All phrases › read the room
What does “read the room” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
C1
To correctly sense the mood or reaction of a group before acting
“He completely failed to read the room with that joke.”
From the C1 lesson Cutting to the Chase (workplace idioms).
Quick check
What does “read the room” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“read the room” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel).
See the C1 lesson pack
See the C1 lesson pack
Or get all 32 lessons in the complete C1 course and save 25%.
Want to use phrases like this with confidence?Practice them in a one-to-one lesson with me, an experienced online English teacher.
Book a lesson
Book a lesson
Related phrases
- cut to the chaseto get to the point without wasting time
- think outside the boxto think creatively, beyond conventional ideas
- a game changersomething that changes a situation significantly and for the better
- back to the drawing boardhaving to start again after a plan has failed
- all hands on deckeveryone needs to help, usually urgently
- rock the boatto disturb a stable situation, often by disagreeing
- throw someone under the busto blame or betray someone, often to protect yourself
- go the extra mileto make an extra effort beyond what's expected
- keep someone in the loopto keep someone informed as things progress