Dogs
Question: What does the idiom "It's a dog-eat-dog world" mean?
Answer: It means a highly competitive environment where people will do anything to succeed. "약육강식"
Example: "In the stock market, it's a dog-eat-dog world—only the smartest investors survive."
Conversation Question: Do you think life is a "dog-eat-dog world" in Korea? Why or why not?
Question: What does "Let the cat out of the bag" mean?
Answer: It means to accidentally reveal a secret. "입이 싸다"
Example: "I was planning a surprise party, but Jake let the cat out of the bag."
Conversation Question: Have you ever "let the cat out of the bag" by mistake? What happened?
Question: What does "A fish out of water" mean?
Answer: It means feeling uncomfortable in a new situation. "물 밖에 난 물고기"
Example: "At the fancy dinner party, I felt like a fish out of water."
Conversation Question: Have you ever felt like "a fish out of water" in a situation? What happened?
Question: What does "Hold your horses" mean?
Answer: It means to wait or slow down. "침착해!"
Example: "Hold your horses! We’re not leaving until 6:00."
Conversation Question: When was the last time someone told you to "hold your horses"? What were you doing?
Question: What does "A little bird told me" mean?
Answer: It means you heard a secret from someone, but you don’t want to say who. "소문으로 들었다"
Example: "A little bird told me that you got a new job. Congratulations!"
Conversation Question: Have you ever received secret information from "a little bird"? What was it about?
Question: What does "Let sleeping dogs lie" mean?
Answer: It means to avoid bringing up old conflicts that could cause trouble. "긁어 부스럼 만들지 마라"
Example: "I was going to remind my friend about our past argument, but I decided to let sleeping dogs lie."
Conversation Question: Have you ever decided to "let sleeping dogs lie" in a situation? What happened?
Question: What does "Curiosity killed the cat" mean?
Answer: It means asking too many questions can get you into trouble. "호기심이 화를 부른다"
Example: "Don’t ask the boss too many personal questions—remember, curiosity killed the cat."
Conversation Question: Have you ever been very curious about something? What was it?
Question: What does "There are plenty of fish in the sea" mean?
Answer: It means there are many opportunities, especially in relationships. "세상은 넓고 사람은 많다"
Example: "Don't be sad about your breakup—there are plenty of fish in the sea."
Conversation Question: Do you believe that "there are plenty of fish in the sea" when it comes to relationships? Why or why not?
Question: What does "Straight from the horse’s mouth" mean?
Answer: It means getting information directly from the source. "확실한 정보다"
Example: "I heard the company is closing, and I got the news straight from the horse’s mouth."
Conversation Question: Do you prefer to hear news "straight from the horse’s mouth," or do you trust secondhand information? Why?
Question: What does "Kill two birds with one stone" mean?
Answer: It means to accomplish two things at the same time. "일석이조"
Example: "I studied English while commuting to work, so I killed two birds with one stone."
Conversation Question: Can you think of a time when you "killed two birds with one stone"?
Question: What does "Work like a dog" mean?
Answer: It means to work very hard. "뼈 빠지게 일하다"
Example: "She worked like a dog to finish the project before the deadline."
Conversation Question: Do you think people work too hard in Korea? Why or why not?
Question: What does "Like a cat on a hot tin roof" mean?
Answer: It means feeling very nervous or anxious. "안절부절못하다"
Example: "Before her big speech, she was like a cat on a hot tin roof."
Conversation Question: Have you ever felt nervous "like a cat on a hot tin roof"? What happened?
Question: What does "Something smells fishy" mean?
Answer: It means something seems suspicious. "뭔가 수상하다"
Example: "He suddenly canceled the deal at the last minute—something smells fishy."
Conversation Question: Have you ever noticed that something "smelled fishy" in a situation? What was it?
Question: What does "Get off your high horse" mean?
Answer: It means to stop acting superior. "잘난 척하지 마라"
Example: "Stop acting like you're better than everyone else—get off your high horse!"
Conversation Question: Have you ever met someone who acted "high and mighty"? What did they do?
Question: What does "The early bird catches the worm" mean?
Answer: It means people who start early have an advantage. "일찍 일어나는 새가 벌레를 잡는다"
Example: "He always wakes up early to study because he believes the early bird catches the worm."
Conversation Question: Are you an early bird or a night owl? Why?
Question: What does "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" mean?
Answer: It means older people find it difficult to learn new things. "세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다"
Example: "My grandfather refuses to use a smartphone—he says you can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Conversation Question: What is something new you have learned recently? Was it easy or difficult?
Question: What does "Cat got your tongue?" mean?
Answer: It means someone is unusually quiet. "입이 떡 벌어지다"
Example: "You were talking so much earlier—what happened? Cat got your tongue?"
Conversation Question: When was the last time you were so surprised that you couldn’t speak?
Question: What does "Like a fish to water" mean?
Answer: It means to do something naturally or easily. "천직이다"
Example: "She took to ballet like a fish to water."
Conversation Question: Is there something you learned "like a fish to water"? What was it?
Question: What does "Don't put the cart before the horse" mean?
Answer: It means to do things in the wrong order. "김칫국부터 마시지 마라"
Example: "You're planning the wedding before the proposal? Don't put the cart before the horse."
Conversation Question: Can you think of an example of someone putting "the cart before the horse"?
Question: What does "Free as a bird" mean?
Answer: It means to feel completely free. "날아갈 듯이 기쁘다"
Example: "After finishing my exams, I felt as free as a bird!"
Conversation Question: Have you ever felt "free as a bird"? When?
Question: What does "The tail wagging the dog" mean?
Answer: It means a small part of something is controlling the whole. No direct equivalent
Example: "In this company, a few employees make all the decisions—it’s a case of the tail wagging the dog."
Conversation Question: In your opinion, who has the most power in Korea—companies, the government, or the people? Why?
Question: What does "Fight like cats and dogs" mean?
Answer: It means to argue or fight constantly. "티격태격하다"
Example: "My brother and I used to fight like cats and dogs when we were kids."
Conversation Question: Do you know two people who "fight like cats and dogs"? Why do they argue?
Question: What does "Big fish in a small pond" mean?
Answer: It means someone is important in a small group but not in a larger one. "우물 안 개구리"
Example: "He was a top student in his small town, but at the university, he realized he was just a big fish in a small pond."
Conversation Question: Would you rather be a "big fish in a small pond" or a "small fish in a big pond"? Why?
Question: What does "Beat a dead horse" mean?
Answer: It means to keep talking about something that has already been decided. "소 잃고 외양간 고친다"
Example: "We’ve discussed this issue so many times—let’s stop beating a dead horse."
Conversation Question: Have you ever felt that someone was "beating a dead horse" by repeating the same thing?
Question: What does "Birds of a feather flock together" mean?
Answer: It means people with similar interests or personalities tend to be friends."유유상종"
Example: "They both love hiking and traveling—birds of a feather flock together."
Conversation Question: Do you think "birds of a feather flock together" is true? Why or why not?