English Café: Four Commonly Used Idioms

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In your mind, try to think of the “rough” (approximate) meaning of the following 4 idioms? They are commonly used by native speakers of English in their business and technical communications, including PTTEP and the oil and gas industry.

• A: Burn the midnight oil
• B: Straight from the horse’s mouth
• C: Face the music
• D: Take it with a grain of salt

Answers:

A: read or work late into the night

B: directly from the source; firsthand

C: be confronted (faced) with the unpleasant consequences of one’s actions

D: regard something as exaggerated; believe only part of something.