CHUYÊN ĐỀ VIẾT LẠI CÂU (KHÓ)

ANSWER KEY
TEST 1
1. What he told me made me very curious to hear the rest of the story.

-What he told me whetted my appetite for the rest of the story.

Whet one’s appetite for something: make someone want something

more

2. I knew the project would not succeed from the start.

- I knew the project was doomed to failure from the start.

Be doomed to failure: be certain to fail

3. The politician tried to find people who were willing to back his campaign
to help the homeless.

- The politician tried to drum up support for his campaign to help the
homeless.

Drum up support for something: to try to get support for something

4. Digging in the garden gives me an outlet for my frustrations.

- Digging in the garden allows me to vent my frustrations

Vent (v): to express a negative emotion in a forceful way.

5. She was miserable when her mother made her give away all her childhood
toys.

-She was miserable to have parted with all her childhood toys.

Part with: give something you prefer to keep to somebody else

6. By leaving Mary alone, I am sure she will finish the project on time.
-If Mary is left to her own devices, I am sure she will finish the project on
time.

Leave somebody to their own devices: to leave somebody alone to do as

they wish, and not tell them what to do.

7. Martin cannot go higher in his career.

-Martin has reached the pinnacle of his career.

Pinnacle of something: the most important or most successful part of

something

8. He suddenly realized that she was never coming back.

- It suddenly dawned on him that she was never coming back.

Dawn on somebody: if something dawns on you, you begin to realize it.

9. You‘ve been looking miserable all day.

- You’ve done nothing but moon around all day.

Moon around/ about: to spend time doing nothing

10. She‘s only happy when somebody does all her jobs for her.

- She‘s only happy when somebody dances attendance on her.

Dance attendance on somebody: to be with somebody and do things to

help and please them.

11. Ray’s good work record enabled him to get promotion.

- Ray got promotion on the strength of his good work record.

On the strength of something: because somebody has been influenced or

persuaded by something
12. The company tried unsuccessfully to secure a bank loan.

- The company’s attempts/efforts were to no avail in securing a bank loan.

To little/ no avail: with little or no success

13. They remain close friends despite having had many arguments.

-They haven’t fallen out although they have had many arguments.

Fall out: be no longer friendly with somebody

14. Have you ever thought of changing jobs?

-Has it ever crossed your mind to change jobs?

Cross your mind: to come into your mind

15. I’m sick of that program because I’ve watched it too often.

-I’ve gone off that program because I’ve watches it too often.

Go off something: be bored of something

16. A new arrangement over working conditions has been made between the
management and the Union.

-The management has struck a new deal with the Union over working
conditions.

Strike a deal: to make an agreement with somebody

17. We can’t possibly imagine how we are going to afford a new car.

- We haven’t the remotest idea how we are going to afford a new car.

Not have the remotest idea: to not know at all

18. Mike has a more complex personality than you may think.

- Mike has greater depths to him than you may think.

Have greater depths to somebody: someone is more complex than their

outlook
19. I don’t understand why she’s been acting in an unfriendly way lately

- I don’t understand why she’s been giving me the cold shoulder lately

Give someone the cold shoulder: be unfriendly with someone

20. Tom teased Alice about her new hairstyle.

- Tom poked fun at Alice’s new hairstyle.

Poke fun at something: make a joke of something

TEST 2
1. They are living in poverty and are worried about being evicted for not
being able to pay the rent.

- They are living from hand to mouth and are worried about being evicted
for not being able to pay the rent.

Live from hand to mouth: to have just enough money and nothing extra

2. Seeing the damage to his car, Jerry became furious.

-Jerry was beside himself with anger when he saw the damage to his car.

Beside oneself with anger: be overcome with anger

3. I happened to see James as he walked past the door.

- I caught a glimpse of James as he walked past the door.

Catch a glimpse of somebody: see something only for a moment

4. You must do anything you can to make the negotiations successful.

- You must pull out all the stops to make the negotiations successful.

Pull out all the stops: to do everything you can to make something
successful

5. The government has tried to make the incident seem less serious.

-The government has played down the seriousness of the incident.

Play down: reduce, decrease

6. A cup of tea is the most refreshing drink of all.

-There‘s nothing to match tea as a refreshing drink.

nothing to match: không gì sánh được

7. Tom didn’t understand the situation and so made a terrible mistake.

-Tom got the wrong end of the stick and so made a terrible mistake.

Get the wrong end of the stick: misunderstand something

8. In my opinion, computers are more trouble than they’re worth.

- In my opinion, computers are more of a hindrance than a help.

9. Since the advertisement, we’ve had more applications than we can deal

with.

- Since the advertisement, we’ve been swamped with applications.

Be swamped with: be overwhelmed with (tràn ngập)

10. Mary was always making Jones the subject of her cruel jokes.

- Jones was always the butt of Mary’s cruel jokes.

Be the butt of something: if you are the butt of jokes or criticism, people

often make jokes about you or criticize you.

11. She was an excellent playwright whose work didn’t get the recognition it

deserved.

- She was an excellent playwright who gained little renown for her work.
Gain renown for something: gain reputation for something.

12. There was hardly any movement in the traffic in front of us.

- The traffic inched along in front of us.

Inch along: to proceed gradually

13. The community spoke enthusiastically about the recently elected mayor.

- The community sang the recently elected mayor’s praises.

Sing somebody’s praises: speak highly of somebody

14. The subject of productivity bonuses has been mentioned at every

management and workers meeting.

-The subject of productivity bonuses has cropped up at every management

and workers meeting.

Crop up: appear, be mentioned

15. My husband and I had a row about buying a car.

-I had words with my husband about buying a car.

Have words with somebody: have arguments with somebody

16. Rick’s boss says he thinks Rick is doing a wonderful job.

-Rick’s boss is full of praises for Rick.

17. When he made friends in the new place, Ron became less shy and
reserved.

- When he made friends in the new place, Ron came out of his shell.

Come out of one’s shell: be open and friendly to others

18. He‘s a pleasant man socially, but he’s a tough businessman.

-He‘s a pleasant man, but drives a hard bargain in business.

Drive a hard bargain: be uncompromising in making a deal

19. The lease on my flat is valid until the end of the year.

-The lease on my flat does not come up for renewal until the end of the year.

20. Mark didn’t get home until just before dawn yesterday.

- Mark didn’t get home until small/ early hours yesterdays.

Small/ early hours: the early hours in the morning (between twelve o'clock

at night and the time when the sun rises)

TEST 3
1. When you lose someone you love, everything else seems pointless

-When you lose someone you love, everything else pales in comparison.

Pale in comparison: not as good as something

2. Before you start working on the projects, first finish doing the minor jobs.

- Before you start working on the projects, first clear the decks.

Clear the decks: solve all the minor problems

3. His latest film is not nearly as good as his earlier ones.

-His latest film is not a patch on his earlier ones.

Be not a patch on something: not as good as something

4. Of all the teams competing in this year’s World Cup, England is in a
league of its own.

-England is by far and away the strongest team in the competition.

5. Jack and I obviously think very differently from one another.

-Jack and I are on a different wavelength as you can see.

Be on different wavelength: have different opinions

6. With constant practice, you’ll be a much better pianist than the others.

-If you practice constantly, you’ll be heads and shoulders above other
pianists.

Be head and shoulders above someone: be better than someone

7. If you don’t listen to my advice, I will leave you with your problems.

- If you don’t listen to my advice, I will wash my hands of you and your
problems.

Wash one’s hands of something: no longer feel responsible for; no longer

willing to help.

8. The police surrounded the entire area and prevented people from entering
it while they dusted for fingerprints.

-The area was cordoned off so that the police could dust for fingerprints.

Be cordoned off: be protected from outsiders

9. Someone undoubtedly told the police that he was going to rob the bank.

-The police must have been tipped off about the robbery.
Be tipped off about something: know something beforehand

10. Had he been a little more penitent, his appeal for mercy would not have
been ignored.

-His appeal for mercy would not have fallen on deaf ears had he been a little
more penitent.

Fall on deaf ears: be ignored or unnoticed.

11. I panicked when I thought I’d lost the documents.

- I had kittens when I thought I’d lost the documents

Have kittens: panic

12. One day Tim is going to get into trouble with the law.

-One day Tim is going to fall foul of the law.

Fall foul of something: break a rule or law, especially without intending to

13. He is the kind of man who will do anything to crush the competition.

-He is the kind of man who will go to any lengths to crush the competition.

Go to any lengths: do anything possible

14. Why are you looking so unhappy?

-Why have you got such a long face?

A long face: if you have a long face, you look sad

15. You lost the game because you failed to give the good answer to the
question.

- You lost the game because you missed the mark.

Miss the mark: fail to achieve the intended results.

16. Suddenly, the lights went off.

- Suddenly, the room plunged into darkness.

Plunge into something: to suddenly start doing something enthusiastically

(in this sentence, it means “be filled with darkness”)

17. There were empty lemonade bottles and half-eaten sandwiches all over
his floor.

-His floor was strewn with empty lemonade bottles and half-eaten
sandwiches

Be strewn with something: containing a lot of something

18. Cars are no longer being produced as a result of the strike.

- Car production has come to a standstill because of the strike.

Come to a standstill: to slow down and finally stop

19. Whenever there is a power cut, we sell a lot of candles.

-Whenever there is a power cut, we do a roaring trade in candles.

Do a roaring trade: to sell a lot of goods very quickly

20. A long, lazy holiday would make you feel very much better.
- A long, lazy holiday would do you a power of good.

Do somebody good: benefit somebody

TEST 4
1. Joe didn’t think it was wrong of him to quit at such short notice.

-Joe had no qualms about quitting at such short notice.

Have no qualms about something: feel no guilt about something

2. She‘s only just started now, but, judging by her recent performance, she
should become an excellent tennis player.

-She has the makings of an excellent tennis player.

Have the makings of something: seem likely to develop into something

3. The needs of the poor should be given more importance than those of the
middle classes.

-The needs of the poor should take priority over those of the middle
classes.

Take priority over something: be more important than something

4. I made her angry and upset when I said that her novel was amateurish and
badly written.

- She didn’t take kindly to the way I described her novel.

Take kindly to something: be willing to accept something

5. The building will be dedicated to the families who are in desperate need
of help.

-The building will be dedicated to the families who are on the breadline.

Be on the breadline: be extremely poor

6. Nobody likes him. He will do just anything to win the teacher’s favor.

-He will just do anything to curry favor with the teachers.

Curry favor with somebody: do things to gain support from somebody

7. I felt creeps all over my back when the teacher looked so angrily at me.

- I felt creeps all over my back when the teacher looked daggers at me.

Look daggers at somebody: look angrily at somebody

8. Just because I’m his wife he expects me to do everything for him.

- Just because I’m his wife he expects me to wait him on hand and foot.

Wait somebody on hand and foot: do everything for somebody

9. Dave does not hesitate to criticize his superiors’ decisions.

-Dave makes no bones about criticizing his superiors’ decisions.

Make no bones about something: do something without hesitation

10. Since I have this argument with William, we haven’t spoken to each
other.

-Since I crossed swords with William, we haven’t spoken to each other.

Cross swords with somebody: have arguments with somebody

11. The ministry spoilt our investment plans by changing the tax law.

- The ministry put a spoke in our wheel by changing the tax law.

Put a spoke in somebody’s wheel: spoil somebody’s plans

12. The teacher sent the boy out because he was behaving in a foolish way.

- The teacher sent the boy out because he was playing/ acting the goat.

Act the goat: have foolish behaviors

13. The failed exam has ruined Ann’s chance of becoming a sworn
translator.

-The failed exam has put paid to Ann’s chance of becoming a sworn
translator.

Put paid to something: to finish or destroy something

14. At your age, you should have learnt to do things for yourself, Holly.

- At your age, you should have learnt to stand on your own two feet, Holly.

Stand on your own two feet: be independent and take care of yourself

15. You will be risking a failure if you entrust this serious task to Malcolm.

- You will be riding for a fall if you entrust this serious task to Malcolm.

Ride for a fall = Be doomed to failure

16. Could you have a quick look at my essay before I give it in?

- Could you cast an eye over my essay before I give it in?

Cast an eye over something: take care of something

17. Suzy managed to cope with so many problems when she was declared

bankrupt.

- Suzy took so many problems in her stride when she was declared bankrupt.

Take something in someone’s stride: somebody handles all the problems

on their own.

18. He owes his life to that surgeon.

-He is indebted to that surgeon for saving his life

Be indebted to somebody: owe somebody something

19. There wasn’t a single ticket left for the concert so we couldn’t go.

-The concert was a complete sell-out, so we couldn’t go.

20. The first sign of the disease is blurred vision.

-The onset of the disease is marked by blurred vision.

TEST 5
1. The new rules about school uniforms will apply next year.

- The new rules about school uniforms will be put into force next year.

Be put into force: become mandatory

2. It was blindingly obvious that he knew nothing about the subject.

-It stood out a mile that he knew nothing about the subject.

Stood out a mile: be obvious

3. I’m so busy at the moment that I can’t take on any extra work.

- I have so much on my plate at the moment that I can’t take on any extra
work.

Have so much on one’s plate: have so many things to do

4. He was given an honorary medal by the military.

- An honorary medal was conferred on him by the military.

Confer something on somebody: give somebody something

5. Sean did all the illustrations for the book but no one acknowledged his
work.

- Sean wasn’t given any credit for doing all the illustrations for the book.

Give credit to someone for something: give recognition to someone

6. Susie couldn’t stop crying when her pet rabbit died.

-Susie was in floods of tears when her pet rabbit died.

7. His latest theory is in complete opposition to mainstream thinking.

- His latest theory is flies in the face of mainstream thinking.

Flies in the face: annoying things

8. Sam was really anxious, waiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket
team.

- Sam was on tenterhooks waiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket
team.
Be on tenterhooks: be extremely nervous

9. The firm went bankrupt after failing to win the contract.

-The firm went into liquidation after failing to win the contract.

Go into liquidation: go bankrupt

10. I burst into laughter when I heard about Harry’s adventure with the bull.

- I split my sides when I heard about Harry’s adventure with the bull.

Split one’s sides: burst into laughter

11. Harvey ordered some new equipment without prior permission.

- Harvey took the liberty of ordering some new equipment.

Take the liberty of something: feel free to do something

12. The BBC produces program to interest all sorts of people.

-All sorts of people are catered for by the BBC.

Cater for somebody: be favorable to somebody

13. The government’s retraining program proved to be unsuccessful due to

lack of funds.

- The government’s retraining program met with failure due to lack of

funds.

14. Reality shows on TV are extremely popular at the moment.

- Reality shows on TV are flavor of the month at the moment.

Flavor of the month: be popular at the moment

15. It is believed that the two rival companies have agreed to the merger.

- The two companies are believed to be going through with the merger.

Go through: agree

16. Finally, we reached an agreement by accepting some of our partner’s

demands.

- Finally, we met our partner halfway.

Meet someone halfway: to agree to do parts of what someone wants if they

do parts of what you want.

17. It’s not to interfere in other people’s private matters.

- It’s not to poke your nose into other people’s private matters.

Poke nose into something: interfere into something

18. With that comments of yours you did say what was exactly right.

- With that comments of yours you did hit the nail on the head.

Hit the nail on the head: give the correct answer to something

19. It‘s crucial for us to control the juvenile inmates strictly.

- It’s crucial for us to keep a tight rein on the juvenile inmates.

Keep a tight rein on something: control something strictly

20. Children enjoy unwrapping their Christmas presents.

- Children get a kick out of unwrapping their Christmas presents.

Get a kick out of something: enjoy something

TEST 6
1. That man was so annoying that I hope I never meet him again.

- Such a pain in the neck was that man, I hope I never meet him again.

A pain in the neck: someone or something that is very annoying

2. I cannot accept your dreadful lies any more.

- No longer can I stomach your dreadful lies.

Stomach = bear

3. I had just begun to look through the book when he took it away.

-Hardly had I begun to thumb through the book when he took it away.

Thumb through something: to turn the pages of the books, magazine or a

document quickly and only read a small part of it.

4. You have to obey the rules in this company if you want to get on.

-You have to toe the line if you want to get on in this company.

Toe the line: follow the rules

5. It was hard not to laugh when he sneezed in the middle of the song.

- It was hard keeping a straight face when he sneezed in the middle of the
song.

Keep a straight face: to manage to stop yourself from smiling or laughing

6. Take care or he will deceive you.

-He will pull the wool over your eyes if you aren’t careful.

Pull the wool over somebody’s eyes: deceive somebody

7. He‘s usually a good boy, unless his brother encourages him to misbehave.
-If his brother doesn’t egg him on, he‘s usually a good boy.

Egg somebody on: encourage somebody to do bad things

8. If her mother hadn’t held her back, she’d have moved away years ago.

-If it hadn’t been for her mother, she would have spread her wings years
ago.

Spread one’s wings: be independent, live on one’s own

9. In his place, I wouldn’t care too much about my reputation.

-If I were him, I wouldn’t give two hoots about my reputation.

Give too hoots about something: care too much about something

10. How could I tell him if I haven’t seen him for months?

- How could I tell him if I haven’t seen hide or hair of him for months?

Hide or hair of somebody: trace of somebody

11. She sent her husband out to buy Bulgarian mushrooms, knowing he
wouldn’t find any.

- She sent her husband out on a wild goose chase for Bulgarian mushrooms.

A wild goose chase: a hopeless and foolish pursuit

12. I’m sorry, but I’m not in the mood to discuss this matter right now.

- I’m afraid I’m not in the right frame of mind to discuss this matter right
now.

Frame of mind: someone’s mood or the particular way someone thinks or

feels about something

13. Why are you trying to mend something that isn’t broken?

- Why are you monkeying around with something that isn’t broken?

Monkey around: trying to do some foolish things

14. Must you follow me everywhere I go?

- Must you dog my footsteps everywhere I go?

Dog somebody’s footsteps: follow somebody

15. We are behind with our mortgage repayments.

-We have fallen into arrears with our mortgage repayments.

Fall into arrears: not be up to date for regular payment.

16. Once dad has made up his mind, he won’t change it.

- Dad won’t budge an inch once he has made up his mind.

Budge an inch: change one’s decision

17. Nigel is so conceited, it’s time someone showed him he‘s not as
important as he thinks.

- It’s time someone cut Nigel down to size – he’s so conceited.

Cut someone down to size: let someone know his or her true value

18. We must go back to the beginning and find the error.

- We must go back to square one to find the error.

Square one: the beginning of something

19. There was so much misleading information in the novel, I didn’t guess
who the murderer was.

- There were so many red herrings in the novel, I didn’t guess who the
murderer was.

Red herrings: misleading information

20. Tim failed to get into university and he gets very annoyed if it’s
mentioned.
- Timothy has got a chip on his shoulder about his failure to get into
university.

Get a chip on one’s shoulder: to seem angry all the time because you think
you have been treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people.

TEST 7
1. We wish to complain about your dog, Mr. Taylor.

- We have a bone to pick with you about your dog, Mr. Taylor.

Have a bone to pick with somebody: have something to complain to

somebody

2. I think the mayor is involved in everything that goes on in this town.

- I think the mayor has a finger in every pie in this town.

Have a finger in every pie: know everything about somebody or something

3. Henry’s got friends in both the Labor and Conservative party.

- Henry has got a foot in both camps when it comes to politics.

Get a foot in both camps: have relationships with people from both sides

4. We must get started before all the guests arrive.

- Let’s get this show on the road before all the guests arrive.

Get something on the road: get something started

5. His business became successful once he started to behave more

responsibly.

-After cleaning up his act, he began to make a success of his business.

Clean up one’s act: begin to behave in a better way

6. Unless you get organized, you will never be ready by Saturday.

- If you don’t get your act together, you will never be ready by Saturday.

Get your act together: get organized

7. They’re a troublesome group but Mr. Jones keeps control of them.

- Mr. Jones has the upper hand with that troublesome group.

Have the upper hand with something: keep control of something

8. Bert’s life seemed to go wrong after his parents died.

- Bert’s life went off the rails after his parents died.

Go off the rails: go wrong

9. We must arrange every detail of the ceremony in advance.

- Every detail of the ceremony must be mapped out in advance.

Map something out: arrange every detail of something

10. A motorbike is good for getting through the traffic.

- You can weave in and out the traffic easily on a motorbike.

Weave in and out: to move, drive or walk in and out of something

11. They choose John because he was the only one who spoke French.

-It was his knowledge of French that tipped the scales in John’s favor.

Tip the scales/balance: if something tips the balance or tips the scales, it is
the thing that causes a particular situation to happen or a particular decision
to be made.

12. How dare you say my work isn’t good enough!

- How dare you sit in judgment on my work.

Sit in judgment on something: say that something is not good enough

13. Gary is only waiting for the right opportunity to hand in his notice.
- Gary is only biding his time until he hands in his notice.

Bide somebody’s time: wait for something

14. We jogged all the way to the river but had to stop at the bridge.

- We ran out of steam after jogging as far as the bridge.

Run out of steam: too tired to continue

15. Whatever we plan to do, Jack will stop us.

- Jack always throws a spanner in the works whenever we plan to do

something.

Throw a spanner in something: stop something from continuing

16. He wasn’t quite so confident after you told him you were an Olympic
boxer, was he?

- Telling him you were an Olympic boxer took the wind out of his sails,
didn’t it?

Take the wind out of one’s sails: take one’s confidence away

17. I can always rely on you to calm things down, Gina.

- I can always rely on you to pour oil on troubled waters, Gina.

Pour oil on troubled waters: calm the situation down

18. We shouldn’t give up now after we‘ve come so far.

- We shouldn’t throw in the towel now after we‘ve come so far.

Throw in the towel: give up

19. You’ll have to make a decision soon, you know.

- You can’t sit on the fence forever, you know.

Sit on the fence: hesitate to make a decision

20. When that virus got into my computer, I lost six months’ work.
- Six months’ work went up in smoke when that virus got into my computer.

Go up in smoke: go lost

TEST 8
1. I went to enormous trouble to find a wedding photographer in time.

-I went through hell and high water to find a wedding photographer in time.

Hell and high water: trouble, problem

2. We got involved in so many details that the meeting lasted for hours.

-We got bogged down in so many details that the meeting lasted for hours.

Get bogged down: get involved too much in something

3. The strong wind carried off the kids’ kite.

-The kids’ kite was borne off/ away/ by/ on the wind.

Borne off: to remove from a certain place

4. It’s time you got rid of some of your inhibitions.

-I wish you would cast off/ aside/ away some of your inhibitions.

Cast off: get rid of something

5. I have been searching desperately for a new home help.

-I‘ve been casting around for a new home help.

Cast around for something: looking, searching for something

6. I’d be grateful if you’d keep this to yourself for the time being.

-I‘d be grateful if you didn’t put this about for the time being.

Put something about: to tell a lot of people something that is not true

7. Cole is a really terrible singer.

-By no stretch of the imagination is Cole a good singer.

By no stretch of imagination: under no circumstances

8. I’ll explain everything to the new man when he arrives.

-I’ll put the new man in the picture when he arrives.

Put someone in the picture: explain someone something

9. Harry knows about the new regulations so let’s ask him.

-Let’s pick Harry’s brains about the new regulations.

Pick someone’s brains: ask somebody something

10. I don’t like the way your sister talks to me.

-I take a dim view of the way your sister talks to me, Emma.

Take a dim view of something: dislike something

11. Why did you have to cause so much trouble over something so
unimportant?

-Why did you have to make such a song and dance about something so
unimportant?

Make a song and dance about something: make a fuss bout something

12. The boss wasn’t impressed by Bill’s budget proposals.

-Bill’s budget proposals cut no ice with the boss.

Cut no ice with somebody: not impress someone

13. John and I have had an argument over the poor sales figure.

-I have had a brush with John over the poor sales figures.

Have a brush with somebody: have an argument with somebody

14. Why don’t you try building a fountain in the garden?

-Why don’t you have a stab at building a fountain in the garden?

Have a stab at something: try something

15. She married Tom although she loved Henry as well.

-She loved both Tom and Henry but when it came to the crunch she married
Tom.

Come to the crunch: when a situation becomes extremely serious

16. You can’t persuade Roger too deviate from the rules, can you?

-Roger always goes by the book, doesn’t he?

Go by the book: follow the rules

17. Perhaps I’ll do what you did and learn Spanish.

-Perhaps I’ll take a leaf out of your book and learn Spanish.

Take a leaf out of your book: do what someone does

18. You’ll get the maximum punishment when they find out what you’ve
done.

-They’ll throw the book at you when they find out what you’ve done.

Throw the book at someone: punish someone

19. I tried to show Jim a faster way of working but he’s too set in his ways,
isn’t he?

-I tried to show Jim a faster way of working but you can’t teach an old dog
new tricks, can you?

Teach an old dog new tricks: change someone who always sticks to their
way

20. She talked so much I was unable to join in the conversation.

-I couldn’t get a word in edgeways because she talked so much.

Get a word in edgeways: join a conversation

TEST 9
1. The time has come to deal with your problems.

-The time has come to get to grips with your problems.

Get to grips with something: deal with something

2. It took me ages to learn how to surf properly.

- It took me ages to get the knack of surfing properly.

Get the knack of something: learn to do something

3. James got furious when he found out about her lies.

-James got furious when he got wind of her lies.

Get wind of something: know the truth about something

4. I’m sure he will be back to full health soon.

- I’m sure he will get back on his feet soon.

Get back on one’s feet: get back to full health, recover from illness

5. She‘s desperately trying to keep out of financial trouble and not go

bankrupt.

-She’s desperately trying to keep her head above water and not go bankrupt.

Keep one’s head above water: keep oneself away from trouble

6. There’s trouble ahead and we should be extremely careful.

-The storm clouds are gathering and we should be extremely careful.

Storm clouds: trouble

7. Danny finally reasoned when they threatened to fire him.

-Danny was brought to his senses by their threat to fire him.

Be brought to one’s senses: think logically again

8. I completely emptied the drawers but couldn’t find the address.

-I turned the drawers inside out but I couldn’t find the address.

Turn something inside out: Empty something to look for something else

9. It really put Betty in her place when the boss said she was the office
junior.

-The boss really brought Betty down a peg or two by saying she was the
office junior.

Bring somebody down a peg or two: put somebody in their right position,
say the real ability of somebody

10. I think having to earn his own living was quite a shock to Billy.

-Billy was brought down to earth by having to earn his own living.

Be brought down to Earth: be shocked

11. I’m only here for a minute; I’m due at the hospital shortly.

-I’m only here on a flying visit; I’m due at the hospital shortly.

Be on a flying visit: be at somewhere for a short time

12. We are in a very difficult situation and will have to do what the lawyer
says.

-We have our backs to the wall and will have to do what the lawyer says.

Have one’s backs to the wall: be in a difficult situation, between the devil
and the deep blue sea

13. Why don’t you two forget your differences and become friends again?

-Why don’t you two bury the hatchet and become friends again?

Bury the hatchet: forget the conflicts, arguments, differences and mend the
relationship
14. On the understanding that you talk frankly, I’m willing to listen.

-On the understanding that you call a spade a spade, I’m willing to listen.

Call a spade a spade: talk frankly, honestly

15. Now that he’s divorced, Sam is trying to get his life back to normal and
start afresh.

- Now that he’s divorced, Sam is trying to pick up the pieces and start
afresh.

Pick up the pieces: recover from something bad, get back to one’s life

16. Ben is incredibly witty when he is in a good mood.

- Ben’s wit is razor - sharp when he is in a good mood.

Razor-sharp: extremely sharp

If you describe someone’s mind as razor-sharp, that person thinks really

quickly

17. The rehearsal went off without any problems in the end.

-The rehearsal went off without a hitch in the end.

Without a hitch: smooth, no problem

18. We will only be able to afford a holiday if we are very strict with our
expenses.

-Only if we keep a tight rein on our expenses will we be able to afford a

holiday.

Keep a tight rein: control something strictly

19. The documentary made me realize how poor many people are in other
parts of the world.

-The documentary brought home to me how poor many people are in other
parts of the world.
Bring home to somebody: make somebody realize something

20. Andrew rarely says how good he is at things, even though he’s very
talented.

-Seldom does Andrew blow his own trumpet, even though he’s very talented.

Blow one’s own trumpet: someone says how good he or she is, show off

TEST 10
1. By agreeing to help him out financially, you’ll only be causing problems
for yourself.

-You will only be digging your own grave by agreeing to help him out
financially.

Dig one’s own grave: cause problems for oneself

2. The military parade was just the government showing its power before the
elections.

- The military parade was just the government flexing its muscles before the
elections.

Flex one’s muscles: show one’s power

3. Were he to speak in a clearer fashion, I could follow his argument.

-Were he to speak in a clearer fashion, I would not lose the thread of his
argument.

Lose the thread of something: cannot follow something, lose track of

something

4. I didn’t think much of what Tom suggested.

-I didn’t set much store by Tom’s suggestion.

Set much store by something: think much about something

5. He shot the bottles from the top of the wall, one by one.
-He picked off the bottles from the top of the wall, one by one.

Pick off: shoot

6. Carter was not popular at work because he never associated with anyone.

- Carter was not popular at work because he always kept himself aloof from
everyone.

Aloof: not friendly or willing to take part in things

7. He has tons of money since he won the lottery.

-He is filthy rich since he won the lottery.

Filthy rich: extremely rich

8. Don still has very little experience so we should be patient.

-Don is still wet behind the ears so we should be patient.

Wet behind the ears: inexperienced

9. The two brothers have been quarrelling about the property for years.

- The two brothers have been at loggerheads over the property for years.

Be at loggerheads: quarrel, argue, disagree with each other about something

10. I’d prefer not to discuss our problems in front of our friends.

-I’d sooner we didn’t wash our dirty linen in front of our friends.

Wash the dirty linen: talk about the problems

11. The boss is in a really bad mood today.

-The boss gets out of the bed on the wrong side today.

Get out of the bed on the wrong side: have a bad mood

12. He reserved positions and defeated him.

-He turned the tables on him and defeated him.

Turn the tables on someone: to change the situation so that you now have
an advantage over someone who previously had an advantage on you

13. I was assured of success, then he withdrew his support.

- I was assured of success, then he pulled the rug out from under my feet.

Pull the rug out from under one’s feet: suddenly take away important
support from someone

14. It‘s rather a dull plat, but I think a coat of paint will make it a lot
brighter.

- It’s rather a dull plat, but I think a coat of paint will jazz it up nicely.

Jazz something up: make something better

15. That Chinese porcelain vase is sold for a price far below its true value, if
you ask me.

-That Chinese porcelain vase is going for a song, if you ask me.

Go for a song: be sold for a low price

16. After fifty years of isolation, they’ve begun opening up to the west in the
hope of receiving financial assistance.

- After fifty years of isolation, they’ve begun making overtures to the west in
the hope of receiving financial assistance.

Make overtures: express a willingness to pursue a relationship to ask for

support for help

17. When he realized she was heir to a fortune, his whole attitude towards
her changed.

-He completely changed his tune when he realized she war heir to a fortune.

Change one’s tune: change one’s attitude, opinion

18. I felt like a new person after I‘d had my hip operation.
-My hip operation gave me a new lease on life.

New lease of life: an occasion when makes you better than before, like give
u a new life

19. The guide book speaks highly of this hotel.

-The guide book gives the hotel its seal of approval.

Give something/ somebody seal of approval: speak highly of something/

somebody

20. He will be the one to accept responsibility for this affair.

- He will be the one to carry the can for this affair.

Carry the can for something: take the responsibility for something

TEST 11
1. You would have enjoyed yourself if you had come to Cuba with us.

- You would have had the time of your life if you had come to Cuba with us.

Have the time of one life: have a very good time doing something

2. My teacher doesn’t like me and never leaves me alone.

- My teacher has it in for me and never leaves me alone.

Have it in for somebody: do not like somebody

3. If you keep walking slowly like that, we’ll never get there.

- If you keep walking at a snail’s pace, we’ll never get there.

At a snail’s pace: extremely slowly

4. The delegate spoke in great detail about the changes.

- The delegate spoke at great length about the changes.

Speak something at great length: speak something in a very detailed way

5. Why don’t we split the taxi fare?

- Let’s go halves on the taxi fare.

Go halves on something: split something half- half

6. The cheque they got helped enormously to pay for their honeymoon.

- The cheque they got went a long way towards paying for their honeymoon.

Go a long way towards doing something: to be very helpful

7. The firm had a lot of success in the soft drinks market.

- The firm made a killing in the soft drinks market.

Make a killing: to earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort

8. There are several other people ready to do this job if you can’t.

- If you can’t do this job, there are several other people waiting in the wings
who can.

Waiting in the wings: if someone or something is waiting in the wings,

they are not yet active or important, but are ready or likely to be so soon.

9. You will have no success if you think you can make her change her mind.

- You are fighting a losing battle if you think you can make her change her
mind.

Fight a losing battle: be doomed to failure

10. Punk fashion was at its peak in the late seventies.

- Punk fashion was in its heyday in the late seventies.

Be in one’s heyday: during the period of one’s success.

11. Few people approved of his presence at the funeral.

- Most people frowned on his presence at the funeral.

Frown on something: disapprove of something

12. They were totally unprepared for my arrival.

- They were caught unawares by my arrival.

Be caught unawares: unexpectedly and suddenly without any warning

13. Resigning to annoy your boss is really only hurting yourself and you
know it.

- Resigning to annoy your boss is like cutting off your nose to spite your face
and you know it.

Cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face is an expression to describe a

needlessly self-destructive over-reaction to a problem.

14. His father left him no money in his will.

- His father cut him off without a penny when he died.

Cut someone off without a penny: leave someone no money in one’s will

15. Her remark took me completely by surprise.

- Her remark caught me completely off guard.

Catch somebody off guard: surprise somebody by doing something they

are not expecting

16. You are leaving very late if you want to be at the airport on time.

- You are cutting it fine if you want to be at the airport on time.

Cut it fine: to allow very little time for something

17. He doesn’t know what’s happening in the theatre world any more.

- He is out of touch with what’s happening in the theatre world any more.

Out of touch: not informed or not having the same ideas as most people
about something, so that you make mistakes.

18. If anyone asks you, just tell them you didn’t know.
- Just plead ignorance if anyone asks you.

Plead ignorance: to say one knows nothing about something

19. Working in the mines all those years affected his health.

- Working in the mines all those years took a heavy toll on his health.

Take a heavy toll: have an adverse effect

20. I honestly think you are mad if you expect me to get up that early.

- I honestly think you‘ve got a screw loose if you expect me to get up that
early.

Have a screw loose: behave in a strange way

TEST 12
1. If you don’t follow his advice, you will pay far more than necessary.

- You will pay through the nose if you don’t follow his advice.

Pay through the nose: pay much more than a fair price

2. She regards everyone who’s not a member of her family as inferior.

- She looks down on everyone who isn’t a member of her family.

Look down on someone: regard someone as inferior

3. I should think very carefully before I made that decision, if I were you.

- You should look before you leap that decision.

4. Rachel worked miracles to get Jackie the editor’s job in her company.

- Rachel moved heaven and earth to get Jackie the editor’s job in her
company.

Move heaven and earth: to do everything you can to achieve something

5. He gets annoyed when you refer to his family backgrounds.

- It gets under his skin when you refer to his family backgrounds.

Get under one’s skin: annoy or irritate someone intensely

6. Alexander the Great controlled most of the ancient world.

- Alexander the Great held sway over most of the ancient world.

Hold sway over something: control something

7. Barry is determined to have a holiday in the States this year.

- Barry has set his mind/ heart on having a holiday in the States this year.

Set one’s mind/ heart on something: be determined to do something

8. In no time, the new chairman was doing exactly what the board
wanted.

- In no time, the board had the new chairman eating out of their hand.

Have somebody eating out of one’s hand: to easily make someone do or

think what you want.

9. Carolyn‘s just another of those people fighting a lost cause, I’m afraid.

- Carolyn’s just another bleeding heart, I’m afraid.

Bleeding heart: someone who shows too much sympathy for everyone

10. Philip worked his very hardest to get through his exams.

- Philip broke his neck getting through his exams.

Break one’s neck: to put forth a great deal of effort.

11. Wendy suddenly felt petrified when the lights went out and she was left
in the dark.

- Wendy’s blood ran cold when the lights went out and she was left in the
dark.

Make somebody’s blood run cold: frighten somebody very much

12. Jenny couldn’t relax at all during the interview.

- Jenny was a bundle of nerves during the interview.

Be a bundle of nerves: be very nervous

13. The audience didn’t stop laughing for two hours during Reluctant
Heroes.

- The play Reluctant Heroes had the audience in stitches for well over two
hours.

Have somebody in stitches: make somebody laugh so much

14. They sent new instructions with very little warning and that caused a lot
of trouble.

- New instructions were sent at short notice and that caused a lot of trouble.

At short notice: only a short time before something happens

15. In my opinion, his remarks were totally unsuitable for the occasion.

- In my opinion, his remarks were not in keeping with the occasion.

Be in keeping with something: be suitable for something

16. We’re nearly finished, we’ve just got a couple of small things to do
before we leave.

- There are just some loose ends to tie up before we leave.

Loose ends: things that still need to be done or explained

17. The Managing Director arrived just as the meeting was about to end, as
usual.

- The Managing Director arrived just as the meeting was drawing to a close,
as usual.

Draw to a close: to come to an end

18. In a feeble attempt to make everyone relax, John cracked a joke.

- In a feeble attempt to break the ice, John cracked a joke.

Break the ice: make everyone laugh and relax

19. Her parents have forbidden her to go to pubs.

- She is forbidden by her parents to set foot in pubs.

Set foot in somewhere: to go to a place

20. I think we‘ve got the worst part of this work done.

- I think we‘ve broken the back of this work.

Break the back of something: to get the worst part of something done

TEST 13
1. To clear up misunderstanding, he wrote to the press to deny any
involvement in the affair.

- To set the record straight, he wrote to the press to deny any involvement in
the affair.

Set the record straight: to put right a mistake or a misunderstanding

2. For the first couple of years in the business, we were happy just to cover
our costs.

- We were happy to break even for the first couple of years in the business.

Break even: to have no profit or loss at the end of a business activity

3. Julie forgets everything you tell her.

-Whatever you tell Julie goes in one ear and out the other.

Go in one ear and out the other: if you say that something you hear goes
in one ear and out the other, you mean you quickly forget it

4. The new restaurant has terrific food.

- The food is out of this world at that new restaurant.

Out of this world: extremely good

5. Couldn’t they find anyone better than Rosa to represent them?

- They must have scraped the bottom of the barrel if Rosa’s representing
them.

Scrape the bottom of the barrel: to use the worst things or people that is
available.

6. I hardly remember the house where I lived as a child.

- I only have a hazy recollection of the house where I lived as a child.

Have a hazy recollection of something: not remember something clearly

7. A good way to forget one’s problems is to listen to music.

- Listening to music is a good way of taking one’s mind off one’s problems.

Take one’s mind off something: forget something

8. We must remember that the economy is in serious trouble.

- We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that the economy is in serious trouble.

Lose sight of something: forget something

9. Her troubles were written clearly on the face.

- Her face was etched with deep lines of worry.

Be etched with something: have something clearly

10. I’ve filled in so many tax-forms I can do them in my sleep.

- I’ve got tax-forms down to a fine art, I’ve filled in so many.

Get something to a fine art: do something smoothly

11. Why do some people make such a great fuss of the simplest situation?

- Why do some people make a drama out of the simplest situation?

Make a drama out of something: make a great fuss about something

12. Just because his brother is a criminal doesn’t mean Gareth is one, too.

- You shouldn’t tar Gareth with the same brush as his brother.

Tar someone with the same brush: to think that someone has the same bad
qualities as another person

13. You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.

- Judging a book by its cover can often be misleading.

Judge a book by its cover: judge someone or something by its outlook

14. He told us an amusing story about his trip to Finland.

- He gave us an amusing account of his trip to Finland.

Give someone an amusing account of something: tell an amusing story

about something

15. Residents are trying to persuade the company to relocate the factory.

- Residents are trying to bring pressure to bear on the company to relocate

the factory.

Bring pressure to bear on: if you bring pressure to bear on someone, you
use it to try and persuade them to do something.

16. Many countries have yet to promise to abolish the use of landmines.

- Many countries have yet to give their undertaking to abolish the use of
landmines.

Give one’s undertaking: to make a promise

17. Pam always maintains her composure in any crisis.

- Pam always keeps her head in any crisis.

Keep one’s head: remain calm

18. Why do you criticize everything I do?

- Why do you pick holes in everything I do?

Pick holes in something: criticise something

19. Readjusting one’s life after a personal tragedy can be a very slow
process.

- Picking up the pieces after a personal tragedy can be a very slow process.

Pick up the pieces: readjust one’s life

20. Staying cheerful in times of trouble is not something everyone can do.

- Keeping one’s spirits up in times of troubles is not something everyone can

do.

Keep one’s spirits up: stay cheerful

TEST 14
1. It’s a thriller that has you riveted all the way through.

- It’s a thriller that keeps you in suspense all the way.

Keep somebody in suspense: delay telling someone something that they are
very eager to know about

2. I am not happy with you.

- I have a bone to pick with you.

Have a bone to pick with someone: to want to talk about something

annoying they have done

3. William is a very private person.

- William keeps himself to himself.

Keep oneself to oneself: to not talk to other people very much

4. The police think the robbery was an inside job.

- The robbery has all the hallmarks of an inside job, according to the police.

Have all the hallmarks of something: to have all the traits that are usually
associated with a particular person or thing.

5. Debbie is the only one who knows everything there is to know in this
office.

- The only one in this office who knows the ropes is Debbie.

Know the ropes: have experience of something

6. The least we can do is talk about his ideas for a while before we decide.

- The least we can do is kick his ideas around for a while before we decide.

Kick one’s ideas: talk about one’s ideas

7. The Jones and Smith families seem always to be at loggerheads.

- There seems to be bad blood between the Jones and the Smith families.

Bad blood: feelings of hate between something

8. I know we all make mistakes but did you really have to marry him?

- I know to err is human but did you really have to marry him?

To err is human: something that you say that means that it is natural for
people to make mistakes

9. “The headmasters should not allow older boys to pick on the juniors.”
said Mrs. Brown.

- Mrs. Brown criticized the headmaster for allowing older boys to gang up
on the juniors.

Gang up on someone: pick on someone

10. Many people say that nine times out of ten the law makes no sense.

- It is often said that the law is an ass because it actually makes no sense.
Be an ass: something bad

11. Roy and Jackie never seem to have anything but good to say about each
other.

- Roy and Jackie have a mutual admiration society by the sounds of it.

Mutual admiration society: a relationship between two people who have

strong feeling of esteem for each other and often exchange lavish
compliments

12. Wanting what other people have is a waste of time, energy and money.

- Trying to keep up with the Joneses is a waste of time, energy and money.

Keep up with the Joneses: to always want to own the same expensive
objects and do the same things as your friends or neighbors

13. The situation has been grossly exaggerated, I’m afraid.

- The situation has been blown out of all proportion, I’m afraid.

Be blown out of all proportion: be grossly exaggerated

14. Although the article may make sense, I think it’s making too much of the
point.

- The article may make sense, but I think it’s laboring the point too much.

Labor the point: to try too hard to express an idea, feeling or opinion when
it is not necessary

15. Mr. Atkinson is a very well – respected member of the community.

- Mr. Atkinson is held in very high esteem by the community.

Be held in very high esteem: be very well-respected

16. I’m having a hard time finding a second-hand petrol pump for my car.

- I’m having a hard time laying my hands on a second-hand petrol pump for
my car.
Lay one’s hands on something: find something

17. Although they tried hard to convince her, Claire would not change her
opinion.

- Try as they might to convince her, Claire held fast to her opinion.

Hold fast to one’s opinion: not change one’s opinion

18. Can you look after the shop for a couple of hours tomorrow?

- Can you hold the fort at the shop for a couple of hours tomorrow?

Hold the fort: take responsibility for something while another person is
absent

19. Derek does not appreciate that Lisa risked her career to save his job.

- Derek does not appreciate that Lisa laid her career on the line to save his
job.

Lay one’s career on the line: risk one’s career

20. Why don’t you be frank with us and tell us what‘s on your mind?

- Why don’t you lay your cards on the table and tell us what‘s on your mind?

Lay one’s cards on the table: be honest about one’s feelings and opinions

TEST 15
1. My brother is very attached to his stamp collection, and keeps it locked
up.

- My brother holds his stamp collection very dear, and keeps it locked up.

Hold something very dear: to consider someone or something to be very

valuable or important

2. A true patriot would willingly die for his country.

- A true patriot would lay down his life for his country.
Lay down one’s life: die

3. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to try and help us.

- He bent over backwards to help us.

Bend over backwards: to try extremely hard to help or please someone

4. The two sides met with a view to settling the problem.

- The two sides met with a view to ironing out the problem.

Iron out something: solve, settle down something

5. Don’t decide right away – give it some thought and ring me next week.

- Don’t decide right away – sleep on it and ring me next week.

Sleep on something: think about something

6. In this company, nobody’s job is regarded as important.

- Everyone is just a cog in the machine as far as this company’s concerned.

A cog in the machine: a small or insignificant member of a larger

organization

7. Trapeze artists who perform without a net must have tremendous courage.

- Trapeze artists must have nerves of steel to perform without a net.

Have nerves of steel: have a tremendous courage

8. Erik is never happier than when he’s out on the lake in his boat.

- Erik is in his element when he’s out on the lake in his boat.

Be in one’s element: be extremely happy

9. The negotiator achieved the impossible when he got both sides to meet for
talks.

- The negotiator squared the circle by getting got both sides to meet for
talks.
Square the circle: achieve the impossible

10. If you peel some potatoes it will get us started.

- You can set the wheels in motion by peeling some potatoes.

Set the wheels in motion: get something started

11. You just don’t think at all, giving a lift to perfect strangers.

- You don’t have an atom of sense, giving a lift to perfect strangers.

Not have an atom of sense: not think at all

12. It took a lot of time and effort to get Ron’s new business started.

- It took a lot of time and effort to get Ron’s new business off the ground.

Get something off the ground: get something started

13. It’s a shame to quit now that you have come so far.

- Don’t throw in the towel now that you have come so far.

Throw in the towel: quit something; surrender

14. The Prime Minister felt it appropriate to make a statement.

- The Prime Minister saw fit to make a statement.

See fit: consider it correct or appropriate to do something

15. If I were you, I wouldn’t trust him to do the job properly.

- If I were you, I wouldn’t put my money on him to do the job properly.

Put one’s money on somebody: trust somebody

16. He says he didn’t know, so we ‘ll just have to take his word for it.

- We’ll just have to give him the benefit of the doubt as he says he didn’t
know.
Give one the benefit of the doubt: to decide that you will believe
someone , even though you are not sure that what a person is saying is true.

17. Could you take a quick look at this letter before I post it?

- Could you run your eye over this letter before I post it?

Run one’s eye over something: take a quick look at something

18. I’m sure that once he’s learned the system, he’ll perform well.

- I’m sure that he ‘ll come into his own once he’s learned the system.

Come into one’s own: If someone or something comes into their own, they
become very successful or start to perform very well because the
circumstances are right.

19. If necessary, I’ll testify in court.

- If it comes to the crunch, I’ll testify in court.

If/ when it comes to the crunch: when a decision becomes very serious and
a decision has to be made

20. He’s the clumsiest person in the world when it comes to mending
anything.

- He’s all fingers and thumbs when it comes to mending anything.

Be all fingers and thumbs: move your hands in an awkward way, be

clumsy

TEST 16
1. I would not say no to a free weekend in that hotel.

- I would not turn my nose up at a free weekend in that hotel.

Turn one’s nose up: to not accept something because you do not think it is
good enough for you

2. The jury found the accused man guilty.

- The jury brought in a verdict of guilty against the accused man.

A verdict of guilty in a criminal case is generally followed by a judgment of

conviction rendered by judge, which in turn be followed by sentencing.

3. The press revealed the truth after a long period of speculation.

- The press brought the truth out into the open after a long period of
speculation.

Out in the open: exposed and visible to others in an open space or area.

4. With the qualifications you certainly don’t have to be forced into a

decision, Sandy.

- With the qualifications you can certainly keep your options open, Sandy.

Keep one’s options open: to refrain from making a decision or commitment

that will limit one’s choices in the future.

5. Now it’s up to you to do something about the situation.

- Now the ball is in your court to do something about the situation.

The ball is in one’s court: it is time for someone to deal with a problem or
make a decision, because other people have already done as much as they
can

6. Why did you decide to do such a stupid thing?

- Why did you take it into your head to do such a stupid thing?

Take it into one’s head: If somebody takes it into their head

to do something, especially something strange or foolish, they suddenly
decide to do it.

7. It will be a difficult task to persuade him.

- It will take some doing to persuade him.

Take some doing: to be particularly difficult or require a large amount of

effort
8. Brazil won the 2002 World Cup easily.

- The 2002 World Cup was a pushover for Brazil.

Pushover (n): something that is easy to do or to win

9. I can do that automatically, without even thinking about it.

- I can do that with my eyes closed.

Do something with one’s eyes closed: able to do something very easily,

even without having to think about it or look at it

10. It’s not easy to work and be a mother, but people often forget that.

- Working and being a mother is no picnic but people often forget that.

Be no picnic: to be a difficult or unpleasant situation

11. Can you look after the place while I pop out for ten minutes?

- Can you hold the fort while I pop out for ten minutes?

Hold the fort: take responsibility for a situation while another person is
absent

12. We‘ve got problems with the new machine, but they will soon be fixed.

- We are having teething troubles with the new machine, but they will soon
be fixed.

Teething troubles: problems that happen in the early stages of doing

something new

13. The new restaurant has little to recommend it.

- The new restaurant doesn’t have much going for it.

Have much going for something: used to talk about how many advantages
and good qualities someone or something has

14. There is nothing Maurice wants more than to be a professional musician.

- Maurice has set his sights on being a professional musician.

Set one’s sights on something: if you set your sights on something, you
decide that you want it and try hard to get it.

15. People may need the company of others, but some prefer their own.

- Although man is a social animal, some people prefer their own company.

Social animals are those animals which interact highly with other animals,
usually of their own species, to the point of having a recognizable and
distinct society.

16. Dad has changed his mind completely and says you can take the car after
all.

- Dad has done a 180’turn and says you can take the car after all.

Do a 180’ turn: change completely

17. The factory workers were upset about the planned budget cuts.

- The factory workers were up in arms about the planned budget cuts.

Be up in arms: be angry and upset

18. She doesn’t feel comfortable with strangers.

- She feels ill at ease with strangers.

Feel ill at ease: to be worried and not relaxed

19. I think his experiments will succeed this time.

- I think his experiments will bear fruit this time.

Bear fruit: yield positive result

20. With six children to look after, she’s extremely busy.

- With six children to look after, she has her hands full.

Have one’s hands full: have as much work as one can do

TEST 17
1. Their problems are all self-inflicted, if you ask me.

- Their problems are all of their own making, if you ask me.

Be of own making: If you say that something such as a problem you

have is of your own making, you mean you have caused or created it
yourself

2. Mum is in charge of finances in our family, so you’ll have to ask her for
the money.

- Mum holds the purse strings in our family, so you’ll have to ask her for
the money.

Hold the purse strings: be responsible for finances

3. I know you hate watching football but try it out for once.

- I know you hate watching football but give it a whirr for once.

Give something a whirr: give something a try

4. It’s a quick and simple job; why do you always spend longer than
necessary on it?

- It’s a quick and simple job; why do you always make a meal of it?

Make a meal of something: to treat something as more important and

serious than it really is

5. Everyone is talking about the Beckhams these days.

- The Beckhams are the talk of the town these days.

Be the talk of the town: to be what everyone is talking about

6. The small village sustained most of the impact of the attack.

- The small village bore the brunt of the attack.

Bear the brunt of something: suffer most from something bad

7. I wish I had voted for the liberal candidate.

- I wish I had cast my vote for the liberal candidate.

Cast one’s vote for someone/ something: vote for someone/ something in a
poll or an election

8. His work doesn’t meet the required standards.

- His work isn’t really up to scratch.

Be up to scratch: meet the required standards

9. He untied the boat and let it go without saying anything to anybody.

- He cast the boat adrift without saying anything to anybody.

Cast adrift: to cause (someone) to float on the water in a boat that is not tied
to anything or controlled by anyone —often used as (be) cast adrift

10. She doubted my ability to make a success of the operation.

- She cast doubt on my ability to make a success of the operation.

Cast doubt on something: Cause something or someone to be questioned

11. The accident spoiled the game.

- The accident cast a shadow over the game.

Cast a shadow over something: to spoil a good situation with something

12. His questioning didn’t bring out any new evidence in the case.

- His questioning cast no further light on the case.

Cast light on something: To reveal information or details about something;

to clarify or help people understand something.

13. The police asked her to try and remember the night of the crime.

- The police asked her to cast her mind back to the night of the crime.
 Cast one’s mind back to something: to think about something that
happened in the past, in order to remember something important

14. The director is looking everywhere for a new lead actor.

- The director has cast his net wide in the search for a new lead actor.

Cast/spread one’s net wide: to try many different things so that one will
have the best chance of finding what one wants

15. How dare he call me incompetent!

- He had the nerve to call me incompetent!

Have the nerve to do something: has the ability to do something rude

without caring about others’ feelings

16. Don’t get upset about it whatever you do.

- Don’t take it to heart whatever you do.

Take something to heart: take criticism seriously and be affected by it

17. Has he gone mad?

- Has he taken leave of his senses?

Take leave of one’s senses: to lose your good judgment

18. Charles disappeared one day and no one’s seen him since.

- Charles vanished into the blue one day and no one’s seen him since.

Vanish into the blue: completely gone or disappear

19. That horrible hotel was our last choice.

- That horrible hotel was a case of any port in a storm.

Any port in a storm: in adverse circumstances one welcome any source of

relief or escape.

20. Jill became really jealous when I got a place at Oxford.

- Jill turned green with envy when I got a place at Oxford.

Be green with envy: to be very unhappy because someone has something

that you want

TEST 18
1. I told him to leave when he said that.

- I showed him the door when he said that.

Show someone the door: to tell someone to leave or make it clear you want
someone to leave

2. Don’t tell him or you’ll spoil the surprise.

- Don’t tell him or you’ll give the show away.

Give the show away: to make known a secret, trick, etc

3. Al Pacino gave the best performance of all as the bride’s father.

-Al Pacino stole the show with his performance as the bride’s father.

Steal the show: if you say that someone steals the show, you mean that they
get a lot of attention or praise because they perform better than anyone else
in a show or event.

4. When it comes to money, I saw what he was really like.

- He showed his true colors when it came to money.

Show one’s true colors: to show what one is really like : to reveal one's real
nature or character

5. Could you explain everything about the job to the new secretary
tomorrow?

- Do you mind showing the new secretary the ropes tomorrow?

Show someone the ropes: to explain or demonstrate to one how to do or

perform a job, task, or activity.
6. I don’t wish to appear more important than you, but I have this to say.

- I don’t wish to upstage you, but I have this to say.

Upstage someone: to take people’s attention away from someone and make
them listen to or look at you instead

7. The shops are near our house.

- The shops are just a stone’s throw away.

A stone’s throw (away): a short distance

8. He’s so wealthy he doesn’t even know what to do with his money.

- He’s so wealthy he has got money to burn.

- Have money to burn: to spend a lot of money on things that are not
necessary

9. I have other, more important things to do, you know.

- I have got other fish to fry, you know.

Get other fish to fry: to have more important or more interesting things to
do or attend to.

10. They have quite a lot money saved for their retirement.

- They have quite a nest egg for their retirement.

Nest egg: a sum of money saved for the future

11. You are going to have a difficult time finishing by six o’clock.

- You are going to have your work cut out to finish by six o'clock.

Have one’s work cut out: to have something very difficult to do

12. He completely changed his opinion on the subject of tax reform.

- He did a complete U-turn on the subject of tax reform.

U-turn: a complete change from one opinion or plan of action to the
opposite one

13. Jim made a big mistake when he went into business with that crook.

- Jim took a wrong turning when he went into business with that crook.

Take a wrong turning: to go the wrong way

14. Speaking plainly and honestly, I wouldn’t dream of hiring him.

- Not to put too fine a point on it I wouldn’t dream of hiring him.

Put too fine a point on: to be completely direct and honest

15. I’m going to correct that misunderstanding as soon as I see her.

- I’m going to put her right as soon as I see her.

Put someone right: make someone understand the true facts of a situation

16. You should wait until Mike is here to defend himself, Sharon.

- You shouldn’t try Mike in his absence, Sharon.

Try (v): to examine evidence in court and decide whether somebody is

innocent or guilty

17. You must let her tell her side of the story before you judge her.

- You must let her plead her case before you judge her.

Plead one’s case: It is often used outside of legal contexts to indicate that
person A needs to talk to person B and explain what happened, or ask for
something

18. She managed to stay out of trouble since being released from prison.

- She managed to keep her nose clean since being released from prison.

Keep one’s nose clean: stay out of troubles

19. Jacky Jones was accused of the robbery by a police informer.

- A police informer put the finger on Jacky Jones for the robbery.

Put the finger on somebody: to accuse somebody for a crime, etc

20. Nobody has decided yet whether the new computer system is useful or
not.

- The jury is still out on whether the new computer system is useful or not.

If the jury is still out on a subject, people do not yet know the answer or
have not yet decided if it is good or bad

TEST 19
1. She took a risk for the ex-convict when she got him the job with the
company she works at.

- She really stuck her neck out for the ex-convict when she got him the job
with the company she works at.

Stick one’s neck out: take risk to try to help someone else
2. In my opinion, there’s nothing else in the world to compare with the
Parthenon.
- The Parthenon is in a class of its own in my opinion.
Be in a class of its own: to be much better than anyone or anything else
3. I think he knows what good manners are after your little speech today.
- I think you taught him a thing or two about good manners today.
Teach someone a thing or two: if you say that person can teach someone a
thing or two about it, you mean that they know a lot about it or are good at
it.
4. I know Liam so well that I always know what he’s thinking.
- I can read Liam like a book, I know him so well.
Read someone like a book: know someone really well

5. Jane always does things in the last minute.

- Jane always does things at the eleventh hour.

At the eleventh hour: in the last minute

6. Experience has taught me not to trust people too much.
- I have learned the hard way not to trust people too much.
Learn something the hard way: to discover what you need to know
through experience or by making mistakes
7. You won’t tell anyone about it, will you?
- You will keep it under your hat, won’t you?
Keep something under one’s hat: to keep something secret
8. Dad got really angry when I told him about the fight.
- Dad went off deep end when I told him about the fight.
Go off deep end: give way immediately to an emotional outburst, especially
of anger.
9. He was shabbily dressed and a little drunk as well.
- Not only was he down at heel, but also a little drunk.
Be down at heel: wearing old clothes, or in bad condition, because of not
having much money
10. Whatever you do, don’t annoy the boss when we ask for a rise.
- Under no circumstances should you get the boss’s back up when we ask for
a rise.
Get someone’s back up: to become or be caused to be angry, defensive
11. She wanted to object, but she kept quiet for the sake of peace.
- She wanted to object but she bit her lip for the sake of peace.
Bit one’s lip: to forcibly prevent oneself from exhibiting an outward
reaction to something, especially that which makes one angry, irritated, or
upset.
12. Nobody knows for sure whether he’s stupid or just very lazy.
- It is open to question whether he’s stupid or bone idle.
Bone idle: extremely lazy
13. Do you have to be good at math for this job?
- Do you have to have a good head for math for this job?
Have a good head for something: to have a natural ability to do something
well
14. Joe should have kept quiet instead of arguing with dad.
- Joe should have held his tongue instead of arguing with dad.
Hold one’s tongue: to refrain from speaking
15. It was too foggy for us to get an aerial view of Paris.
- If it hadn’t been so foggy, we could have got a bird’s eye view of Paris.
A bird’s eye view: a view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight
16. You will soon see that the boss is not as unpleasant as he seems at first.
- The boss’s bark is worse than his bite; you’ll soon see.
Someone’s bark is worse than their bite : If you say that someone's bark is
worse than their bite, you mean that they seem much more unpleasant or
hostile than they really are.
17. No, I don’t hate him for what he did.
- No, I bear him no ill will for what he did.
Ill will: unfriendly or hostile feelings that you have towards someone
18. Jane did go wrong in the past but now she has a chance to make it right
again.
- Jane did go wrong in the past but now she can start with a clean slate.
Start with a clean slate/sheet: to start something again with a fresh
beginning, especially unencumbered by mistakes or regrets from the past.
19. It’s perfectly obvious to all of us that they’re in love.
- You can see/tell a mile off that they are in love
A mile off: if you can see or tell something a mile off, you notice it easily
and quickly
20. Harry tricked me and made me pay for the whole meal.
- Harry pulled a fast one on me and made me pay for the whole meal.
Pull a fast one: try to gain an unfair advantage

TEST 20
1. He likes to give the impression that he’s a perfect angel, but I know all
about his past.
- He pretends to be whiter than white, but I know all about his past.
Be whiter than white: never doing anything wrong

2. She should see a doctor; she bruised herself terribly when she fell down
the stairs.

- She’d better see a doctor; she is black and blue after falling down the
stairs.
Black and blue: with dark marks on your skin caused by being hit or having
an accident
3. I’m not very popular with Uncle Edward at the moment.
- I’m in Uncle Edward’s black books at the moment.
4. Jun never answers my questions.

- Jun answers my questions not in a month of Sundays.

Not in a month of Sundays: never

5. Talking to her is useless - she doesn’t respond.

- Talking to her is like banging your head against a brick wall.

Bang one’s head against the wall: useless
6. The town hall has approved the plans for the new sports centre.
- The town hall has given the green light to the plans for the new sports
center.

7. You’d better get hurry if you want to be on time for the performance.

- You’d better get your skates on if you want to be on time for the
performance.

Get one’s skates on: be hurry

8. My boss criticized me for not keeping my deadlines.

- My boss hauled me over the coals for not keeping my deadlines.

Haul someone over the coals: to scold, reprimand, or reprove someone
severely for an error or mistake
9. For two years, the company was in a difficult position making nothing but
losses.
- For two years, the company had a bumpy ride making nothing but losses.
Have a bumpy ride: to have a difficult time
10. As I expected, my designs have outdone the designs of other architect.
- As I expected, my designs have knocked the designs of other architect into
a cocked hat.
Knock something into a cocked hat: utterly defeat or outdo something
11. As a young girl, I was strongly infatuated with my teacher of Spanish.
- As a young girl, I had a crush on my teacher of Spanish.
Have a crush on someone: like someone
12. We’d better prepare ourselves right away. They’ve arrived.
- We’d better get into gear. They’ve arrived
Get into gear: to start working or doing something in a more energetic way
13. Doing two jobs is making him become stressful all the time.
- Doing two jobs is putting a great strain on him.
Put a (great) strain on: cause stress/ difficulties
14. The basic problem is lack of money.
- What it boils down to is lack of money.
Boil down to something: to have something as a main or basic part.
15. Whatever happens I’m determined to find out the truth.
- Whatever happens I’m determined to get to the bottom of this.
Get to the bottom of something: find out the truth about something
16. If we have to paint the house before your parents come to visit, we’d
better start now.
- If we have to paint the house before your parents come to visit, we’d better
get cracking.
Get cracking: start immediately
17. After half an hour of small talk, we should talk about the important part
now.
- After half an hour of small talk, we should get down to business now.
Get down to business: start something seriously
18. When the waiters started to clean the tables, we knew that they wanted
us to leave.
- When the waiters started to clean the tables, we got the message that they
wanted us to leave.
Get the message: understand an indirect remark
19. I didn’t understand every detail of the lesson but I understood it
generally.
- I didn’t understand every detail of the lesson but I got the gist of it.
Get the gist: get the general understanding
20. Jimmy’s mother can’t stop talking about his achievements.
- Jimmy’s mother swelled with pride when talking about his achievements.
Swell with pride: be unable to contain/ unable to help showing pride.