I COULDN’T PUT MY FINGER ON IT.
Eu não conseguia explicar.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
Quem podia imaginar! Olha só!
SHE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING!
Ela chegou arrebentando/começou com tudo.
LET’S PLAY IT BY EAR.
Vamos deixar rolar.
IT’S A LONG SHOT, BUT I NEED TO TRY.
É improvável/difícil/um tiro no escuro, mas preciso tentar.
HE DID A QUICK FIX ON THE LAMP.
Ele consertou a lâmpada com uma gambiarra.
👉 “I couldn’t put my finger on it.”
Meaning:
You feel or notice that something is different, strange, or wrong — but you can’t clearly explain exactly what it is.
It’s used when you have a vague feeling or intuition, but you can’t identify the specific reason.
🔎 Simple Explanation
It means:
“I know something is going on… but I can’t explain what exactly.”
🗣 Examples
- About a person
There’s something different about her today. I can’t put my finger on it. - About a problem
The project isn’t working properly, but I can’t put my finger on the issue. - About a feeling
I felt uncomfortable during the meeting, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. - About appearance
Did you change something? I can’t put my finger on it, but you look different! - About a place
This restaurant feels strange tonight. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
💬 Mini Story Example
When Denise walked into the classroom, everything seemed normal. The students were quiet, the lights were on, and the lesson plan was ready. But something felt off. She looked around and thought, “I can’t put my finger on it… but something isn’t right.”
Five minutes later, she realized — she had forgotten her laptop charger!
🎯 Similar Expressions
- Something feels off.
- I can’t quite explain it.
- I have a funny feeling.
- There’s something about…
- I can’t pinpoint it. (more formal)
👉 “What do you know?”
This expression is usually used to show surprise, especially when something unexpected happens — often in a positive or ironic way.
It does not usually mean a real question about someone’s knowledge.
🎯 Main Meaning
It’s similar to saying:
- “Well, look at that!”
- “Would you believe it?”
- “Imagine that!”
- “Who would have thought?”
🗣 Examples
- Unexpected success
He finally passed the exam. What do you know! - Coincidence
I ran into my old neighbor at the airport. What do you know! - Something surprising
The restaurant was actually amazing. What do you know! - Irony
He said he wasn’t tired, and five minutes later he fell asleep. What do you know!
💬 Mini Story
Mariana was sure she was going to fail her driving test. She made a small mistake during parking and felt terrible.
Two days later, she opened the results email… she passed!
She smiled and said, “Well, what do you know!”
⚠️ Important: It can also be a real question
Sometimes it really is a question, depending on tone:
- “You worked with that company? What do you know about them?”
(Here it’s literal.)
Tone and context make all the difference.
👉 “She hit the ground running!”
Meaning:
She started something immediately with energy, focus, and efficiency — without wasting time.
It describes someone who begins a new job, project, or activity and performs well right away.
🎯 Simple Explanation
It means:
She didn’t need time to adjust — she started strong from day one.
🗣 Examples
- New job
Maria started her new job on Monday and hit the ground running. - New project
The team hit the ground running after the meeting. - School situation
The new teacher hit the ground running and had the class organized in one week. - Business
After the training, he hit the ground running and closed three deals.
💬 Mini Story
When Carla joined the company, everyone expected she would need at least a month to adapt.
But on her first day, she organized the files, improved the schedule, and suggested new ideas.
By Friday, her boss said, “Wow, she really hit the ground running!”
🧠 Similar Expressions
- She got off to a great start.
- She started strong.
- She jumped right in.
- She wasted no time.
👉 “Let’s play it by ear.”
Meaning:
Let’s decide what to do as the situation develops, instead of making a fixed plan now.
It means being flexible and improvising.
🎵 Why this expression?
It comes from music.
When musicians play by ear, they play without sheet music, just by listening and adjusting as they go.
🎯 Simple Explanation
It means:
Let’s not plan everything now.
We’ll decide later depending on what happens.
🗣 Examples
- Making plans
What time should we leave?
I’m not sure yet — let’s play it by ear. - Weekend plans
We might go to the beach, but let’s play it by ear. It depends on the weather. - Work situation
If the client calls, we’ll adjust the presentation. Let’s just play it by ear. - Family visit
We don’t need a strict schedule. Let’s play it by ear.
💬 Mini Story
Ana and her friends wanted to go out Saturday night.
“Dinner or movie?” someone asked.
Ana laughed and said, “Let’s just meet first and play it by ear.”
Later, they ended up doing both!
🧠 Similar Expressions
- We’ll see how it goes.
- Let’s wait and see.
- We’ll decide later.
- Let’s keep it flexible.
👉 “It’s a long shot, but I need to try.”
Meaning:
The chances of success are small, but I’m going to try anyway.
🎯 What does “a long shot” mean?
A long shot is something unlikely to succeed.
The expression comes from sports and hunting — when you shoot from far away, the chances of hitting the target are lower.
🧠 Simple Explanation
It means:
It probably won’t work… but I don’t want to give up.
🗣 Examples
- Job application
This company is very competitive. It’s a long shot, but I’ll send my résumé. - Asking for help
It’s a long shot, but do you think you could lend me your car? - Dream opportunity
Getting that scholarship is a long shot, but I need to try. - Fixing something
It’s a long shot, but maybe restarting the computer will fix it.
💬 Mini Story
Lucas wanted to study abroad, but the university was famous and extremely selective.
His friends said it would be very difficult.
He looked at the application form and said,
“It’s a long shot, but I need to try.”
Months later… he got accepted.
🧩 Similar Expressions
- It’s unlikely, but…
- I don’t have high hopes, but…
- It’s worth a try.
- You never know.
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
👉 “He did a quick fix on the lamp.”
Meaning:
He made a fast, temporary repair — not a perfect or permanent solution.
A quick fix solves the problem for now, but it may not be the best or long-term solution.
🎯 Simple Explanation
It means:
He repaired it quickly so it would work — but maybe not professionally or permanently.
🗣 Examples
- At home
The chair was broken, so he did a quick fix with some glue. - Technology
The IT guy did a quick fix so the system could work until tomorrow. - Car problem
It’s just a quick fix. You’ll need a real repair later. - Work situation
We need a long-term solution, not just a quick fix.
💬 Mini Story
The lamp suddenly stopped working before dinner.
Guests were arriving in twenty minutes.
Carlos checked the wire, tightened a loose connection, and said,
“It’s not perfect, but it’ll work for tonight.”
He had done a quick fix.
🧠 Important Vocabulary
- Quick fix → temporary solution
- Permanent solution → long-term repair
- Patch it up → fix something temporarily
📝 Idioms & Everyday Expressions Worksheet (B1–B2)
Expressions Practiced:
- I couldn’t put my finger on it
- What do you know!
- She hit the ground running
- Let’s play it by ear
- It’s a long shot, but I need to try
- He did a quick fix
✏️ Part 1 – Match the Expressions
Match the expression to its meaning.
A. ( ) I couldn’t put my finger on it
B. ( ) What do you know!
C. ( ) She hit the ground running
D. ( ) Let’s play it by ear
E. ( ) It’s a long shot, but I need to try
F. ( ) He did a quick fix
- ___ Start something immediately and energetically
- ___ A temporary solution
- ___ It’s unlikely, but I will try
- ___ Decide later / improvise
- ___ I feel something is wrong but can’t explain it
- ___ Expression of surprise
✏️ Part 2 – Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct expression.
- The new employee organized everything on her first day. She really __________________________.
- The computer isn’t working perfectly. This is just __________________________.
- I don’t know why I feel uncomfortable here. I __________________________.
- We don’t need to plan everything now. Let’s __________________________.
- Getting that promotion is __________________________, but I’m applying anyway.
- He forgot his umbrella and then it started raining. Well, __________________________!
✏️ Part 3 – Choose the Correct Situation
Write the correct expression for each situation.
- You apply to Harvard even though thousands of people apply.
→ __________________________________________ - You notice your friend changed something (hair? glasses?) but you don’t know what.
→ __________________________________________ - Your boss solves a small problem quickly just for today.
→ __________________________________________ - You don’t want to decide now because you need more information.
→ __________________________________________
✏️ Part 4 – Speaking Practice
Discuss in pairs:
- Have you ever tried something that was a long shot?
- When was the last time you did a quick fix?
- Do you prefer to plan everything or play it by ear?
- Have you ever met someone who hit the ground running at work?
⭐ Challenge (Optional – B2)
Write a short paragraph using at least three of the expressions.
✅ ANSWER KEY
✏️ Part 1 – Match the Expressions
A. I couldn’t put my finger on it → 5
B. What do you know! → 6
C. She hit the ground running → 1
D. Let’s play it by ear → 4
E. It’s a long shot, but I need to try → 3
F. He did a quick fix → 2
✏️ Part 2 – Fill in the Blanks
- She really hit the ground running.
- This is just a quick fix.
- I couldn’t put my finger on it.
- Let’s play it by ear.
- It’s a long shot, but I need to try.
- What do you know!
✏️ Part 3 – Choose the Correct Situation
- → It’s a long shot, but I need to try.
- → I couldn’t put my finger on it.
- → He did a quick fix.
- → Let’s play it by ear.
Here’s a short story using all the expressions naturally:
Denise had a strange feeling when she walked into the office Monday morning. Everything looked normal — the desks were clean, the lights were on, the coffee machine was working — but something felt different. She looked around and thought, “I can’t put my finger on it…”
Then she saw the new employee, Camila.
It was her first day, but she had already reorganized the front desk, answered three client emails, and fixed a scheduling mistake from last week. By 10 a.m., her manager whispered, “Wow… she really hit the ground running.”
Around noon, the office lamp near the reception desk started flickering. The maintenance guy wasn’t available, so Roberto grabbed a screwdriver and adjusted the wiring.
“It’s not perfect,” he said, stepping down from the chair, “but I did a quick fix. It should last the day.”
Later that afternoon, Denise received an email about a leadership program in London. It was extremely competitive.
She sighed. “It’s a long shot, but I need to try.”
“Absolutely!” Camila said. “You never know!”
Denise smiled and pressed send.
Just then, the office manager walked in with an announcement:
“The company is expanding — and we’re opening a new branch. Denise, we’d like you to lead it.”
Denise blinked in shock. “What do you know!”
They all laughed.
“So,” Camila asked, “what’s the plan now?”
Denise grabbed her notebook and said, “Honestly? Let’s play it by ear.”
And for the first time that day, that strange feeling disappeared.
📝 Complete the Story with the Correct Expressions
📌 Word Bank:
- I couldn’t put my finger on it
- What do you know!
- She hit the ground running
- Let’s play it by ear
- It’s a long shot, but I need to try
- He did a quick fix
✏️ The Story
On Monday morning, everything seemed normal at the office, but Julia felt something strange. She looked around and thought, “________________________________.”
A few minutes later, she met the new employee, Camila. It was her first day, but by 10 a.m. she had already answered emails, organized the schedule, and helped two clients. Everyone was impressed. “Wow,” said the manager, “________________________________!”
Suddenly, the lamp near the reception desk stopped working. There wasn’t time to call maintenance, so Carlos checked the wires and adjusted the plug. “Don’t worry,” he said. “________________________________. It should work for now.”
Later that day, Julia saw an announcement about an international leadership program. It was very competitive. She hesitated for a moment and then said, “________________________________.”
Before leaving work, her team started discussing a possible celebration dinner.
“Should we make a reservation?” someone asked.
Julia smiled and said, “________________________________.”
The next morning, Julia received an email. She had been accepted into the leadership program!
She covered her mouth in surprise and said, “________________________________”