Cutting Edge Advanced

Idioms on Modules 4 and 5

1 I couldn't keep a ________________ face when he showed me his pictures from his hippie youth: he looked so funny in
all these children-of-flowers style clothing.

2 I've never ridden a roller coaster before. It was a hair-__________________ experience.

3 Are you pulling my ___________________ or is it true that Jack finally has got this promotion of his?

4 I'm sorry, madame. I'm all _____________________ and thumbs this morning. I'll clean up these broken pieces of plate.

5 I was told that Mike's parents are quite impatient and grumpy, but after visiting them I can't understand why people say
such things: they went _______________________ of their way to please and entertain me the whole evening.

6 Highway maintenance service is _______________ the way to change our flat tire, so we can lay back and listen to the
radio broadcast in the meanwhile.

7 Wait a minute! Why don't you give John a _______________ in how to sit up for his exams, huh!? It's his future career
that depends on them after all, not yours, you see!

8 His sarcastic remark about Garry's girl-friend evening dress was ______________________ the knuckle.

9 After exposing his illegal gambling activities, the police thought he was done in for, as obviously he was up to his
________________ in it, but it turned out that he was well-connected in the underworld and got away with it in the end.

10 These days people should try to find an equilibrium between their work and private life, get enough sleep and not let
things get on _____________________ of them.

11 Since High School I always have _______________________ in my stomach when I have to make a presentation or a
project in front of class.

12 You know what? Hellene's got a lovely garden. I don't know why every flower or tree I've ever planted died in the end.
She must have _______________________ fingers and I don't. That's an obvious conclusion.

13 These days gentleman's agreement is not worth the ____________________________ it's written on.

14 It seems as if she won her tournament hands __________________ but her coach says it's been blood and tears while
training although she never shows it in front of the cameras.
15 I understand it's along run from where we are right now, so let's take it step ___________ step. Rome wasn't built in
day, was it?

16 The media had to tone ________________________ his interview because of his critic of the government.

17 Can you believe it? This drug is on the street and the main consumers are teenagers, but legislators are turning a
____________________________ eye to it! They're surely in it somehow, I'm telling you.

18 If you put your ______________________________ to it, you could finish the job by the noon.

19 The early bird catches the __________________________, so don't be late for your interview tomorrow morning.

20 You'll have to do _______________ your pocket money this week as a penalty for starting a fight in school at Friday's
party.

21 I didn't know that they had split up a few months ago and that there was even a scandal involving his lover and some
money laundry, so when I asked her how John was doing I really put my __________________ in it. You should have seen
her face! My goodness!

22 This law is a hangover __________________ the prewar legislature. It's time we got rid of it or face the consequences
of more dramatic misinterpretations in the future.

23 Although the critics' reviews were not favorable, she just took things in her _______________________ and continued
to write her second novel.

24 The judge ordered him to never set ______________________ in her house again.

25 He was in a ________________ way right after the accident but is getting better now.

26 I've never done sky-diving in my life, but after my friends' exhilarating wows I finally decided to give it a __________,
and to tell you the truth, I felt awesome after trying it.

27 Seeing this kid's potential for the future of car racing, he decided to take him under his wing and give him a
________________________ start.

28 John turned __________________ his nose at Ann's soup, and that hurt her feelings.

29 A person who is addicted to work (the correct medico-legal term is ergomania) is a ________________-aholic.
 Answers

1 I couldn't keep a straight face when he showed me his pictures from his hippie youth: he looked so funny in all these
children-of-flowers style clothing.

2 I've never ridden a roller coaster before. It was a hair-raising experience.

3 Are you pulling my leg or is it true that Jack finally has got this promotion of his?

4 I'm sorry, madame. I'm all fingers and thumbs this morning. I'll clean up these broken pieces of plate.

5 I was told that Mike's parents are quite impatient and grumpy, but after visiting them I can't understand why people say
such things: they went out of their way to please and entertain me the whole evening.

6 Highway maintenance service is on the way to change our flat tire, so we can lay back and listen to the radio broadcast in
the meanwhile.

7 Wait a minute! Why don't you give John a say in how to sit up for his exams, huh!? It's his future career that depends on
them after all, not yours, you see!

8 His sarcastic remark about Garry's girl-friend evening dress was near the knuckle.

9 After exposing his illegal gambling activities, the police thought he was done in for, as obviously he was up to his neck in
it, but it turned out that he was well-connected in the underworld and got away with it in the end.

10 These days people should try to find an equilibrium between their work and private life, get enough sleep and not let
things get on top of them.

11 Since High School I always have butterflies in my stomach when I have to make a presentation or a project in front of
class.

12 You know what? Hellene's got a lovely garden. I don't know why every flower or tree I've ever planted died in the end.
She must have green fingers and I don't. That's an obvious conclusion.

13 These days gentleman's agreement is not worth the paper it's written on.

14 It seems as if she won her tournament hands down but her coach says it's been blood and tears while training although
she never shows it in front of the cameras.
15 I understand it's along run from where we are right now, so let's take it step by step. Rome wasn't built in day, was it?

16 The media had to tone down his interview because of his critic of the government.

17 Can you believe it? This drug is on the street and the main consumers are teenagers, but legislators are turning a blind
eye to it! They're surely in it somehow, I'm telling you.

18 If you put your mind to it, you could finish the job by the noon.

19 The early bird catches the worm, so don't be late for your interview tomorrow morning.

20 You'll have to do without your pocket money this week as a penalty for starting a fight in school at Friday's party.

21 I didn't know that they had split up a few months ago and that there was even a scandal involving his lover and some
money laundry, so when I asked her how John was doing I really put my foot in it. You should have seen her face! My
goodness!

22 This law is a hangover from the prewar legislature. It's time we got rid of it or face the consequences of more dramatic
misinterpretations in the future.

23 Although the critics' reviews were not favorable, she just took things in her stride and continued to write her second
novel.

24 The judge ordered him to never set foot in her house again.

25 He was in a bad way right after the accident but is getting better now.

26 I've never done sky-diving in my life, but after my friends' exhilarating wows I finally decided to give it a go, and to tell
you the truth, I felt awesome after trying it.

27 Seeing this kid's potential for the future of car racing, he decided to take him under his wing and give him a head start.

28 John turned up his nose at Ann's soup, and that hurt her feelings.

29 A person who is addicted to work (the correct medico-legal term is ergomania) is a workaholic.