Literal or Figurative?
Don’t sugarcoat the truth - just tell me if I lost my job.
Figurative
The final exam was so difficult - it was a total piece of cake.
Used incorrectly. “Piece of cake” means easy not difficult!
I tried going to a rock concert, but it was way too loud and chaotic. It’s just not my ___________
Cup of tea
Please tell me the bad news directly, don’t try to make it sound better than it is.
Please tell me the bad news directly, don’t sugarcoat the truth.
Figurative
I absolutely hated tuna the first time I tried it, but it is a cup of tea.
Should be “acquired taste”
When we walked into the cathedral, our tour guide said ‘______________ on the beautiful paintings!’”
Feast your eyes
I spent weeks studying for my English exam, but it was totally effortless and required no hard work at all.
I spent weeks studying for my English exam, but it was a piece of cake.
Elena temporarily lost her ability to taste sweetness when she had covid, but she acquired taste again after three weeks.
Literal
Mark’s boss suggested a new project and Mark immediately agreed because he needed to chew on the idea.
Incorrect use. ”Chew on an idea” means to think about something deeply over a long period of time. Mark agreed immediately.
The dinner party was wonderful, but a huge argument at the end _______________.
Left a sour note
They gave me a fantastic job offer, but it’s a huge career shift so I told them I needed time to think about it before deciding.
They gave me a fantastic job offer, but it’s a huge career shift so I told them I needed to chew on the idea before deciding.