Close/shut the door on something

Meaning:

• When you close/shut the door on something (a plan or a solution to a problem), you make it impossible for it to happen.

Example sentence:

He should have been more polite when dealing with his boss. His rude remarks closed the door on his promotion.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever done anything that shut the door on something important in your life?
2. What can shut the door on getting a good job in your country?
3. What happens if you shut the door on somebody (a friend, for example)?

Shed light on

Meaning:

• To shed light on something means to make free from confusion or ambiguity; to reveal something about something; to clarify something.

Note: you can also say to throw light on something.



Example sentence:

I didn't understand the problem at all but John shed some light on it and explained everything to me.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Who helps you and sheds light on a problem if you can't solve it?
2. Does the Internet usually help to shed some light on the problems you encounter?
3. Have you recently read any interesting papers that shed light on an issue?

Run into a stone wall

Meaning:

• If you run into a stone wall, you come to a barrier against further progress. 

Note: you can also say run into a brick wall.


Example sentence:

I've been learning Italian for ages but I feel I've run into a stone wall. I need to do something else for a while.


Questions for you to answer:

1. Have you ever felt you ran into a stone wall when learning something?
2. What should you do when you feel you've run into a stone wall?
3. What do you do when somebody tells you that you are running into a stone wall? Do you quit the activity or go on?  

Be cold comfort

Meaning:

• This is something someone tells you to make you feel better about a bad situation, but it does not make you feel better.

Example sentence:

Telling her that she can have many more children after she'd lost her baby was cold comfort to her.



Questions for you to answer:

1. Do you remember a situation when somebody offered you cold comfort?
2. Do you think cold comfort is better than no comfort?
3. Can you imagine a situation when cold comfort is vital?

Spring to mind

Meaning:

• If someone or something springs to mind, you immediately think of them.

Example sentence:

Whenever I see a pebble, our amazing holiday in Italy springs to mind.


Questions for you to answer:

1. What words spring to mind when you hear ENGLISH?
2. What surnames spring to mind when somebody says JOHN?
3. What films spring to mind when you hear ALFRED HITCHCOCK?