English Idioms from English Musicals 3 - Jeeves

BERTIE
         For when a Wooster's mask of pleasure
         becomes a steely stare,
         you'll know he's there.
         He'll never turn a hair.

1. A Wooster is too lazy to do anything any time.
2. A Wooster wants to look great in every situation.
3. A Wooster will never help anybody in an unusual situation.
4. A Wooster will never show any emotion when something surprising happens.

BINGO
         Hey, this is more like it…!

1. Bingo is not quite sure about what he really wants.
2. Bingo says he would prefer something else.
3. Bingo thinks this is better or more acceptable.
4. Bingo thinks this is worse and less acceptable.

HONORIA
         That was surely us back there.
         It's as clear as day.
         If we'd both kept faith back there,
         hadn't lost our way…

1. Honoria believes that not everything is as clear as it seems.
2. Honoria guesses that what she says is easy to see or understand.
3. Honoria tells us how she is feeling that day.
4. Honoria thinks she needs some more information to understand the situation.

BERTIE
         For I know to my cost
         it's p­redicted
         self-inflicted.
         People in mazes do tend to get lost.

1. Bertie expects everything is going to be all right.
2. Bertie knows about his own strengths and weaknesses.
3. Bertie knows his own value.
4. Bertie knows something because of his own experience.

BERTIE
         I know you're somebody something…
         It's on the tip of my tongue.
         You're either Edith Sitwell or the Bow Street Beak.
         I'll know who you are, the moment you speak…

1. Bertie can remember the name but he doesn't want to say it aloud.
2. Bertie has a problem pronouncing that name.
3. Bertie is sure that he knows the name but he cannot remember it.
4. On the tip of Bertie's tongue there is something strange he doesn't like.

BERTIE
         What could be nicer, meeting like this?
         I confess I've forgotten
         who on earth you can be.
         It could be you're Nijinsky or the man next door…

1. Bertie emphasizes he really doesn't know who the other person is.
2. Bertie is angry because the other person doesn't want to tell him his name.
3. Bertie thinks the other person is not from the Earth, i.e. he is an alien.
4. Bertie would like to know where the other person is from.

BERTIE
         Good Lord alive!

1. Bertie can't understand the situation and cries for help.
2. Bertie is completely relaxed.
3. Bertie is surprised, annoyed or worried about something.
4. Bertie prays to God.

BERTIE
         My sainted aunt!
         What could be better, meeting like this?
         Though I have not an inkling,
         not a clue who you are!

1. Bertie has no idea who he is speaking to.
2. Bertie has no trouble with identifying his conversation partner.
3. Bertie is not interested at all in his partner's name.
4. Bertie speaks about his liking odd names.

BERTIE
         There's a painfully simple solution.
         It's as plain as the nose on your face.

1. The solution is difficult to find.
2. The solution is hard to accept.
3. The solution is unclear.
4. The solution is very obvious.

BERTIE (to Madeline)
         So close your eyes and lend an ear
         for I suspect he's somewhere near
         and that it's you that he has come to find.

1. Bertie asks Madeline to listen to him in a patient way.
2. Bertie wants Madeline to lend him her ear.
3. Bertie would like to kiss Madeline's ear.
4. Madeline is asked not to listen to Bertie now.

MADELINE
         I know this night can't be in vain.
         The stars shine in God's daisy chain.

1. Madeline doesn't like that night and she would like to go home.
2. Madeline expects unpleasant things to come.
3. Madeline hopes that night will be successful somehow.
4. Madeline is afraid that night is going to be a failure.

HONORIA
         Lend a hand!
         Bar the door!
         And we've trapped him for sure!

1. Honoria asks the others to help her with something.
2. Honoria tells the others not to be in her way.
3. Honoria wants somebody to lend a little money to her.
4. Honoria would like to get a small present from somebody.