Learning English

The world is your oyster - but it's a small world!
There are many phrases and idioms in English which contain world. We are going to explore a few of the most popular ones.

To do

Old school friends Tom and Kate meet by chance at an airport in New Zealand. Read and listen to their conversation. Pay attention the idioms containing world - what do you think they mean? Then do the quiz to find out if you are correct.

Do the activity

To do

Now try the quiz to find out the meaning of the idioms. 

Well done if you worked out the meaning of all the idioms containing world. But, it's not the end of the world if you made one or two mistakes.

Over to you

We asked you to tell us about an exciting time in your life when you had wonderful opportunities and thought to yourself: the world's my oyster! Here are some of your stories:

Akiko 

I bumped into a stranger once at an airport in Japan because I was in a world of my own. He looked at me and said, « What a small world, you used to work at the Nakayama hospital in Chiba, as a trainee nurse didn’t you? I used to work at the pharmacy section.» I recognised him instantly. He proposed to have a cup of tea, but my flight was in 30 minutes and I didn’t have enough time. I said, “ Sorry, I can’t make it today, but it’s not the end of the world. How about meeting up in 1 week time, at wherever convenient place for you, in order to have the best of both sides?”. And we swapped our telephone numbers. After this curious encounter, the world became my oyster. I found out that he had set up his own inter-national pharmaceutical organisation and he appointed me as the head medical aid-worker in New York with a good salary!

________________________

Suzy 

When I passed my driving license, suddenly the world's my oyster: I could go everywhere I wanted without ask someone a lift....but I was young and lived in a world of my own far away from realities....obviously travelling needed money  . I couldn't have the best of both words....I have to choose: working or staying near the car waiting for my parent's money for petrol.....I began an amazing work in a circus....it wasn't the end of the world and I earnt my living !

________________________

Jean Marie 

In May 2008, entitled to a reasonable pension, I decided to retire. I gave up any form of constraint and suddenly became as free as a bird. My physical and mental capacity remaining and was able to cope enough with two foreign languages. In addition, some economies gave me access to all kinds of recreation, futile or potentially constructive. However, I felt a little puzzled, as Buridan's donkey, I could not decide on a choice. I was like a child overwhelmed by unexpected toys. Would my retirement be marred by a lack of imagination? A new life was afoot and with a little bit of wisdom I became aware that the world was my oyster and I really enjoyed it.

________________________

Rashad, Egypt

After graduating, I thought that the world's my own oyster but I didn't have the Knives or sword , like pistol in the play of Shakespeare, to open; I realized that instead of sword, I should gain some skills.

And so I did, I improved my computer skills, also my language skills by keeping up with you, in addition to taking master.

And now,thanks God, I got a great job and I'm attempting to get more Pearls!!

________________________

Ia, Georgia

 I  was  fond  of  learning  German  and  Russian  at  school.  Imagine ,  I  was  so  interested  and keen  I  couldn’t  wait  for  the  next  lesson… .Everyone  expected  and  encouraged  me  to  be  a  foreign  language  teacher. So  I  was  given  a  pearl  of  wisdom. But  life  is  life , you  know. I  had studied  the  history  of  art   for  6   years   and  it  was  my  occupation. And  I  had  never   imagined studying   English .  But  I  took  a  risk … In  a  short  time  I  managed  to  pass  an  exam   in  2012  and since  then  I  have  been  working  hard  to  improve  my  English.

 I  used  to  use   some   German websites   such  as    Daserste. de.    It    always   has  something  for  everyone.  Just  listen  to  their  creative  videos  and  art  criticism . They  make  me  feel  good. But  now  when  I  follow   these   phrases , the  world  is  my oyster.

 By  the  way , it  was  a  week  ago  when  I  found  a  letter  in  which my  niece  describes  how  I  silenced  everyone  because  of  an  English  song.’’ Listen ! how  beautiful  it is ! “ -according  to  this  letter , I  said .I  was  4  then .So  nothing  is  a  coincidence. And   I  learn  English ,the  world’s  my  oyster.

________________________

End of session

That’s all for now. But, it's not the end of the world as we'll be back again soon. Return to these pages to find out more about William Shakespeare's life and work - and to learn a useful new English expression. In the meantime, go to our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram pages for more fun with English!