Idioms

Essay Enforcement 2015 *

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PRACTICE 1 - IDIOMS IN CONTEXT

Activity 1

Read aloud the following idioms and their meanings. Then copy the idioms and their meanings into your EW20 exercise book. You are encouraged to use these idioms when writing sentences.

1. A bundle of nerves To be very nervous.

2. At the crack of dawn Very early in the morning

3. Foot the bill To pay for something

4. Put (something) on the back burner To delay.

5. Hit the nail on the head To be absolutely accurate

6. Set one’s heart on To be very keen to get

7. Pluck up courage To force oneself to do something.

8. A piece of cake Very easy or simple

9. With flying colours Very successfully

10. Grin from ear to ear To smile broadly, to look very happy


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Activity 1

Study the idioms and their meanings. Then, do the following activity.

LIST A

IDIOMS MEANING

1. give me a break 1. give me a chance

2. face the music 2. to meet and deal with the unpleasant results of one’s actions

3. year in, year out 3. occur every year

4. wash one’s hands off 4. to refuse to accept responsibility for something

5. jump the queue 5. to go in front of others in a queue

6. make up one’s mind 6. decide what to do

7. keep an eye on 7. to watch carefully

8. live from hand to mouth 8. poor, having just enough to buy food

9. give and take 9. be tolerant and cooperative

10. on the road 10. travelling

11. keep an eye out for 11. be on the lookout for

12. call it a day 12. stop work for the day

13. break the ice 13. to remove nervousness to make people feel comfortable with each other

14. burn the midnight oil 14. study or work all night


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Activity 2 Rearrange the following words to form correct idioms. Write the idioms in the spaces provided. Refer to List A. e.g. ice break the

break the ice 1. midnight burn oil the

____________________________________________________ 2. it a day call

____________________________________________________ 3. the face music

____________________________________________________ 4. take give and

____________________________________________________ 5. me a break give

____________________________________________________ 6. the queue jump

____________________________________________________ 7. eye on keep an

____________________________________________________ 8. road on the

____________________________________________________


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Activity 3 Study the idioms and their meanings in List A (Activity 1). Then, write the most suitable meanings in the spaces provided. e.g. break the ice Start something new

1. burn the midnight oil ………………………………

2. call it a day ………………………………

3. face the music ………………………………

4. give and take ………………………………

5. give me a break ………………………………

6. jump the queue ………………………………

7. keep an eye on ………………………………

8. on the road ………………………………

9. break the ice ………………………………

10. wash one’s hands off ………………………………


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Activity 1 1. Study the following sentences. 2. Identify the errors in the idioms. 3. Rearrange them and write the sentences in the spaces provided. e.g. John solved the problem with his computer. It was cake a piece of. (very simple) John solved the problem with his computer. It was a piece of cake.

1. It is time about that you complete your History project. (something that

should have been done earlier)

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. Their love affair is an secret open. ( be known to many people)

………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. The cobbler earns his and butter bread by mending shoes. (one’s

livelihood)

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. The repair to his lorry cost a him leg and arm an. (very expensive)

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. We must touch in keep with our friends. (to talk or write to someone)

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. Dr Faiz has his mind up made to marry after his trip to ISS. (decide what

to do)

……………………………………………………………………………………………

7. Krishnan was feeling the under weather yesterday, so he went to see the

doctor. (sick)

……………………………………………………………………………………………


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8. My great grandmother is still at young heart. She enjoys parties and

concerts. (still feeling and behaving young)

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Activity 2

1. The following sentences contain idioms. 2. Read the sentences aloud for correct pronunciation and intonation. 3. Copy these sentences to form a paragraph into your EW20 exercise

book. 4. Then read the written paragraph again.

1. Hanu Austin was on his way to take his driving test and he was a bundle of nerves.

2. He got up at the crack of dawn to read his manual once more.

3. He remembered what his father said, “It’s easier to move around if you can drive and I’ll foot the bill for the lessons”.

4. However, Hanu put the idea on the back burner for some time.

5. Then he discovered that his father had hit the nail on the head.

6. He decided to set his heart on getting his licence.

7. With a great deal of encouragement, he plucked up enough courage to enrol for driving lessons.

8. He thought learning to drive should be a piece of cake.

9. His driving instructor, Mr Wong, was sure that he would pass with flying colours.

10. Finally, as he came out of the test centre, he was grinning from ear to ear. He had passed.


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ANSWER KEY

Practice 2 – Activity 2

1. burn the midnight oil 2. call it a day 3. face the music 4. give and take 5. give me a break 6. jump the queue 7. keep an eye on 8. on the road


1. study or work all night 2. stop work for the day 3. to meet and deal with the unpleasant results of one’s actions 4. be tolerant and cooperative 5. give me a chance 6. to go in front of others in a queue 7. to watch carefully 8. travelling 9. to remove nervousness to make people feel comfortable with each other


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10. to refuse to accept responsibility for something


1. about time 2. an open secret 3. bread and butter 4. cost him an arm and a leg 5. keep in touch 6. made up his mind 7. under the weather 8. young at heart


Hanu Austin was on his way to take his driving test and he was a bundle of

nerves. He got up at the crack of dawn to read his manual once more. He

remembered what his father said, “It’s easier to move around if you can drive and I’ll

foot the bill for the lessons”. However, Hanu put the idea on the back burner for

some time. When he left college and wanted to meet his friends, he could not drive.

Then he discovered that his father had hit the nail on the head. He decided to set

his heart on getting his licence. With a great deal of encouragement, he plucked

up enough courage to enrol for driving lessons. He thought learning to drive should

be a piece of cake. His driving instructor, Mr Wong, was sure that he would pass

with flying colours. Finally, as he came out of the test centre, he was grinning

from ear to ear. He had passed.

Idioms

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