Idioms(成语) are phrases and sentences that do not mean exactly what they say. Even if you know the meaning of each word you see or hear, you may not understand the idiom because you don't understand the culture behind it.

    For example, if an American boy asks his mother what's for dinner tomorrow, she may say “I'll play it by ear”, that means she doesn't have plans for dinner and she will decide later. “Play by ear” used to mean playing music using the sheet music(活页乐谱), but now people often use it when they're not talking about music.

    There're many idioms in English. If you learn to use them, your English will be more vivid and colorful. English idioms are more common in spoken English. They can be difficult to remember sometimes. Next time when you hear somebody saying to you, “Give me a hand”, you don't necessarily reach out your hand to him/her, but you do need to be helpful. And when the situation is out of hand, you usually can do very little to manage all that. What about a green hand? It's not about the color of your hand! You're a green hand when you are very new at your work and don't have much experience. If you and your partner always work together hand in glove, you two certainly work together very well.

    Can you guess the meanings of some common English idioms to do with parts of your body?

    Beijing Opera is my favourite. Bao Zheng always has a black face and Guan Yu has a red face in Beijing Opera. But many people don't know why.

    I come from America and I have lived in China for six years. I like Beijing Opera very much. I think Beijing Opera is very interesting. I can learn a lot about Chinese history. Now let me tell you the art of Beijing Opera facial(脸部的) paintings(画).

    In Beijing Opera facial paintings, different colours and patterns（图案） are for different roles. For example, a black face for fair (公正的) people. A red face is for brave(勇敢的) people. A white face is for bad people. Blue and green faces are for heroes(英雄). The gold face is for gods.

    Dubai (迪拜) is a good place to travel to. There, you can find many tall buildings, taste lots of delicious food and experience some interesting things. Have you ever been to this city? If you go to Dubai during the summer holiday, you may see a special kind of "taxi". It is a drone (无人机). It flies in the sky by itself！ It is said that Dubai plans to use Chinese—made droes as a self —flying air taxi in July.

    The drone taxi is named EHang 184. A Chinese company(公司)made it. The city of Dubai will start using it in July. It will be the world's first passenger drone, according to Yahoo News.

    The drone taxi can fly up to 3, 500 meters high. It can fly at a top speed of 160 kilometers an hour. It can only take one person.

    How do you call an EHang1842 You use its app(应用程序) on your phone. When the drone comes, you choose the place you want to go to on a touch screen. There is no pilot in the drone. But some people on the ground will be watching it. They will make sure your trip is safe. You don't have to worry about it.

    EHang 184's battery(电池) can only keep about 30 minutes, So it cannot take you further than 50 kilometers.

    Would you like to take a trip in this flying drone? Don't wait. Let's go!

    On New Year's Day, many people eat special food for good luck.

In Spain and some Latin American countries (拉丁美洲国家), people eat twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve一One grape for good luck in each month of the new year.

    Chinese people eat dumplings. Some are made with a coin inside. Everyone tries to find the coin for good luck and money in the New Year. Of course they don't eat the coin.

    Japanese people eat noodles on New Year's Eve and on their birthdays. It may bring them good luck and long life.