FOOD IDIOMS

describing feelings and behaviour

I. Choose the correct explanation for the underlined food idioms.

1. Tim’s got enough on his plate at the moment.

A) He’s very busy. B) He doesn’t need any more food.

2. It’s not my cup of tea.

A) It’s not the kind of thing I like B) It’s someone else’s
responsibility.

3. Tina’s got a sweet tooth.

A) She always talks nicely to people. B) She likes sweet food

4. Andrew felt nervous, but he acted as cool as a cucumber.

A) He was very cold. B) He was calm and in control of his emotions.

5. Mr. Smith is out to lunch most of the time.

A) He is slightly mad. B) He likes to eat at the restaurants.

6. My great plans are said to be just pie in the sky.

A) My plans are unlikely to happen. B) My plans are very likely to be achieved.

7. At last they understood that buttering Mr. Angry up will get them nowhere.
A) They won’t get what they want by telling him lies. B) They won’t get what they want by
flattery.

8. Tom is sure Alan will find roller skating a piece of cake.

A) He’ll enjoy it. B) He’ll find it easy.

9. Mrs. Brown’s grandson is the apple of her eye.

A) Mrs. Brown’s grandson adores his grandmother. B) Mrs. Brown likes
her grandson a lot.

KEY
II. Fill in the gaps with the suitable food idioms given above.

1. Going in for boxing is not________________________, I don’t consider it interesting.

Exercise I
2. Old John is so _______________ these days, he seems to be losing his mind.

3. Caroline can’t take any more work. She’s got _______________ _______________ nowadays.

4. Adam was ______________________________ before his French exam, because he was well-
prepared.

5. “Nick, take the box of chocolates into the office to ___________________ the boss.”

6. At first his theories were dismissed as ___________________________.

7. Chocolate isn’t too much problem for Kate as she doesn’t have a_______________________.

8.” Don’t say any bad things about this painting. It’s _________________ Carl’s _______”.

9. Sally hears that the Maths final exam is going to be ________________. She is not even going to
study.
KEY
1A 2A 3B 4B 5A 6A 7B 8B 9B

Exercise II

1 my cup of tea
2 out to lunch
3 enough on her plate
4 as cool as a cucumber
5 butter up
6 pie in the sky
7 a sweet tooth
8 the apple of Carl’s eye
9 a piece of cake