1 · Listen & Read 2 · The Tools 3 · Practice 4 · Downloads
Meet the idioms in context Read once for the general meaning. Then read again and notice the highlighted expressions.
▶ Play dialogue Speed 0.5× 0.75× 1×
0:00 / 0:00
Choose 0.50× or 0.75× for slow listening. The pitch stays natural. Voices generated with Aura-2.
Maya How did your final interview go?
Leo I passed it with flying colours . All that practice finally paid off .
Maya I knew it would. You always come out on top when you prepare carefully.
Leo Thanks. The manager said people think I’m going places .
Maya That sounds very promising. When do you start?
Leo Next month — I’m excited and a little nervous.
Open your toolbox Meaning, tone, natural grammar and a memory hook for every expression.
AD · RECTANGLE 300×250
Practise for retrieval Choose, type and correct. Feedback appears immediately — no answer key hunting.
1 · Match the meaning be successful after a competition or difficulty
come out on top pay off go places with flying colours
produce a good result after effort or patience
come out on top pay off go places with flying colours
be likely to become very successful
come out on top pay off go places with flying colours
very successfully
come out on top pay off go places with flying colours
2 · Complete the sentence 3 · Choose and notice Which expression means “very successfully”?
come out on top with flying colours pay off
Which expression means “be likely to become very successful”?
go places pay off come out on top
4 · Over to you Write a short situation about success using two expressions from this lesson.
Your score: 0 / 9 · Keep going — retrieval makes the language yours.
Take the lesson with you Lesson audio is always open. PDF workbooks belong to your free account so your study history and review plan can stay together.
PDF workbook · free account
Lesson, practice and answer key Review away from the screen and keep the workbook connected to your course progress.
Log in to download Account access is not active in this pilot yet.
Open audio · no login
Dialogue and example sentences Listen online or download the MP3 for pronunciation, rhythm and recall.
Download MP3 Always open. No email or account will be required when this recording is ready.
Slow English podcast · Episode 138
Hear all four success idioms in context Listen to Martin and Julia teach come out on top , pay off , go places and with flying colours , then practise with the interactive transcript and multilingual vocabulary.
Open Episode 138 →