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ENGLISH IDIOM QUIZ – ANIMALS

IELO — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:58:09 +0000

Choose an idiom to replace the expression in the brackets:

“Please stop that (mischief) and do some serious work.”

(a) dog and pony show (b) monkey business (c) piggyback (d) road hog

The little boy kept asking many questions until his mother finally said that (asking too many questions will get him into trouble).

(a) the cat had got his tongue (b) you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (c) curiosity killed the cat (d) there is more than one way to skin a cat

“Please (be patient and wait) while I make a phone call.”

(a) call the dogs off (b) have a whale of a time (c) flog a dead horse (d) hold your horses

The computer software patent is (a good source of money) for our company.

(a) a cash cow (b) as strong as an ox (c) a horse of a different color (d) a dark horse

The little boys thought that their friend was (easily frightened) because he would not play with the dog.

(a) as awkward as a cow on roller skates (b) a kangaroo court (c) as quiet as a mouse (d) a scaredy-cat

The supervisor has a reputation for (watching and controlling) the workers.

(a) living high off the hog on (b) riding herd on (c) horsing around with (d) going ape with

When the police arrived the two men looked frightened and suddenly (ran away).

(a) hit the bull`s eye (b) let the cat out of the bag (c) turned tail (d) cried wolf

I heard about the plans for the new magazine article (directly from the person responsible).

(a) off his high horse (b) straight from the horse`s mouth (c) in two shakes of a lamb’s tail (d) in a pig`s eye

The car engine stopping while driving on the freeway was the (thing that finally made me decide to do something) so I sold the car.

(a) straw that broke the camel`s back (b) black sheep of the family (c) cat on a hot tin roof (d) wolf in sheep`s clothing

He really (misjudged his chance of success) when he found an unreliable partner for his business.

(a) led a dog`s life (b) bet on the wrong horse (c) cast pearl`s before swine (d) made a mountain out of a molehole

He is the (most important person) in his company.

(a) holy cow (b) dog in the manger (c) alley cat (d) top dog

I had not seen my cousin for a long time so when we finally met we talked (for a long time).

(a) in the dog house (b) as busy as a beaver (c) until the cows came home (d) like lambs to the slaughter

“Do not be afraid of your new neighbour. Her (words are worse than her actions).”

(a) tail is wagging the dog (b) tail is between her legs (c) looks are like something the cat dragged in (d) bark is worse than her bite

My grandfather moved to the country to get away from the (business and confusion) in the city.

(a) white elephant (b) horse trading (c) rat race (d) horse sense

The young boy (pretended to be asleep) when his friend came into the room.

(a) went to the dogs (b) put on the dog (c) served as a guinea pig (d) played possum

The man who owns the store is (very dishonest).

(a) as crooked as a dog’s hind leg (b) as clean as a hound’s tooth (c) as stubborn as a mule (d) bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

We had (an exciting and interesting time) at the conference.

(a) a cock-and-bull story (b) a whale of a time (c) the best-laid plans of mice and men (d) a bull in a china shop

My supervisor is always angry so I do not like to (get into an argument with) her.

(a) lock horns with (b) monkey around with (c) go hog-wild with (d) make a monkey out of

I knew that our company was (supporting someone who could not win) but still we continued to support our candidate in the election.

(a) killing the fatted calf (b) making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear (c) backing the wrong horse (d) separating the sheep from the goats

Answers: 1 b), 2 c), 3 d), 4 a), 5 d), 6 b), 7 c), 8 b), 9 a), 10 b), 11 d), 12 c), 13 d), 14 c), 15 d), 16 a), 17 b), 18 a), 19 c)

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IDIOMS OF THE FACE

IELO — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:57:23 +0000

Face

face-to-face = in person: “We need to arrange a face-to-face meeting.”

face the music = take responsibility for a difficult situation: “We’ve got to face the music – this company is going under.”

face up to responsibilities = accept responsibilities: “You need to face up to your responsibilities – it’s time you got a job and started to save money.”

be two-faced = be hypocritical: “I can’t believe she told you that she likes Harry – she told me she hates him! She’s so two-faced!”

Ears

be all ears = listen attentively: “So, you’ve got an idea. I’m all ears.”

have an ear for = be good at music: “He’s doing well in his piano lessons – he’s definitely got an ear for music.”

keep your ears to the ground = listen out for something: “I’ll keep my ears to the ground – the next time I hear someone wants to rent out a flat, I’ll let you know.”

up to your ears in something = be extremely busy: “I’m sorry I can’t come out this weekend – I’m up to my ears in work.”

Eyes

keep your eyes peeled = watch extremely attentively: “Keep your eyes peeled for him – he’s in the crowd somewhere.”

keep an eye out for = watch for someone or something: “Keep an eye out for the next turning on the left.”

eye up = look at someone because you think they look nice: “Whenever she goes to a club, she always gets eyed up by older men.”

have your eye on something / someone = want someone or something: “I’ve got my eye on a new computer.”

have eyes in the back of your head = warn someone that you can see exactly what they are doing: “Don’t make those signs at me – I’ve got eyes in the back of my head!”

see eye to eye on something = agree with someone: “Those two don’t always see eye to eye – they often argue.”

Other parts of the face

stick your nose in = get involved in something or someone else’s business: “I wish she wouldn’t stick her nose in like that – I really don’t want anyone else’s help.”

on the tip of my tongue = when you’ve forgotten the word you want to say: “What’s the word for it – it’s on the tip of my tongue…”

tongue-tied = when you can’t say anything because you feel shy: “She’s tongue-tied when she has to speak in public.”

by the skin of my teeth = just manage to do something: “He got out of the burning building by the skin of his teeth.”

cut your teeth on something = where you learn to do something: “He’s the best man to run the company – he cut his teeth in the Production Department and ran it successfully for years.”

teething problems = start-up problems with a new project: “We’re having teething problems with our distribution systems.”

have a cheek = be disrespectful: “He’s got a cheek saying you never help him – I saw you writing his report for him!”

a frog in my throat = when your throat tickles and makes you cough: “Sorry I can’t stop coughing – I’ve got a frog in my throat.”

stick your neck out = do or say something that might have negative results: “I’m going to stick my neck out and say what I think.”

be up to your neck in = be in a difficult situation: “He’s up to his neck in debt.”

breathe down someone’s neck = check constantly what someone else is doing: “I can’t write this letter with you breathing down my neck!”

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IDIOMS OF PERSONALITY (2)

IELO — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:17:28 +0000

Match the idioms with their definitions (answers below):

1. down-at-heel A. very thin

2. full of beans B. dishonest; likely to steal things

3. heartless C. dirty, poor, not well looked after

4. hen-pecked D. old

5. hot-blooded E. young and inexperienced

6. laid back F. proud, conceited; thinking you are better than others

7. light-fingered G. very emotional

8. long in the tooth H. slightly bald

9. skinny I. (of a man) always being told what to do by his wife

10. stuck up J. very relaxed

11. (a bit) thin on top K. cold and cruel

12. wet behind the ears L. very lively

(Answers: 1.C; 2.L; 3.K; 4.I; 5.G; 6.J; 7.B; 8.D; 9.A; 10.F; 11.H; 12.E)

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IDIOMS USING CHILDREN / BABIES

IELO — Sat, 30 May 2009 09:44:27 +0000

Babe in the woods
A babe in the woods is a naive, defenceless, young person.

Blue-eyed boy
Someone’s blue-eyed boy is their favourite person.

Child’s play
If something is child’s play, it is very easy and simple.

Hold the baby
(UK) If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the baby.

It takes a village to raise a child
It takes many people to teach a child all that he or she should know.

Like a kid in a candy store
If someone is like a kid in a candy store, they are very excited about something.

Mummy’s boy
A man who is still very dependent on his mother is a mummy’s boy.

New kid on the block
A new kid on the block is a person who has recently joined a company, organisation, team, etc, and does not know how things work yet.

Out of the mouths of babes
People say this when children unexpectedly say something very intelligent or wise.

Sleep like a baby
If you sleep very well, you sleep like a baby.

Spare the rod and spoil the child
This means that if you don’t discipline children, they will become spoilt.

Spit the dummy
Reference to an infant spitting out their dummy (or pacifier) in order to cry. ‘To spit the dummy’ is to give up.

Throw the baby out with the bath water
If you get rid of useful things when discarding inessential things, you throw the baby out with the bath water.

With child
(UK) If a woman’s with child, she’s pregnant.

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IDIOMS OF PERSONALITY (1)

IELO — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:10:57 +0000

Below are some of the most common idioms of personality used in English:

absent- minded: very forgetful, easily forgetting things.
big-headed: conceited, boastful, self-important.
brainy: clever, intelligent.
cheeky: rude, disrespectful (especially towards someone older, eg. parents, teachers etc.)
hot-headed: get angry quickly; tending to do things without thinking.
nosy: inquisitive, curious about others.
pig-headed: stubborn, unwilling to listen to advice.
thick: stupid, unintelligent.
thick-skinned: insensitive to criticism, not easily offended.
tight-fisted: mean with money, not generous.
two-faced: insincere, deceitful (eg. agree when talking to someone but disagree behind their back)
well-off: rich, wealthy.

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