Page 44 - English Vocabulary in Use (Pre & Intermediate)

Exercises

18.1 It can be difficult to guess the meaning of an idiom, especially if you do not have the full
context. Look at these examples (they are not presented on the opposite page).
1 I feel like a drink. 4 She was pulling my leg when she said that.
2 They’ve gone for good. 5 Ican probably make do with a smaller flat.
3 I’m tied-up all afternoon.
Here is a fuller context for each of the above idioms. Can you guess the meaning now?
1 a: Are you hungry?
B: No, but I feel like a drink.
2 A: Do you think they’ll ever come back to England?
B: No, they’ve gone for good.
3 A: Do you have a lot of clients to see?
B: Yes, I’m tied-up all afternoon.
4 a: Did she tell you there were no bathrooms in the hotel?
B: Yes. I think she was pulling my leg when she said that.
5 a: Do you really need a large flat?
B: Well, it’s nice to have a big place, but I can probably make do with a smaller flat.

18.2 Replace the underlined words in each dialogue with a suitable idiomatic expression from the
opposite page. (But try to answer the questions before looking at the opposite page.) Can
you think of similar expressions in your own language?
1 a: Is Rebecca here? 5 A: What’s the matter?
B: Yes, wait a minute. I'll get her. B: Nothing. Why?
2 A: Does it take long to get there? 6 a: Look after my things for a minute?
B: No, I know a quick way. B: Yeah, sure.
3 A: Could I borrow this for a minute? 7 A: Do we have to go now?
B: Yes, take it. B: Yes, hurry up, otherwise we’ll be late.
soon.
4 a: Sorry I can’t come 8 a: You'll have to decide
on Thursday.
B: That’s OK. Don’t worry. B: Yes I know, but it’s very difficult.
18.3 Complete the expressions in these sentences.
1 It wasn’t a very successful holiday. For a ................ the beach was a long way from our
hotel; then to make ...0............ worse, the car broke down on the third day and we had to
walk to the beach. the rest of the time.
2 We take it in 2.000000... to look after the dog.
3 She asked me about the times of the trains but I couldn’t tell her off-................ .
4 I don’t enjoy parties where you just stand around and make ................ talk with lots of
people you don’t know.
5 We can probably make ................ with a three-roomed flat for the moment, but in the
Jong 2.0... we will have to think about moving into a bigger place.

18.4 Can you find at least three idiomatic expressions in this text. What do they mean?

| went to stay with my cousin last week. We are the same age but have very
little in common: he loves sport and | hate it; I'm mad abovt music and he’s not
interested in it AS you can imagine, we didn't have a very good time together,
and by abovt Thursday we were really getting. on each other's nerves, So |
decided to come hove.

English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate) 4!