Idioms and Work I

What might the following idiom mean?

John is currently bankrolling me.

This means John ...........

• works together with me in a bank

• owns a bank

• is employing me

• is financing me

Answer explanation

To bankroll someone is to provide financial assistance to them

(资助某些人是为他们提供经济援助)

What might the following idiom mean?

Since the last CET exam, Li has been burning the candle at both ends."

This means Li .........

• Li has passed his exams and is very happy

• Li has failed his exams

• Li cannot pay his electricity bill

• Has been working very hard

Answer explanation

Burning the candle gives the impression of working till late at night to burn the candle at BOTH ends is to work even harder than that....means to be working very, very hard!

(燃烧蜡烛给人的印象是工作到深夜，在两端燃烧蜡烛比那更努力……意味着非常非常努力地工作！)

My boss had a nervous breakdown last month, it’s not surprising, he was burning the candle at both ends for many months.

(我的老板上个月精神崩溃了，这并不奇怪，他已经烧了好几个月的两头蜡烛。)

What might the following idiom mean?

To pass the TEM 8 requires blood, sweat and tears!

• Requires a lot of work

• Is impossible to achieve

• is actually easy to do

• It may affect your health

Answer explanation

We spent 15 years building this business, it took blood, sweat, and tears to make it what it is today.

(我们花了 15 年时间打造这家企业，付出了血汗和泪水，才有了今天的成就。)

What might the following idiom mean?

I don’t understand why he continues to bend over backwards for Julia!

• To lend someone money

• To work extra hard for someone

• To fall in love with someone

• To quarrel with someone

Answer explanation

This idiom means - To work extra hard to help someone or to make them happy.

(这个成语的意思是——加倍努力地帮助某人或使他们快乐。)

What might the following idiom mean?

"Folks, them's the breaks!"

This means ...

• Don't make a mess!

• Make every possible effort

• that is just how life is

• let's make up for lost time

Answer explanation

This phrase was recently used by Prime Minster Boris Johnson who despite wishing to carry on serving, was facing a growing number of ministers who wanted him to resign. He used this phrase to say - that was just how life is ...

(这句话最近被首相鲍里斯·约翰逊（Boris Johnson）使用，尽管他希望继续任职，但面临越来越多希望他辞职的部长。他用这句话说——生活就是这样……)

What might the following idiom mean?

"Zhang told Yue that he was a little snowed under."

This means ...

• Zhang had fallen in love with Yue

• Zhang had committed a crime

• Zhang was very ill

• Zhang had a lots of work to do

Answer explanation

To be snowed under means to be overwhelmed with a very large quantity of work (or commitments).

What might the following idiom mean?

I am exhausted, Xin and I pulled an all nighter!

This mean Xin and I ..........

• had a good night's rest

• are the best of friends

• worked all through the night

• passed all our exams

Answer explanation

The idiom refers to working all night - pulled an all nighter ...

What might the following idiom mean?

"Joy and I got off on the wrong foot, I mistook her for someone else."

This means .......

• I did something to make her dislike me

• I did something to make her like me

• We were due to meet, but missed each other

• Joy and I went for a walk together

Answer explanation

To get off on the wrong foot mean to start off badly and to make the wrong first impression.

(走错路意味着开始糟糕并给人留下错误的第一印象。)

What might the following idiom mean?

"I was about to investigate the matter further, then thought it is actually above my pay grade"

• It was not my responsibility to investigate further

• I was not happy with my salary

• I did not know how to investigate further

• I needed more people to help me investigate further

Answer explanation

Something which is "above my pay grade" is something which is above your level of professional responsibility. It is used most often when someone is declining to take on work for which they aren't qualified or paid.

(“高于我的工资等级”的东西是高于你的专业责任水平的东西。当某人拒绝接受他们没有资格或没有报酬的工作时，最常使用它。)

What might the following idiom mean?

"That's a piece of cake!"

• It is very good

• It is easy

• It is difficult

• It is delicious