Ejercicios C1 : Las expresiones idiomáticas en inglés

Las expresiones idiomáticas en inglés tienen un significado fijo que no puede deducirse palabra por palabra. Estos ejercicios te ayudarán a reconocerlas, asociarlas y usarlas correctamente en contexto.

→ Ver el curso : Las expresiones idiomáticas en inglés : curso completo

Ejercicio 1 : Elige el significado correcto

Lee cada expresión idiomática en inglés y selecciona la opción que mejor explica su significado real.

1. What does 'to beat around the bush' mean?
   • To speak directly and clearly about something
   • To avoid getting to the main point of what you want to say
   • To argue loudly with someone in a public place
   • To repeat the same idea over and over again
2. What does 'to bite the bullet' mean?
   • To refuse to do something dangerous
   • To endure a painful or difficult situation with courage
   • To make a reckless decision without thinking
   • To give up on a task that has become too hard
3. What does 'to let the cat out of the bag' mean?
   • To introduce a new and unexpected idea
   • To accidentally reveal a secret that was meant to be kept
   • To cause confusion in a group discussion
   • To take responsibility for a mistake
4. What does 'to burn the midnight oil' mean?
   • To waste time on unimportant tasks late at night
   • To work or study late into the night
   • To argue with someone until very late
   • To celebrate an achievement at the end of the day

Correction

1. It means to avoid getting to the main point of what you want to say.
2. It means to endure a painful or difficult situation with courage.
3. It means to accidentally reveal a secret that was meant to be kept.
4. It means to work or study late into the night.

Ejercicio 2 : Asocia la expresión con su contexto

Une cada expresión idiomática en inglés con la situación en la que se usaría de forma natural.

1. To hit the nail on the head
2. To be on the fence
3. To spill the beans
4. To get cold feet

• You use this expression when someone suddenly becomes nervous or hesitant about something they had planned to do, for example: 'She got cold feet just before walking onto the stage.'
• You use this expression when someone reveals confidential or surprising information they were not supposed to share, for example: 'He spilled the beans about the surprise party before we could stop him.'
• You use this expression when someone cannot or will not make a decision between two options, for example: 'She is still on the fence about whether to accept the job offer abroad.'
• You use this expression when someone describes a problem or situation exactly right, for example: 'You really hit the nail on the head when you explained why the project was failing.'

Correction

1. To hit the nail on the head – You use this expression when someone describes a problem or situation exactly right, for example: 'You really hit the nail on the head when you explained why the project was failing.'
2. To be on the fence – You use this expression when someone cannot or will not make a decision between two options, for example: 'She is still on the fence about whether to accept the job offer abroad.'
3. To spill the beans – You use this expression when someone reveals confidential or surprising information they were not supposed to share, for example: 'He spilled the beans about the surprise party before we could stop him.'
4. To get cold feet – You use this expression when someone suddenly becomes nervous or hesitant about something they had planned to do, for example: 'She got cold feet just before walking onto the stage.'

Ejercicio 3 : Completa las frases con la expresión correcta

Escribe la expresión idiomática adecuada en el hueco para completar cada frase de forma natural y coherente.

1. The manager kept ___ instead of telling us directly that the project had been cancelled.
2. I had to ___ and sit through the three-hour meeting even though I had a terrible headache.
3. She ___ when she mentioned the redundancies in front of the whole team before the official announcement.
4. He has been ___ every night this week trying to finish his dissertation before the deadline.

Correction

1. The manager kept beating around the bush instead of telling us directly that the project had been cancelled.
2. I had to bite the bullet and sit through the three-hour meeting even though I had a terrible headache.
3. She let the cat out of the bag when she mentioned the redundancies in front of the whole team before the official announcement.
4. He has been burning the midnight oil every night this week trying to finish his dissertation before the deadline.