1000

1000
ENGLISH IDIOMS 1000
1000

W.H.Blackmore


Unit 1. .
Unit 2. .
Unit 3. .
Unit 4. .
Unit 5. .
Unit 6. .
Unit 7. .
Unit 8. I..
Unit 9. II.
Unit 10 .
Unit 11 .
Unit 12 .
Unit 13 .
Unit 14 .
Unit 15 .
Unit 16 .
.. ..

..
..

Unit 1. Long and Short Idioms

cross line cross

tick cross. Crossed in love

line 20
line Step out of lineIf you step out
of line again, you will be sacked
Read between the lines
lines railway lines 5
In the long run run

long short cross dot line lines

1. A long way out

[] Quite inaccurate.

[] I am sorry to say that your answer was a long way out.

2. By a long chalk
[] By a great amount; very much.
By a long shot
By a long chalk

[] She has not finished her thesis by a long chalk.

3. Cut a long story short
[] Say with fewer words in order to save time.

[] Li Ming met this American girl last year in Shanghai well, to cut a long story short,
he is an American citizen now.
4. Have a long head
[] Be sensible, shrewd.

[] He has a long head, and I think he could do well in business.

5. In the long run
[] Over a long period of time; ultimately.
in the long run in the short run

[] The company is losing money at the moment, but profits will be high in the long run.
6. The long and short of something
[] To sum up the most important point of an argument or story.

[]

Its a complicated story, but the long and short of it is that he was arrested.

7. Take a long view

[] Think about what will happen in the future as well as what is happening now.
Take the long view.
[] We are planning to build a new bridge, and we should take the long view.
8. A short cut
[] A quick way of arriving somewhere or doing something.

[] It was a long road, so we took a short cut across the field.

9. Short with someone
[] Abrupt or rude to someone.

[] I asked her father to marry his daughter, but he was short with me.
10. Have a short temper
[] Get angry easily.

[] Many people say that Mr. Smith has a short temper, but I think he is all right.
11. Make short work of something
[] Deal with something quickly.

[] The exam was very easy and she made short work of it.
12. Run short of something
[] Use up almost all of something; have too little or few of something left.

[] I think we are running short of rice. Please buy another bag on your way home.
13. Short-handed
[] Not having enough workers.

[] When the mechanic left for a holiday, we were short-handed for a time.
14. At cross purposes with someone
[] Misunderstand each other.

[]

You must be at cross purposes with him; you dont seem to be talking about the same
thing.

15. Crossed in love

[] Be disappointed in love.

[] She was crossed in love four times before she met her present boy friend.
16. Cross ones ts and dot ones is ti

[] Be careful, exact, and precise, especially in writing.

[] This is an important document; we must cross our ts and dot our is when we draw up
the contract.
17. Cross someones path
[] Meet someone by chance, especially after a long period of time.

[] I have crossed her path two or three times in my life.

18. Cross someones mind
[] Come to mind briefly; Occur to someone.
Pass through someones mind.
Come to mind

[] I would like to tell you what has just passed through my mind.
19. Double-cross someone
[] Cheat, betray a friend or a partner.

[] The robbers tried to double-cross each other, each wanting to keep all the jewelry for
himself.
20. All along the line
[] Everywhere; completely; in every way; at every point.

[] (1) We were lucky all along the line.

(2) He has trusted you all along the line but now you have let him down.
21. Bottom line
[] (1) The last figure on a financial balance sheet.

[] I can not remember those figures. Please just tell me the bottom line.
[] (2) The result; the final outcome; the crux of the matter.

[] The bottom line is that you have to do the job because no one can do it.

22. Bring somebody into line

[] Make somebody agree or obey.
23
[] She could not agree with him before the meeting, but he soon brought her into line.
23. Come into line with someone
[] Agree with someone; accept someones advice; obey.
Fall into line with someone.
[] He eventually fell into line when I showed him all the evidence.
24. Draw the line at
[] Refuse to go as far as; set a limit.
at
[] I am willing to help you, but I draw the line at doing your homework for you.
25. Drop someone a line
[] Send or leave someone a short letter.

[] Even if you are busy, you should sit down and drop him a line to thank him for his
hospitality.
26. Put someones life on the line
[] Risk death in order to achieve something.
Put someones neck on the line

[] Government officials in this country are not the ones who will put their lives on the line
to fight in wars.
27. Sign on the dotted line
[] Place ones signature on a contract or other important paper.

[] We can not say that the agreement is concluded until we both sign on the dotted line.
28. Take a strong line
[] Act in a certain way.

[] The students are behaving badly; you should take a strong line with them.
29. Toe the line
[] Obey orders; do what is expected or required to do.
Toe Toe Tow
Tow the line

[] The father insisted his daughter toe the line and finish her homework, or he would

refuse to let her go out and play with her friends.

30. Read between the lines
[] Find a deeper meaning than is obvious; understand more than the words appear to mean.

[] This editorial is very important. You should read between the lines.

I.

1. She was crossed in love many times in the past.

A. She used to love God in the past.
B. She was disappointed in her past love life.
C. She did not want to get married.
2. He has a short temper.
A. He never gets angry.
B. He gets angry easily.
C. He has an amiable character.
3. He is not prepared to put his neck on the line.
A. He is not going to take the risk.
B. He is not willing to risk his life.
C. He does not want to tell the truth.
4. You should cross your ts and dot your is.
A. You should be careful in your writing.
B. You should make sure you can get there in time.
C. You should be considerate to others.
5. They tried to double-cross each other.
A. They tried to cheat each other.
B. They tried to see each other more often.
C. They tried to pray for each other.
6. We are short-handed at the moment.
A. We want to make more money.
B. We should improve our skills.
C. We need more people to help.
7. Eventually we brought her into line.
A. She was captured in the end.
B. Finally she agreed with us.
C. Eventually we took her to court.
8. The manager has a long head.
A. The manager is very mean.

B. The manager is very generous.

C. The manager is very shrewd.
9. She is always short with me.
A. She always asks me to help her.
B. She is always happy to be with me.
C. She always gets angry with me.
10. I have never crossed her path after graduation.
A. I have not seen her after graduation.
B. She wanted to marry me after graduation.
C. She refused my love after graduation.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

6 14
take a ________________ line.
come into ________________ with someone.
not by a long ________________.
cross someones ________________.
have a short ________________.
all along the ________________.
the long and ________________ of it.
bring someone into ________________.
draw the ________________ at.
put ones ________________ on the line.
cross ones ts and ________________ ones is.
read ________________ the lines.
at ________________ purposes with someone.
all ________________ the line.
drop someone a ________________.

III.

[1] a long way out.

[
] obey rules.
[2] a short cut.
[
] disappointed in love.
[3] bottom line.
[
] outcome.
[4] toe the line.
[
] need more workers.
[5] crossed in love.
[
] quite incorrect.
[6] short-handed.
[
] betray someone.
[7] double-cross someone. [
] be firm.
[8] take a strong line.
[
] a quick way.
[9] have a long head.
[
] meet someone.
[10] cross someones path. [
] clever and shrewd.
IV.

1
cut __ ______ ______

______

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

take __ _______ ____

take __ _______ _____
come ____ _______ ____ _________
drop _________ __ _____
toe ___ ______
put ___________ ____ __ ___ _____
bottom _______
have __ _______ _________
have __ ______ _______

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He has been very fortunate all along the ________________.

I wanted to drop him a ________________ before I went back; but I forgot.
He is a successful businessman; he has a ________________ head.
It is hard to ________________ her into line.
He was sad because he was crossed in ________________ again.
I ________________ the line at writing the paper for him.
We are running ________________ of milk.
You should ________________ the long view when we make plans.
He has not finished his homework by a long ________________.
She is often at cross ________________ with her husband.

VI.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

A sudden idea crossed his mind.

I crossed her path only once since we graduated two years ago.
This is an important article. You should read between the lines.
She has not finished the book by a long chalk.
She eventually came into line with me.
The teacher asked his students to toe the line.
He has not finished his assignment by a long chalk.
She made short work of the exam.
I will cut the long story short.
We are lucky all along the line.

VII.

1. She did not want to go to Russia with us at the beginning. But we

2. The students are rough. You should
3. When you draw up the contract, you should
4. It is a long story. Because we do not have enough time now, I will
5. You should know I can not do everything for you. I have
6. This chapter is very important. You should

7.
8.
9.
10.

The exam was not difficult for her, and when she did it, she
He is still not married. He wants to, but he
Three more employees have left, so now we
He is very angry with his girl friend because she

Unit 2. Point and Location idioms

point

bottom top
At bottom
She seems aggressive but at bottom she is very
kind and generous
Bottom
Bottoms up

Cheers
Cheers. Talented
Personnel Intercourse FairIntercourse

point square circle round bottom top level

1. Carry ones point

[] Make others agree with oneself.
Gain ones point.

[] He had a good talk with the students and gained his point.
2. Come to the point
[] Speak directly about the matter being discussed.

[] The students were getting impatient; so I asked her to come to the point.
3. In point
[] Having to do with what is being discussed.

[] He argued for the proposal and gave a case in point by giving an example of what was
being discussed.
4. Make a point
[] State an item of importance.

[] The President made a point at the meeting, which we should all remember.

10

5. Make a point of doing something

[] Make the effort to do something which one considers necessary.

[] He always made a point of knowing the students by name.

6. Off the point
[] Not having to do with what is being considered.
Away from the point.
[] We just want him to stop talking; what he said is away from the point.
7. On the point of doing something
[] Just about to.

[] When he was on the point of winning the race he stumbled and fell.
8. The point of no return
[] Position or situation from which one can only go forward.

[] I understand if I ask for a transfer from this university, it will be the point of no return.
9. To the point
[] Having to do with what is being discussed; relevant to the subject.

[] You have to re-write the last part of your essay. It is not to the point.
10. When it comes to the point
[] In fact; in reality.

[] He promised her a lot of money, but when it came to the point she got nothing.
11. A square meal
[] A good and satisfying meal.

[] After ten hours in the boat, I really look forward to a square meal.
12. A square peg in a round hole
[] A person not suited for the job or situation he/she is in.

[] I was the only person who could not speak Japanese at the party and I felt I was a square
peg in a round hole.
13. Square up with someone
[] Settle ones accounts with someone.

11

[]

I will square up my debt with you when I come back.

14. Go round in circles

[] Keep going over the same idea or repeating the same actions, often resulting in
confusion, without reaching a satisfactory decision.

[] They are going round in circles trying to solve the problem. They really need to talk to
someone who can give them a new point of view.
15. In round figures
[] In 10s, 100s, 1000s etc; roughly, approximately.
10 100 In round numbers.
[] The price is 59 dollars and 70 cents or, in round figures, 60 dollars.
16. Round something off
[] Finish completely.

[] They worked very hard and rounded the project off before the deadline.
17. Go the rounds of somewhere
[] Become known to a place (especially news).
rounds
[] The news soon went the rounds of the campus.
18. Make ones rounds
[] Check various places; visit various places for the purposes of inspection.

rounds
[] The security guard made his rounds of the bank before locking the gate.
19. Get to the bottom of something
[] Get an understanding of the cause of something.

[] There is something wrong here, and I want to get to the bottom of it.
20. Knock the bottom out of something
[] Show an argument or theory to be untrue, worthless.

[] She claimed she had been delayed by the traffic, but I soon knocked the bottom out of
that excuse.
21. Scrape the bottom of the barrel
[] Select from among the worst; choose from what is left over.

12

[]

The person you sent over to help me is not good. Send me another man, and dont
scrape from the bottom of the barrel.

22. Touch bottom

[] Go down; fall very low; to the lowest point.

[] Share prices touched bottom on the Exchange this morning.

23. Blow ones top
[] Become very angry; lose ones temper.

[] He was very rude to her. In the end, she blew her top.
24. Get on top of sb / sth
[] (1) Be successful in dealing with something difficult.

[] We are getting on top of the problem at last.

[] (2) Be too much for someone.

[] The work I am doing at the moment is really getting on top of me, and I must get some
help.
25. Go over the top
[] Do something in an exaggerated or excessive way; overreact.

[] She really went over the top with the dinner she prepared for us. It took her two hours to
prepare!
26. On top of something
[] (1) In addition to; also; as well.

[] He gave me a meal and, on top of that, money for my journey.

[] (2) Dealing satisfactorily with something.

[] I do not think the new students are on top of this matter.

27. On top of the world

[] Feeling wonderful; glorious; overjoyed.

[] She was on top of the world when she got her new job.
28. Over the top
[] Exaggerated; excessive.

13

[]

25
His reaction to the teachers statement was really over the top.

29. Do ones level best

[] Do everything possible.

[] The manager promised to do his level best to ensure that the company would not be
taken over by another one.
30. Keep a level head
[] Be or remain steady or calm; be sensible.
Have a level head.
[] She is not likely to do anything rash; she has a level head.
31. On the level
[] Honest.

[] You should be quite sure that he is on the level before you sign the contract with him.

I.

1. She is on the level.

A. She is efficient.
B. She is in a high poistion.
C. She is honest.
2. You are away from the point.
A. What you said is irrelevant.
B. What you said is not true.
C. What you said is logical.
3. He is on top of the world.
A. He is very powerful.
B. He is very honest.
C. He is very happy.
4. His work is getting on top of him now.
A. He is doing too much work now.
B. He is doing his work very slowly.
C. He has been praised for his work.
5. You should come to the point now.
A. You are being irrelevant.
B. You should stop talking now.

14

C. You are articulate.

6. He always makes a point of remembering his wifes birthday.
A. He always tries to make sure he remembers her birthday.
B. He always apologizes to her on her birthday.
C. He always forgets her birthday.
7. Your argument is not to the point.
A. Your argument is not logical.
B. Your argument is not relevant.
C. Your argument is groundless.
8. They are going round in circles.
A. They are working hard.
B. They are confused.
C. They are making great progress.
9. He blew his top.
A. He was pomoted.
B. He was demoted.
C. He lost his temper.
10. He can knock the bottom out of the theory.
A. He can prove that the theory is not true.
B. He can understand the theory.
C. He can use the theory.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

keep a ________________ head.

scrape the ________________ of the barrel.
on ________________ of the world.
the ________________ of no return.
a ________________ peg in a round hole.
go round in ________________.
touch ________________.
make a ________________ of doing something.
________________ from the point.
go the ________________ of somewhere.
come to the ________________.
when it comes to the ___________.
knock the ________________ out of something.
square ________________ with someone.
do ones ________________ best.

III.

[1] blow ones top.

[
[2] on the level.
[

] check various places.

] excessive.

15

[3] do ones level best.

[4] touch bottom.
[5] make ones rounds.
[6] over the top.
[7] on top of the world.
[8] come to the point.
[9] gain ones point.
[10] on the point of.

[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[

] just about to.

] get angry.
] make others agree.
] honest.
] do ones best.
] feel wonderful.
] fall very low.
] speak directly.

IV.

1 touch __________
2 go ___ ________ __ _________
3
make _____ _________
4 square ___ _____ _________
5
on _____ __ ___ _______
6 come ___ ____ ________
7
away ______ ____ ________
8
blow _____ ______
9
go _______ ___ _____
10
round ____________ _____

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The stock price has ________________ bottom yesterday.

She is on ________________ of her work.
Dont ________________ the bottom of the barrel.
We had a ________________ meal last night.
You should ________________ to the point.
You are ________________ the point.
She always makes a ________________ of cleaning the keyboard.
I felt like a square ________________ in a round hole.
I must get to the ________________ of the matter.
He promised he would do his level ________________.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

That was a square meal.

She is on top of the world.
You must come to the point now.
You are away from the point.
He kept a level head.
He has made a point.

16

7.
8.
9.
10.

Your argument is not to the point.

You are going round in circles.
We should get to the bottom of the matter.
She is on the level.

VII.

1. He spoke to us for two hours, but he failed

2. He loves his daughter very much, and he always
3. The price is 99,89 yuan,
4. His talk to the students was very good, and he
5. Dont beat about the bush; you d better come
6. What she said made him very angry, so he
7. I know the task is difficult, but you should learn and get
8. She is fair and honest, and everyone says she
9. He said I could use his car, but when
10. I was the only one dressed in a suit at the informal party, I felt

Unit 3. Fire and Water Idioms

Get on like a house on fire

Pull chestnuts out of fire

cats paw

Milk and water

(Water under the bridge)
(Water over the dam)

fuel fire water stream ice

1. Add fuel to the fire

[] Make a problem or situation worse; make an angry person even more angry.
Add
fuel to the flames
[] Mary was shouting angrily, but Michael kept laughing and thought that would stop
Mary from being angry. Of course, that was just adding fuel to the fire.
2. Get on like a house on fire
[] Get on very well very quickly.
Like a house on fire

17

[]

I am sure the kids from Australia and the kids from China will get on like a house on
fire.

3. Go through fire and water

[] Go through any hardships or any test.

[] He is loyal; he will go through fire and water to serve the company.

4. Have too many irons in the fire
[] Do too many things at once.

[] At night he tutored in French, during the day he taught Arabic and at weekends he sang
at a karaoke bar. He has too many irons in the fire.
5. No smoke without fire
[] Some evidence of a problem probably indicates that there really is a problem.

Where there is smoke there is fire There is no smoke

without fire
[] People say that the manager is having an affair with his secretary, and there is no smoke
without fire.
6. Out of frying-pan into the fire
[] From a bad situation to a worse situation.

[] I was deeply in debt. Then I really got out of the frying-pan into the fire when I lost my
job.
7. Play with fire
[] Do something very risky or dangerous.

[] If I were you, I would not talk to him that way. Well, unless you like playing with fire.
8. Pull chestnuts out of the fire
[] Get out of a difficulty.
Pull
chestnuts out of the fire for someone.
[] The lazy boy couldnt finish his assignment in time and he asked his friend to pull
chestnuts out of the fire for him.
9. Put the fat in the fire
[] Cause serious trouble.
The fat is in the fire

18

[]

Fat
If you do not treat me nicely, I will report you to the police and put the fat in the fire.

10. Under fire

[] Be attacked; criticized; or blamed.
come
[] The teachers stupid remark came under fire from the angry students.
11. Dull as dishwater
[] Very uninteresting.

[] The professors speech was as dull as dishwater, and all the students were bored to
death.
12. Feel like a fish out of water
[] Feel uncomfortable in a strange place .

[] I did not know most of the guests there, so I felt like a fish out of water.
13. Fish in troubled waters
[] Try to obtain benefit for oneself from a state of confusion.
Fish
[] The company started a rumor about its competitors alleged financial crisis so as to fish
in troubled waters.
14. Get into hot water
[] Get into difficulties, usually by doing something foolish.

[] He did not listen to our advice and soon got into hot water.
15. Hold water
[] Remain correct after being tested; able to be proved.

[] Your argument does not hold water, and I can detect many flaws.
16. In hot water
[] In trouble.
Into hot water.
[] She got into hot water by being late to an important lecture.
17. Keep ones head above water
[] Keep out of trouble, out of debt etc.
Get ones head above water.

19

[]

The allowance he gets from his parents each month helps him to keep his head above
water.

18. Like water off a ducks back

[] Having no effect at all.

[] She has such a high opinion of herself that advice and criticism flows off her like water
off a ducks back.
19. Make someones mouth water
[] Make someone want to eat.

[] The ice-cream in the shop made her mouth water.

20. Milk and water
[] (1) Innocuous talk.

[] After the meeting, my friend said to me that all they had at the meeting was milk and
water and that it was a waste of time.
[] (2) Two completely different things or people cannot be put or work together satisfactorily.

[] The new coach and the swimmer have very different personalities and characters. When
they are together, they are like milk and water.
21. Still waters run deep
[] (1) Deep thinkers are persons of few words.
Smooth waters run deep
[] At meetings he is always quiet. But when he does speak, we all listen carefully, for still
waters run deep.
[] (2) Conspirators are more dangerous.

[] The terrorist organization had secret codes and superficially they were regarded as
responsible citizens. However, the police know of this behavior, for still waters run
deep.
22. Take to something like a duck to water
[] Able to do something well as soon as one tries to do it.

[] It didnt take him a long time to join the local band because he took to music like a duck
to water.
23. Test the water
[] Try to discover what people think about an idea before doing anything about it.
Test the waters.

20

[]

She mentioned her idea to a few people as a way of testing the water and they were very
interested in it.

24. Throw cold water on something

[] Discourage someone from doing something; reduce enthusiasm for something.
Pour cold water on something.
[] When my brother said I could not borrow his car for the day, he poured cold water on
my plans.
25. Throw out the baby with the bath water
[] Get rid of the good parts as well as the bad parts of something when trying to improve it.

[] I do not think we should throw out the baby with the bath water. There are some positive
elements in CET tests in China.
26. Water under the bridge
[] Something unpleasant passed and forgotten.
Water over the dam

[] Please dont worry about it any more. Its all water under the bridge.
27. Go with the stream
[] Do as others do.

[] He listened to the same music and dressed the same way as his friends. He went with the
stream, for he lacked confidence in making his own decisions.
28. A drop in the bucket
[] A negligible or tiny quantity.
A drop in the ocean

[] Ten cents means a lot of money to the beggar on the street, but it is a drop in the ocean
for most people.
29. Break the ice
[] Make people begin to feel at ease.

[] He broke the ice at the party by telling a very amusing joke.

30. Put something on ice
[] Delay or postpone something.
Put something on the back burner

[] We have to put your project on ice for some time, because we do not have the money.

21


I.

1. Your argument does not hold water.

A. Your argument is not logical.
B. Your argument is flawless.
C. Your argument has many flaws.
2. He is adding fuel to the fire.
A. He is very generous.
B. He is in a big hurry.
C. He is causing greater trouble.
3. The fat is in the fire now!
A. You are in real trouble now!
B. You have to lose weight now!
C. You are making great progress!
4. The government are under fire.
A. The government are being criticized.
B. The government need more employees.
C. The government is going bankrupt.
5. She has too many irons in the fire.
A. She has many important friends.
B. She is an important person.
C. She has many things to attend to.
6. She is in hot water now.
A. She lives in a rich suburb.
B. She is being praised to the sky.
C. She is in trouble now.
7. That was water under the bridge.
A. Let bygones be bygones.
B. That happened in the good old days.
C. We spent money like water in the past.
8. His talk was like milk and water.
A. His talk was very boring.
B. His talk was very stimulating.
C. His talk made all the students happy.
9. She threw cold water on my plan.
A. She made me more sensible with my plan.
B. She discouraged my plan.
C. I realized my plan was not feasible.
10. She kept her head above water.
A. She kept herself out of financial trouble.
B. She was in great financial trouble.
C. She remained wise and sensible.

22

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

a drop in the ________________.

test the ________________.
________________ waters run deep.
keep ones head above ________________.
have too many ________________ in the fire.
take ________________ something like a duck to water.
out of ________________ into the fire.
get into hot ________________.
feel like ________________ out of water.
water under the ________________.
________________ something on ice.
get on like a ________________ on fire.
make someones ________________ water.
threw out the ________________ with the bath water.
add ________________ to the fire.

III.

[1] break the ice.

[
] correct.
[2] go with the stream.
[
] past experience.
[3] milk and water.
[
] make people relax.
[4] water under the bridge. [
] do as others do.
[5] hold water.
[
] uninteresting.
[6] in hot water.
[
] being blamed.
[7] test the water.
[
] do something risky.
[8] add fuel to the fire.
[
] in big trouble.
[9] play with fire.
[
] find out the reaction.
[10] under fire.
[
] make a problem worse.

IV.

1
a _______ __ ___ ________
2
go _____ ___ __________
3
add ______ ___ ____ ______
4 get ___ ______ _ _____ _ _____
5 There __ __ ______ ________ ____
6
like _ _____ ____ __ _______
7
fish ___ _________ ________
8 like _______ ___ _ ________ _____
9
break ____ ____
10
throw _____ _______ __ __________

23

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The new students got on ________________ a house on fire.

Still waters run ________________.
She has too ________________ irons in the fire.
You are skating on ________________ ice.
He did not realize he was playing ________________ fire.
That was only a ________________ in the ocean.
Dont try to ________________ in troubled waters.
The Chairman tried to ________________ the ice.
His speech was like ________________ and water.
I was asked to pull ________________ out of the fire for her.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

They got on like a house on fire.

What had happened was water over the dam.
There is no smoke without fire.
You will soon get into hot water.
His article came under heavy fire.
Smooth waters run deep.
She has too many irons in the fire.
He tends to go with the stream.
They went through fire and water together.
I feel like a fish out of water.

VII.

1. We certainly had our disagreements in the past, but thats

2. Everyone in the office gives me work to do. I am
3. We were told that his lecture would be stimulating, but the lecture turned out
4. We have tried to stop him, but it was no use. Our advice was
5. The situation in the country is in a big mess. So he is
6. He survived without borrowing money from anyone. He managed
7. It was not easy to found a company in those days. He
8. She got a divorce last year and married an even more vicious husband last month. She
9. I can not write this essay. Can you do it for me? If you
10. Everybody is trying to buy a bigger flat. Do you think he

24

Unit 4. Flower, Grass and Tree Idioms

grass, hay

straw Straw
(grapevine)(rose)
(olive branch)(laurel)
(palm)
(root)
male sexual organ.

bud rose bunch flower lily thorn grass hay

straw nettle root grapevine olive branch laurel
palm tree
bush

1. Nip something in the bud

[] Put an end to something before it gets properly started.

[] The commander knew that the mercenary soldiers were planning a mutiny, so he nipped
it in the bud.
2. Under the rose
[] Privately.

[] I can only say this among friends and under the rose.
3. A bed of roses
[] A very pleasant state.

[] Life is not always a bed of roses. You will face difficulties at certain times.
4. Not all roses
[] Not easy, not comfortable.

[] For car learners, driving forward is easy, but reversing is not all roses.
5. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
[] Seek pleasure; lead a pleasure-loving life while one has the opportunity.

ye the () ye you

[] Life is short; gather your rosebuds while you may.

6. See something with rose-colored glasses
[] Look at things in a happy and hopeful way; optimistic.

25

[]

See Look at Glasses

Spectacles.

His life so far has been easy and happy, so he often sees things with rose-colored
spectacles.

7. The best of the bunch

[] The best of all.
The pick of the bunch .
[] My students are all good; it is very difficult to say who is the pick of the bunch.
8. The flower of something
[] The best part of something.

[] During the Second World War, the country lost the flower of its youth.
9. Gild the lily
[] Add something superfluous.
Gild the pill

Paint the lily,

[] She gilded the lily by putting on too much make-up for the interview.
10. A thorn in the flesh
[] A source of irritation, nuisance.

[] His wifes continual nagging was a thorn in his flesh, and he wanted a divorce.
11. Allow grass to grow under ones feet
[] Do nothing; stand still.
Let the grass grow under ones feet.

[] She is always busy. She does not allow grass to grow under her feet.

12. Make hay of something

[] Disturb, upset, confuse, make a mess of something.

[] The heavy rain made hay of their honeymoon; they were forced to return home sooner
than had expected.
13. Hit the hay
[] Go to bed and get some sleep.

26

[]

In those days he used to hit the hay after midnight.

14. Look for a needle in a haystack

[] Look for something which is very difficult to find.

[] Finding a good restaurant open at this time of the day in the city is like looking for a
needle in a haystack.
15. A straw in the wind
[] A small sign of what may happen.

[] The fall in the stock market is a straw in the wind to a countrys economy.
16. Clutch at straws
[] Try desperately to get any help.
Grasp at straws.

straw
[] The students English was not good; he will do anything and clutch at any straw to pass
the exam.
17. The last straw
[] Something unpleasant which, by being added, makes a situation unbearable.

The last straw may break the camels back

[] I lost all my money. Having my car stolen as well was the last straw.
18. Grasp the nettle
[] Tackle a problem directly; face a difficulty directly.

[] Talking about it day after day wouldnt solve the problem; what we should do is to grasp
the nettle and get started.
19. Get to the root of the matter
[] Understand or discover the essential part of it.
Go to the root of the matter.
[] The President is not satisfied with your report, and he wants to get to the root of the
matter.
20. Root and branch
[] Completely.

[] The manager believed root and branch that the company would make record profits the
following year.

27

21. Take root

[] Become established, fixed, settled.

[] I am sure this custom will take root among overseas students.

22. Hear something on the grapevine
[] Hear news from someone who heard the news from someone else.
Hear something through the grapevine. that

[] I heard on the grapevine that she was pregnant, but I am not sure if it is true.
23. Hold out the olive branch
[] Show that one is ready to make peace.
Hold out an olive-branch.
[] Even after seventeen years of hostility, neither party is willing to hold out the
olive-branch.
24. Look to ones laurels
[] Be careful not to lose ones honor or become less famous because of the success of
somebody else.

[] Your daughters English is getting very fluent now, you will have to look to your laurels.
25. Rest on ones laurels
[] Be satisfied with what one has done already and not try for further improvement.

[] Once he got his Ph.D. degree he did no further research and just rested on his laurels.
26. Win ones laurels
[] Win honor or become famous.

[] She won her laurels at the National Speech Contest when she was only sixteen years old.
27. Carry off the palm

[] Win a prize; win victory.

Win the palm Bear the palm

[] The palm was carried off by a girl of 12 whose paper contained no mistakes at all.
28. Bark up the wrong tree
[] Make the wrong choice; follow the wrong course.

[] If you accused me of stealing your book, you are barking up the wrong tree.

28

29. Get to the top of the tree

[] Reach the top of ones profession.
At the top of the tree.
[] The teacher thinks he can reach the top of the tree once he becomes a supervisor for post
graduate students.
30. Lead someone up a tree
[] Diverting the issue and leaving a person in a difficult position or situation.

[] The journalists precarious questions led the politician up a tree.

31. Beat about the bush
[] Waste time by talking about something other than the most important point.

[] I hate people who beat about the bush at important meetings.

I.

1. Dont beat about the bush!

A. You should come to the point now!
B. Dont talk behind my back!
C. Dont destroy the environment!
2. They held out the olive branch.
A. They wanted to make peace.
B. They won the game.
C. They planted a nice tree.
3. They discussed it under the rose.
A. They discussed it openly.
B. They had a private discussion.
C. They had an argument.
4. He allows grass to grow under his feet.
A. He is lazy.
B. He is kind-hearted.
C. He is intelligent.
5. Dont gild the lily!
A. Dont try to improve something that is already perfect!
B. Dont count your chickens before they are hatched!
C. Dont look a gift horse in the mouth.
6. We should grasp the nettle.
A. We should avoid the issue.
B. We should make further inquiries.
C. We should tackle the problem directly.

29

7. This is a straw in the wind.

A. This is the best we can get.
B. This is an indication.
C. This will cause a big problem.
8. I think it is time to hit the hay.
A. I think it is time to work.
B. I think it is time to go to bed.
C. I think it is time to eat.
9. This custom will take root.
A. This custom will cease to exist.
B. This custom will become established.
C. This custom will be criticized.
10. He is a thorn in the flesh.
A. He is a nuisance.
B. He is a gardener.
C. He is a good surgeon.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

clutch at a ________________.
________________ and branch.
let grass grow under ones ________________.
gild the ________________.
look for a ________________ in a haystack.
________________ the nettle.
get to the ________________ of the matter.
hear something on the ________________.
gather ye rosebuds ________________ ye may.
________________ out the olive-branch.
________________ to ones laurels.
beat about the ________________.
________________ up the wrong tree.
lead someone up a ________________.
________________ on ones laurels.

III.

[1] rest on ones laurels.

[
] completely.
[2] carry off the palm.
[
] the best of something.
[3] under the rose.
[
] go to bed.
[4] make hay of.
[
] become established.
[5] a straw in the wind.
[
] win the prize.
[6] root and branch.
[
] ruin, destroy.
[7] take root.
[
] an indication.

30

[8] clutch at straws.

[9] the pick of the bunch.
[10] hit the hay.

[
[
[

] look for help desperately.

] stop making progress.
] privately.

IV.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

a thorn __ ____ ________

see _________ ____ ___________ _______

gild ____ ______

look ___ __ _______ __ _ _________

hear __________ __ ____ ____________

gather ___ __________ ______ ___ _____

hold _____ ___ ______ ________

carry ____ ____ _______

lead ___________ ___ _ ______

beat ________ ____ ______

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Life is not a ________________ of roses.

They had a conversation under the ________________.
She is a ________________ in the flesh.
The weather made ________________ of the football match.
He is grasping at ________________.
He believes it root and ________________.
Stop beating __________________ the bush.
You should look to your ________________.
Do you think he can ________________ his laurels?
He was led up a ________________.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He rested on his laurels.

They refuse to hold out an olive branch.
Who carried off the palm?
He is at the top of the tree.
You need to look to your laurels.
She is barking up the wrong tree.
He refused to grasp the nettle.
It is hard to decide who is the pick of the bunch.
You should not let grass grow under your feet.
I should get to the root of the matter.

31

VII.

1. I believe this custom will eventually

2. This is a personal matter and I can only
3. Finding your stolen bike in the street is like
4. The General heard about the mutiny, so he
5. His English is almost as good as yours, youd better
6. You should enjoy yourself as much as you can. As the old saying goes,
7. He can not see the dark side of the situation. He is optimistic and
8. Both sides are tired of the war now. I think they will
9. You should be careful when you talk to the journalists. They
10. After he got the promotion, he stopped making progress and

Unit 5. Fruit, Vegetable and Grain Idioms

(Adams apple)

One apple a day, keeps the doctor away

nut,
Are you off your nut??What!? You want to sell your house and buy a luxury
car? You must be nuts!
I cant
play snooker for nuts.

apple banana chestnut core fig fruit plum

gooseberry grapes nut nutshell pip bean cucumber
peas grain oats potato seed sesame
1. In apple-pie order
[] In good order.

[] Their dormitory is in apple-pie order even though there are eight students living in it.
2. The apple of someones eye
[] Someone or something loved very much.

[] She has three children but the eldest is the apple of her eye.
3. Upset the apple-cart
[] Cause disorder and confusion; cause problems or trouble.

32

[]

The discussion was going smoothly, but suddenly the manager left the room. This action
really upset the apple-cart and the meeting ended.

4. Go bananas
[] Go crazy or become silly.

[] (1) Whenever I see Mary, I just go bananas! She is wonderful.

(2) It was a terrible day! She almost went bananas.
5. An old chestnut
[] An old joke which is no longer amusing.

[] The so-called expert made a very boring speech, adding a few old chestnuts at the end.
6. Get to the core of something
[] Make a thorough investigation; understand it completely.

[] At the moment we dont know who is responsible for the damage, but we must get to
the core of the matter in the next two days.
7. To the core
[] In every way, completely.

[] She is Japanese to the core even though she has lived in China for 20 years.
8. Not care a fig
[] Not care at all; consider something unimportant or valueless.
Not care a straw

[] I dont care a fig for all your stupid excuses; I want you to pay me now.
9. Bear fruit
[] Yield results.

[] He has had many good ideas, but none of them has borne fruit.
10. A plum job
[] A well-paid job.

[] Eventually he has got a plum job with a joint venture company free accommodation,
free car, traveling allowances, and the lot.

33

11. Play gooseberry

[] Be the third person present when two lovers wish to be by themselves.

[] Its time I went home; I dont want to play gooseberry.

12. Sour grapes
[] Bitterness at failure, used when someone fails to get something and then pretends he/she
does not want or like it.

[] Her saying that she did not want to go to America is just sour grapes.
13. A hard nut to crack
[] A difficult problem to solve.
walnut and
hazelnut
[] The shortage of financial resources is always a hard nut to crack for any administration.
14. Not be able to do something for nuts
[] Be unable to do it well; not able to do it at all.

(peanut and almond)

[] She thinks she has a very good voice, but in fact she cannot sing for nuts.
15. In a nutshell
[] As briefly as possible; in a few words.

[] Its a long story, but let me put it in a nutshell.

16. Lie in a nutshell
[] Easy to understand; simple and clear.

[] The whole matter lay in a nutshell.

17. Give someone the pip
[] Make someone angry or depressed, annoy someone.
Pip

[] She gives me the pip when she starts talking about money.
18. Have the pip
[] Be annoyed, angry or depressed.
Get the pip

[] Whenever she thinks about the salary she earns, she gets the pip.

34

19. Pip someone at the post

[] Defeat someone in a race or competition by a very small margin at the last moment.

[] We thought he would win the race, but unfortunately he was pipped at the post.
20. Not have a bean
[] Have no money.

[] I lent her some money because she did not have a bean on her to buy her lunch.
21. Full of beans
[] Lively, active.
Full of life ()Beans

[] She seemed very sick when I came in, but she was full of beans when I was away.
22. Spill the beans
[] Give away a secret.

[] My wifes present to me was supposed to be a secret, but my little daughter spilled the
beans. I knew she was giving me a pair of shoes.
23. As cool as a cucumber
[] Very calm and relaxed in a difficult situation; not at all worried or excited.

30-40
Cool Cool

[] (1)The pop star is adored by many youngsters and they say he is cool, as cool as a
cucumber.
(2)I thought she would be very nervous before the job interview, but she was as cool as
a cucumber.
24. As like as two peas
[] Very similar in appearance.

[] The two sisters are not twins, but they are as like as two peas.
25. Separate the grain from the chaff

[] Separate what is of value from what is useless.

[] Could you come over and have a look at the product and separate the grain from the
chaff?

35

26. Off ones oats

[] Not eating much; having lost ones appetite because of not feeling well.

[] He has been off his oats since he has been in the hospital.
27. Sow ones wild oats
[] Lead a happy and careless life when one is young (but improving in conduct when one
is older).

[] He is sowing his wild oats now but I believe he will settle down once he finds a proper
job.
28. A hot potato
[] Something that is difficult or dangerous to deal with.

[] Human rights issue is a political hot potato in the world.

29. Go to seed
[] Become careless about ones appearance.
Run to seed.
[] She used to wear make-up whenever she went out, but since she got married she has
gone to seed. And now she looks very plain.
30. Open sesame
[] (1) Something one may use to solve a problem.

[] The invention of the transistor was the open sesame to the development of the computer.
[] (2) Magical or mysterious means of commanding access to what is usually inaccessible.

[] He thought money was his open sesame and he could do anything and influence
anybody with money.

I.

1. I dont care a fig.

A. I dont care at all.
B. I am really concerned.
C. I am allergic to plants.
2. Dont upset the apple-cart!
A. Dont cause confusion and disorder!
B. Dont keep the apples!
C. Dont throw the apples away!

36

2. He went bananas.
A. He was very happy.
B. He was very sad.
C. He became crazy and silly.
4. He is Australian to the core.
A. He has kept his Australian lifestyle in every way.
B. He has lost his Australian passport.
C. He has to get a new Australian passport.
5. Everything was in apple-pie order.
A. Everything was a mess.
B. Everything was in good order.
C. Everything was expensive.
6. He has got a plum job.
A. He has lost his job.
B. He has got a new job.
C. His job is well paid.
7. The children are full of beans.
A. The children are quiet.
B. The children are scared.
C. The children are active.
8. She went bananas when she saw him.
A. She criticized him.
B. She loved him very much.
C. She was sick of him.
9. It was my wife who spilled the beans.
A. It was my wife who cooked the vegetarian dish.
B. It was my wife who let the cat out of the bag.
C. It was my wife who made a mess of the kitchen.
10. We must get to the core of the matter.
A. We must make a thorough investigation.
B. We must keep the secret.
C. We must improve the situation.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

sow ones ________________ oats.

lie in a ________________.
give someone the ________________.
________________ the beans.
as like as two ________________.
in apple-pie ________________.
not care a ________________.
pip someone at the ________________.
________________ of beans.

37

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

not have a ________________.

________________ sesame.
the ________________ of someones eye.
get to the ________________ of something.
________________ grapes.
as cool as a ________________.

III.

[1] a plum job.

[
] have no money.
[2] spill the beans.
[
] have no appetite.
[3] off ones oats.
[
] careless about appearance.
[4] go to seed.
[
] give away a secret.
[5] full of beans.
[
] well paid job.
[6] not have a bean.
[
] yield results.
[7] bear fruit.
[
] briefly.
[8] in a nutshell.
[
] annoy someone.
[9] give someone the pip.
[
] in every way.
[10] to the core.
[
] lively and active.

IV.

1
a _____ ___ __ _______
2
play ______________
3
full ___ ________
4
spill ___ ________
5
put ___ __ ____ _______
6
lie __ __ __________
7 go ___ _______
8
not _______ _ ______
9
off ____ _____
10

get __ ___ ______

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The two bicycles are as ________________ as two peas.

This is a ________________ nut to crack.
She is the ________________ of her fathers eye.
You shouldnt ________________ gooseberry here.
The matter _________________ in a nutshell.
She is ________________ her oats.
He is ________________ his wild oats.
I dont really care a ________________.
He ________________ the apple-cart on purpose.
This issue is a ________________ potato.

38

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

She is Chinese to the core.

It is a hard nut to crack.
I do not have a bean with me.
The children are full of beans.
The room is in apple-pie order.
I will put it in a nutshell.
She upset the apple cart.
She has spilled the beans.
That is an old chestnut.
He doesnt care a straw.

VII.

1. He worked very hard in the house, now everything is

2. He loves his daughter very much. The daughter is
3. He did not buy anything, because he
4. He thought he would win the race, but he lost. He was
5. Its a long story, but I will
6. Everybody wants to avoid this problem. It is
7. He has tried very hard to make his project work, but so far
8. We will carry out further investigations. We
9. Now she has started to nag again. It
10. You can do whatever you like with the bike; I

Unit 6. Food and Milk Idioms

breadcake
pie

Hot cake
Money
for jam
Butter someone up
Get on with your work. Stop
beefing about the salary!

hard or soft

bread butter cake pie bacon

egg milk honey soup jam

39

1. All bread is not baked in one oven

[] Everybody is different; people are different from one another.

[] You expect your son to achieve the same as you? Thats impossible. All bread is not
baked in one oven.
2. Ask for bread and receive a stone
[] Not satisfied; meet a rebuff.

[] Full of hope he went to the managers office to ask for a payrise, which was bluntly
refused. He asked for a bread and received a stone.
3. Bread and butter
[] A persons livelihood or income.

[] Teaching is a hard work, but it is my bread and butter.

4. Bread and circuses

[] Activities that are intended to keep people happy so that they do not complain about
existing problems.

[] Longer holidays are just bread and circuses designed to make people busy and happy.
5. Half a loaf is better than no bread
[] Dont reject what you have got.

[] You have been given this old flat. A lot of other people have no flat at all. You should be
satisfied. Half a loaf is better than no bread.
6. Know which side ones bread is buttered
[] Know what will be the most advantage to oneself.

[] She will not divorce him as long as he has money in the bank; she knows which side her
bread is buttered.
7. Live on the breadline
[] Be very poor.
Live below the breadline
a
breadline
[] At the moment, there are many people from this province living below the breadline.
8. Ones daily bread
[] Ones means of living; money to live.

40

[]

He takes photos but his daily bread comes from writing books.

9. Take the bread out of someones mouth

[] Take away his/her means of earning a living.

[] The company opened a McDonalds restaurant near his caf and took the bread out of
his mouth.
10. Take the gilt off the gingerbread
[] Take away the pleasantness of something.

[] My Australian friend gave me a very nice cup, but it took the gilt off the gingerbread
when my wife chipped it.
11. The greatest thing since sliced bread
[] Something or someone that is considered extremely good, often better than they really
are.
The
best thing since sliced bread.
[] People think mobile phones are the best thing since sliced bread, but to me they are just
another kind of expensive gadgets.
12. A piece of cake
[] Something very easy.

[] She is not worried about the exam at all; in fact she thinks its a piece of cake.
13. Have ones cake and eat it
[] Have two nice things at the same time.

[] You can either buy a computer or have a holiday in Australia with the money, you cant
have your cake and eat it.
14. Sell like hot cakes
[] Be sold very easily, fast.
Go like hot cakes
[] The desks are well made and the price is just right; they are being sold like hot cakes.
15. The icing on the cake
[] Something that makes a good situation even better.
The frosting on the cake

[] The old man was happy to see that his daughter was having a stable relationship with

41

her partner. The news of a grandchild is really the icing on the cake.
16. Nutty as a fruit-cake
[] Silly; crazy.

[] Whenever he comes home from work, he is as nutty as a fruit-cake.

17. As easy as pie
[] Very easy.
As easy as falling off a log
[] My daughter thinks that passing the exam is as easy as pie.
18. Eat humble pie
[] Be forced to admit that one is wrong and to say one is sorry.
Umble numbles Humble
umble numbles Eat crow

[] The advertisers had to eat humble pie and apologize for misleading viewers.
19. Have a finger in every pie
[] Involved in and have influence over many different activities, often in a way that other
people do not approve of.
Have a finger
in making every pie

[] Professor Smith is sure to be able to solve your problems; he has a finger in every pie.
20. Have ones finger in the pie
[] Involved in a particular activity.

[] Whenever he has his finger in the pie, things will go wrong.

21. Pie in the sky
[] A supposed future reward which one is not likely to get.

[] The company has promised her a large reward, but she thinks its just pie in the sky.
22. Bring home the bacon
[] Earn money to live on; do something successfully especially to win a race or game.

[] If you want to stay home looking after the kids, then I will have to bring home the
bacon.

42

23. Have egg on ones face

[] Seem stupid because of something one has done.

[] You will have egg on your face if you spread the gossip about your boss.
24. As sure as eggs is eggs
[] Certainly, without any doubt.

[] If you give up this job, you will not find another, as sure as eggs is eggs.
25. Put all ones eggs in one basket
[] Put all ones money, spend all ones time etc. on only one thing; risk everything.

[] You should choose a variety of subjects and skills; its wise not to put all your eggs in
one basket.
26. Teach someones grandmother to suck eggs
[] Give advice to someone who is more experienced than oneself.

Teach fish to swim.

Teach the dog to bark.
[] I was playing the piano before you were born, so dont teach your grandmother to suck
eggs.
27. The land flowing with milk and honey
[] A place where living conditions are excellent and it is easy to make money.
The land of milk and
honey.
[] People in developing countries still look on America as the land flowing with milk and
honey.
28. Milk of human kindness
[] Natural kindness and sympathy shown to others.

[] She is very hard and selfish, and she has no milk of human kindness at all.
29. Milk the bull
[] Try to achieve something that is absolutely impossible.
Milk
[] The company has been trying to invent a cheap digital camera in order to capture the
market and make a fortune. But the chief science researcher says the company is
milking the bull.
30. Milk the market

43

[]
[]

Make big profits by influencing the price of shares on the stock market.

The Shanghai magnate bought most of the shares in Telecom China. The price of the
shares has risen and he is trying to milk the market.

31. From soup to nuts

[] From the beginning to the end.

[] The teacher told us everything about his experience, from soup to nuts.
32. In the soup
[] In trouble.

[] He has been trying to avoid paying his income tax, now he is in the soup.

I.

1. They took the bread out of my mouth.

A. They begged me to help them.
B. They destroyed my business.
C. They wanted me to lose weight.
2. The book sold like hot cakes.
A. The book sold well.
B. Not many people were interested in the book.
C. The book was too expensive.
3. Dont put all your eggs in one basket.
A. Dont expect to make a big profit.
B. Dont risk everything.
C. Dont insult your partner.
4. You are milking the bull!
A. Your business will be successful.
B. You might make a lot of money.
C. You will achieve nothing.
5. He is as sure as eggs is eggs.
A. He is quite certain.
B. He is not quite sure.
C. He is not convinced.
6. Its a piece of cake.
A. Its something very easy.
B. Its very cheap.
C. Its useless.

44

7. I think she has a finger in the pie.

A. I think she is involved.
B. I dont think she is involved.
C. I think she is satisfied.
8. You cant have your cake and eat it.
A. You cant get what you want.
B. You cant make everyone happy.
C. You cant have two nice things at the same time.
9. He told us the story from soup to nuts.
A. He told us the story from the beginning to the end.
B. His story was not interesting at all.
C. His story was really very interesting.
10. These activities are only bread and circuses.
A. These activities are only meant to make people happy.
B. These activities are not really necessary.
C. These activities do not mean to stop peoples complaints.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

the icing of the ________________.

eat ________________ pie.
the land of ________________ and honey.
from ________________ to nuts.
as easy as ________________.
half a ________________ is better than no bread.
know which side ones ___________ is buttered.
take the bread out of someones ________________.
put all ones ________________ in one basket.
________________ the bull.
have a ________________ in the pie.
have ones ________________ and eat it.
sell like ________________ cakes.
take the ________________ off the gingerbread.
All bread is not ________________ in one oven.

III.

[1] in the soup.

[
[2] bread and butter.
[
[3] milk the bull.
[
[4] the land of milk and honey.
[
[5] earn ones bread.
[
[6] sell like hot cakes.
[
[7] milk the market.
[

] make big profits.

] achieve nothing.
] a rich place.
] in great demand.
] from beginning to end.
] in trouble.
] mad.

45

[8] as nutty as a fruitcake.

[9] a piece of cake.
[10]from soup to nuts.

[
[
[

] something easy.
] a persons income.
] earn ones living.

IV.

1 pie ___ ____ ______

2
a land ___ _____ ___ _______
3
from ______ ___ ______
4
bring _______ ____ _______
5
put ____ ____ ____ __ ___ ________
6
All ________ __ ___ ______ __ ___ ____
7
Half __ ____ __ ______ _____ __ _______
8
take ___ _______ ___ __ ___________ _____
9 eat ___________ ____
10
teach ___________ ___________ __ ____ ____

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

This kind of car is selling like hot ________________.

He is as ________________ as a fruitcake.
This is the ________________ on the cake.
She has a finger in every ________________.
He asked for bread and received a ________________.
He thinks Shenzhen is the land of milk and _________________.
You will be in the ________________ if you do not listen to me.
Dont put all your eggs in one ________________.
You cant have your cake and ________________ it.
If I dont work, who is going to bring home the ________________?

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Dont beef about the weather all the time!

Its a piece of cake.
You are taking the bread out of his mouth.
She was forced to eat her humble pie.
Dont teach your grandmother to suck eggs!
You are milking the bull.
He went on from soup to nuts.
All bread is not baked in one oven.
Half a loaf is better than no bread.
She knows which side her bread is buttered.

46

VII.

1. They all want to go to America. They think

2. He is risking everything. Tell him
3. What does he do to
4. You can go to either Italy or France. You
5. Dont reject what you have been offered,
6. This job is very easy, its
7. There is a big demand for French wine, and I am sure the product will
8. He is really mad. I have never seen such a person who
9. The man is involved in many different things. Indeed he
10. It is useless to try that. You are only

Unit 7. Kitchen Idioms

oil

(The salt of the earth)

fat oil pepper mustard salt

tea spice taste spoon kettle wine plate pot
1. Chew the fat
[] Talk; chat; gossip.
Chew the rag.
[] She was always chewing the fat with the other shop assistant, and for this, she was
severely criticized by the manager.
2. Burn the midnight oil
[] Study or work till it is very late.

[] He had to burn the midnight oil so as to complete the audit of the companys accounts
before the end of the financial year.
3. Oil someones palm
[] Give money or presents to someone as a bribe.
Grease someones palm. Oil Grease

47

[]

Before the formal negotiation, he reported it to the Disciplinary Committee that a man
from the other company was trying to oil our managers palm.

4. Oil the wheels

[] Do something to make things go more smoothly.
Oil
[] The director oiled the wheels by giving every one a bonus at the end of the year.
5. Pour oil on the flames
[] Aggravate a delicate situation and make it worse.

[] Her father was poor and seriously ill in hospital. The daughter came into the ward and
complained that her monthly allowance was inadequate. She was pouring oil on the
flames.
6. Pour oil on troubled waters
[] Calm a disturbance with soothing words; try to make peace, settle a quarrel.

[] The young couple are quarrelling again, you should go over and pour oil on troubled
waters.
7. Pepper someone with something
[] Put questions to him/her rapidly.
Pepper
[] The first speaker was peppered with questions, but the second was such a boring
speaker that she was peppered with tomatoes and eggs.
8. As keen as mustard
[] Very eager, full of enthusiasm.

[] The tutor does not know much about computers but he is as keen as mustard to learn as
much as he can about this new technology.
9. Cut the mustard
[] Suitable in every way.

[] We looked around and found a proposal that exactly cut the mustard.
10. Worth ones salt
[] Worth what one is paid.

salary
salarium

48

[] I know his salary is high, but he is worth his salt.

11. Rub salt into the wound
[] Deliberately make someones unhappiness, shame or misfortune worse.
Rub salt into someones wounds.
[] Dont rub salt in the wound by telling him how enjoyable and pleasant your trip was.
12. Salt away some money
[] Save money, keep money for the future.
Salt
[] I am worried about my future, and I have been trying to salt away a few hundred yuan
each month.
13. Take something with a pinch of salt
[] Not believe completely.
Take something with a grain of salt.
pinch grain
[] Well, you know him, he tends to exaggerate everything; you must take what he says
with a pinch of salt.
14. Not ones cup of tea
[] Something which one does not like.

[] Last night they invited me to a dancing party, but dancing is not my cup of tea.
15. Put new wine in old bottles
[] Impose new practices, principles on people who are too old to stand the strain.

[] His future mother-in-law insisted that he pay her 30,000 yuan as a dowry. He couldnt
give her the money and buy a flat at the same time. How can you put new wine in an old
bottle?
16. The spice of life
[] Something pleasant or exciting.

[] Young people like to change their jobs frequently; they think variety is the spice of life.
17. Give someone a taste of their own medicine
[] Do the same bad thing to someone that they have often done to you, in order to show
how bad it was.

Give someone a dose of his or her own medicine.

[] She is always sarcastic at meetings so I thought I would give her a taste of her own
medicine and see how she likes it.

49

18. Have a bad taste in ones mouth

[] Cause a feeling of disgust or regret.
Have a nasty taste in ones mouth

[] I know that you are entitled to criticize my daughter, but nevertheless your way of
handling my child has left a nasty taste in my mouth.
19. To ones taste
[] Something which one likes or feels satisfied.

[] The lunch you cooked yesterday was very delicious; it was really to my taste.
20. Wine and dine somebody
[] Entertain someone by giving them an expensive meal and wine.
Wine dine
[] She was very happy when she was told that she would be wined and dined by the pop
star in his city.
21. Dish the dirt
[] Say scandalous things about someone.
Dish out the dirt.
[] The journalist offered 20 thousand dollars to the lady for dishing the dirt on her former
boy friend.
22. Half baked
[] Not carefully thought about; not planned carefully.

[] I am afraid that your idea is only half-baked, and I do not think it is practical.
23. Bite off more than one can chew
[] Take on more than one can deal with; over-confident.

[] Mary is very tired these days. She is always biting off more than she can chew.
24. Have too much on ones plate
[] Have too much work to do or a lot of problems to deal with.
Have ones plate full; have a lot on
ones plate; have enough on ones plate. Have Get
[] He cant take on any more work. He has already got too much on his plate.
25. Go to pot
[] Get much worse.
Pot
[] Her standard of writing has been going to pot recently.

50

26. Keep the pot boiling

[] Earn enough to be able to buy food or to live.

[] The salary for teachers is very low so they have to do some extra work outside the
university to keep the pot boiling.
27. The pot calling the kettle black
[] The person who accuses is as bad as the person he/she is accusing.

[] The dentist complained that the lawyers fees were too high; it is clearly a case of the
pot calling the kettle black.
28. Take pot luck
[] Accept what is available without knowing much about it; eat whatever food is available.

[] Nobody knows what will be provided at their parents place, so well have to take
potluck.
29. Born with a silver spoon in ones mouth
[] Born with many advantages; born to a wealthy family.
Grow up with a silver spoon in the mouth.

[] We all know that she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
30. Food for thought
[] Something to think about.

[] His lecture was very interesting, and it provided much food for thought.

I.

1. Dont rub salt into the wound.

A. You are making the matter worse.
B. You are not treating him properly.
C. You should not help him.
2. It is not to my taste.
A. I do not really like it.
B. I am starving.
C. I am not hungry.
3. He finds it hard to keep the pot boiling.
A. He finds it hard to make ends meet.

51

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

B. He finds cooking a hard job.

C. He finds it hard to save more money.
His plan is half-baked.
A. His plan is realistic.
B. His plan is not carefully thought about.
C. His plan is being carried out.
You have got enough on your plate now.
A. You have earned enough money now.
B. You have got too much money now.
C. You have got enough work to do now.
He salts away 200 yuan each month.
A. He puts away 200 yuan each month.
B. He spends 200 yuan each month.
C. He wastes 200 yuan each month.
It is not my cup of tea.
A. It is not to my liking.
B. I have other fish to fry.
C. I am in the soup now.
You should take it with a pinch of salt.
A. You should not believe it completely.
B. You should take a strong line.
C. You should keep the secret.
We should not pour oil on the flames.
A. We should calm the disturbance.
B. We should not make matters worse.
C. We try our best and work harder.
She is burning the midnight oil these days.
A. She is working till very late at night.
B. She is wasting a lot of time at night.
C. She is not careful with her money.

pour oil on troubled ________________.

________________ for thought.
oil someones _________________.
________________ the pot boiling.
chew the ________________.
bite ________________ more than one can chew.
________________ salt into the wound.
put new ________________ in old bottles.
the ________________ calling the kettle black.
have too much on ones ________________.
have a bad ________________ in ones mouth.

52

12.
13.
14.
15.

born with a ________________ spoon in the mouth.

take something with a ________________ of salt.
________________ oil on the flames.
________________ the wheels.

III.

[1] the spice of life.

[
] save money.
[2] half baked.
[
] to ones liking.
[3] go to pot.
[
] suitable in every way.
[4] cut the mustard.
[
] make money to survive.
[5] salt away.
[
] not well planned.
[6] to ones taste.
[
] things to think about.
[7] keep the pot boiling.
[
] excitement in life.
[8] pour oil on the flames.
[
] gossip.
[9] food for thought.
[
] get much worse.
[10] chew the fat.
[
] make it worse.

IV.

1
pour _____ __ ___ _______
2
chew ____ _____
3
pour ____ __ _________ ________
4
burn ___ ____________ ____
5
rub ______ ___ ___ __________
6 wine ____ ______ ____________
7 the pot __________ ___ ________ _______
8 put ____ _______ ___ ____ _________
9
not _____ _____ ___ ______
10
oil _______________ _______

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

She has a habit of chewing the ________________ with her friends.

This is really food for ________________.
He is trying to oil the managers ________________.
You should not ________________ the midnight oil too often.
She is as ________________ as mustard.
I think he is worth his ________________.
That is not my ________________ of tea.
His ideas are ________________ baked.
The students ________________ the speaker with all sorts of questions.
The students performance is going to ________________.

53

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

She used to burn the midnight oil.

They are trying to pour oil on troubled waters.
We must oil the wheels every now and then.
We should not pour oil on the flames.
She is as keen as mustard.
We were wined and dined last night.
Dont bite off more than you can chew.
He is having too much on his plate.
Well have to take pot luck.
She is more likely to dish the dirt.

VII.

1. She is a good cook, and the supper she prepared

2. She is eager to learn English and I think she
3. If you want to have the project finished in time, you should
4. Not all that she said is true, you must
5. I have been worried about my old age, so I
6. You should work hard to
7. Young people tend to change jobs frequently, they think
8. She is nasty to me very often, so I will
9. The students are arguing, youd better
10. I dont like snooker, it is not

Unit 8. Clothing Idioms (I)

I
cap

hat Hat

cap hat

buttonhole
dress up, dress down Cut your coat according
to your cloth

apron belt bib and tucker boot buttonhole

cap coat cuff dress gauntlet glove

1. Tied to someones apron-string

[] Under someones control.

54

[]

Tied to ones mothers apron-strings.

When she was a child she was tied to her mothers apron-string, and now she is married
and is still tied to her mothers apron-string.

2. Tighten ones belt

[] Spend less money, economize; go hungry.
Pull in ones belt.
[] Your father has lost his job. This means we will be short of money and we will all have
to tighten our belts.
3. Best bib and tucker
[] Best clothes.
bib and tucker

[] You should put on your best bib and tucker when you are invited to attend the reception
at the Embassy.
4. Get the boot
[] Be dismissed from a job; be sacked; be fired.

[] They all got the boot in 1997 when the company was taken over by a joint venture
company.
5. Give someone the boot
[] Dismiss him/her from a job.

[] The boss gave her the boot when she was found meeting her boy friend in the office.
6. The boot is on the other foot
[] The fault lies with the other person; the opposite is the truth.
The boot is on the wrong foot
The boot is on the wrong leg

[] He says it was his sister who broke the cup, but I think the boot is on the other foot.
7. To boot
[] As well, in addition.

[] She is a singer, a professional dancer and a fashion designer to boot.

8. Die in ones boots
[] Die while still active or working, not die in bed.
Die in ones shoes. Die in harness

[] He worked very hard all his life. After he retired he continued to work part time and
died in his boots.

55

9. Too big for ones boots

[] Haughty for ones status or age.
Too big for ones shoes

[] John is getting too big for his boots. He thinks he is better than anyone else.
10. Pull oneself up by ones bootstraps
[] Achieve something through ones own efforts.

[] Mr. Murphy pulled himself up by his bootstraps to become a successful and well-known
lawyer.
11. Buttonhole someone
[] Go up to someone and speak to him / her persistently.

[] A strange man buttonholed him at the market and forced him to buy more calendars.
12. Cap in hand
[] Showing respect to someone; humbly.

[] He came to see me in the office, cap in hand; and he asked me if I could help him find a
job.
13. A feather in ones cap
[] An achievement; an honor.

[] He was recognized as the best student of the year, and this award was a feather in his
cap.
14. Put on ones thinking-cap
[] Start thinking in a serious manner.
thinking-caps
[] She had to put on her thinking-cap to choose a name for the cat I bought for her.
15. Cut ones coat according to ones cloth
[] Not spend more money than one has; meet ones needs according to ones resources.

Cut ones coat to suit ones cloth.

[] I dont have that amount of money to buy a piano, so we have to cut our coat according
to our cloth.
16. Turn ones coat
[] Change ones ideas or principles; change sides and join the opposition.
Turn-coats

56

[]

We all expected Tom to vote for us in the debate, but he turned his coat.

17. Hang on someones coat-tails

[] Try to succeed on another persons success or ability.
Hang on someone elses
coat-tails On someones coat-tails.
[] He has no brains and he does not work hard; he became rich on his fathers coat-tails.
18. Off the cuff
[] Spontaneous; without preparation or rehearsal.
Off-the-cuff Speak off the cuff.
[] Most students in my class are good at making speeches off the cuff.
19. Dress up
[] Put on special clothes for a party etc.
Dress down
()

[] They went to the party dressed up as Mongolian girls.

20. Give somebody a dressing down

[] Speak firmly to somebody who has done wrong.

Dress somebody down. dress up
dress down
[] The student did not hand in his homework, so the teacher gave him a dressing down.
21. Window dressing
[] (1) Way of arranging goods in a shop-window.

[] The boutique is famous for its artistic window-dressing.

[] (2) Art of showing ones abilities or qualities to the best advantage.

[] He was good at window-dressing and had all his degrees and titles printed on his name
card.
22. Throw down the gauntlet
[] Argue forcibly, challenge, or invite someone to fight.
Gauntlet

[] He was annoyed that he did not have a flat and he threw down the gauntlet to the
Housing Authority, but they ignored him.
23. Take up the gauntlet
[] Accept the challenge by picking up the gauntlet which had been thrown down.

57

[]

Pick up the gauntlet.

The man was courageous and took up the gauntlet and went by himself to the place
designated by the criminals.

24. Fit like a glove

[] Fit perfectly.
()
[] This suit fits me like a glove; but I wont buy it because it is the wrong color.
25. Iron hand in the velvet glove
[] Strong and ruthless type of control that gives the appearance of being gentle and liberal.

[] The leader pretends to be liberal, but his people have little freedom. It is a case of the
iron hand in the velvet glove.
26. Throw down the glove
[] Challenge.
Throw down the gauntlet glove.
[] She threw down the glove at the general manager because she was passed over for a
promotion that went to a less experienced male.
27. Work hand in glove with someone
[] Work together in a close cooperation with someone (often in a bad sense).

Hand in glove with someone.

[] The woman is actually working hand in glove with the drug dealers.
28. Take the glove off to someone
[] Treat or argue with someone without mercy.
Handle someone without
gloves.
[] If he does not pay for the damage, we shall have to take our gloves off to him.
29. Handle someone with kid gloves
[] Treat someone carefully.
Kid

[] She is very sensitive to criticism, you have to handle her with kid gloves.
30. Kid gloves
[] Polite or gentle manner.

[] Hardened criminals are not impressed by the social worker who attempts to use kid
gloves in his effort to reform their behavior.

58

31. With gloves off

[] Treating someone in a rough way.
treat
[] He thought his girlfriends parents would welcome him; but they treated him with
gloves off.

I.

1. He was tied to his mothers apron-string.

A. The mother and the son love each other.
B. The son controls the mother.
C. The mother controls the son.
2. The manager gave her the boot.
A. She received a payrise (=payraise).
B. She was not fired.
C. She was sacked.
3. He threw down the gauntlet in front of his boss.
A. He abused his boss.
B. He challenged his boss.
C. He bribed his boss.
4. She is hand in glove with the drug dealer.
A. They are relatives.
B. They are having a love affair.
C. They work together in a close cooperation.
5. He was told to handle the children with kid gloves.
A. He was told to be polite and gentle with the children.
B. He was told to play card games with the children.
C. He was told to hide his feelings.
6. They became turn-coats.
A. They changed their opinion.
B. They became wealthy.
C. They became famous.
7. The boot is on the other foot.
A. The boot is too big.
B. The boot is too small.
C. The opposite is the truth.
8. The bus driver died in his boots.
A. He died while still working.
B. He was very poor when he died.
C. He died in a traffic accident.
9. She is an accountant and an auditor to boot.
A. She is an accountant as well as an auditor.

59

B. She is learning to become an auditor.

C. She is not a qualified auditor.
10. This is a feather in his cap.
A. This is his honor.
B. This is his shame.
C. This is his burden.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

the _________________ is on the other foot.

died in ones _________________.
tied to his wifes __________________.
grow rich on his fathers __________________.
_________________ like a glove.
best ________________ and ________________.
tighten ones _________________.
give him a ________________ down.
cut ones coat according to ones ________________.
throw down the ________________.
________________ up the gauntlet.
handle someone without ________________.
too big for ones ________________
iron hand in the ________________ glove.
pull oneself up by ones ________________.

III.

[1] get the boot.

[
] challenge.
[2] dress up.
[
] dress casually.
[3] best bib and tucker.
[
] show respect to someone.
[4] to boot.
[
] be dismissed from a job.
[5] cap in hand.
[
] polite or gentle manner.
[6] throw down the glove.
[
] speak to him persistently.
[7] kid gloves.
[
] in addition.
[8] fit like a glove.
[
] elegantly dressed.
[9] buttonhole someone.
[
] best clothes.
[10] dress down.
[
] fit perfectly.

IV.

1
throw _______ ___ _______
2
pick ____ ____ ________
3
handle __________ _____ ___ ______
4 treat __________ _____ ______ ___

60

5
6
7
8
9
10.

pull ______ __ __ ___ __________

die __ ____ _______
The boot __ __ ____ ______ ______
speak ___ ___ _____
best ____ ___ _______
tied __ ___________ ______________

V.

1. You cant afford to buy an expensive car now! You should cut your ___________ according to
your _________________.
2. He is a famous doctor now. He pulled himself up by his _________________.
3. If he does not repay me by tomorrow, I shall take my ________________ off to him.
4. The teacher threw down the _________________ at the Deans office because she did not get
the chance of going overseas.
5. He looks down upon his friends, and he feels he is too ________________ for his boots.
6. The workers did not finish the job as scheduled, so the boss gave them a ________________
down.
7. She decided to ________________ up to go to the in-laws place.
8. The new secretary was given the ________________ when she was found coming to work
late on several occasions.
9. The new teacher came into the Headmasters Office, _________________ in hand; she asked
if she
could teach an easy class.
10. When they met for the first time, he treated his girl with ________________ gloves.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

You should put on your best bib and tucker.

The VCD seller buttonholed me in the street this morning.
You will get the boot if you do not work hard.
We must not handle hardened criminals with kid gloves.
He is too big for his boots.
Their father had to tighten his belt.
She was hanging on to her fathers coat-tails.
The doctor gave the nurses a dressing down.
He turned his coat in the last minute.
I took gloves off to him.

VII.

1. The boss is not pleased with the workers performance; so he

2. We are short of money these days; so we should
3. He is very angry with her husband; so she
4. We are going to a party tonight; you should

61

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He is not afraid of challenge; and I am sure he will

He has worked together with the smugglers; he is
She did not rely on anyone to become a pop singer. She
He is arrogant and haughty. He
Tomorrows party is formal and important, so you
She is sensitive and shy. I think you

Unit 9. Clothing Idioms (II)

II

leader

(dog collar)

(wear the trousers),

hat mask pocket sackcloth shirt shoe

shoes sleeve socks spurs thread trousers
1. At the drop of a hat
[] Always; immediately and without urging.

Be ready to do something at the drop of a hat

[] My colleague is always ready to argue at the drop of a hat.
2. Eat ones hat
[] A phrase telling the kind of thing that one would do if a very unlikely event really
happens.

eat ones hat if

[] He said he would eat his hat if she won the prize.

3. Keep something under ones hat
[] Keep something as a secret.

[] This information is confidential; you should keep it under your hat.

4. Pass round the hat
[] Collect money for something; ask for donation for someone (the hat being used as a bag

62

[]

to put money in)

She is having an operation at the hospital; we should pass round the hat to help her and
her family.

5. Take off ones hat to someone

[] Show respect and admit someones skill.

[] He is a very good teacher. I must take my hat off to him.

6. Talk through ones hat
[] Talk nonsense.

[] He says he can make a lot of money by investing in real estate, but I think he is talking
through his hat.
7. Throw off the mask
[] Stop pretending; throw away disguise.

[] She can be very friendly with people sometimes. But at home she throws off the mask
and becomes a nag.
8. Dip into ones pocket
[] Pay out money.

[] Whenever I take my daughter out, I have to dip into my pocket for a few books that she
wants.
9. Have someone in the pocket
[] Have control over someone.

[] He has borrowed a lot of money from me; you may think that I have him in my pocket,
but nowadays the situation is the opposite.
10. In pocket
[] Having gained money.

[] I have helped a teacher mark exam papers; now I am sixty dollars in pocket.
11. Line ones pockets
[] Become rich and wealthy by committing embezzlement.
Line ones own pockets.
[] During the first few years of the reform, some people lined their pockets by bribing
government officials.

63

12. Out of pocket

[] Having lost money.

[] As a result of entertaining his classmates, he was sixty dollars out of pocket.

13. Pocket ones pride
[] Hide ones feelings of pride; humble oneself.
Swallow ones pride.
[] He had to pocket his pride and ask his parents to lend him their car.
14. In sackcloth and ashes
[] In grief or repentance.

[] When Princess Diana died, the people of England were virtually in sackcloth and ashes.
15. Keep ones shirt on
[] Not become angry.

[] Keep your shirt on! She was only teasing you.

16. Give someone the shirt off ones back
[] Very generous or solicitous to someone.

[] Michael is so friendly that he would give anyone the shirt off his back.
17. Know where the shoe pinches
[] Know about suffering or hardship through ones own experiences.

[] You dont have to tell me, young man. I also have been jobless and poor, so I know
where the shoe pinches.
18. Lick someones shoes
[] Flatter someone for personal gains.
Lick someones boots

[] The secretary of the office hopes that he could get a promotion by licking his superiors
boots.
19. In someones shoes
[] In someones place.
In someone elses shoes In someone elses place (
)
[] If I were in your shoes, I wouldnt trust that fellow.

64

20. Step into someones shoes

[] Take anothers place.

[] When she retires, no doubt her son will step into her shoes.
21. On a shoestring
[] Very cheaply.

[] When he was away from home, he managed to live on a shoestring.

22. Hang on to someones sleeve
[] Rely on someone.

[] They are always hanging on to his sleeve because they are hopeless in looking after
their own affairs.
23. Roll up ones sleeves
[] Start to work hard; prepare to fight.
Turn up ones sleeves

[] I told the two boys if they didnt roll up their sleeves and get on with the work, they
would not be paid.
24. Laugh up ones sleeve
[] Laugh secretly; laugh quietly to oneself.

[] He pretended to admire her singing voice, but he was laughing up his sleeve at her.

25. Have something up ones sleeve

[] Reserve a plan or idea for use in the future.
Have an ace up ones sleeve
A
Have a card up ones sleeve
[] It looks as if he is losing the tennis championship, but he may have something up his
sleeve.
26. Pull ones socks up
[] Try harder, make a greater effort.

[] If you want to pass TOEFL and GRE, youll have to pull your socks up.
27. Give someone socks
[] Beat someone; teach someone a lesson.
Sock someone.

65

[]

He was terrible to my daughter. When I see him next time, I will give
him socks.

28. Win ones spurs

[] Prove ones ability or courage.

[] He won his spurs during the war, and he is still proud of his medals.
29. Hang by a thread
[] Likely to fail in the near future.

[] Peace and stability are hanging by a thread in that troubled country.

30. Wear the trousers
[] Be the dominant partner in a marriage.
Wear the pants.
[] He pretends that he has the final say at home, but it is really his wife who wears the
trousers.

I.

1. He had to pocket his pride.

A. He had to spend more money.
B. He had to show his feelings of pride.
C. He had to hide his feelings of pride.
2. We passed round the hat for her.
A. We showed her our respect.
B. We told her the secret.
C. We collected money for her.
3. She furnished her restaurant on a shoe-string.
A. She did it cheaply.
B. She furnished the restaurant luxuriously.
C. She had no taste in decoration.
4. They are hanging on to their mothers sleeve.
A. They rely on her.
B. They help their mother.
C. They always criticize her.
5. Its his wife who wears trousers at home.
A. He is dominant at home.
B. She makes decisions at home.

66

C. She is badly dressed at home.

6. He dipped into his pocket.
A. He lost money.
B. He spent some money.
C. He made some money.
7. He lined his pockets when he worked for the company.
A. He feathered his own nest.
B. He got rich through hard work.
C. He refused to take bribes.
8. He was talking through his hat.
A. He was talking in a loud voice.
B. He was whispering.
C. He was talking nonsense.
9. She was in sackcloth and ashes.
A. She was in grief.
B. She was excited.
C. She was honest.
10. Youll have to pull up your socks.
A. You must work harder.
B. You should dress properly.
C. You should respect others.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

step into someones ________________.

________________ up ones sleeves.
keep ones ________________ on.
keep something ________________ ones hat.
line ones ________________.
know where the ________________ pinches.
laugh ________________ ones sleeve.
________________ round the hat.
pull ones ________________ up.
________________ someone socks.
________________ ones spurs.
have someone in the ________________.
________________ ones pride.
lick someones ________________.
give someone the ________________ off ones back.

III.

[1] pocket ones pride.

[
[2] on a shoestring.
[

] talk nonsense.
] prove ones ability.

67

[3] wear the trousers.

[4] talk through ones hat.
[5] out of pocket.
[6] pass round the hat.
[7] in sackcloth and ashes.
[8] pull ones socks up.
[9] win ones spurs.
[10] lick someones shoes.

IV.

[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[

] spend money.
] in grief and sadness.
] collect donations.
] hide ones pride.
] be dominant.
] cheaply.
] flatter someone.
] try harder.

1
step ____ ___________ ______
2
dip ___ ____ _________
3
give _________ ___ _____ ___ ___ _____
4 win _____ _______
5
give __________ ______
6
keep __________ ______ ____ ____
7
pull ______ _______ ___
8 know _______ ____ _____ _________
9
have ____________ __ ____ _________
10

lick ____________ ______

He always dips into his ________________ whenever he goes out with his children.
I have also been unemployed; so I know where the _________________ pinches.
She thinks she can get the job by licking the managers _________________.
Its only a joke. Keep your _________________ on.
If I were in your _________________, I would not invest in that company.
If you want to catch up with your colleagues, youd better pull up your _________________.
Dont believe him. He is talking through his ___________________.
The football team is not playing well at the moment, but the coach may have something up
his __________________.
9. The manager thinks he has his secretary in his _________________.
10. He is always ready to give anyone the ________________ off his back.
V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

VI.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

She wore her heart on her sleeve wherever she went.

Prosperity is hanging by a thread in that country.
They turned up their sleeves as soon as they arrived.
She has him in her pocket.
He is in sackcloth and ashes.
I would accept the offer if I were in your shoes.

68

8.
9.
10.
11.

The man is always arguing at the drop of a hat.

When she dies, her son will step into her shoes.
You should keep this information under your hat.
I will eat my hat if she wins a prize.

VII.

1. He became rich through embezzlement; he

2. The family is poor and their son is in hospital. We should
3. This information is confidential. You should
4. What he did was really admirable, and I must
5. If you want to finish your essay in time, youd better
6. We did not have much money; so we renovated the house
7. He has become arrogant since he was promoted. And many people say that he
8. When he separated from his wife, he regretted it and was
9. He is only pulling your leg. So
10. When she told me she had three boy friends, I just

Unit 10. Housing and book Idioms

book

books,

Bring
down the housesoft soap

bag bed bushel candle carpet ceiling cupboard

drain floor house linen pin needle seat
soap stool roof table wall book

1. In the bag
[] Assured; certain.

[] I have got the agreement in the bag, and we are going to sign it one hour later.
2. Get out of the wrong side of the bed
[] Get up in the morning in a bad mood.
Get up on the wrong side of the bed Get out

69

[]

of bed on the wrong side.

Whats wrong with her? Did she get out of the wrong side of the bed today?

3. Hide ones light under a bushel

[] Act in such a way that people do not see how clever etc he/she is.

[] She was a quiet student, however, she was a talented piano player. But no one knows
why she hid her light under a bushel.
4. Burn the candle at both ends

[] Go to bed late at night and get up early in the morning; work too hard.

[] He burnt the candle at both ends when he was a first year student.
5. Cant hold a candle to someone
[] Not equal to someone; unable to measure up to someone.

[] Tom cant hold a candle to John when it comes to playing table tennis.
6. Sweep something under the carpet
[] Try to hide something unpleasant or shameful from the attention of others.
Brush something under the carpet.
[] The teacher tried to sweep the students plagiarism under the carpet, but Mr. Lee wanted
to investigate it.
7. A glass ceiling
[] The opinions of people in a company or society which prevent women from getting such
important positions as men.
The glass
ceiling.
[] The problem for women in business is the glass ceiling. Women can sometimes be
promoted but never to the top.
8. A skeleton in the cupboard
[] A hidden and shocking secret.
A skeleton in the closet Skeletons

[] Hisr aunt was in jail for a day once. That is his familys skeleton in the cupboard.
9. Ring down the curtain on something
[] Bring something to an end.
Bring down the curtain on something. Ring down

Ring up
Ring up the curtain on something.

70

[]

Its time to ring down the curtain on our relationship. We have nothing in common any
more.

10. Behind closed doors

[] In private; without the public being allowed to attend.
Behind the scenes
We should also thank the people behind the scenes

[] Early this week, the committee members had a meeting behind closed doors in Beijing.
11. Down the drain
[] Lost forever; wasted.

[] I hate to see all that money go down the drain.

12. Get in on the ground floor
[] Become involved in something from the beginning.

[] Many people say that it is a profitable market and those who get in on the ground floor
may make a lot of money.
13. Bring down the house
[] Receive loud and cheerful laugh and clap.
Bring the house down.
[] The pop singer sang beautifully, which brought down the house.
14. Wash ones dirty linen in public
[] Discuss ones personal problems or family quarrel in front of others.
Air ones dirty linen in public

[] I will explain to you when we get home; we dont want to wash dirty linen in public.
15. On pins and needles
[] Anxious; in suspense.

[] She has been on pins and needles all day waiting for a call from her parents.
16. On the hot seat
[] In a difficult or uncomfortable position; subject to too much criticism.
In the hot seat.
[] The head of the department was in the hot seat early last year because many teachers
were not happy with his performance.

71

17. Soft soap

[] Persuasion by flattery.
Soft-soap

[] This woman will never change, and I am really tired of her soft soap.
18. Fall between two stools
[] Fail through hesitating between two choices.

[] She fell between two stools for she did not know whether to continue her education or to
spend one year abroad with her father.
19. Go through the roof
[] Go very high; reach a very high degree.
Go through the roof
Hit the roof 20

[] This is Beijing! The bloody temperature is going through the roof.

20. Hit the roof
[] Become very angry.
Hit the ceiling

[] My father hit the roof when he heard I lost my purse for the second time.
21. Drink somebody under the table
[] Drink a lot more alcohol than others.

[] He only likes a few beers after work. I think you can drink him under the table.
22. On the table
[] Officially suggest or discuss a plan or idea.

[] At the end of the meeting, a new plan was put on the table.
23. Turn the table on someone
[] Reverse a situation so as to put oneself in a position of superiority.
The tables are turned

[] The manager turned the table on his rival with evidence of corruption.
24. Under the table
[] Money paid secretly as a bribe; pay money illegally and secretly.
Under-the-table

72

[]
table.

Many people in this company who work longer hours have their salaries paid under the

25. Drive someone up the wall

[] Annoy or irritate someone.

[] He is a person who complains about anything and everything, and he is driving me up

the wall.
26. Go to the wall
[] Defeated; fail in business.

[] The company went to the wall because of the so called joint venture program with an
overseas company.
27. By the book
[] According to the rules.

[] The manager said he would do everything by the book.

28. Cook the books
[] Prepare an untrue record of money received and spent.
Cook the accounts
[] The president of the company ordered the accountant to cook the books before the
arrival of the government auditors.
29. Take a leaf out of someones book
[] Follow an example; imitate.

[] If you want to pass TOEFL, take a leaf out of her book.

30. Throw the book at someone
[] Charge someone with as many crimes as is possible; reprimand or punish someone
severely.
Throw a book at someone.
[] The learner driver made the policeman angry, so the policeman took her to the station
and threw the book at her.
31. Use every trick in the book
[] Use every method possible.

[] He used every trick in the book, but he still couldnt get his driving license back from
the police.

73


I.

1. He always does things by the book.

A. He does not keep his promise.
B. He does things according to rules.
C. He is very mean.
2. You should take a leaf out of her book.
A. You should not borrow money from her.
B. You should ask for her help.
C. You should learn from her.
3. His business went to the wall.
A. His business was very profitable.
B. His business was ruined.
C. His business was doing well.
4. She is on the hot seat.
A. She is very popular.
B. She holds an important position.
C. She is in a difficult situation.
5. Her singing brought down the house.
A. Her singing was greatly appreciated.
B. Her singing was terrible.
C. The audience did not like her singing.
6. She fell between two stools.
A. She was completely satisfied.
B. She was very lucky to get out of trouble.
C. She failed because of hesitation.
7. I think the contract is in the bag.
A. I think we have secured the contract.
B. I think we have lost the contract.
C. None of us can get the contract.
8. Dont hide your light under a bushel.
A. You should learn to be generous.
B. You should do what you can.
C. You should show your talent.
9. He has got a skeleton in the cupboard.
A. He is a strange man.
B. He likes to have jokes.
C. He has a shocking secret.
10. The price went through the roof.
A. The price was under control.
B. The price was unbelievable.
C. The price was too high.

74

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

drive someone up the ________________.

get up on the ________________ side of the bed.
take a ________________ out of someones book.
use every ________________ in the book.
hide ones ________________ under a bushel.
________________ the roof.
on pins and ________________.
sweep something under the ________________.
go ________________ the roof.
a skeleton in the ________________ .
get in on the ________________ floor.
________________ down the house.
wash ones dirty ________________ in public.
turn the ________________ on somebody.
throw a ________________ at someone.

III.

[1] hit the roof.

[
[2] go to the wall.
[
[3] by the book.
[
[4] go through the roof.
[
[5] in the bag.
[
[6] fall between two stools.
[
[7] down the drain.
[
[8] bring down the house.
[
[9] cook the books.
[
[10] on the hot seat.
[

IV.

] reach a high degree.

] fail.
] wasted.
] get angry.
] make false accounts
] in a difficult situation.
] be defeated.
] certain.
] according to rules.
] appreciated.

1
burn ___ _______ __ ____ ____
2
sweep _________ ______ ___ _______
3
wash ____ ______ ______ __ _______
4
turn ___ ________ __ ___________
5
use _______ _______ __ ___ ______
6 cant ______ ____ ________ __ ____________
7
bring _______ ____ _______
8
on _____ ____ _________
9 fall __________ ____ _______
10

cook ____ _________

75

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Did you get up on the wrong ________________ of the bed?

He will go through the ________________ if he hears this.
She was instructed to cook the ________________.
She is on ________________ and needles now.
The price has gone through the ________________.
Tom cant hold a _________________ to Bob.
She tried to sweep it under the ________________.
Dont burn the candle at ________________ ends.
I think the agreement is in the ________________.
Her performance brought down the ________________.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He used every trick in the book.

He decided not to sweep it under the carpet.
She hid her light under a bushel.
They cooked the books.
The man threw a book at the lady.
He will do it by the book.
She cant hold a candle to her sister.
I dont like her soft soap.
All his money has gone down the drain.
He hit the ceiling when he heard the news.

VII.

1. He has been in a bad mood. Did he

2. She is dying to get a ticket to the concert, so she
3. The price for a flat in Beijing keeps going up and up. In fact I think
4. We are all anxious to hear the news, and we
5. Dont invest your money in that company. If you do,
6. Who is more likely to succeed? I think those who
7. I can drink more than he does, and I can
8. The situation was very bad last month, but now we
9. He is a wonderful actor, and I am sure his show
10. She is much better than me in table tennis. In fact I

76

Unit 11. Number Idioms

Two heads are better than one

Second best Second to none

one two second three four six seventh

eight nine ten eleventh dozen forty
1. Back to square one
[] Start working on a plan from the beginning because ones previous attempt failed and
the progress made was wasted.

[] The boss is not happy with what we did, so we have to go back to square one.
2. Go one better
[] Do better than somebody.

[] I bought an ordinary family car, then Mr. Guo went one better and bought a Benz.
3. Of one mind
[] Having the same opinion.
Of the same mind\
[] The students are all of one mind. They are against the proposal.
4. In one fell swoop
[] Finish off something quickly.
At one fell swoop. Fell
terrible

[] At the party, our guests ate up all the snacks in one fell swoop.
5. Give somebody first refusal
[] Offer to sell someone something before one offers it to anyone else.
Have first
refusal Give somebody the right of/to first refusal Have the right of/to first refusal.
[] My friend Bob has the right to first refusal on any spare parts in my shop.

77

6. In two minds
[] Unable to decide about something.
Of two minds. whether or not to do
something about something
[] (1) He was in two minds whether or not to come this morning.
[] (2) People are of two minds about new building construction in this area.
7. Put two and two together 2+2
[] Guess the truth about a situation from pieces of information which one knows.
Put two and two together and get/make
five

[] I did not tell her my son had gone to school. But she noticed his bag was missing and
put two and two together.
8. Two heads are better than one
[] Two people working together achieve more than one person working alone.

[] I happily accepted her offer of help, because I thought two heads are better than one.
9. Two of a kind
[] Very similar.

[] They look alike, talk alike, dress alike. Really they are two of a kind.
10. By twos and threes
[] Two or three at a time.
In twos and threes.
[] Guests are coming to the party in twos and threes.
11. Have second thoughts
[] Change ones opinion or have doubts about something.

On second thoughts On second thought.

about
[] I only hope that she will not have second thoughts about coming with me to China.
12. Second sight
[] The supposed power or ability of seeing into the future.

[] I dont know who will get the job. I dont have second sight.
13. Second to none
[] Better than anything or anyone.

[] We all agree that the facilities of that restaurant are second to none.

78

14. Three sheets in the wind

[] Be drunk.

[] I could not talk to him then, because he was three sheets in the
wind.
15. Four corners of the world
[] Every part of the world; the most distant parts of the earth.
Four corners of the earth.
[] This is an important occasion. Participants arrive from the four corners of the world.
16. Four-letter word
[] Short word that is extremely rude.
f
k; s t; p s;
[] The footballer was suspended after using a variety of four-letter words in front of the
referee.
17. Six feet under
[] Die.

[] You will get all his money when he is six feet under.
18. Six of one and half a dozen of the other
[] There is very little difference between the one and the other.

[] Stop criticizing Tom! I think you are six of one and half a dozen of the other.
19. At sixes and sevens
[] In confusion.

[] She did not tidy up her room, so it is at sixes and sevens.

20. In seventh heaven
[] In a great state of happiness; exceedingly happy.

[] He went home and told his parents that he was in seventh heaven because his girl friend
had agreed to marry him.
21. Behind the eight ball 8
[] In a very difficult situation and unable to make progress.

79

[]

8 8
1
The man was behind the eight ball when the car he had borrowed from his friend was
stolen.

22. A nine days wonder

[] Something that is of interest to people only for a short time.

[] The marriage of the young student and the old teacher was a nine days wonder. Now
people never mention it.
23. Nine times out of ten
[] Almost always.

[] Nine times out of ten I will get a phone call from my parents at weekends.
24. On cloud nine
[] Extremely happy.

[] He was on cloud nine when he got a letter from his girl friend.
25. A stitch in time saves nine
[] If action is taken immediately, a lot of extra work will be saved.

[] You had better paint the walls now, otherwise they will become a mess. As the saying
goes a stitch in time saves nine.
26. Dressed up to the nines
[] Elegantly or extravagantly dressed.

[] I wore only trousers and a T-shirt, but my friend was dressed up to the nines in an
evening suit.
27. Ten to one
[] Very probably.

[] Ten to one she will be at the party with her boy friend, not her husband.
28. At the eleventh hour
[] At the last possible moment; only just in time.

[] She always handed her term essays in at the eleventh hour.

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29. Talk nineteen to the dozen

[] Talk a lot, usually quickly; talk continually.
Talk ten to dozen

Talk Gossip Chat away

[] The two old friends talk nineteen to the dozen when they meet once every two or three
years.
30. A catch 22 situation 22
[] Dilemma faced by someone who is bound to suffer, which ever course of action he /she
takes.

Catch-22 Catch 22. Catch 22 Joseph Heller

[] If you do not have work experience, you can not get a job. But how can you get work
experience without a job? As far as newly graduated students are concerned, this is a
catch 22 situation.
31. Forty winks
[] A short sleep; a nap, a siesta.

[] It is only natural that most people would like to have forty winks at boring meetings.

I.

1. As a singer, she is second to none.

A. She is the worst.
B. She is average.
C. She is the best.
2. The students are in a catch 22 situation.
A. The students are in a dilemma.
B. The students are badly paid.
C. The students are poor.
3. Ten to one she will not come.
A. Most probably she will not come.
B. She will come definitely.
C. She may come.
4. She was dressed up to the nines.
A. She had a bad cold.
B. She was injured.
C. She wore very nice clothes.
5. The policeman is behind the eight ball.
A. He is in a difficult situation.

81

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

B. He is well protected.
C. He is a coward.
The boy was in seventh heaven.
A. The boy was very happy.
B. The boy was dead.
C. They boy was idealistic.
Its a nine days wonder.
A. No one takes any notice of it.
B. It will not last long.
C. It will last a long time.
She was three sheets in the wind.
A. She was extremely happy.
B. She was in a dilemma.
C. She was drunk.
She had second thoughts about selling the car.
A. She changed her mind.
B. She was six feet under.
C. She was very anxious.
We are all of one mind.
A. We are from the same class.
B. We have the same opinion.
C. We are all equal.

give the ________________ refusal.

put two and two ________________.
two ________________ are better than one.
back to ________________ one.
by ________________ and threes.
dressed up to the ________________.
second to __________.
three ________________ in the wind.
________________ feet under.
________________ thoughts.
two of a ________________.
________________ the eight ball.
a ________________ in time saves nine.
at the ________________ hour.
talk ________________ to the dozen.

III.

[1] of one mind.

[

] almost late.

82

[2] forty winks.

[3] in a catch 22 situation.
[4] in seventh heaven.
[5] ten to one.
[6] at the eleventh hour.
[7] dressed up to the nines.
[8] at sixes and sevens.
[9] three sheets in the wind.
[10] six feet under.

IV.

[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[

] dress up nicely
] in confusion.
] same opinion.
] drunk
] a nap.
] pass away.
] most probably.
] in a dilemma.
] very happy.

1
six __ ___ __ ___ _ ____ __ __
2
of ____ _______
3
four ________ __ ___ ______
4
at _______ ___ __________
5
nine ________ ____ __ _____
6
dressed ___ __ ___ _______
7
in ____________ _________
8
second ___ ______
9
talk ___________ __ ___ _______
10
by ______ ____ ________

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

I could hardly find time to have forty ________________.

We have to go back to _________________ one.
She ________________ one better than Tom.
A stitch in time ________________ nine.
I will give you the first ________________.
Now they are in two ________________.
Two heads are ________________ than one.
The two girls ________________ nineteen to the dozen.
He is ___________ sheets in the wind.
Dont use four-letter ________________ at home.

VI.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Two heads are better than one.

You will have to go back to square one.
They are in two minds.
She put two and two together and made five.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Michael went one better than his brother.

____

83

8.
9.
10.
11.

I hope you will not have second thoughts about it.

He is at sixes and sevens.??
She is on cloud nine.
Her letter arrived at the eleventh hour.

VII.

1. He has a habit of having a nap after lunch every day, so he

2. Her room is in a mess, and the whole place
3. They cant get a job without a hukou, and without a job they cant apply for a hukou. They
4. When he got the scholarship, he
5. They have not seen each other for a long time. When they met again, they
6. After drinking seven bottles of beer, she was
7. I think the boys are more or less the same. They
8. She said she would marry me. I just hope she
9. Her son often uses bad language in front of guests, so she
10. I need someone to look at my essay. I think

Unit 12. Person Idioms

idioms a green hand

a guinea pig

a friend at court
a dark
horsea scapegoata white-collar workera blue-collar worker

50

driver shot wheel bird leg sheep stocking hat reed

bull body paw pumpkin horse dog cat fly hand
pig
straw duck diamond goat snake touch blanket beaver
salt cannon
1. A backseat driver
[] Passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the driver.

2. A big shot
[] An important person.
A big nose
A big wheel

84

3. A big fish
[] Important person.
A big fish in a small pond

4. A bird of passage
[] Person who passes through a place without staying there long.
Pass Passage

5. A black leg
[] A person who works while his fellow workers are on strike.

6. A black sheep
[] A person in a group or family who fails to do well or who behaves badly.

7. A blue-collar worker
[] Someone who does physical work often in a factory.

8. A bluestocking
[] A woman who has, or pretends to have, literary taste and learning.

9. A bosom friend
[] A very close friend.

10. A brass hat

[] A high ranking officer in the army.

11. A bread winner

[] A person who earns money to support his/her family.

12. A broken reed

[] A person who is unreliable and ineffective.

13. A bull in a china shop

85

[]

A person who is rough and clumsy when skill and care are needed.

14. A busybody
[] A person who interferes other peoples business.

15. A cats paw

[] A person who is used by others to do something unpleasant or risky.

16. A country pumpkin

[] A person who is not used to city life.
country potato
17. A dark horse
[] A person who does something successful when no one expects him/her to do so.

18. A die-hard
[] A person who is stubborn especially in resisting change.

19. A dog in the manger

[] A person who is unwilling to give others what he does not want himself.

Manger
20. A fair haired boy
[] A man who is liked or admired by someone in authority.
A blue-eyed boy

21. A fair weather friend

[] A person who stops being a friend when one is in trouble.

22. A fat cat

[] Someone who is very rich and powerful.

23. A fly on the wall

[] A person who secretly hears and sees what happens.

86

24. A fly on the wheel

[] An arrogant and pompous person.

25. A fly-by-night
[] A person who evades debts; an unreliable person.
fly-by-nights.
26. A gold brick
[] A person who is always ready to make excuses for not working.

27. A green hand

[] An inexperienced person.

28. A guinea pig

[] A person or an animal used in an experiment.

29. A lame duck

[] A person in difficulties and unable to manage without help; official in his final period of
office.

30. A loose cannon

[] A person who can not be completely trusted because of his/her behavior is sometimes
strange or violent.

31. A man Friday

[] A person who does many different types of boring work in an office.

A girl Friday A person Friday.

32. A man of his word
[] A man who can be trusted; who does what he has promised.
A woman of her word.
33. A man of straw
[] A person who is weak and easy to defeat.
A straw man.
34. A man of the cloth

87

[]

A person who works in a church.

35. A maverick
[] A person who will only go his/her own merry way; a person who is too independent to
follow his/her group.

36. A ringleader
[] A person who leads others in a crime.

37. A rough diamond

[] A person who is good-natured although not very well-mannered.

38. A scapegoat
[] A person who is blamed or punished for the wrongdoing of someone else.
A fall guy.
39. A sleeping partner
[] A person who owns part of a business, but does not do any work in it.

40. A snake in the grass

[] A deceitful or treacherous person who pretends to be a friend.

41. A soft touch

[] A person who readily gives or lends money if asked.
Easy touch
42. A wet blanket
[] A person who spoils other peoples pleasure because he/she is gloomy or pessimistic.

43. A white-collar worker

[] A person who does not do physical work.

44. An armchair critic

[] A critic without having or providing practical experience of something.

88

45. An eager beaver

[] A person who works very hard and is very eager to do something.

46. An egg head

[] A very intellectual person.

47. An under dog

[] A person thought to be in a weaker position and unable to win a contest.

48. Grass roots

[] Ordinary people in a society.

49. The man in the street

[] The average person of either sex.

50. The salt of the earth

[] A very decent and honest person or people of a society.

I.

1. She is a black sheep of the family.

A. She is a disgrace of the family.
B. She earns a lot of fame for the family.
C. She is the best among the family members.
2. We all agree that she is a busybody.
A. She helps others generously.
B. She has too much work to do.
C. She pokes her nose into others business.
3. He is the salt of the earth.
A. He is from the countryside.
B. He is not very sophisticated.
C. He is a good and honest person.
4. She is a fly on the wheel.
A. She is arrogant and pompous.
B. She controls everything.

89

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

C. She is a smart person.

He is a soft touch.
A. He is too kind and too generous.
B. He is very sophisticated.
C. He shows no sympathy to others.
He is a bull in a china shop.
A. He is very rich and powerful.
B. He is a good athlete.
C. He is rough and clumsy.
I just want to be a fly on the wall.
A. I want to listen and see whats going on.
B. I want to get away from this situation.
C. I want to look for a better job.
She is a snake in the grass.
A. She is a quiet person.
B. She is a hidden enemy.
C. She has a very nice job.
He is an eager beaver.
A. He works very hard.
B. He does nothing at work.
C. He is unemployed.
He is the bread winner of the family.
A. He spends the money of the family.
B. He is a very big eater.
C. He earns money to support the family.

an armchair ________________.
a snake in the ________________.
a ________________ in a china shop.
a fly on the ________________.
a ________________ diamond.
a fair ________________ friend.
a sleeping ________________.
an ________________ beaver.
a ________________ of the cloth.
a dog in the ________________.
an ________________ dog.
a ________________ of passage.
a big fish in a small ________________.
a broken ________________.
a ________________ blanket.

90

III.

1
___ _______ ________
2
___ _______ ________
3
_________ ________
4
___ ____________
5 ___ ____________
6
___ _________ ___
7 ___ _______ _____
8 ___ _____ ___ ___ ______
9
___ _____ ___ ___ ______ _____
10

___ ________ ____

11
___ ___________ _________
12

___ _____ _______ _____

13

___ ____________ _________

14

___ ___________ _________

15

___ ___________ _________

IV.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

We dont like her. She is a fly on the ________________.

Dont trust him. He is a ________________ reed.
He works in a church. He is a man of the ________________.
He works in an office. He is a __________________ worker.
He is very rich and powerful. He is a fat ________________.
She spoils the fun all the time. She is a wet ________________.
He is new here. He is only a ________________ hand.
Avoid him! He is a snake in the ________________.
He does physical work. He is a ________________ worker.
She is famous, but only a big _______________ in a little pond.

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He is a big shot.
He is a backseat driver.
She is the black sheep of the family.
He is an egg head.
She is a dog in the manger.
She is the girl Friday in the office.
She is a fair weather friend.
We expect to see a dark horse in todays game.
He is really a goldbrick.
He is only a country pumpkin.

91

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He thinks he is very famous and important. But I think

She always avoids doing more work. She is
I agree that his manners are bad, but I think he
I would not trust him. He is
Anyone can borrow money from her, because she is
He has no experience at all. He is
She always gives unwanted advice to others. She is
We are all on strike except him. He is
She never settles down in one place. She is
When you are in trouble, she will avoid you. She is

Unit 13. Mind and Word Idioms

mind

Great minds think alike brain drain

word
I give you my word.
Have a word with someone

Have words with someonewords

Eat ones words,

Go back on ones word.

brain mind word words

1. Brain child
[] Somebodys invention or idea.
Brain-child.
[] The plane was the brain child of the Wright brothers in America.
2. Beat ones brains out to do something
[] Work very hard; struggle with a difficult task.
Beat someones brains out

[] You should appreciate his effort. He is beating his brains out to fix your computer.
3. Cudgel ones brains
[] Think hard.
Rack ones brains Beat ones brainsBeat

92

[]

She racked her brains but could not remember where she had put the tickets.

4. Pick someones brains

[] Use someones knowledge or ideas.

[] May I pick your brains and ask a few questions concerning insurance?
5. Bear someone / something in mind
[] Remember or think about someone or something.
Keep someone or something in mind.
[] When you are driving a car, you must bear this in your mind: keep your eyes on the
road.
6. Call something to mind
[] Recall something to ones memory.
Bring something to mind

[] I am sure I know her, but I cant bring her name to mind.

7. Have a lot on ones mind
[] Have many things to worry about; be preoccupied.

[] I am sorry that I am so cross. I have a lot on my mind.

8. Keep ones mind on something
[] Concentrate on important matters.

[] Keep your mind on your work and stop staring out of the window.
9. Mind ones ps and qs P Q
[] Be careful about what one says or does.
26 P Q

[] When you talk to your boss, you should mind your ps and qs.
10. Out of ones mind
[] Be mad.

[] Go hunting? You must be out of your mind. The environmentalists will go mad with
you.
11. Put someone in mind of something
[] Cause someone to think or remember.

93

[]

This story put her in mind of an adventure she had had when she was a girl in the
countryside.

12. Set ones mind on something

[] Want it very much.

[] She has set her mind on going to university when she finishes school.
13. Speak ones mind
[] Speak frankly.

[] I havent said anything since I came here; I think its time for me to speak my mind now.
14. Take ones mind off something
[] Distract; forget something.

[] Lets go dancing tonight; it will take your mind off your trouble.
15. To my mind
[] In my opinion.

[] Others say its a wonderful movie, but to my mind its just boring.
16. As good as ones word
[] Do what one says one will do.

[] He said he would buy her a racing car, and he was as good as his word.
17. Coin a word
[] Invent a new word.
Coin money

coin
[] Many scientific terms in English are coined from Greek and Latin.
18. Give someone ones word
[] Promise.

[] I will repay you next month. I give you my word.

19. Go back on ones word
[] Not do what one has promised.

[] He offered to lend me his car, but then he went back on his word.

94

20. Have a word with someone

[] Talk with someone.
word
[] Ill have a word with her tomorrow.
21. Have the last word
[] Win an argument.
Have the final word.
[] When I have an argument at home, it is always my wife who has the last word.
22. Keep ones word
[] Keep a promise.

[] Dont worry, I am sure hell keep his word and repay you on time.
23. Take someones word for something
[] Believe him / her even though there is no evidence.
it something,
Dont take his word for it
[] He cant prove he is innocent; are you going to take his word for the crime?
24. The last word in something
[] The latest and most modern.

[] The new airport is the last word in efficiency.

25. Word of honor
[] Promise made on ones honor.

[] I will help you find a job. I give you my word of honor.

26. Eat ones words
[] Admit that what one has said is not correct.
Swallow ones words
19
[] Our team has won the match. Earlier he said we would lose, now hell have to eat his
words.
27. Have words with someone
[] Argue or quarrel with someone.
words 20

[] They had words yesterday and now they dont speak to each other.

95

28. Not mince ones words

[] Speak frankly and directly.
Mince

[] He told me exactly what he thought of the article; he never minces his words.
29. Put ones words into someones mouth
[] Say that somebody has made certain statements.
Put words into
someones mouth.
[] Stop putting words into my mouth! I didnt say that.
30. Take the words out of someones mouth
[] Say what someone else was going to say before he/she has a chance to.

[] I agree with him completely; in fact he took the words out of my mouth.

I.

1. He went back on his word.

A. He kept his promise.
B. He did not do what he had promised.
C. He talked about things in the past.
2. She was as good as her word.
A. She did what she had said she would do.
B. She did not keep her promise.
C. Her talk was full of hot air.
3. They had words yesterday.
A. They had an argument yesterday.
B. They had a chat yesterday.
C. They exchanged ideas yesterday.
4. He is a man of his word.
A. He is a man who can be trusted.
B. He is a man we should never trust.
C. He is very articulate.
5. He gave me his word.
A. He promised me.
B. He praised me.
C. He wanted to talk to me.
6. You should mind your ps and qs.
A. You should be careful about your clothes.
B. You should be careful about what you say.

96

7.

8.

9.

10.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

C. You should be careful about your pronunciation.

She has set her mind on a new schoolbag.
A. She has decided that she needs a new schoolbag.
B. She does not want to have a new schoolbag.
C. She has been told to get a new schoolbag.
She has a lot on her mind.
A. She has too many worries.
B. She is very clever.
C. She can think very quickly.
You have my word of honor.
A. I can not promise you.
B. Very pleased to meet you.
C. I promise you.
Dont put your words into my mouth!
A. I dont want to talk about it now!
B. I did not say that!
C. I can talk to you later.

________________ back on ones word.

not ________________ ones words.
take the words out of someones ________________.
pick ones ________________.
________________ ones brains.
take ones ________________ off something.
as good as ones ________________.
________________ something into mind.
give someone ones ________________.
have a ________________ on ones mind.
word of ________________.
eat ones ________________.
put ones ________________ into someones mouth.
________________ ones ps and qs.
speak ones ________________.

III.

[1] to my mind.
[
] keep a promise.
[2] out of ones mind.
[
] tell the truth.
[3] word of honor.
[
] in my opinion.
[4] not mince ones words. [
] win an argument.
[5] keep ones word.
[
] mad.
[6] have the last word.
[
] think hard.

97

[7] speak ones mind.

[8] coin a word.
[9] beat ones brains.
[10] brain child.

[
[
[
[

] invent a word.
] promise.
] an invention.
] speak directly.

IV.

1 mind ________ ____ ____ _____

2
cudgel _______ ________
3
bear ____________ ___ ______
4
pick ____________ ________
5
give ____________ _____ _______
6
have __ ____ ___ _____ ______
7
call ____________ ____ ______
8
take ____________ _____ ___ _____
9
have _______ _____ __________
10

go ______ ___ _____ _______

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He wants to marry the film star?! He must be out of his ________________.

He is too frightened to speak his ________________.
He said he would give me his computer, but then he went back on his ________________.
Experts believe that this word is ________________ from Greek.
He had ________________ with his boss last week, and now they dont talk to each other.
You said you would help me, but can you give me your word of ________________.
What he said is wrong, and he will have to ___________ his words.
He is always frank and direct. He never ________________ his words.
I promise that I shall __________________ my word and return your car next week.
You must always _________________ this in mind: money does not grow on trees.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

She never speaks her mind at work.

She went back on her word.
Could I pick your brains?
You should take your mind off the quarrel.
I give you my word of honor.
I can not call her name into mind.
I will have a word with you after class.
They had words last week.
She set her mind on a Swiss watch.
To my mind, she is a ruthless person.

98

VII.

1. You will have to accept the consequences if you

2. Whenever I have an argument with my wife, she
3. You have promised to help me. Now you
4. He will tell you what he thinks of your article. He is a man who
5. When you have the interview at the Embassy, you should
6. Only when he is angry does he
7. You want to kill the lovely bird?! You must be
8. She still can not remember his name, though she
9. You said the TV program is on today, but it is not. You
10. She is very careful when she speaks. She

Unit 14. Proper Name Idioms

(Murphys
law What can go wrong will go wrong);
Take
French leave French letter
Pardon my French

Indian gift

Achilles

Blarney Damocles Humphrey Dutch French

Freudian Garrison Gordian Greek Herculean Indian Jack Job
John Jones Newcastle Pandora Peter Penelope Pyrrhic
Reilly Roland Rome Rubicon Sally Sydney Thames Waterloo

1. Achilles heel
[] The vulnerable spot or weak point of a person or nation.
Achilles
Achilles
The heel of Achilles.
[] The journalists Achilles heel was the problems he had with his spelling.
2. Kiss the Blarney stone
[] Good at using flattery words.

(Blarney stone).

99

[]

Everyone in the office hates him. He does nothing except licking the managers boots.
We all think he must have kissed the Blarney stone.

3. The sword of Damocles

[] Impending evil or danger.

Damocles.
Damocles
Damocles
Damocles

[] The terrorists threatened to kidnap the famous actress, and she felt the sword of
Damocles over her head. She was petrified until the police captured the terrorists.
4. Dine with Duke Humphrey
[] Have nothing to eat; hungry.

[] I was very pleased when I got his invitation for having lunch together, because I was
going to dine with Duke Humphrey before he rang.
5. Double Dutch
[] Words which do not mean anything or which one does not understand.

18

[] I couldnt understand the signpost; the words were double Dutch to me.
6. Go Dutch
[] Share expenses.
AA
Dutch treat
Go Dutch
[] It is a custom for friends to go Dutch when attending a birthday dinner party at a
restaurant in Australia.
7. Dutch courage
[] The courage exerted by drinking alcohol.

[] With his Dutch courage, the coach gave lunatic instructions to the swimming team just
before the competition in Perth.

100

8. Talk like a Dutch uncle

[] Criticize mercilessly or give abrupt directions to others.

[] The students are all scared of their teacher. When the teacher is in the classroom, he
talks like a Dutch uncle.
9. Take French leave
[] Go away secretly without having permission.

[] The soldier took French leave and stayed away for a week. When he came back to his
regiment he was put into solitary confinement.
10. Freudian slip
[] Make a verbal mistake; say the wrong thing.

Freudian slip

[] The policeman made a Freudian slip when he said the suspect was being persecuted for
theft. What he really meant to say was prosecuted, not persecuted.
11. Garrison finish
[] Unexpected result.
Edward Garrison 19
Garrison
[] No one expected him to win the race, and his Garrison finish surprised his coach as well
as his team mates.
12. Cut the Gordian knot
[] Get out of a difficult position by one decisive step.

[] The situation in the country is very complicated at the moment. The President needs to
cut the Gordian knot to resolve the problem.
13. Greek gift
[] Gift which is meant to bring harm or misfortune.

Trojan horse

[] The cheap rent of the house turned out be a Greek gift. We did not realize we have to
pay for all gas bill, electricity bill and water bill.

101

14. Greek to someone

[] Something written or spoken that you do not understand.
All Greek to someone.
Julius Caesar.
[] He asked me to read the manual, but its all Greek to me.
15. A Herculean task
[] An enormous task which needs great strength to solve.
Labor of Hercules Herculean labor.

12 Herculean efforts,

Hercules Heracles (),

[] The father asked his daughter to write a five page article on the Empress Dowager Cixi
in half an hour. To her this was a Herculean task.
16. Indian gift
[] Gift presented to someone but later ask for it back.

Indian giver

[] My ten year old daughter gave me her watch as a birthday present. I think the watch will
become an Indian gift one day.
17. Jack of all trades and master of nothing

[] One who turns his / her hand to everything is not usually expert in any one field.
Jack
[] She is considered a Jack of all trades and a master of none in the class.
18. As poor as Job
[] Very poor.

Job
Job job

o As poor as a church mouse

Jobs comforter

[] He was as poor as Job after he came out of the gate of the Royal Casino.
19. A Dear John letter
[] A letter from girl friend to boy friend, which is meant to put an end to their relationship.

102

[]

After he had been in the army for a year, his girl friend wrote him a Dear John letter and
married someone else.

20. Keep up with the Joneses

[] Attempt to keep up with the social level or appearances with ones neighbors or friends.
Jones

[] She insisted that her husband buy a Honda because her neighbors had a new Santana.
She always tried to keep up with the Joneses.
21. Carry coals to Newcastle
[] Supply something to a place or person having enough of it already.

[] They have plenty of lamb in Inner Mongolia, dont carry coals to Newcastle. They dont
need more lamb.
22. Open Pandoras box
[] Uncover a lot of unsuspected problems.

Pandora

[] You should be cautious with someone who is discontented and upset. If you dont, you
might open Pandoras box.
23. Rob Peter to pay Paul
[] Take away from one person in order to give to another.
Peter Paul
[] He is chased by all his debtors, so he repays his debts by robbing Peter to pay Paul.
24. Penelopes web
[] Work that can never be finished.
Penelope
Penelope
Penelope
Penelope The web of
Penelope.
[] Her work is like Penelopes web, never ending and always waiting for her at home and
in the office.
25. A Pyrrhic victory
[] A victory won at too heavy a price.

103

[]

(Pyrrius)
279
Pyrrihic victory.
The solicitor is very clever. He defended the murderer successfully, but it was a Pyrrhic
victory because he was condemned by the public and his professional status was ruined.

26. Live the life of Riley

[] Live a happy life without hard work or worries.
19
Is That Mr. Reilly? 20 The Best of the House Is None Too Good for
Reilly. Riley (Reilly)Lead the life of
Riley.
[] Having inherited a huge amount of money, she lived the life of Riley.
27. Give someone a Roland for an Oliver
[] Match each other in strength; forceful counterattack; tit for tat.
(Roland)(Oliver)
Charlemagne, 742-814
A Roland for an
Oliver

[] If you attack him, I am sure he will give you a Roland for an Oliver.
28. Fiddle while Rome burns
[] Spend time enjoying yourself or doing things that are not important when you should be
dealing with a serious problem.
64
Nero37-68

[] In March and April, 2003, some relatives of SARS patients claimed that certain high
level officials were fiddling while Rome was burning.
29. Cross the Rubicon
[] Do something which inevitably commits one to a following course of action.

Rubicon
Julius Caesar, 100-44BC 49BC Rubicon

Pass the Rubicon.

[] The government crossed the Rubicon. They have increased taxes by 30 per cent even
though the public is violently opposed to the matter.
30. Aunt Sally
[] A target of public criticism; a laughing stock.

104

[]

Whenever people are angry about air pollution and water contamination, they treat the
government like an Aunt Sally.

31. Sydney or the bush

[] All or nothing; make ones fortune and live in the big city, or lose it all and settle in the
countryside.

bush forest bush

fire
bush

[] When my friend Patrick was trying to gamble all his savings against the odds, he cried,
Sydney or the bush! Keep your fingers crossed for me.
32. Set the Thames on fire
[] Do exciting things that bring fame and glory.

Set the world on fire

[] She is not an ambitious person, and she has no intention of setting the Thames on fire.
33. Meet ones Waterloo
[] Suffer a crushing final defeat.
(Waterloo)1815

[] The tycoon met his Waterloo as his wife demanded half his money and all his houses
before she would agree to the divorce settlement.

I.

1. That is a Pyrrhic victory.

A. Thats an easy victory.
B. Thats a victory with too heavy a price.
C. Thats a blessing in disguise.
2. Its double Dutch to me.
A. Its too expensive.
B. I am not going to pay for it.
C. I can not understand it.

105

3. Lets go Dutch.
A. We should go overseas.
B. We should have a good time.
C. We should split the bill.
4. She took French leave.
A. She went for a holiday.
B. She was sacked.
C. She left without permission.
5. He is as poor as Job.
A. He is as poor as a church mouse.
B. He is in fact a rich man.
C. He pretends to be rich.
6. This is a Herculean task.
A. This is something easy to do.
B. This is an enormous task.
C. This is a well paid job.
7. The instructions are Greek to me.
A. The instructions are clear.
B. The instructions are logical.
C. I do not understand the instructions.
8. He talked like a Dutch uncle.
A. He criticized others.
B. He was kind to others.
C. He behaved like Father Christmas.
9. She lived the life of Reilly.
A. She did not have to work hard.
B. She was very poor.
C. She had to work very hard.
10. That is his Achilles heel.
A. That is his excuse.
B. That is his weak point.
C. That is his punishment.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

open Pandoras ________________.

rob Peter to ________________ Paul.
________________ up with the Joneses.
kiss the Blarney ________________.
________________ the Gordian knot.
________________ with Duke Humphrey.
a Dear John ________________.
carry ________________ to Newcastle.
________________ while Rome burns.

106

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

set the ________________ on fire.

________________ ones Waterloo.
________________ the Rubicon.
give someone a Roland ________________ an Oliver.
________________ the life of Reilly.
take ________________ leave.

III.

[1] Sydney or the bush.

[
] weak point.
[2] Aunt Sally.
[
] harmful gift.
[3] Open Pandoras box.
[
] impending danger.
[4] Herculean task.
[
] win or lose.
[5] Achilles heel.
[
] unexpected win.
[6] the sword of Damocles. [
] laughing stock.
[7] Greek gift.
[
] very poor.
[8] Penelopes web.
[
] cause trouble.
[9] as poor as Job.
[
] never ending job.
[10] Garrison finish.
[
] very big task.

IV.

1
take __________ ________
2 AA
go _________
3
keep ____ _____ ___ _________
4 carry _______ ___ ______________
5 rob _______ __ ____ ______
6
cut ____ ___________ ______
7
dine ______ ______ ____________
8
talk ______ __ ________ ______
9 set _____ __________ ___ _____
10

cross ____ _____________

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

He received a Dear ________________ letter from his girl friend.

She cut the Gordian ________________.
He is trying to ________________ Peter to pay Paul.
We dont want to ________________ Pandoras box.
Dont try to keep up with the ________________.
Beware of Greek ________________!
We might see a Garrison ________________ in todays race.
Everyone has his Achilles ________________.
If you do this, youll get a Roland for an ________________.

107

10. She is living the ________________ of Reilly.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

They passed the Rubicon.

She is trying to set the Thames on fire.
Its Greek to me.
The message is double Dutch to him.
He was going to dine with Duke Humphrey this evening.
Who is willing to accept this Herculean task?
She felt the sword of Damocles.
Dont carry coals to Newcastle!
Thats a Pyrrhic victory.
Thats an Indian gift.

VII.

1. She is unbelievably good at praising her boss. Did she

2. These days, when young people go out to have a birthday party for someone, they
3. The teacher found two students were absent from class. He was angry because
4. Find another job before you resign. Its not the time to
5. The situation in this country has been in a mess for many years. We need someone to
6. You will never be happy if you always compare your life with your neighbors. So its
7. Most people do not see the impending danger. It was only Tom who
8. As the price for consumer goods goes up and up, the government
9. He hopes he could win 2 million yuan one day and
10. The Minister for Health was sacked because he

Unit 15. Miscellaneous Idioms

Strike oil
Clear the air
Make a splash

Make a mountain out of a molehill

Make waves

Out of the woods

Over the hill,

cross insult leap air deck size wool ground nest swing
motion jump lean cold bright molehill splash wave way
woods hill coin stop act medium oil storm handwriting
tunnel wind weight

108

1. A cross to bear
[] A heavy burden to carry.
have has Take up ones cross

[] He has a hard cross to bear. His wife is invalid and can not go to work.
2. Add insult to injury
[] Make a bad situation worse; hurt the feelings of a person who has already been hurt.

Insult

[] His car barely started this morning, and to add insult to injury, he got a flat tire at the
main gate of the University.
3. By leaps and bounds
[] Very quickly.
Leaps bounds
[] She was promoted to be the Minister for Foreign Affairs after being in Parliament for
only four years. She had got ahead by leaps and bounds.
4. Clear the air
[] Get rid of doubt or hostile feelings.

[] It will be better to clear the air if we want to discuss this matter frankly and seriously.
5. Clear the decks
[] Finish dealing with what one is doing so that one can start to do something more
important.

[] The company is clearing the decks for major overseas investments in the Middle East.
6. Cut someone down to size
[] Make a person more humble.

[] The secretary is too conceited. I think the new manager will have to cut her down to
size.
7. Dyed in the wool
[] Have strong opinions and will not change; stubborn.
Dyed-in-the-wool.

[] He is a dyed-in-the-wool capitalist. He gives no consideration to environment or

equality.

109

8. Fall on stony ground

[] Have no effect or being ignored.

[] Repeated warnings about a possible SARS attack have fallen on stony ground.
9. Feather ones own nest
[] Grow rich by acting dishonestly, often by using ones position.
Feather
[] Everybody knows that the famous actress has been married and divorced frequently so
that she can feather her own nest.
10. Get into the swing of things
[] Join in the routine or the activities.

[] He has been working here for three months now, but he just couldnt get into the swing
of things.
11. Go out of ones way to do something
[] Make a special effort.
Lean over backwards to do something

[] He is very busy these days, but he went out of the way to help his daughter with her
English.
12. Go through the motions
[] Make a feeble effort to do something; pretend to do something.

[] I know he is not doing his best. He is just going through the motions.
13. Jump off the deep end
[] Suddenly become very angry or upset and start shouting at someone.
Go off the deep end. deep
end in deep water

[] One minute we were having a nice conversation and the next minute she just went off
the deep end.
14. Leave someone out in the cold
[] Exclude someone.
Keep someone out in the cold Leave someone
or something out
[] He was not invited. He was left out in the cold.

110

15. Look on the bright side

[] Try to see something good in a bad situation.

[] Dont get upset about it. You may have a richer and younger boy friend within a week.
You should look on the bright side.
16. Make both ends meet
[] Manage to live on a small amount of money.
Make ends meet.
Ends

[] His wages are so low that he has to take a second job to make ends meet.
17. Make a mountain out of a molehill
[] Make a fuss about things which are not really important.

[] You know him, he is always making a mountain out of a molehill.

18. Make a splash
[] Get a lot of public attention.

[] The book is not really a best seller, but the publisher did make a splash in the media.
19. Make waves
[] Make trouble or difficulties.
Rock the boat

[] Why does he always make waves? Can he learn to be constructive?

20. Out of the woods
[] Gone through a critical phase; no longer at risk.
Out of the wood.
[] We all relaxed when the SARS patient got out of the woods.
21. Over the hill
[] Over age; too old to do anything.

[] My grandfather is seventy-five, but he doesnt think he is over the hill.

22. Pay somebody back in his/her own coin
[] Treat someone as he/she has treated others.

[] The prisoner was beaten up by the warder. I think sooner or later the prisoner will pay
him back in his own coin.

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23. Pull out all the stops

[] Use all ones energy and effort in order to achieve something.
Stop

[] You will have to pull out all the stops if you want to find a decent job in this city.
24. Read the riot act
[] Discipline a group of people; deal with firmly.

[] The headmaster read the riot act at the school assembly and said that anyone caught
smoking would be expelled.
25. Strike a happy medium
[] Find a compromise position; arrive at a position half-way between two unacceptable
extremes.

[] My wife likes spicy food, but my daughter hates spicy food. I am trying to find a
restaurant which strikes a happy medium.
26. Strike oil
[] Come upon good fortune.

[] He thought he married a poor woman. After they were married she told him she was an
heiress. Later he told me he didnt know that he had struck oil.
27. The calm before the storm
[] A peaceful and quiet period before a period of activity or trouble.

[] Four grand children are coming this afternoon to have a birthday party, so Im just
sitting down with a cup of tea, enjoying the calm before the storm.
28. The handwriting on the wall
[] The sign of impending disaster.

Daniel Daniel

see The writing (or handwriting) is on the wall for someone.

[] Most people of the Board of the company did not realize its financial plight. But the
President seemed to have seen the handwriting on the wall some months before.
29. The light at the end of the tunnel
[] An end to ones problems after a long period of time.
see
[] People in China had been horribly scared by SARS virus for two months before they

112

began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

30. Throw caution to the wind
[] Take a risk; become very careless.
Throw caution to the winds.
[] People tend to throw caution to the wind after a few glasses of wine at parties.
31. Throw ones weight around
[] Attempt to order people around; give orders.
Weight
[] The manager of the other company came into our office and tried to throw his weight
around, but no one paid any attention to him.

I.

1. The manager saw the handwriting on the wall.

A. The manager misunderstood the message.
B. The manager was pleased with the words.
C. The manager realized the warning.
2. The teacher will come and read the riot act.
A. The teacher will come and declare the rules.
B. The teacher will be our examiner.
C. The teacher will come and accept the offer.
3. The teacher is over the hill.
A. The teacher is holding a high position.
B. The teacher is very famous.
C. The teacher is too old to do anything.
4. Dont make waves!
A. You shouldnt waste your time!
B. Dont rock the boat!
C. Dont spend money like water!
5. My advice to her fell on stony ground.
A. She accepted my advice.
B. She ignored my advice.
C. She laughed at me.
6. I am trying to strike a happy medium.
A. I am trying to make more money.
B. I am trying to find a compromise.
C. I am trying to become more famous.
7. He made a mountain out of a molehill.
A. He made a fuss about an unimportant matter.
B. He made a lot of money through hard work.

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C. He had a lot of money in the bank.

8. He is going through the motions.
A. He is pretending to be working hard.
B. He is very confused.
C. He is getting upset now.
9. The man has a cross to bear.
A. He believes in God.
B. He gets angry easily.
C. He has a heavy burden to carry.
10. We are out of the woods now.
A. We are no longer at risk.
B. We are unemployed now.
C. We are confused now.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

________________ a happy medium.

throw ones ________________ around.
make both ________________ meet.
pay someone back in his own ________________.
leave someone out in the ________________.
________________ on stony ground.
feather one own ________________.
by ________________ and bounds.
make a ________________ out of a molehill.
________________ waves.
jump off the deep ________________.
________________ the hill.
look on the ________________ side.
add ________________ to injury.
pull out all the ________________.

III.

[1] throw caution to the wind.

[
[2] make waves.
[
[3] left out in the cold.
[
[4] clear the air.
[
[5] clear the decks.
[
[6] by leaps and bounds.
[
[7] a cross to bear.
[
[8] out of the woods.
[
[9] over the hill.
[
[10] strike oil.
[

] prepare for more work.

] excluded.
] a burden to carry.
] come to a big fortune.
] make trouble.
] out of trouble.
] take a risk.
] old age.
] very quickly.
] get rid of doubt.

114

IV.

1
by ________ ___ _______
2
make __ __________ ___ __ __ ______
3
add ________ __ ________
4
make _____ _____ ________
5
make __ _________
6 strike __ _________ _________
7
get ___ ___ ________ __ _______
8
dyed __ ____ ________
9
feather ______ _____ _____
10

see ___ _____ __ ___ ___ __ ___ _____

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

This is the ________________ before the storm.

We will have to ________________ her down to size.
She jumped off the ________________ end when she saw me.
Dont throw ________________ to the wind when you are with strangers.
My teachers teacher is ________________ the hill now.
The student made a ________________ when she appeared on TV.
He is a dyed-in-the ________________ nationalist.
We should not leave out Tom in the ________________.
I think he is making a mountain out of a ________________.
At last we saw the ________________ at the end of the tunnel.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He made waves at yesterdays meeting.

First of all, we need to clear the air.
Is it possible to strike a happy medium?
Please dont throw your weight around to us.
I am sorry we are still not out of woods.
He believes he could strike oil one day.
We must clear the decks now.
Dont go out of your way to do it.
They saw the handwriting on the wall.
You need to get into the swing of things quickly.

VII.

1. When she came back very late at night, her father

2. You should invite Michael to the wedding party. Dont
3. Your car was stolen? Well, the insurance company will pay for it. You
4. By late June, 2003, people in Beijing can say that they

115

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

I have five children and my wife is unemployed. Its

If you want to pass the exam, you will
She is either very sad or very happy at home. She cant seem
This is only trivial matter, so please dont
We have to do something more important, so now
Dont tell her the sad news when she is already upset. We

Unit 16. Variety Idioms

have get

A storm in a teacup
A tempest in a teapot

Have a kangaroo in ones top paddock

freeway motorway

petrol gas

storm tempest tether rope flog beat edgeways edgewise

bag baby brick roof woods forest spanner wrench
chalk courses wicket bat pigeons swing wedge stick
hole base draw curve breeze fair fix go kangaroo
hose
bone

1. A storm in a teacup
[] An argument, quarrel or disturbance about something not important.
A tempest in a teapot

[] They will become friends again soon. I think the argument they had is only a storm in a
teacup.
2. At the end of ones tether
[] Very worried or troubled, and not knowing what to do.
At the
end of ones rope

[] The son refused to go to school and stayed up late at night watching TV. The mother

116

was at the end of her tether and did not know how to discipline her son.
3. Flog a dead horse
[] Try to continue discussing or arousing interest in something that that has already been
fully discussed or that is no longer of interest.

Beat a dead horse

[] Stop arguing! You have won your point. Now you are just flogging a dead horse.
4. Get a word in edgeways
[] Succeed in saying something when other people are talking and ignoring you.
Get a word in edgewise

[] It was such an exciting conversation that my daughter could hardly get a word in
edgeways.
5. Leave someone holding the baby
[] Leave someone with the responsibility for something, especially something difficult or
unpleasant, often when it was originally someone elses responsibility.

Leave someone holding the bag

[] We all promised to look after the garden when the owner was away, but I was left
holding the baby on my own.
6. Like a cat on hot bricks
[] Nervous and unable to keep still.

Like a cat on a hot tin roof

.
[] Whats wrong with him? He is like a cat on hot bricks now.
7. Not see the wood for the trees
[] Not be able to see a general problem because one is looking at the details.
Not see the forest for the trees.
Wood forest can unable
[] The economist thought that all financial problems were due to lack of consumer demand.
He could not see the wood for the trees.
8. Throw a spanner in the works
[] Sabotage a plan or enterprise; spoil a scheme by creating difficulties or obstructions.
Throw a wrench in
the works
spanner wrench, Throw
a monkey wrench into the works

[] The chief engineer was discontented and he left the company taking with him the plans

117

of the current project. He threw a spanner in the works.

9. Blind someone with science
[] Confuse someone by using technical language so that they are not likely to understand.

[] The speaker tried to blind the students with science because he did not want the students
asking any difficult questions.
10. Different as chalk and cheese
[] Completely different.
As different as day and night

[] Although Michael and Andrew are twins, they are as different as chalk and cheese.
11. Horses for courses
[] Choose suitable people for different activities because different everyone has different
skills.
Course

[] Oh well, horses for courses. Just because a tailor can make nice clothes for you, it
doesnt follow that he can fix your washing machine as well.
12. Off ones own bat
[] Choose to do something or decide to do something rather than being told to do it.
Bat

[] Did your teacher ask you to write this paper? No, I am doing it off my own bat.
13. On a sticky wicket
[] In a difficult situation and find it hard to deal with the problems.
Wicket
(batsman)A sticky wicket

[] We all know that he is on a sticky wicket again, and that he does not know how to deal
with the situation himself.
14. Swings and roundabouts
[] A situation in which there are as many advantages as there are problems.
Its swings and roundabouts
What you lose on the swings, you gain on the

118

[]

roundabouts

If you save money by buying a nice big house 20 km out of town, you will have to pay
more money to travel to work in the city.

15. The thin end of the wedge

[] A minor or unimportant event or act that is the first stage in something more serious or
unfortunate.

[] The manager thinks that if she gives her secretary a payrise, it will be the thin end of the
wedge and all the staff will demand one.
16. Get a line on someone or something
[] Get special information that will help one find someone or do something.

[] FBI agents hope to get a line on the so-called terrorist from the fingerprints she left.
17. Get on the stick
[] Force oneself to hurry or to start working.

[] If I get on the stick, I will finish the book by the end of the year.
18. Get the short end of the stick
[] End up with less than someone else; end up cheated or deceived.
Have the short end of the stick
End up with the short end of the stick. Stick
tug-of-war
[] Why do girls always get the short end of the stick? They should have a fair share.
19. Go to bat for someone
[] Give help and support to someone who is in trouble, especially by talking to someone
else for them.

[] If you tell me the whole story, I will go to bat for you.

20. In the hole
[] Owe money to someone else.

[] I gave him two hundred yuan last week, but now he is three hundred yuan in the hole.
21. Off base
[] Mistaken or wrong.

119

[]

Base
Base
We dont think the company is off base in cutting more staff members.

22. Quick on the draw

[] Quick to act; quick to respond to anything.
Draw

Slow on the draw

[] Tom got the right answer again. He is really quick on the draw.
23. Throw a curve
[] Surprise someone in an unpleasant way; deceive or confuse; mislead or lie.
Throw someone a curve
ball.
[] My boss threw me a curve ball when he said I would have to work late the night of the
final football match between China and Korea.
24. Bat the breeze
[] Engage in idle talk.
Bat

[] I was angry when I saw two men standing in the middle of the road batting the breeze.
25. Fair dinkum
[] True; real.
dinkum 19 60
Fair dinkum
Really? Is it true? How come?
[] If you are planning for a holiday, you should think about having a fair dinkum holiday
in Australia.
26. Fix someone up
[] Attend to someones wants; pay someone what is due.

[] Please take a seat and our waitress will come and fix you up in a minute.
27. Give someone a go
[] Give someone a chance; let someone have a try.

[] I know he is young, but I still think we should give him a go and let him try and fix the
computer.
28. Have kangaroos in ones top paddock
[] Silly or crazy.

120

[]

Paddock

What? You want to adopt another baby? You must have kangaroos in your top paddock.

29. Home and hosed

[] Finished completely and successfully.
Hose

[] You can sit back and relax now, for the project is home and hosed.
30. Point the bone at someone
[] Wish someone bad luck; bring death to an enemy.

[] The leader of the opposition Party pointed the bone at the Prime Minister this morning
in Canberra, hoping everything will go wrong with the Labor Party.

I.

1. She cant see the forest for the trees.

A. She cant see the general situation.
B. She cant see the details.
C. She is as blind as a bat.
2. We should give him a go.
A. We should learn from him.
B. We should sack him.
C. We should let him have a try.
3. The teacher is at the end of his rope.
A. The teacher has lost hope.
B. The teacher has finished his work.
C. The teacher is very angry.
4. The artist threw a spanner in the works.
A. The artist caused a sensation.
B. The artist caused a problem.
C. The artist put forward a good suggestion.
5. They are on a sticky wicket.
A. They are having a good time.
B. They are in trouble.
C. They are fully satisfied.
6. They are as different as chalk and cheese.
A. They are the same.

121

7.

8.

9.

10.

II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

B. They are very different.

C. They are relatives.
She got the short end of the stick.
A. She suffered.
B. She benefited.
C. She got angry.
We are home and hosed.
A. We have finished our work.
B. We are safe and sound.
C. We are all invited.
She pointed the bone at the bus driver.
A. She wished the driver good luck.
B. She wished the driver bad luck.
C. She gave directions to the driver.
She was left holding the baby.
A. She had to be responsible for what was left.
B. She had to work as a baby-sitter.
C. Unexpectedly she became pregnant.

point the ________________ at someone.

________________ a dead horse.
throw a _________________ in the works.
leave someone holding the ________________.
blind someone with ________________ .
________________ for courses.
get the short ________________ of the stick.
a storm in a ________________.
________________ the breeze.
like a cat on hot ________________.
________________ someone a curve ball.
off ones own ________________.
as different as ________________ and cheese.
________________ on the draw.
get a word in ________________.

III.

[1] in the hole.

[
] chat idly.
[2] bat the breeze.
[
] in difficult situation.
[3] home and hosed.
[
] let someone try.
[4] on a sticky wicket.
[
] in debt.
[5] off base.
[
] deceive someone.
[6] give someone a go.
[
] do sth. voluntarily.

122

[7] off ones own bat.

[8] throw someone a curve.
[9] fix someone up.
[10] fair dinkum.

[
[
[
[

] completed.
] true.
] serve someone.
] wrong.

IV.

1
bat ___ ________
2
point ___ ______ __ ________
3
quick __ ____ _______
4
give ___________ ___ ____
5
go __ ____ ___ ____________
6
get ___ ______ ____ __ ___ _____
7
as different __ _______ ___ _______
8 not see ___ _______ ___ ___ _______
9
leave ___________ ________ ___ _____
10

at the ____ __ _____ ________

V.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The teacher tried to ________________ us with science.

The family is on a ________________ wicket.
The two students are as different as chalk and ________________.
I will ________________ you up in a minute.
Give them a ________________.
He suddenly found himself to be ________________ the hole.
This is only a ________________ in teapot.
Tom, you are flogging a ________________ horse!
She looks like a cat on a hot tin ________________.
________________ for courses. I think she is the suitable person for the job.

VI.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

She cant see the wood for the trees.

My teacher threw me a curve.
She is having a kangaroo in her top paddock.
Fair dinkum?
Its swings and roundabouts.
Give her a go.
I did it off my own bat.
This might be the thin end of the wedge.
She is not willing to go bat for me.
The policeman was quick on the draw.

123

VII.

1. Nobody told him to do it. He made the suggestions

2. He used many technical term in his lecture. He
3. I do not have anything in common with my sister, we are
4. I think Tom will win the quiz show, because he
5. Their income is too high to qualify for help from the government. They
6. Higher earnings mean more tax, so its all
7. I think we have finished everything. Yes, I agree. We
8. I think they are in a difficult situation. They are
9. She cant think of anything she could do to deal with the situation. She
10. The poor boy said he was in love with the famous pop star. But I think

124

Proverbs and Practical Sayings.

1. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
[]
[]

2. A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit.

[]
[]

3. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

[]
[]

4. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

[]
[]

Moss

5. Actions speak louder than words.

[]
[]

6. All is not gold that glitters.

[]
[]

All that glitters is not gold.

7. All roads lead to Rome.
[]
[]

8. All work no play Jack becomes a dull boy.

[]
[]

9. Blood is thicker than water.

[]
[]

125

10. Constant dripping wears away the stone.

[]
[]

11. Distant hills are greener.

[]
[]

The grass is always

greener on the other side of the fence. Blue are the hills
that are far away

12. Do as the Romans do while in Rome.

[]
[]
When in Rome, do as the Romans
do.
13. Empty vessels make the most sounds.
[]
[]

Empty vessels make the most noise.

14. Enough is as good as a feast.
[]
[]

15. Even Homer nods.

[]
[]
(Homer)
nod
Homer sometimes nods.
16. Every cloud has a silver lining.
[]
[]

17. Every dog has its day.

[]
[]

18. Great minds think alike.

[]
[]

126

19. Handsome is as handsome does.

[]
[]

20. He who laughs last laughs best.

[]
[]
He laughs best who laughs last.
21. History repeats itself.
[]
[]

22. It is easy to be wise after the event.

[]
[]

23. Its no use crying over spilt milk.

[]
[]
Theres no use
crying over spilt milk. Whats done cannot be undone
Whats done is done.
24. Its never too late to learn.
[]
[]

25. Life is not all cakes and ale!

[]
[]
Life isnt all beer and skittles!

26. Look before you leap.

[]
[]

27. Make hay while the sun shines.

[]
[]
Strike while the iron is hot.
28. Man proposes, God disposes.
[]
[]

127

29. Many a little makes a mickle.

[]
[]
Muckle mickle

30. Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

[]
[]

31. Money is the root of all evil.

[]
[]

32. More haste less speed.

[]
[]

33. Necessity is the mother of invention.

[]
[]

34. Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.

[]
trouble
trouble
[]
Dont trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.
35. No pain, no gain.
[]
[]
No pains, no gains.
36. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
[]
[]

Nothing
venture, nothing have Nothing venture, nothing win.
37. Once bitten twice shy.
[]
[]

38. One good turn deserves another.

[]
[]

128

39. One swallow does not make a summer.

[]
[]

40. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
[]
[]

41. Prevention is better than cure.

[]
[]

42. Pride goes before a fall.

[]
[]

43. Rome was not built in a day.

[]
[]

44. Speech is silver, silence is gold.

[]
[]

45. The leopard never changes its spots.

[]
[]

46. The more you get, the more you want.

[]
[]

47. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

[]
[]

48. There is many a slip between cup and lip.

[]
[]

49. There is no rose without a thorn.

[]
[]

129

50. There is no royal road to learning.

[]
[]

51. Theres no such thing as a free lunch.

[]
[]

52. Thrift is a great revenue.

[]
[]
Thrift is a good revenue.
53. Time and tide wait for no man.
[]
[]
54. Time heals all wounds.
[]
[]
Time is a great healer Time is the great healer
Only time cures.
55. To err is human.
[]
[]

56. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

[]
[]
Many hands make light work

57. Two wrongs dont make a right.

[]
[]

58. We must learn to walk before we can run.

[]
[]

59. Well begun is half done.

[]
[]

130

60. Whats sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
[]
[]

61. When the cat is away, the mice will play.

[]
[]

62. Where there is a will, there is a way.

[]
[]

63. Who knows most, speaks least.

[]
[]

64. You can not make bricks without straw.

[]
[]

65. You can take a horse to water but you cant make it drink.
[]
[]

You can lead a horse to water but you cant

make it drink.
66. You cant tell a book by its cover.
[]
[]

67. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

[]
[]

131


A backseat driver ..................(U12-1)
A bed of roses..................(U4-3)
A big fish ..................(U12-3)
A big shot ..................(U12-2)
A bird of passage ..................(U12-4)
A black leg ..................(U12-5)
A black sheep ..................(U12-6)
A blue-collar worker ..................(U12-7)
A bluestocking ..................(U12-8)
A bosom friend ..................(U12-9)
A brass hat ..................(U12-10)
A bread winner ..................(U12-11)
A broken reed ..................(U12-12)
A bull in a china shop ..................(U12-13)
A busybody ..................(U12-14)
A cats paw ..................(U12-15)
A catch 22 situation..................(U11-30)
A country pumpkin ..................(U12-16)
A cross to bear..................(U15-1)
A dark horse ..................(U12-17)
A Dear John letter..................(U14-19)
A die-hard..................(U12-18)
A dog in the manger ..................(U12-19)
A drop in the bucket..................(U3-28)
A fair haired boy ..................(U12-20)
A fair weather friend ..................(U12-21)
A fat cat ..................(U12-22)
A feather in ones cap..................(U8-13)
A fly on the wall ..................(U12-23)
A fly on the wheel ..................(U12-24)
A fly-by-night..................(U12-25)
A glass ceiling..................(U10-7)
A gold brick ..................(U12-26)
A green hand ..................(U12-27)
A guinea pig ..................(U12-28)
A hard nut to crack..................(U5-13)
A Herculean task..................(U14-15)
A hot potato..................(U5-28)
A lame duck ..................(U12-29)
A long way out..................(U1-1)
A loose cannon ..................(U12-30)
A man Friday..................(U12-31)
A man of his word..................(U12-32)

132

A man of straw..................(U12-33)
A man of the cloth ..................(U12-34)
A maverick ..................(U12-35)
A nine days wonder ..................(U11-22)
A piece of cake..................(U6-12)
A plum job ..................(U5-10)
A Pyrrhic victory..................(U14-25)
A ringleader ..................(U12-36)
A rough diamond ..................(U12-37)
A scapegoat ..................(U12-38)
A short cut..................(U1-8)
A skeleton in the cupboard..................(U10-8)
A sleeping partner ..................(U12-39)
A snake in the grass ..................(U12-40)
A soft touch ..................(U12-41)
A square meal..................(U2-11)
A square peg in a round hole..................(U2-12)
A stitch in time saves nine ..................(U11-25)
A storm in a teacup ..................(U16-1)
A straw in the wind..................(U4-15)
A thorn in the flesh..................(U4-10)
A wet blanket ..................(U12-42)
A white-collar worker ..................(U12-43)
Achilles heel..................(U14-1)
Add fuel to the fire..................(U3-1)
Add insult to injury ..................(U15-2)
All along the line..................(U1-20)
All bread is not baked in one oven..................(U6-1)
Allow grass to grow under ones feet..................(U4-11)
An armchair critic ..................(U12-44)
An eager beaver..................(U12-45)
An egg head ..................(U12-46)
An old chestnut..................(U5-5)
An under dog ..................(U12-47)
As cool as a cucumber..................(U5-23)
As easy as pie ..................(U6-17)
As good as ones word..................(U13-16)
As keen as mustard..................(U7-8)
As like as two peas..................(U5-24)
As poor as Job ..................(U14-18)
As sure as eggs is eggs..................(U6-24)
Ask for bread and receive a stone..................(U6-2)
At cross purposes with someone..................(U1-14)
At sixes and sevens..................(U11-19)

133

At the drop of a hat..................(U9-1)

At the eleventh hour..................(U11-28)
At the end of ones tether..................(U16-2)
Aunt Sally ..................(U14-30)
Back to square one..................(U11-1)
Bark up the wrong tree ..................(U4-28)
Bat the breeze ..................(U16-24)
Bear fruit ..................(U5-9)
Bear someone / something in mind..................(U13-5)
Beat about the bush ..................(U4-31)
Beat ones brains out to do something ..................(U13-2)
Behind closed doors..................(U10-10)
Behind the eight ball..................(U11-21)
Best bib and tucker..................(U8-3)
Bite off more than one can chew..................(U7-23)
Blind someone with science ..................(U16-9)
Blow ones top..................(U2-23)
Born with a silver spoon in ones mouth..................(U7-29)
Bottom line ..................(U1-21)
Brain child..................(U13-1)
Bread and butter..................(U6-3)
Bread and circuses..................(U6-4)
Break the ice..................(U3-29)
Bring down the house..................(U10-13)
Bring home the bacon..................(U6-22)
Bring somebody into line..................(U1-22)
Burn the candle at both ends..................(U10-4)
Burn the midnight oil..................(U7-2)
Buttonhole someone..................(U8-11)
By a long chalk..................(U1-2)
By leaps and bounds..................(U15-3)
By the book ..................(U10-27)
By twos and threes..................(U11-10)
Call something to mind ..................(U13-6)
Cant hold a candle to someone..................(U10-5)
Cap in hand..................(U8-12)
Carry coals to Newcastle..................(U14-21)
Carry off the palm ..................(U4-27)
Carry ones point..................(U2-1)
Chew the fat..................(U7-1)
Clear the air ..................(U15-4)
Clear the decks..................(U15-5)
Clutch at straws..................(U4-16)
Coin a word..................(U13-17)

134

Come into line with someone..................(U1-23)

Come to the point..................(U2-2)
Cook the books..................(U10-28)
Cross ones ts and dot ones is..................(U1-16)
Cross someones mind..................(U1-18)
Cross someones path..................(U1-17)
Cross the Rubicon..................(U14-29)
Crossed in love..................(U1-15)
Cudgel ones brains..................(U13-3)
Cut a long story short..................(U1-3)
Cut ones coat according to ones cloth..................(U8-15)
Cut someone down to size..................(U15-6)
Cut the Gordian knot..................(U14-12)
Cut the mustard..................(U7-9)
Die in ones boots..................(U8-8)
Different as chalk and cheese ..................(U16-10)
Dine with Duke Humphrey..................(U14-4)
Dip into ones pocket..................(U9-8)
Dish the dirt..................(U7-21)
Do ones level best..................(U2-29)
Double Dutch..................(U14-5)
Double-cross someone..................(U1-19)
Down the drain..................(U10-11)
Draw the line at..................(U1-24)
Dress up ..................(U8-19)
Dressed up to the nines..................(U11-26)
Drink somebody under the table..................(U10-21)
Drive someone up the wall ..................(U10-25)
Drop someone a line..................(U1-25)
Dull as dishwater ..................(U3-11)
Dutch courage..................(U14-7)
Dyed in the wool..................(U15-7)
Eat humble pie ..................(U6-18)
Eat ones hat ..................(U9-2)
Eat ones words..................(U13-26)
Fair dinkum ..................(U16-25)
Fall between two stools..................(U10-18)
Fall on stony ground..................(U15-8)
Feather ones own nest..................(U15-9)
Feel like a fish out of water..................(U3-12)
Fiddle while Rome burns..................(U14-28)
Fish in troubled waters..................(U3-13)
Fit like a glove..................(U8-24)
Fix someone up ..................(U16-26)

135

Flog a dead horse ..................(U16-3)

Food for thought..................(U7-30)
Forty winks..................(U11-31)
Four corners of the world ..................(U11-15)
Four-letter word..................(U11-16)
Freudian slip ..................(U14-10)
From soup to nuts..................(U6-31)
Full of beans..................(U5-21)
Garrison finish ..................(U14-11)
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may..................(U4-5)
Get a line on someone or something ..................(U16-16)
Get a word in edgeways ..................(U16-4)
Get in on the ground floor ..................(U10-12)
Get into hot water..................(U3-14)
Get into the swing of things ..................(U15-10)
Get on like a house on fire..................(U3-2)
Get on the stick ..................(U16-17)
Get on top of someone / something..................(U2-24)
Get out of the wrong side of the bed..................(U10-2)
Get the boot..................(U8-4)
Get the short end of the stick ..................(U16-18)
Get to the bottom of something..................(U2-19)
Get to the core of something ..................(U5-6)
Get to the root of the matter..................(U4-19)
Get to the top of the tree ..................(U4-29)
Gild the lily..................(U4-9)
Give somebody a dressing down..................(U8-20)
Give somebody first refusal..................(U11-5)
Give someone a go ..................(U16-27)
Give someone a Roland for an Oliver..................(U14-27)
Give someone a taste of his or her own medicine..................(U7-17)
Give someone ones word..................(U13-18)
Give someone socks..................(U9-27)
Give someone the boot..................(U8-5)
Give someone the pip..................(U5-17)
Give someone the shirt off ones back ..................(U9-16)
Go back on ones word..................(U13-19)
Go bananas..................(U5-4)
Go Dutch..................(U14-6)
Go one better..................(U11-2)
Go out of ones way to do something..................(U15-11)
Go over the top..................(U2-25)
Go round in circles ..................(U2-14)
Go the rounds of somewhere..................(U2-17)

136

Go through fire and water..................(U3-3)

Go through the motions..................(U15-12)
Go through the roof..................(U10-19)
Go to bat for someone ..................(U16-19)
Go to pot..................(U7-25)
Go to seed..................(U5-29)
Go to the wall ..................(U10-26)
Go with the stream..................(U3-27)
Grasp the nettle..................(U4-18)
Grass roots ..................(U12-48)
Greek gift ..................(U14-13)
Greek to someone ..................(U14-14)
Half a loaf is better than no bread..................(U6-5)
Half baked..................(U7-22)
Handle someone with kid gloves ..................(U8-29)
Hang by a thread..................(U9-29)
Hang on someones coat-tails..................(U8-17)
Hang on to someones sleeve..................(U9-22)
Have a bad taste in ones mouth..................(U7-18)
Have a finger in every pie..................(U6-19)
Have a long head..................(U1-4)
Have a lot on ones mind..................(U13-7)
Have a short temper..................(U1-10)
Have a word with someone..................(U13-20)
Have egg on ones face..................(U6-23)
Have kangaroos in ones top paddock ..................(U16-28)
Have ones cake and eat it..................(U6-13)
Have ones finger in the pie..................(U6-20)
Have second thoughts ..................(U11-11)
Have someone in the pocket..................(U9-9)
Have something up ones sleeve ..................(U9-25)
Have the last word..................(U13-21)
Have the pip..................(U5-18)
Have too many irons in the fire..................(U3-4)
Have too much on ones plate..................(U7-24)
Have words with someone..................(U13-27)
Hear something on the grapevine ..................(U4-22)
Hide ones light under a bushel..................(U10-3)
Hit the hay..................(U4-13)
Hit the roof..................(U10-20)
Hold out the olive branch ..................(U4-23)
Hold water..................(U3-15)
Home and hosed ..................(U16-29)
Horses for courses ..................(U16-11)

137

In a nutshell..................(U5-15)
In apple-pie order ..................(U5-1)
In hot water..................(U3-16)
In one fell swoop..................(U11-4)
In pocket..................(U9-10)
In point..................(U2-3)
In round figures..................(U2-15)
In sackcloth and ashes..................(U9-14)
In seventh heaven..................(U11-20)
In someones shoes..................(U9-19)
In the bag..................(U10-1)
In the hole ..................(U16-20)
In the long run..................(U1-5)
In the soup..................(U6-32)
In two minds..................(U11-6)
Indian gift..................(U14-16)
Iron hand in the velvet glove..................(U8-25)
Jack of all trades and master of nothing..................(U14-17)
Jump off the deep end..................(U15-13)
Keep a level head..................(U2-30)
Keep ones head above water..................(U3-17)
Keep ones mind on something..................(U13-8)
Keep ones shirt on..................(U9-15)
Keep ones word..................(U13-22)
Keep something under ones hat..................(U9-3)
Keep the pot boiling..................(U7-26)
Keep up with the Joneses..................(U14-20)
Kid gloves..................(U8-30)
Kiss the Blarney stone..................(U14-2)
Knock the bottom out of something..................(U2-20)
Know where the shoe pinches..................(U9-17)
Know which side ones bread is buttered..................(U6-6)
Laugh up ones sleeve..................(U9-24)
Lead someone up a tree ..................(U4-30)
Leave someone holding the baby ..................(U16-5)
Leave someone out in the cold..................(U15-14)
Lick someones shoes..................(U9-18)
Lie in a nutshell..................(U5-16)
Like a cat on hot bricks ..................(U16-6)
Like water off a ducks back ..................(U3-18)
Line ones pockets..................(U9-11)
Live on the breadline..................(U6-7)
Live the life of Riley..................(U14-26)
Look for a needle in a haystack..................(U4-14)

138

Look on the bright side ..................(U15-15)

Look to ones laurels ..................(U4-24)
Make a mountain out of a molehill..................(U15-17)
Make a point of doing something..................(U2-5)
Make a point..................(U2-4)
Make a splash..................(U15-18)
Make both ends meet ..................(U15-16)
Make hay of something..................(U4-12)
Make ones rounds..................(U2-18)
Make short work of something..................(U1-11)
Make someones mouth water..................(U3-19)
Make waves ..................(U15-19)
Meet ones Waterloo..................(U14-33)
Milk and water..................(U3-20)
Milk of human kindness..................(U6-28)
Milk the bull..................(U6-29)
Milk the market..................(U6-30)
Mind ones ps and qs..................(U13-9)
Nine times out of ten..................(U11-23)
Nip something in the bud..................(U4-1)
No smoke without fire..................(U3-5)
Not all roses..................(U4-4)
Not be able to do something for nuts..................(U5-14)
Not care a fig..................(U5-8)
Not have a bean..................(U5-20)
Not mince ones words..................(U13-28)
Not ones cup of tea..................(U7-14)
Not see the wood for the trees ..................(U16-7)
Nutty as a fruit-cake..................(U6-16)
Of one mind..................(U11-3)
Off base ..................(U16-21)
Off ones oats ..................(U5-26)
Off ones own bat ..................(U16-12)
Off the cuff..................(U8-18)
Off the point..................(U2-6)
Oil someones palm..................(U7-3)
Oil the wheels..................(U7-4)
On a shoestring..................(U9-21)
On a sticky wicket ..................(U16-13)
On cloud nine..................(U11-24)
On pins and needles..................(U10-15)
On the hot seat..................(U10-16)
On the level..................(U2-31)
On the point of doing something..................(U2-7)

139

On the table..................(U10-22)
On top of something..................(U2-26)
On top of the world ..................(U2-27)
Ones daily bread..................(U6-8)
Open Pandoras box..................(U14-22)
Open sesame ..................(U5-30)
Out of frying-pan into the fire..................(U3-6)
Out of ones mind..................(U13-10)
Out of pocket..................(U9-12)
Out of the woods..................(U15-20)
Over the hill ..................(U15-21)
Over the top..................(U2-28)
Pass round the hat..................(U9-4)
Pay somebody back in his/her own coin..................(U15-22)
Penelopes web..................(U14-24)
Pepper someone with something ..................(U7-7)
Pick someones brains..................(U13-4)
Pie in the sky..................(U6-21)
Pip someone at the post..................(U5-19)
Play gooseberry..................(U5-11)
Play with fire..................(U3-7)
Pocket ones pride..................(U9-13)
Point the bone at someone ..................(U16-30)
Pour oil on the flames..................(U7-5)
Pour oil on troubled waters..................(U7-6)
Pull chestnuts out of the fire..................(U3-8)
Pull ones socks up..................(U9-26)
Pull oneself up by ones bootstraps..................(U8-10)
Pull out all the stops ..................(U15-23)
Put all ones eggs in one basket..................(U6-25)
Put new wine in old bottles..................(U7-15)
Put on ones thinking-cap..................(U8-14)
Put ones words into someones mouth..................(U13-29)
Put someone in mind of something..................(U13-11)
Put someones life on the line ..................(U1-26)
Put something on ice..................(U3-30)
Put the fat in the fire ..................(U3-9)
Put two and two together..................(U11-7)
Quick on the draw ..................(U16-22)
Read between the lines ..................(U1-30)
Read the riot act ..................(U15-24)
Rest on ones laurels ..................(U4-25)
Ring down the curtain on something..................(U10-9)
Rob Peter to pay Paul..................(U14-23)

140

Roll up ones sleeves..................(U9-23)

Root and branch ..................(U4-20)
Round something off..................(U2-16)
Rub salt into the wound..................(U7-11)
Run short of something ..................(U1-12)
Salt away some money..................(U7-12)
Scrape the bottom of the barrel..................(U2-21)
Second sight..................(U11-12)
Second to none ..................(U11-13)
See something with rose-colored glasses ..................(U4-6)
Sell like hot cakes..................(U6-14)
Separate the grain from the chaff..................(U5-25)
Set ones mind on something..................(U13-12)
Set the Thames on fire..................(U14-32)
Short with someone..................(U1-9)
Short-handed..................(U1-13)
Sign on the dotted line..................(U1-27)
Six feet under..................(U11-17)
Six of one and half a dozen of the other..................(U11-18)
Soft soap..................(U10-17)
Sour grapes..................(U5-12)
Sow ones wild oats..................(U5-27)
Speak ones mind..................(U13-13)
Spill the beans..................(U5-22)
Square up with someone..................(U2-13)
Step into someones shoes..................(U9-20)
Still waters run deep..................(U3-21)
Strike a happy medium ..................(U15-25)
Strike oil ..................(U15-26)
Sweep something under the carpet..................(U10-6)
Swings and roundabouts ..................(U16-14)
Sydney or the bush..................(U14-31)
Take a leaf out of someones book..................(U10-29)
Take a long view..................(U1-7)
Take a strong line..................(U1-28)
Take French leave..................(U14-9)
Take off ones hat to someone..................(U9-5)
Take ones mind off something..................(U13-14)
Take pot luck ..................(U7-28)
Take root ..................(U4-21)
Take someones word for something..................(U13-23)
Take something with a pinch of salt..................(U7-13)
Take the bread out of someones mouth..................(U6-9)
Take the gilt off the gingerbread..................(U6-10)

141

Take the glove off to someone..................(U8-28)

Take the words out of someones mouth ..................(U13-30)
Take to something like a duck to water..................(U3-22)
Take up the gauntlet..................(U8-23)
Talk like a Dutch uncle..................(U14-8)
Talk nineteen to the dozen..................(U11-29)
Talk through ones hat..................(U9-6)
Teach someones grandmother to suck eggs..................(U6-26)
Ten to one..................(U11-27)
Test the water ..................(U3-23)
The apple of someones eye ..................(U5-2)
The best of the bunch..................(U4-7)
The boot is on the other foot..................(U8-6)
The calm before the storm..................(U15-27)
The flower of something..................(U4-8)
The greatest thing since sliced bread..................(U6-11)
The handwriting on the wall..................(U15-28)
The icing on the cake..................(U6-15)
The land flowing with milk and honey..................(U6-27)
The last straw..................(U4-17)
The last word in something..................(U13-24)
The light at the end of the tunnel..................(U15-29)
The long and short of something..................(U1-6)
The man in the street ..................(U12-49)
The point of no return..................(U2-8)
The pot calling the kettle black..................(U7-27)
The salt of the earth ..................(U12-50)
The spice of life..................(U7-16)
The sword of Damocles..................(U14-3)
The thin end of the wedge..................(U16-15)
Three sheets in the wind..................(U11-14)
Throw a curve ..................(U16-23)
Throw a spanner in the works..................(U16-8)
Throw caution to the wind ..................(U15-30)
Throw cold water on something..................(U3-24)
Throw down the gauntlet..................(U8-22)
Throw down the glove..................(U8-26)
Throw off the mask..................(U9-7)
Throw ones weight around..................(U15-31)
Throw out the baby with the bath water ..................(U3-25)
Throw the book at someone ..................(U10-30)
Tied to someones apron-string..................(U8-1)
Tighten ones belt..................(U8-2)
To boot..................(U8-7)

142

To my mind..................(U13-15)
To ones taste..................(U7-19)
To the core..................(U5-7)
To the point..................(U2-9)
Toe the line..................(U1-29)
Too big for ones boots..................(U8-9)
Touch bottom..................(U2-22)
Turn ones coat ..................(U8-16)
Turn the tables on someone..................(U10-23)
Two heads are better than one ..................(U11-8)
Two of a kind..................(U11-9)
Under fire..................(U3-10)
Under the rose..................(U4-2)
Under the table ..................(U10-24)
Upset the apple-cart..................(U5-3)
Use every trick in the book..................(U10-31)
Wash ones dirty linen in public..................(U10-14)
Water under the bridge..................(U3-26)
Wear the trousers..................(U9-30)
When it comes to the point..................(U2-10)
Win ones laurels ..................(U4-26)
Win ones spurs..................(U9-28)
Window dressing..................(U8-21)
Wine and dine somebody..................(U7-20)
With gloves off..................(U8-31)
Word of honor..................(U13-25)
Work hand in glove with someone..................(U8-27)
Worth ones salt..................(U7-10)

143


1 16 17-18
2
2 30-34

3 [][][]

4
5

7 VII
VII
8
9

10

2003 6 24

144


Crystal, D. 1997, Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, Cambridge University Press
Edwards, E.H. 1984, Basic English Expressions, Macmillan.
Evans, I.H. 1975, Brewers Dictionary Phrases and Fables, Butler & Tanner Ltd.
Fernando, C. 2000, Idioms and Idiomaticity.
Freeborn, D. 1989, From old English to Standard English

/Macmillan.
Goodale, M. 2001, Collins COBUILD Idioms Workbook COIBUILD
/The University of Birmingham/COLLINS COBUILD.
Kramsch, C. 2000, Language and Culture.
Nida, E. A. 2001, .
Sadler, R.K. & Hayllar T.A.S. 1984, Secondary English, Macmillan.
Spears, R & Kirkpatrick, B. 1993, NTCs English Idioms Dictionary, NTC Publishing Group.
Terban, M. 1998, Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms, Scholastic Inc.
Wilkes, G.A. 1987, A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms, Sydney University Press.
Worrall, A.J. 1980, English Idioms for Foreign Students, Longman.
Chambers English Dictionary of Idioms
1998
/Prentice Hall, Inc.
Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms1999
/Cambridge University Press.
Oxford Concise Dictionary of Proverbs2001
/Oxford University Press.
Collins COBUILD Pocket Idioms Dictionary COIBUILD
2000,
/The University of Birmingham/COLLINS COBUILD.

2000
2002

2002

1989
2002
2002
2002
2002
Crossing Cultural Barriers, 2002

1997
2000

2000
1993

2001

2002
145

2003

1988
English Idioms for Chinese Students,
1998
English Allusions, 2001

2002
A Dictionary of English Idioms
2001
1996

2002
2002

146

(idiom)
idiom

idiom

2002

2002

1 Against time
2 Keep good hours
3 Fall on evil days
4 Play ducks and drakes
5 Horse of a different color
6 ake the bull by the horns
7 Like a bear with a sore head
147

8 Kill the goose that lays the golden egg

1 small fish in a big pond,

big fish in a small pond, more haste, less speed; square peg in a round hole

2
tongue in cheek head and
shoulders above someone

study round the clock(

);work against the time();keep up with the times;cast
pearls before swine
1000
64
148

Black out
Blacken someones character
Give someone a black look

In black and white

In someones black book

Know black from white
Not as black as one is painted
A bolt from the blue

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

Blue blood
Blue pencil
Blue ribbon prize

Drink till all is blue

Feel blue

Once in a blue moon

True blue
Give somebody the blues

As brown as a berry
Browned off

In a brown study

Feel off-color
Give color to something
Horse of a different color

Come out with flying colors

Show ones true colors

Win ones colors

Go into the red

Paint the town red
Red tape

Roll out the red carpet for someone

A white elephant

A white lie
As white as a sheet
Call black white
Go white

1000 64
8 56

149

in black and white, in white and black

on black and white in black and white

have get
have get

have cold feet = get cold feet

have a birds-eye view = get a birds eye view
win ones colors = get ones colors
have butterflies in the stomach = have butterflies in the stomach
have the upper hand = get the upper hand
have someone by the short hairs = get someone by the short hairs
get ones knuckles rapped = have ones knuckles rapped
make, call go

gas petrol.
freeway motorway petrol
freeway

A tempest in a teapot
A storm in a teacup
At the end of ones rope
At the end of ones tether
Beat a dead horse
Flog a dead horse
Get a word in edgewise
Get a word in edgeways
Leave someone holding the bag
Leave someone holding the baby
Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Like a cat on hot bricks
Not see the forest for the trees.
Not see the wood for the trees
Throw a wrench in the works
Throw a spanner in the works

Blind someone with science

Different as chalk and cheese
Horses for courses
Off ones own bat
On a sticky wicket
Swings and roundabouts
The thin end of the wedge
150


Get a line on someone or something
Get on the stick
Get the short end of the stick
Go to bat for someone
In the hole
Off base
Quick on the draw
Slow on the draw
Throw a curve

Bat the breeze

Fair dinkum
Fix someone up
Give someone a go
Have kangaroos in ones top paddock
Home and hosed
Point the bone at someone

1000

[1] Crystal, D. 1997, Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, Cambridge University
Press.
[2] Edwards, E.H. 1984, Basic English Expressions, Macmillan.
[3] Evans, I.H. 1975, Brewers Dictionary Phrases and Fables, Butler & Tanner Ltd.
[4] Fernando, C. 2000, Idioms and Idiomaticity
.
[5] Freeborn, D. 1989, From old English to Standard English
151

/Macmillan.
[6] Goodale, M. 2001, Collins COBUILD Idioms Workbook COIBUILD
/The University of Birmingham/COLLINS COBUILD.
[7] Kramsch, C. 2000, Language and Culture
.
[8] Nida, E. A. 2001,
.
[9] Sadler, R.K. & Hayllar T.A.S. 1984, Secondary English, Macmillan.
[10] Spears, R & Kirkpatrick, B. 1993, NTCs English Idioms Dictionary, NTC Publishing Group
[11] Terban, M. 1998, Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms, Scholastic Inc.
[12] Chambers English Dictionary of Idioms
1998
/Prentice Hall, Inc.
[13] Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms1999
/Cambridge University Press.
[14] Oxford Concise Dictionary of Proverbs
2001
/Oxford University Press.
[15] Collins COBUILD Pocket Idioms Dictionary
COIBUILD 2000,
/The University of Birmingham/COLLINS COBUILD.
[16]
2000
[17]
Crossing Cultural Barriers, 2002
[18]
English Allusions, 2001

152


2003

Professor W.H. Blackmore

2003 6
yxzhang@ruc.edu.cn

153