English grammar
Same idea, different picture: cats and dogs, the last straw, stick your oar in, pull your socks up
Use English idioms whose picture is not what you might expect.
From the scene Lost in translation
In short
Many idioms use a different picture in each language. Learn the English one whole: raining cats and dogs, the last straw.
Your turn
Which one goes with the final problem you can bear?
Options: it's raining cats and dogs · to stick your oar in / poke your nose in · the last straw / the straw that broke the camel's back
Show answer
the final problem you can bear → the last straw / the straw that broke the camel's back
How it works
Many idioms use a different picture in each language, so translating word for word sounds mad.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
In English it rains cats and (blank). I saw it in a film.
Options: dogs · mice · birds
Show answer
In English it rains cats and dogs. I saw it in a film.
En inglés llueven perros y gatos. Lo vi en una película.
Good to know
Learn the English picture as a whole. In English it rains cats and dogs when it pours.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
That's sticking your (blank) in, poking your nose in. Like Ramón right now.
Options: oar · ear · elbow
Show answer
That's sticking your oar in, poking your nose in. Like Ramón right now.
Eso es meterse donde no te llaman. Como Ramón ahora mismo.
Good to know
The last straw (on the camel's back) is the final problem you can bear.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And at the end she says: "I must pull my (blank) up. The book comes out in May."
Options: socks · trousers · gloves
Show answer
And at the end she says: "I must pull my socks up. The book comes out in May."
Y al final dice: "Me tengo que poner las pilas. El libro sale en mayo."
Good to know
Stick your oar in means interfere, and pull your socks up means make more effort.
very heavy rain it's raining cats and dogs
the final problem you can bear the last straw / the straw that broke the camel's back
Elena
In English it isn't a drop. It's the last straw on the camel's back.
En inglés no es una gota. Es una paja sobre un camello.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
In English it isn't a drop. It's (blank) on the camel's back.
Options: it's raining cats and dogs · poke your nose in · the last straw
Show answer
Elena
In English it isn't a drop. It's the last straw on the camel's back.
En inglés no es una gota. Es una paja sobre un camello.
to interfere in others' business to stick your oar in / poke your nose in
to start making more effort to pull your socks up
Your turn
What goes with to pull your socks up?
Options: the final problem you can bear · to start making more effort · very heavy rain
Show answer
to pull your socks up → to start making more effort
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
| very heavy rain | it's raining cats and dogs |
|---|---|
| the final problem you can bear | the last straw / the straw that broke the camel's back |
| to interfere in others' business | to stick your oar in / poke your nose in |
| to start making more effort | to pull your socks up |
More lines from the story
- ElenaIn English it rains cats and dogs. I saw it in a film.En inglés llueven perros y gatos. Lo vi en una película.
- ElenaThat's sticking your oar in, poking your nose in. Like Ramón right now.Eso es meterse donde no te llaman. Como Ramón ahora mismo.
- NuriaAnd at the end she says: "I must pull my socks up. The book comes out in May."Y al final dice: "Me tengo que poner las pilas. El libro sale en mayo."
- RamónA camel? The English are mad.¿Un camello? Los ingleses están locos.
- RamónSocks? Don't tell me she's lost her favourite sock too.¿Calcetines? No me diga que ella también ha perdido su calcetín favorito.