In Ireland, the winters are cold, windy, and rainy. So, most people really looking forward to spring so they can spend more time outdoors. But if you’re a student or a teacher, you know that spring is when exam pressure begins. It’s time to visit the library, hit the books, and start to prepare for the end of semester exams. When do the important tests take place in your country?
This is a commonly used English idiom, particularly for students. Look at some more examples of its use in the video below.
Transcript
Hit the books? Like, punch them?
No! To hit the books means to study hard or to do some research.
Let’s look at a few examples:
- No, I can’t go out this weekend. I’ve got to hit the books. I’ve got mid-term exams all next week.
- My boss has asked me to go on a business trip to Japan. I’d better hit the books and learn about Japanese customs.
- My professor accepted my dissertation proposal! Now I’d better hit the books!
When was the last time you had to hit the books? Let us know in the comments section below!
Practice
Are you ready to use this expression in a real-world context? Try to write some examples of your own to practice. Use the questions below to help you.
- Did you ever have to study all night for an exam? Why? What happened?
- Do you ever give your friends or family members advice about studying? What do you tell them to do?
- Have you ever had to say no to attending a fun event because of work or study? What did you tell the host?
- Did your teachers give you advice about how to pass exams in school? What did they say?
- What would you do if you had an interview coming up, but you didn’t have all the skills necessary to do the job?
We hope you liked this lesson! You can visit Free Spirit English on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more free English language training.
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