Well, that took a turn.
Ten ways English describes the unexpected.
Ten questions, with the answers explained. Try them in your head, then open each answer when you're ready.
Play this quiz →QUESTION 1 / 10
In everyday English, what does "out of the blue" mean?
- With great sadness
- At midnight
- Unexpectedly
- From the ocean only
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Unexpectedly
An out-of-the-blue message arrives without warning.
QUESTION 2 / 10
In everyday English, what does "a blessing in disguise" mean?
- An obvious prize
- A certain disaster
- A secret costume
- Something apparently bad that turns out helpful
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Something apparently bad that turns out helpful
The benefit becomes clear only after the initial disappointment.
QUESTION 3 / 10
In everyday English, what does "a storm in a teacup" mean?
- A broken kettle
- A big fuss over a small matter
- A dangerous flood
- An important discovery
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A big fuss over a small matter
The expression describes a reaction far larger than the problem deserves.
QUESTION 4 / 10
In everyday English, what does "the tip of the iceberg" mean?
- The whole story
- A trivial detail with nothing behind it
- A final solution
- A small visible part of a much larger issue
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A small visible part of a much larger issue
What you can see is only a fraction of what exists beneath the surface.
QUESTION 5 / 10
In everyday English, what does "when pigs fly" mean?
- Very soon
- Never, or something considered wildly unlikely
- During winter
- At breakfast
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Never, or something considered wildly unlikely
The image signals that the speaker thinks the event is not going to happen.
QUESTION 6 / 10
In everyday English, what does "the last straw" mean?
- The final problem that makes a situation intolerable
- The best solution
- The first warning
- A drink served last
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The final problem that makes a situation intolerable
A small final irritation can be the last straw after many earlier problems.
QUESTION 7 / 10
In everyday English, what does "a bolt from the blue" mean?
- A planned celebration
- A repair tool
- A slow improvement
- A sudden shock
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A sudden shock
A bolt from the blue is news or an event that comes as a complete surprise.
QUESTION 8 / 10
In everyday English, what does "turn the tables" mean?
- Cancel dinner
- Redecorate a cafe
- Reverse who has the advantage
- Make furniture
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Reverse who has the advantage
Turning the tables changes the balance of power in a situation.
QUESTION 9 / 10
In everyday English, what does "throw a spanner in the works" mean?
- Improve the machinery
- Offer clear instructions
- Finish ahead of time
- Disrupt a plan
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Disrupt a plan
This British expression describes a complication that stops things running smoothly.
QUESTION 10 / 10
In everyday English, what does "go pear-shaped" mean?
- Get more expensive only
- Become healthier
- Grow fruit
- Go wrong
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Go wrong
In informal British English, a plan goes pear-shaped when it starts to fail.