Scarica English idioms in use - esercizi e più Esercizi in PDF di Lingua Inglese solo su Docsity! Idioms – esercizi con correzione 1. Idioms about Happiness/Sadness, Knowing/Understanding, Experience/Perception 4.1 Anger 1. Ethan has had it up to here with his work. 2. It’s horrible living with two people who are not on speaking terms. 3. It'll really put the cat among the pigeons if you try to bring that up at the meeting. 4. My sister went spare when she found out I’d burnt her new top. 5. Joel is after your blood now he knows it was you who told the police. 6. The demonstrators are furious and out for blood. 7. Your father will throw a fit if you go out dressed like that. 8. The baby hardly sleeps at night and her mother is at her wits'end 7.1 Success and failure 1. His company has gone from strength to strength in the last six months. He's making a lot of money now. 2. The flood ruined our old kitchen, but it was a blessing in disguise, because the insurance company paid for a completely new one. 3. This new model is not the be-all-and-end-all of digital cameras, but it certainly has many technical features that others do not have. 4. Your offer to drive us to the airport makes all the difference to our travel plans. 5. Your plan to persuade Lela to join the committee worked like magic. 7.3 Who would be the most likely to say these remarks, choose the correct answer 1) It left it mark on me  b, someone who taught in a very bad school for ten years 2) I’m victim of my own success  c, a popular teacher whose class everyone wants to be in 3)I don’t think I’ll ever hit the big time  a, a rock musician who is popular in local clubs 4) Work isn’t the be-all-and-end in my life  b, someone who has a lot interesting hobbies Unit 5: Knowing and understanding 5.1 correct the mistakes 1. I don’t have even a faint idea where he is today; you’ll have to ask somebody else  the faintest idea 2. The title of the book has familiar rings to it, but | don’t think I’ve ever read it.  a familiar ring 3. My cousin knows the tax laws outside and in, so if you want advice on your tax, he’ll help you.  inside out 4. I can’t for life think what it was I came into the kitchen for  the life of me 5. I saw Tom and Lily together in a restaurant looking adoringly into each other’s eyes. I added up two and two, and decided they must be madly in love.  put two and two together 5.4 Complete each sentences with a different idiom which refers to not knowing (do not use contractions) 1. I HAVE NOT GOT A CLUE how to use the photocopier  the weakest of the three 2. I HAVE NOT GOT THE FAINTEST IDEA where I left that letter I brought for you  stronger than 1 3. I HAVE NOT GOT THE FOGGIEST IDEA what she’s talking about  even stronger than 2 6.3 Experience and perception 1. I want to know where I stand. One day you say you love me, the next day you say I’m just a friend. It’s driving me crazy. 2. He spent £500 of my money. I’ll never lend him my credit card again. I’ve learnt my lessons 3. I don’t know all the ins and out of the situation, but I think one of the directors is going to resign. There must be a big problem. 4. I can understand that she needed help, but what beats me is that she should ask someone as stupid as Leon to help her! 1.1. Idioms about Problems, Power/Authority, Arguments, Praise/Criticism 8.4 Having problems 1. You’d better stop talking or you I’ll dig yourself into a deeper hole 2. I hoped I’d fine the address I needed in the library, but I drew a blank 3. If you take on any more work, you’ll be spreading yourself far too thin 4. Stranded on the island with no money and no luggage, we were well aware that we were in dire straits 5. The police explored a numbers of leads, but each time they came up against a brick wall 6. Not having enough savings to set up a business was a major stumbling block 7. I wish I could leave my job, but they’ve got me over a barrel 9.3 Dealing with problems 1. I’d like to try that new bowling alley. Let’s give it a whirl this evening 2. I’m finding it quite hard to get grips with my new role at work 3. When the business failed. Paul vanished, leaving his partner to pick the pieces 4. Some important new evidence has come to light 5. I hope that we’ll be able to get to the bottom of what’s been going on 6. New medical research has shed the cause of heart attacks 7. As soon as I met Joshua’s family, everything fell into place 8. In the investigation in their accounts, a number of errors have come to light 10.2 Power and authority 1. It’s wrong to take the law into your own hands 2. It’s time I laid down to the law and made them do their duty 3. I would not want to be at the receiving end of his bad temper 4. Old Bob seems to have become a law unto himself at work. He does just what he likes. 5. Nobody tells you what to do. You’re gust left to your own devices. 11.3 Structuring and talking about arguments 1. In some ways it's glamorous being a pop star. But [the other side of the coin] is that you no longer have any privacy. 2. It's time these petty criminals were [called to account] for their irresponsible actions. 3. I know Bill's a nice friendly person, but, [be that as it may], he still has to pull his weight in the office. 4. [on the one hand], I think Janna might have the best personality for the job, but, on the other, Mina has more experience. 5. If he's apologised, I think you should [give him the benefit of the doubt]. 6. It would be opening [a can of worms] to inquire about his finances. 12.3 Correct the mistakes in these idioms 1) It’s a lovely present. Thanks a thousand  Thanks a million! 2) You won’t find it difficult to learn to ski, there’s really nothing to that  There’s really nothing to it 3) It’s either here or there which hotel you decide to stay in – they’re both excellent  neither 4) Let’s have a really big wedding. The more, the merry  merrier 5) You may say that again! I couldn’t agree with you more!  can 6) He’s travelled a lot. You say it, he’s been there  name 13.1 Praise and criticism 1) All sweetness and light 2) like gold dust 3) asking for it 4) second to none 5) a hard act to follow 2. Idioms from the topic area of Time, Elements, Colours 31.4 Time Find the missing preposition and the most suitable idiom 1) I felt as if I was in a time wrap as I sat in the ancient cottage talking to the old man  I felt as I had gone back in time to a different era 2) My dad can remember the first home computer, but that was before my time  before I was born 3)I have a lot of time for Jack; he’s a very interesting person and intelligent person  I spend a lot of time with him 4) I turned off the water supply in the nick of time  just in time to prevent a disaster 5) Shakespeare’s play have stood the test of time  have not been weakened by the passing of time Time: clocks and frequency 32.3 Time 2: clocks and frequency 1) From scratch 2) Once in a lifetime 3) Once and for all 4) From against time to time 5) Work against the clock 6) Nine times out of ten 32.5 Rewrite the underlined part 1. Do you go and see your mother and father very often? Well, occasionally, but not on a regular basis. [off and on] 2. Should we wait and do it as and when we need to? No, I think we should do it now, so that we never need to do it again. [once and for all] 3. Shall we try and speak to Mr Sanders about it? Well, we can try, but on almost every occasion he's too busy to meet anyone. [nine times out of ten] 4. The boss wants this report by Friday! Well, we'll just have to work very fast to get it finished by then. [against the clock] 5. Do you want to go on working a bit longer? No, l’ve had enough. Let's finish now. [call it a day] 33.2 The elements 1. You'll be fine working for someone like that - he's a very decent man. (EARTH)  he’s the salt of the earth 2. Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to my advice. (GROUND)  my advice fell on stony ground 3. Unfortunately, her angry words have only made the situation worse. (FUEL)  added fuel to the fire 4. I think Rosie must be in trouble — the boss has asked to see her at once. (WATER)  in hot water 5. Noah doesn't really have the experience to cope with his new job. (DEPTH)  is really out of his depth 6. Spreading rumours like that is a risky thing to do. (FIRE)  playing with fire 7. Choose a number at random and multiply it by 3. (AIR)  pluck a number of the air 8. The police were unable to find where the escaped convicts were hiding. (GROUND)  run the escaped convicts to ground 34.1 Colours 34.1 Newspapers’s headlines 1. Health service budget just a black hole, says minister. [Every year, more and more money simply disappears, without any real results in terms of improvements, she said.] 2. Government promises to deal with grey area of Internet law. [It was not at all clear what the situation was and it was now time for governments to co-operate to clarify things.] 3. Green belt round Liverpool extended. [There was a real need to protect the environment from further damage, the Director of Planning said.] 4. Children with blue blood no more intelligent than others, say scientists. [Any claim to the contraty simply could not be proved, said Doctor Wills, one of the team who investigated twenty upper-class families.] 34.4 Rewrite the underlined part of each sentences with an idiom (! Do not use contractions) 1. I want to see a contract in written form, not just an informal agreement  in black and white 2. I wanted to apply for a visa, but a friend told me there are so many forms to fill in and complicated rules, so l’ve decided to forget it  there is a lot of red tape 3. My new house has a big garden, but l’m no good with plants, so l’ll probably never do any gardening do not have green fingers 4. She was caught just as she was stealing food from the school kitchen  caught red-handed 5. He's always introducing unimportant points which distract everybody from the main argument .  red herrings 2.2. Idioms from the topic area of Clothes, Games/Sports, Animals 35.3 Clothes  Correct the mistakes in these idioms 1. Paul’s speech was really long and not very interesting. He really bored the trousers off everyone!  pants 2. The exam is tomorrow? You'd better roll up your shirt and start studying right now  sleeves 3. Gary promised to pay me back for the hotel room, but he never did. Now I'm £80 outside the pocket  out of 4. I just hope I can be as good a teacher as Mr Roberts. I have some big shoes to walk in.  fill 5. Julia is training for a marathon at the same time as writing a book. I really take my cap off to her  hat 36.3 Games and sport 1. Let's ask Pete for advice - he's usually ON THE BALL 2. The government always tries to PASS THE BUCK where there are economic problems, saying the previous regime is to blame. 3. l’d like you each to tell us why you have decided to do a creative writing course; Marie, would you START THE BALL ROLLING please? 4. Applicants all have to agree to the same conditions for the interview in order to ensure A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD 5. No one asked him to help- he did it OFF HIS OWN BAT 6. If you Keep your things tidy, the others may FOLLOW SUIT 7. It is still ON THE CARDS that I'll get a contract for the job. 8. He's been very frank and has PUT HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE; now we'll have to do the same. 9. He claims he can speak fluent Japanese; let's CALL HIS BLUFF and invite him to dinner with our Japanese guests. 10. The Manager THREW US A CURVEBALL when he told us that our budget would be cut next year 37.3 Animals for describing people 1. Jack: Harry never seems to want to go out with other people. Lucy: No, he's a bit of [A LONE WOLF]. 2. Liam: Are you busy these days? Chris: Busy! It's ridiculous! I try to keep up with things, but I'm just [CHASING MY TAIL]. 3. Marcus: Dan is in the boss's office again today. That's the third time this week he's gone to complain about the computers. Mike: Yes, he won't give up. He's really got [THE BIT BETWEEN HIS TEETH]. 4. Orla: You seemed to be enjoying your lunch today! Emma: Yes, I made [A REAL PIG] of myself. I feel so full now! 5. Kallum: Philip scared everyone yesterday. He looked really angry. Eve: Oh, don't worry about him. His [BARK IS WORSE THAN HIS BITE]. 6. Alan: Look at Charles! He's already talking to a gorgeous girl over there! Joe: Oh yeah, he always makes [A BEELINE] for the prettiest girl in the room. 38.5 Animals: describing situation 1. Take the bull by the ... [HORNS] 2. Kill two birds with one ... [STONE] 3. At a snail’s ... [PACE] 4. Like a bear with a sore ... [HEAD] 5. A ...'s breakfast. [DOG] 38.6 Rewrite the underlined parts of this paragraph I was trying to finish my essay for my English class by the end of the week, but it all seemed to be going very slowly (1) and | was not very motivated. So I decided to face the situation and act positively (2). I stayed up until after midnight every day for four days and worked on my essay. I was tired in the mornings, and went round feeling very bad-tempered and irritable (3) all day, but, in the end I managed to do two useful things in one go (4): I finished the essay and I read a number of important books I should have read weeks ago. My last essay was a bit of a mess (5), but l’m hoping this one will get a better grade. (1) Risposta AT A SNAIL'S PACE (2) Risposta TAKE THE BULLL BY THE HORN (3) Risposta LIKE A BEAR WITH A SORE HEAD (4) Risposta TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE (5) Risposta A DOG'S BREAKFAST 2.2. Idioms from the topic area of Weapons/War, Food, Roads, House, Nature 39.4 Weapons and war 1. If I were up in your arms, you’d be protesting strongly (b) 2. If someone put the knife in, they do or say something very damaging ( c) 3. If your burn your bridges, you make it impossible to return to a former situation (a) 4. If you have an axe to grind, you have a strong opinion and you want persuade people you’re right (c ) 40.1 Food Task  what might Jo say in each situation? Match the remarks in the box with the sitatution 1. Jo's husband asks her what she thinks of some exciting new computer software she's using. [It's the best thing since sliced bread!] 2. Jo asks her brother how he likes his new, rather boring job. [It provides the bread and butter.] 3. Jo's husband asks her how she felt after a meeting at work where people said some very unpleasant things to each other. [I was left with a sour taste in my mouth!] 4. Jo tells her husband about her boss - whom she doesn't like - who made a mistake in some basic on. [He had egg on his face!] 5. Jo's son tells her that he's going to spend his (not very large) savings on an expensive new guitar as well as going on a trip to Australia. [You can't have your cake and eat it.] 41.2 Roads Task  write the underline part of the sentence 1. Well, it's been nice talking to you. Maybe we'll see each other again somewhere.  our paths will cross again somewhere 2. That TV programme about birds is just right for you. You should watch it.  right up your street/alley 3. Liam is fairly neutral when it comes to environmental issues.  middle-of-the-road 4. The photocopier makes me absolutely crazy. It always breaks down just when you need it most.  drives me round the bend 5. 4. The photocopier makes me absolutely crazy. It always breaks down just when you need it most.  got stuck in a rut 41.3 True or false? 1. If someone lives off the beaten track, they live in the middle of the city  F  a very isolated place 2. If a street is a dead end, you can’t drive down it and the out of the other hand  T 3. Road rage is when people get angry and violent because of problems and arguments while driving  T 4. If something is an uphill battle, it’s like the pleasant feeling of travelling up a beautiful hill  F  means a very difficult task 5. If someone is one the wrong track, they are dialling a wrong number on a telephone  F  thinking or acting wrongly 49.3 Bones, shoulder, arm, leg 1. Charlotte has a chip on her shoulder because she never got a chance to go to university. c) She carries a negative feeling about it throughout her life. 2. Dan is pulling Helen's leg. b) He is trying to fool her about something. 3. Louise needs a shoulder to cry on. b) She needs a friend to listen to her troubles. 4. Rita is trying to twist Sara’s arm because she wants to borrow Sara's car. a) Rita is trying to persuade Sara even though Sara doesn’t want to do it. 5. Laura gave Mark the cold shoulder when he asked her to go with him to the school party. c) She behaved in a rather distant way and said ‘no’. 6. Clare said she would stand shoulder to shoulder with Irene. c) She promised to support Irene in a difficult situation. 3.1. Idioms using these keywords: Head, Face/Hair/Neck, Eyes, Ear/Lips/Mouth 50.2 Head 51.1 Face, hair, neck, chest I haven't been enjoying my job recently. On the FACE of it, it's a good job, but my colleagues don't get on with each other. They are either at each other’s THROATS or giving each other the cold SHOULDER and I don't know which is worse. My boss is always breathing down my NECK and ramming his reactionary views down my THROATH. I find him a terrible pain in the NECK. I had to get my feelings off my CHEST and, today, I decided to unburden myself to his secretary. Suddenly, I realised that my boss was standing behind me. You should have told me this FACE to FACE, he said and, without turning a HAIR, he added ‘You're fired!’ I was so angry that I pulled a FACE at him and stormed out of the office. 51.2 Face,hair, neck and chest 1 e 2 h 3 a 4 b 5 g 6 c 7 d 8 f 52.1 Eyes 53.1 Ear, lips, mouth, nose, teeth, tongue 53.4 Choose the correct idioms 1. My heart was in my mouth. b) I was feeling anxious/nervous. 2. Could l have a word in your ear? c) Could I speak to you privately? 3. These people just live from hand to mouth. b) They just earn enough money to survive. 4. The boss was foaming at the mouth when it emerged how much money had been lost. c) He was very angry. 3.2. Idioms using these keywords: Heart, Brain/Mind/Blood, Back 54.2 Heart 1. My heart missed a beat when the handsome man smiled at me. 2. When we are on holiday, the children can build sandcastles to their heart's content while we lie on the beach and read. 3. Jake used to support the Green Party, but he's had a change of heart 4. If you ask Rob to help you, l'm sure he'll put his heart and soul into it and the job will be finished in no time. 5. Your dissertation is nearly finished, so don't lose heart now. 6. It breaks my heart to see my brother making such a fool of himself. 7. My heart sank when I realised pay day was still a week away. 55.2 Brain, mind, blood and guts 56.2 Back 56.3 Back 1 e 2 h 3 a 4 g 5 b 6 d 7 c 8 f 3.3. Idioms using these keywords: Line, Act/Action/Activity, Good/Bad