English grammar
Idioms about people
Describe people with idioms: as thick as thieves, not mince your words, talk nineteen to the dozen, like a bear with a sore head.
From the scene Thick as thieves
In short
Describe people with idioms: as thick as thieves, not mince your words, a heart of gold.
Your turn
Which one goes with to say exactly what you think?
Options: as thick as thieves · to talk nineteen to the dozen · not to mince your words
Show answer
to say exactly what you think → not to mince your words
How it works
English describes character with vivid pictures. Two inseparable friends are as thick as thieves.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Always. And neither of us ever (blank) her words.
Options: minced · chopped · ate
Show answer
Always. And neither of us ever minced her words.
Siempre. Y ninguna de las dos tenía pelos en la lengua.
Good to know
A blunt person doesn't mince their words; a chatterbox talks nineteen to the dozen (British); a grumpy person is like a bear with a sore head, and a kind one has a heart of gold.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Easy: she doesn't mince her words and talks nineteen to the (blank).
Options: hour · minute · dozen
Show answer
Easy: she doesn't mince her words and talks nineteen to the dozen.
Fácil: no tiene pelos en la lengua y habla por los codos.
inseparable, very close friends as thick as thieves
Elena
Start with Rosario and me. At the office we were as thick as thieves.
Empieza por Rosario y por mí. En la oficina éramos uña y carne.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Start with Rosario and me. At the office we were (blank).
Options: as thick as thieves · not to mince your words · to talk nineteen to the dozen
Show answer
Elena
Start with Rosario and me. At the office we were as thick as thieves.
Empieza por Rosario y por mí. En la oficina éramos uña y carne.
to say exactly what you think not to mince your words
Your turn
What goes with not to mince your words?
Options: to say exactly what you think · inseparable, very close friends · to talk fast and nonstop
Show answer
not to mince your words → to say exactly what you think
to talk fast and nonstop to talk nineteen to the dozen
very bad-tempered like a bear with a sore head
Elena
With a sour face. He's like a bear with a sore head, but he has a heart of gold.
Con cara de mala uva. Tiene muy mala uva, pero buen corazón.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
With a sour face. He's (blank), but he has a heart of gold.
Options: as thick as thieves · not to mince your words · like a bear with a sore head
Show answer
Elena
With a sour face. He's like a bear with a sore head, but he has a heart of gold.
Con cara de mala uva. Tiene muy mala uva, pero buen corazón.
very kind underneath a heart of gold
Elena
With a sour face. He's like a bear with a sore head, but he has a heart of gold.
Con cara de mala uva. Tiene muy mala uva, pero buen corazón.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
With a sour face. He's like a bear with a sore head, but he has (blank).
Options: as thick as thieves · not to mince your words · a heart of gold
Show answer
Elena
With a sour face. He's like a bear with a sore head, but he has a heart of gold.
Con cara de mala uva. Tiene muy mala uva, pero buen corazón.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| inseparable, very close friends | as thick as thieves |
|---|---|
| to say exactly what you think | not to mince your words |
| to talk fast and nonstop | to talk nineteen to the dozen |
| very bad-tempered | like a bear with a sore head |
| very kind underneath | a heart of gold |
More lines from the story
- ElenaAlways. And neither of us ever minced her words.Siempre. Y ninguna de las dos tenía pelos en la lengua.
- JaviEasy: she doesn't mince her words and talks nineteen to the dozen.Fácil: no tiene pelos en la lengua y habla por los codos.
- NuriaAnd Don Ramón, how do I draw him?¿Y a Don Ramón, cómo lo dibujo?
- NuriaThat's it. I'm drawing you with your mouth open.Ya está. La dibujo con la boca abierta.