Have you ever heard someone say, “You’re on thin ice”?
If you’re not sure what that means, you might be in trouble—especially in English conversations! 😅
🎥 Watch this quick 1-minute quiz on YouTube Shorts:
👉 On Thin Ice – Idiom Quiz
In this fun and fast-paced quiz, I’ll test your knowledge of the idiom “on thin ice.” Can you guess the correct meaning? Take the quiz and see how you do!
📘 What Does “On Thin Ice” Mean?
The idiom “on thin ice” means that someone is in a risky, dangerous, or delicate situation—usually because of their behavior or decisions.
✅ Examples:
- If you keep coming to work late, you’re on thin ice with your boss.
- After forgetting their anniversary, Jake knew he was on thin ice with his wife.
It’s similar to saying someone is in trouble or close to causing a serious problem.
🧊 Where Did “On Thin Ice” Come From?
The phrase comes from real life: if you walk on a frozen lake or river where the ice is thin, it might crack and break under your feet. That’s very dangerous—you could fall into freezing water!
Over time, people started using it metaphorically to describe dangerous or risky situations in life—not just on actual ice.
It’s been used this way since at least the 1800s and remains a popular expression today in both formal and casual speech.
💡 Why Learn Idioms Like This?
Idioms make your English more natural and fluent. Native speakers use them every day, and if you don’t understand them, it’s easy to feel confused—even if you know a lot of grammar.
That’s why I teach idioms, phrasal verbs, and expressions in my online lessons.
🎓 Want to Speak English Naturally and Confidently?
I’m Mark, the teacher behind MK’s English. I’ve taught ESL for over 30 years, and I help learners just like you improve their real-life English with fun, practical lessons.
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