IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Practice 1
Match the idiomatic expressions with their meanings.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.

a little chance
annoy me
teasing me
boastful
feel frightened
do your very best
very busy or active
start a conversation
show excitement
pay ridiculously high prices
lose his temper

l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.
r.
s.
t.

make him do anything she

wishes
be independent
in trouble
remain unnoticed or disregarded
realistic; practical
well looked after or cared for
make or become very sad
obey orders
try to control or hide ones
feelings

break the ice - ..

put your best foot forward -

cold feet - ..

a ray of hope - ..

on the go -

too big for his boots - .

tread on my toes - ...

pulling my leg -

jump for joy -

10

stand on her own two feet - ..

11

twist him round her little finger -

12

pay through your nose -

13

blow his top - ..

14

bite one's lips -

15

in good hands - ..

16

toe the line -

18

on the rocks - .

19

fall on deaf ears - ...

20

break someone's heart -

Practice 2
Pick an idiomatic expression from the box to complete the sentence.
1

If you ever you'll regret it for the rest of your life.

Soon after his promotion, he became .............................................................

Sarojini is just the right type of lively girl . in that very quiet group.

Chee Sing was only .. when he said I looked fat.

You either .... or risk being dismissed from your job.

Your car will be ... under Wong, the mechanic.

I see some students ... when they get good results.

I got. and stammered badly when 1 had to make a speech,

You ..... when you shop at exclusive stores.

10

Teenagers have lots of energy and are always ...............................................

COLOUR IDIOMS
Practice 3
Match the meanings to the colour idioms

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

black out
green fingers
in black and white
a white elephant
paint the town red
red-handed
red-letter day
blue-eyed boy

bolt from the blue

once in a blue
moon
a yellow streak
purple with rage
true colours
off colour
flying colours

conspicuous success - ..
true nature or character - ..
very angry - .
cowardice - ................
a rare occurrence -
a sudden and unexpected occurrence - .
in the act of committing a crime/doing something wrong - ..
go on a spree -
a possession that is unwanted by its owner -
write it on paper with ink - .
momentary loss of consciousness -
not well - ..
skill in gardening - ..
the favourite of a person - .
memorably important or happy occasion - .

Practice 4
Choose a colour idiom from the box to complete the sentence.
1

Mrs Tan found out her husband's . after a year of

marriage.

The orphans only get to eat ice-cream ....

My grandmother had a ................................................................ and fell down.

They are going to ... after the examination.

She entered University after passing her A-levels with ....

The drug courier was caught... with heroin in his baggage.

You cannot deny that you did it because there is evidence .....

On her .. days, Ms Wong cannot do her job well.

The death of her father was a ..

10

In many homes, the organ is ... because the

children are not interested in music.

11

Mother has won many prizes for her flowers because she has ..........................

12

Some employees are jealous of Johan because he is the manager's .....

13

..., the angry father yelled at his son.

14

On that...................................... all the grandchildren gathered together to sing

'Happy Birthday'.

15

The big bully ran away when he saw a policeman because he was ...

PROVERBS
A new broom sweeps clean.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
All that glitters is not gold.
Charity begins at home.
Don't count your chickens before they are
hatched.
Don't make mountains out of molehills.
First come, first served.
Half a loaf is better than none.
It takes all sorts to make a world.

Jump from the frying pan into the fire.

Look before you leap.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Once bitten, twice shy.
One man's meat is another man's poison.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Prevention is better than cure.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
To kill two birds with one stone.
Walls have ears.

Practice 5
1. Things that appear attractive are not always good.
......
2. Before rushing to do a thing, consider the matter carefully.
......
3. Wait till you have achieved what you are doing before you boast of success.
......

4. Don't make a big fuss over something minor or small.

......
5. You should not expect everyone to think and act as you do.
......
6. Do the job as soon as you have the chance.
......
7. It is more sensible to prevent a misfortune from happening than to have to deal with
it when it does happen.
......
8. When you have been deceived once, you become more wary.
......
9. If you cannot have all you wish, at least you can make the best of what you have.
......
10. Start doing good deeds at home first before venturing out.
......
11. Accomplish two things with one effort.
......
12. The person who is there first, gets to be served first.
......

13. If you don't correct a child while he is young, he'll become an undisciplined adult.
......
14. To go from a bad position to a worse one.
......
15. When you are separated from someone, you soon forget that person.
......

16. A small piece of work done now may save a lot of work later.
......
17. When you are separated from someone, you grow fonder of that someone.
......
18. When you first start out, enthusiasm makes you do a good job but this soon
slackens.
......
19. What suits one may be distasteful to another.
......
20. Somebody may hear, even when you think you are speaking in secret.
......