Some more idioms. How confident are you with these?

Fill in the blanks to complete ten well-known British idioms.

Once you’ve filled in the blanks, check your answers below to see how well you did.

1. A leopard can’t change its _____.
2. You can’t have your cake and ____ it too.
3. A watched pot never _____.
4. You can’t judge a book by its _____.
5. Don’t bite the hand that _____ you.
6. Kill two birds with one ____.
7. Two heads are better than ____.
8. Let sleeping dogs ____.
9. The grass is always greener on the other ____.
10. It’s a piece of ____.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

And here are the answers:
1: spots, 2: eat, 3: boils, 4: cover, 5: feeds, 6: stone, 7: one, 8: lie, 9: side, 10: cake.

Have you ever wanted to fly like a bird?

Well, now you can!

Check out the Space Elevator website created by Neal Agarwal.

As you scroll up, you’ll be taken on a virtual adventure through the skies. Passing hot air balloons and space shuttles, and even mingling with astronauts.

All accompanied by soothing elevator music.

Check out this fun and educational tool—and experience the thrill of flying without having to leave your seat!

You want to wish someone a happy birthday, but are lost for words.

Perhaps these can inspire you:

1. “Happy birthday! May your special day be filled with joy, laughter and lots of unforgettable moments!”
2. “Wishing you a very happy birthday and a year filled with blessings, success and happiness. Enjoy your day to the fullest!”
3. “Happy birthday to an amazing [friend/family member/colleague]! May this day bring you all the love, surprises and happiness you deserve.”
4. “Sending you the warmest birthday wishes on your special day! May your year ahead be filled with incredible adventures and endless opportunities.”
5. “Happy birthday! May each and every moment of your day be as bright and beautiful as you are. Enjoy this special day to the maximum!”
6. “Warmest birthday greetings to an extraordinary person! May your birthday bring you closer to your dreams and mark the beginning of an incredible journey.”
7. “Wishing you a day that’s as wonderful as you are! Happy birthday and may this year be the best one yet, filled with love, laughter, and fulfilment.”
8. “Happy birthday to someone who lights up every room with their presence! May your birthday be the start of a remarkable chapter in your life.”
9. “Sending you my heartfelt wishes on your birthday! May this year be a fantastic one, filled with exciting opportunities and beautiful memories.”
10. “Happy birthday to an incredible soul! May your special day be a reflection of the amazing person you are, surrounded by love, happiness and cherished moments.”

What about personalising your birthday wish to make the message even more meaningful?

1. Use the person’s name to show you’re thinking of them.
2. Mention a special moment you both experienced to make the wish more meaningful.
3. Compliment their positive traits, like their kindness or humour, to show appreciation.
4. Customise the wish to their interests, such as mentioning their favourite band if they love music.
5. Share hopes for their upcoming year, like their personal or professional goals.
6. Be genuine and heartfelt in your message to let them know how much they mean to you.

Have I missed anything important?

Each of us is born with a box of matches inside us but we can’t strike them all by ourselves.
Laura Esquivel

Think of the box of matches as the boundless possibilities within you. Just waiting to be ignited.

Each match represents something special about you—a talent, a dream or a passion.

But until you light that match, it stays dormant, untapped and waiting for its moment to shine.

That’s where the people who believe in you come in.

These are the people who help you light those matches and make your passions grow.

So, let’s do a few things:

1. Let’s be honest and share our thoughts and dreams with others. It’s important to be open and genuine.
2. Let’s listen and learn from others. We all have different perspectives, and that’s a good thing. Embrace those differences and grow from them.
3. Let’s work together with people who have similar interests. When we collaborate, we can create something really meaningful.

Remember, we need each other to make our matches ignite.

So let’s surround ourselves with supportive people and let our talents shine.

PS. And that’s exactly what we do in our Chilipepper Your English Community. Why not come and get to know us a bit better?