught me the "hoisted by his own petard". I have rarely had occasion to use it, though.
I appreciate that he doesn't have insufferable and lengthy explanations and gets to the point quickly. Cheek by jowls is a new one to me but the movie 'Hannibal rising ' came to mind when I heard it.
Got them all right, good reminders of some cool phrases. But I have a few favorites. “Get your ducks in a row” because then you can then foreshadow that, by being in a row, the sitting ducks were actually even easier to target. Pyrrhic victory bc it’s based on this dude named Pyrrhus, from Epirus, who reportedly said “If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.” Canary in the coal mine-bc these were actually used, and their passing out indicated they were affected by the noxious gases, and since they are more susceptible, this indicated ahead of time for the miners to halt operations too. Gordian knot bc basically the story is that there was some untie-able knot which held an ox cart to a post and a seer foretold that whoever untied it would rule all of Asia; Alexander the Great just came through and “cut the Gordian knot”-another idiom-with his sword 😂 Just forego the untying business altogether 🤣 Axe to grind, swan song knot just bc they sound cool. Never use writing on the wall, but I do rather enjoy using “like writing in the sand”, because the proneness for it to wash away. I like to exaggerate or warp other idioms too for them to take on different meanings. Eg, what if it wasn’t simply a straw that broke the camel’s back, but it were as if it was broken quite significantly-ie, “the salt block that broke the camel’s back”. Or, “once in a purple moon” to indicate that this occurrence will never happen at all, instead of just rarely. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t milk him like a cow”, bc the original idiom is beyond tame. Like yeah? Ofc the horse won’t drink unless he’s thirsty. 😂 Hung by one’s own petard sounds kinda lame bc I don’t like the word petard. It just doesn’t give the impact of a word about an explosive should give, you know? Maybe “Singed by one’s own flamethrower” or “Incinerated in the blast of one’s own detonation” could be cool. Not in the vid that are also cool: play ducks and drakes, throw down the gauntlet, carry coals to Newcastle, batten down the hatches, fiddle while Rome burns, Hobson’s choice, nail one’s colors to the mast. Too long of comment already so if you’re interested just look them up for meaning.
Thanks for this terrific background! My all time favorite idiom origins are probably from "the whole nine yards" and "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater". I'm guessing you're already familiar with those two, but if not, check out the history- it's fascinating!
I actually got stumped in both levels, including B2. Normally, I'd go for each of the levels with certain degree of confidence knowing that I can guarantee the least possible level. That doesn't leave me thrown in the towel somehow, but rather increased my curiosity. So thanks for the highlights, Mister
Your videos are really entertaining, informative and educational. I personally didn't get a chance to be familiar with these idioms, so keep doing what you're doing! ❤
To bite the bullet originates from a technique used by the military when disciplinary flogging was done. The floggee would literally bite a bullet in order to stand the pain.
I got 14, missing only the one about having an axe to grind. SPOILER I always thought it meant that you had a score to settle. As in, you're sharpening the axe to get ready to use it in battle. Though we would also say that you have a bone to pick.
Oh my gosh, my English is so bad... I only knew the pyrrhic victory and the gordian knot... because we have those in German, too 🤷♂ At least I learned something today, danke schön :)
Thanks for your feedback, Joe. #15 is a fairly rare idiom- and IMO, the word "petard" is more-or-less never used outside the context of this specific phrase.
Must be nice to live over there, because I know a little too well what those are, courtesy of idiotic youngsters on the streets with too much time on their hands.
The origin of canary in a coal mine goes back to when coal miners brought canaries down into the mine with them. If the canary collapses, it means there is either not enough oxygen or some other toxic gas in the mine and the miners needed to evacuate immediately.
Long in the tooth refers to how the teeth of horses constantly grow, so, a horse who was old would be long in the tooth. This, btw, is why you should not look a gift horse in the mouth. It's a gift. Who cares how old it is? Don't criticize a gift.
Idioms change depending where you live, knowledge of particular ones is not an indication of proficiency in English. If I included Australian idioms you wouldn't do as well, and we speak English. For example "you wouldn't f*ck a dead spider" is probably one that most of the English speaking world would not be familiar with 😂
You're certainly not stupid! Different idioms are used in different parts of the English-speaking world, so it may just be that those particular phrases are not common where you live or grew up. Thanks for your comment.
Your English can still be excellent without knowing these idioms- they are very situational. Based on your comment, I'm guessing your English level is very high!
Bro, verily, your videos are both educational and entertaining, keep it up!
Thanks so much, Yousof!
Really enjoyed this! The origins of these idioms are a delightful walk through history(ies).
Thanks so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Got them all. I actually use many of these expressions in regular conversations, especially “ducks in a row” and “writing is on the wall”. Both used in the workplace!
More interesting is how some of these idioms originated.
It's a fascinating topic, I agree- perhaps I'll cover this in my next video!
@ He’s “Got your goat” is a great one.
15/15 This is why I am a successful translator of English books to German!😁Spraining my arm patting myself on the back!🤣🤣
Haha very nicely done, Fritz!
LOL
weird...english is not my first language but scored 15/15
Wow, amazing!
Weird indeed. Congratulations
Yeah, sure. 🤥
Because it is not your first language ,obviously
Interesting to see I knew most of the "more avanced" ones but didn't know most of the easier ones 😅
me too😂
Interesting... thanks for letting me know!
I too thought that some of the ones in B tier were harder than the ones in C tier. Wonder why.
Jesus loves you all repent and come to Him today ❤✝️
I'm feeling really smart right now - Thanks!
Haha glad to hear it, June!
I was born and raised in America and i never heard the idiom about keeping your ducks in order!!! I know the meaning of having an ax to grind but still got it wrong as his choices didnt seem to explain it clearly. I got 13 out of 15! Hope u all got 15 out of 15. Here in Scotland its called ' flogging a dead horse'! Enjoy.
Same score, different country of origin (native language).
Never heard of the ducks either, but that was pretty straightforward. Can't say the same about the ax, but still manageable. Sadly, forgot the two that got me, but I'm pretty sure they both were in B1 (well, maybe the second one was in B2).
C2 was a joke, really...
lol, a friend of mine called it “ looking up a dead horse’s ass” 😆
I like this because it's faster it's not covered up by subtitles like so many things are covered up by subtitles this is very good
Glad you like the format, David- and congrats on getting all 15!
Got all 15 but we say 'flogging a dead horse' in the UK.
Ah fair point! Thanks for your feedback, and congrats on getting all 15, Timothy 👍
*In the USA also.*
15/15. My favorite is the last one. I use it often, when applicable.
I got them all. For all but the last one, I really don't remember where I learned it. For the last one, though, I had a roommate in grad school in the 1970''s who was very literate in multiple fields. He taught me the "hoisted by his own petard".
I have rarely had occasion to use it, though.
Congrats- amazing work!
Pretty interesting. More of these idioms would be a great help. Thank you so much.
looking forward to watching your next video. thanks a million!
I really appreciate that, Dawit!
Thank you so much teacher❤❤❤❤❤ yesterday i passed my exam in level C2
Great job!!!
ابقى انزل بترجمة عربي بقى لحبايبك المصريين اللي بيموتوا فيك❤️❤️❤️😂 + وحشتنا اووي
وانا كمان والله 😅
I appreciate that he doesn't have insufferable and lengthy explanations and gets to the point quickly. Cheek by jowls is a new one to me but the movie 'Hannibal rising ' came to mind when I heard it.
These are both fun and educational!
Thanks, I appreciate that, Jeanne!
Love this I missed number 8.
Thanks a lot, Tammy- and great work!
Got them all right, good reminders of some cool phrases. But I have a few favorites.
“Get your ducks in a row” because then you can then foreshadow that, by being in a row, the sitting ducks were actually even easier to target.
Pyrrhic victory bc it’s based on this dude named Pyrrhus, from Epirus, who reportedly said “If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.”
Canary in the coal mine-bc these were actually used, and their passing out indicated they were affected by the noxious gases, and since they are more susceptible, this indicated ahead of time for the miners to halt operations too.
Gordian knot bc basically the story is that there was some untie-able knot which held an ox cart to a post and a seer foretold that whoever untied it would rule all of Asia; Alexander the Great just came through and “cut the Gordian knot”-another idiom-with his sword 😂 Just forego the untying business altogether 🤣
Axe to grind, swan song knot just bc they sound cool. Never use writing on the wall, but I do rather enjoy using “like writing in the sand”, because the proneness for it to wash away.
I like to exaggerate or warp other idioms too for them to take on different meanings. Eg, what if it wasn’t simply a straw that broke the camel’s back, but it were as if it was broken quite significantly-ie, “the salt block that broke the camel’s back”. Or, “once in a purple moon” to indicate that this occurrence will never happen at all, instead of just rarely. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t milk him like a cow”, bc the original idiom is beyond tame. Like yeah? Ofc the horse won’t drink unless he’s thirsty. 😂
Hung by one’s own petard sounds kinda lame bc I don’t like the word petard. It just doesn’t give the impact of a word about an explosive should give, you know? Maybe “Singed by one’s own flamethrower” or “Incinerated in the blast of one’s own detonation” could be cool.
Not in the vid that are also cool: play ducks and drakes, throw down the gauntlet, carry coals to Newcastle, batten down the hatches, fiddle while Rome burns, Hobson’s choice, nail one’s colors to the mast. Too long of comment already so if you’re interested just look them up for meaning.
Interesting addenda!
Thanks for this terrific background! My all time favorite idiom origins are probably from "the whole nine yards" and "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater". I'm guessing you're already familiar with those two, but if not, check out the history- it's fascinating!
@ yeah those ones are pretty good, too!
I love Americans and Christians greetings from libya ❤❤❤❤
Sending greetings of love back.❤❤❤❤
@stevesnow315 thanks a lot 🙌🏻💕
Thanks and hi to everyone from Libya!
I actually got stumped in both levels, including B2. Normally, I'd go for each of the levels with certain degree of confidence knowing that I can guarantee the least possible level. That doesn't leave me thrown in the towel somehow, but rather increased my curiosity. So thanks for the highlights, Mister
Thanks, Abdelrahman
Your videos are really entertaining, informative and educational. I personally didn't get a chance to be familiar with these idioms, so keep doing what you're doing! ❤
I get 10/15❤
Nice job, Reekha!
Got them all. Guessed at 2 but got them. Proud of myself
Great job, Jackie!
I got them all correct, but I guessed on 3 from the difficult section.
Great job, Rebecca!
Im not familiar with those idioms but i guessd 10 /15
No 1 : 7 , 12, 13, 15
Amazing work, Richard!
15/15, never heard of "cheek by jowl" but it was easy to guess.
Got 13 right. Thanks again!
15/15 😁 I was hoping you would give explanations of where the idioms originated, though 😁
Got them all! :) Really enjoying your videos.
Thank you!
To bite the bullet originates from a technique used by the military when disciplinary flogging was done. The floggee would literally bite a bullet in order to stand the pain.
I scored 10/15, I thought that the C2 part would be Gordian Knot at first; however, I've called my bluffs wrong 😂
Haha nice job, Pavle!
Yay 100% altho i knew most I did have to deduce a couple 😅. My first time coming across your account, you have a new subscriber 😊
Amazing job, Sarah!
I got 9 out of 15, despite not being a native English speaker.
That's quite impressive for a non-native speaker!
This seems very good as the answers are close but not quite correct .
13 of 15
Strong work, Mark!
Same. But surprisingly, it was the B1 section that got me...
The two I missed I never heard of!
Well, I got 12 right I had never heard of "cheek by jowl" "Pyrrhic victory" or "hoist by one's petard."
10 right. Never heard some of these.
I got 14, missing only the one about having an axe to grind.
SPOILER
I always thought it meant that you had a score to settle. As in, you're sharpening the axe to get ready to use it in battle. Though we would also say that you have a bone to pick.
Nicely done, Nicholas!
Oh my gosh, my English is so bad... I only knew the pyrrhic victory and the gordian knot... because we have those in German, too 🤷♂
At least I learned something today, danke schön :)
15/15....good work.
Great video 🎉🎉
Thanks, Sara!
*I never heard of no.14 before this quiz. All others correct. I wonder how many folks nowdays know what a "petard" is (no.15)* 💥
Thanks for your feedback, Joe. #15 is a fairly rare idiom- and IMO, the word "petard" is more-or-less never used outside the context of this specific phrase.
Must be nice to live over there, because I know a little too well what those are, courtesy of idiotic youngsters on the streets with too much time on their hands.
14/15 I would have had all 15 but second guessed.
Please make a video about pronunciation and accent
Outstanding ✨ keep it up 💯
Thanks, Rayna- I always appreciate your comments!
@BrianWilesLanguages keep up the great work Brian 💯
Informative video 👍🏿
12/15 (got stuck on C2 level) 👍🏻
Still quite a strong score 💪
Isn't that the easiest one though? Well, at least with some historical knowledge.
I got 13 out of 15. Makes me think.
got all 15
Nailed It! That means I scored a perfect 10, or in this case 15.
The origin of canary in a coal mine goes back to when coal miners brought canaries down into the mine with them. If the canary collapses, it means there is either not enough oxygen or some other toxic gas in the mine and the miners needed to evacuate immediately.
educational---11/15---Thank you!
Thanks, Julie- and nice work!
we miss your Arabic videos Mr Brian I hope they can come back soon as we missed them alot are you in alignment wih me??
15! Yay. I love your videos.
Thanks so much, Linda- and great job!
I knew all of those idioms!
Yes, but then I'm old school. I wonder how many are still being used today?
I only missed 4. That one was pretty cool.
Thanks a lot- and nice work!
15 de 15 muy fácil.
Got them all. Love these quizzes
Great work! And thanks, David.
it was enjoyable
Well I didn’t know what an idiom was, I got all right ,but #13 pyrrhic.
The axe you have to grind may not necessarily be selfish.
Here’s another one that will take your English to the next level: That dog will hunt. Used mostly in Texas, it means something will work.
15/15 It was a walk in the park.
Great work, Jasmine!
@@BrianWilesLanguages Thanks a bunch. Could you please make the next quiz real tough? :)
انت فين مبقتش❤ تيجى مصر ليه وحش❤تنا اوى اوى ❤❤❤❤
I missed 2 of them, both of which I had never heard before in my 69 years on this earth. How did those 2 escape me?
Love these quizzes. I feel like all these can pertain to the US after the election in some way. 💙💙💙 Scary times ahead.
Thanks, Kim!
14 out of 15, not bad
Better than not bad!
pyrrhic victory is one that contains the seeds of its defeat two easy
Really difficult for a frenchman!
Ahh thanks for letting me know, Francois!
I guess I'm not as far gone as I feared! 😊
Haha glad you enjoyed the quiz, Brenda!
13/15, but "Axe to grind", here means you are going to go "pick a fight".
14/15.
Nice work!
15/15
Congrats!
Long in the tooth refers to how the teeth of horses constantly grow, so, a horse who was old would be long in the tooth. This, btw, is why you should not look a gift horse in the mouth. It's a gift. Who cares how old it is? Don't criticize a gift.
I did not know the 11th and the 15th ones
Idioms change depending where you live, knowledge of particular ones is not an indication of proficiency in English.
If I included Australian idioms you wouldn't do as well, and we speak English.
For example "you wouldn't f*ck a dead spider" is probably one that most of the English speaking world would not be familiar with 😂
Got them all. It shows my age.
12/15
Great job!
What is Idom
Idioms are like sayings or expressions
Tense was wrong on #15.
Missed one and English is my first language lol
How about. “No hoof, no horse”
Iknew 13
10/15😅
Strong score!
Weird, I screwed up the easier ones, but got the tough ones all correct and english is not my first language
Wow interesting, thanks for you comment!
@@BrianWilesLanguages Sir, I am sure your vocabulary must be in excess of at least 100,000
@@BrianWilesLanguages Sir, I am sure your vocabulary must be in excess of at least a 100,000
Are these tests for native born americans or foreign born individuals!🤔
14/15😢
Ummm I’m a native English speaker and I didn’t get any of the C2 level right. Am I stupid?
Not stupid, only un informed.😅
I haven't heard a lot of them either. Nice to know now! Fun learning the historical connections as well.
You're certainly not stupid! Different idioms are used in different parts of the English-speaking world, so it may just be that those particular phrases are not common where you live or grew up. Thanks for your comment.
14 out of 15😅
Only missed 2❤
Very nice 💪💪
Thought my English was good(at least for my country) but then I heard “get your ducks in a row” wtf I never heard anyone use this
Your English can still be excellent without knowing these idioms- they are very situational. Based on your comment, I'm guessing your English level is very high!
ادعموني كي استمر في نشر القرءان الكريم
7/15😂
The last batch is borrowed from Ukrainian or any other language, so it cannot certify the superbness of one's English
It’s flogging a dead horse….not beating it now that’s just weird 😂😂😂
Haha in the UK, "flogging a dead horse" is certainly more common!
ممكن تكتب الترجمه من تحت علشان بس فى كلام مش بنفهمه