April 2025

Question 1

Many companies search for a silver bullet to boost productivity, but success usually comes from consistent hard work.

Answer 1

A simple, seemingly magical solution to a complex or difficult problem

Question 2

Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet for improving education overnight.

Answer 2

A simple and seemingly perfect solution to a difficult or complex problem

Question 3

After the announcement, the company’s stock price went through the roof.

His excitement was through the roof when he got the job offer.

Answer 3

Extremely high; much greater than expected. зашкалювати

Question 4

I’m going to bite the bullet and start exercising, even if I don’t feel like it.

Answer 4

To accept something difficult or unpleasant with courage and without complaining, because it is unavoidable.

Question 5

She jumped the gun and bought tickets before the dates were confirmed.

Answer 5

To act too soon or start something before the proper time.

Question 6

She was excited about moving abroad, but then she got cold feet at the airport.

Answer 6

To suddenly feel too nervous or unsure to do something you had planned to do.

Question 7

You really hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the situation.

Answer 7

To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem; to be exactly right about something. влучити в самісіньку точку; точно підмітити

Question 8

Everything about the movie was kept under wraps until the premiere.

Answer 8

Kept secret; not revealed to the public. тримати в таємниці

Question 9

They tried to keep it under wraps, but someone spilled the beans during dinner.

Answer 9

To reveal a secret or disclose information that was meant to be kept hidden.

Question 10

She seemed oblivious to the danger she was walking into.

I was oblivious to how much time had passed while I was reading.

Answer 10

Not aware of or not noticing what is happening around you.

Question 11

He was late for work and ran the red, hoping no one would notice.

Answer 11

To drive through a red traffic light without stopping, usually illegally and dangerously.

Question 12

The police stopped him for running the red light.

Answer 12

To drive through a red traffic light without stopping, usually illegally and dangerously.

Question 13

He was slapped with a hefty fine for tax evasion.

He had to pay a hefty fine for parking illegally.

Answer 13

великий штраф

Question 14

The journalist was barking up the wrong tree with that theory.

Answer 14

To pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action; to make a wrong assumption about something.

Question 15

Her impressive resume had one fly in the ointment — a long unexplained career gap.

Answer 15

ложка дьогтю в бочці меду

Question 16

In the play, the villain was hoist with his own petard, defeated by the very trap he set.

Answer 16

To be hurt, defeated, or embarrassed by your own plan to harm someone else; when a scheme backfires on the person who created it.

Question 17

He kept insulting the boss during the meeting — really just digging his own grave.

Answer 17

копати собі яму. To do something that causes your own failure or downfall — often without realizing it.

Question 18

She lied to everyone for years — now no one believes her. What goes around comes around.

Answer 18

як аукнеться, так і відгукнеться. People will eventually face the consequences of their actions — good or bad.

Question 19

By criticizing his team in public, he really shot himself in the foot.

Answer 19

To do something that unintentionally harms yourself.

Question 20

The CEO fell on his own sword to save the company’s reputation.

Answer 20

To take full responsibility for a failure, especially to protect others or preserve honor. прийняти провину на себе. sich selbst opfern (a bit more formal/literary)

Question 21

He threw his friend under the bus just to look good in front of the boss.

Answer 21

To betray or sacrifice someone (often a friend or colleague) to save oneself or gain advantage — especially in a sudden or public way.

Question 22

He knew the writing was on the wall when they stopped inviting him to meetings.

She left before it all collapsed — she knew how to read the writing on the wall.

Answer 22

Clear signs that something bad or inevitable (like failure, collapse, or the end of something) is going to happen.

The team played hard, but the writing was on the wall from the first half.

She ignored the writing on the wall, even though everyone else saw the breakup coming.

Question 23

Updating that old software opened a can of worms — half the systems broke.

Answer 23

doing something to correct a problem leads to many more problems

Question 24

The politician’s career ended when a skeleton in the closet came out.

Answer 24

скелет у шафі; темне минуле

Question 25

He regrets **burning bridges** with people who once supported him. She told them off in her exit interview and **burned every bridge behind her**.

Answer 25

To destroy relationships, connections, or opportunities — usually in a way that you can’t go back.

Question 26

He moved to Berlin last month and already **hit the ground running** — apartment, job, language course, done.

Answer 26

when someone starts something new and is immediately effective, fast, or productive

Question 27

He finally showed up with flowers, but it felt **a day late and a dollar short** after ghosting me for two weeks.

Answer 27

too little too late he has not only missed an opportunity due to tardiness, but also because he has not put forth enough effort

Question 28

The mood was great until Mark **threw cold water** on the celebration by bringing up budget cuts.

Answer 28

To discourage, criticize, or ruin enthusiasm for an idea, plan, or moment — often subtly, but effectively. to criticize someone's opinions or ideas and stop people believing them or being excited about them.

Question 29

She didn’t say no outright, but her silence **poured cold water** on the whole conversation.

Answer 29

To discourage, criticize, or ruin enthusiasm for an idea, plan, or moment — often subtly, but effectively. to criticize someone's opinions or ideas and stop people believing them or being excited about them.

Question 30

I was finally excited to move abroad, and of course, my dad had to **rain on my parade** by reminding me how expensive it is.

Answer 30

To spoil someone’s happy moment or plan. (A bit more emotional than “cold water.”)

Question 31

Don’t invite Greg. He’s a total **wet blanket** — always moaning about how nothing ever works.

Answer 31

a person who says or does something that stops other people enjoying themselves

Question 32

We proposed a bold new direction, and the CEO **shot it down** in five seconds.

Answer 32

To reject or shut down an idea completely, often without even considering it.

Question 33

Her sarcastic comment really **took the wind out of my sails** — I didn’t even finish the story.

Answer 33

To suddenly deflate someone’s confidence, momentum, or excitement.

Question 34

After missing three deadlines, he knew he was **on shaky ground** with his manager. Their relationship is **on shaky ground** lately — they barely talk anymore.

Answer 34

Legally, their case is **on shaky ground** — there’s no solid evidence. That argument put you **on shaky ground**.

Question 35

They’re **walking a fine line** with their marketing — edgy enough to stand out, but one joke away from getting canceled. As a journalist, he’s constantly **walking a fine line** between exposing truth and protecting sources.

Answer 35

To be in a delicate situation, trying to **balance two conflicting things** — where one wrong move can mess everything up.

Question 36

Their marriage is **hanging by a thread** — one more fight and they’re done. My patience is **hanging by a thread** — if one more thing goes wrong, I’m out.

Answer 36

barely holding on You could tell she was **hanging by a thread**, pretending everything was fine.

Question 37

She smiled through the tears, trying desperately to **keep it together** in front of the kids.

Answer 37

To stay calm, composed, or emotionally stable in a tough situation — even when everything inside you is falling apart.

Question 38

I didn’t mean to upset her, but when I mentioned her brother, I clearly **hit a nerve**. The question about money **hit a nerve** — suddenly he got defensive.

Answer 38

To say or do something that triggers a strong emotional reaction, often because it’s too true, too close, or too painful. That documentary really **hit a nerve** with people — the comment section exploded.

Question 39

I wasn’t sure where to start, so I just picked a small task to **get the ball rolling**.

Answer 39

To start something — a process, a plan, a conversation — so that momentum can build and others can join in.

Question 40

They **cut corners** during construction, and now the walls are literally cracking.

Answer 40

To do something faster, cheaper, or easier by skipping steps, ignoring quality, or bypassing proper standards — usually with negative consequences.