Intermediate

Idioms some interesting meanings and histories

at the crack of dawn (Unit 49)
The word crack was used in the 18th century to mean a
moment, in reference to the time occupied by the crack,
or shot, of a gun. It was used in at the crack of dawn
(and sometimes at the crack of day) to express the idea
of the moment when night becomes day. It is now used
to mean very early in the morning.
fall off the back of a lorry (Unit 3)
When somebody says that something has fallen off the
back of a lorry, they are using a euphemism. What they
mean is that it has been stolen, or obtained in some
other dishonest way. The expression is often used as a
joke about something that is unusually cheap.
pull your weight (Unit 11)
This phrase comes from rowing. If you pull your weight
when you are rowing a boat with other rowers, you are
using the right amount of energy in proportion to the
size of your body. In general use it means that you are
working as hard as other people in your group or team.
rip somebody off and a rip-off (Unit 33)
These are relatively recent phrases, which originated
in America in the 1960s. Originally, if someone
ripped somebody off, they stole something from them.
Now it usually means to cheat somebody by charging
too much for something. If something is a rip-off, it is
more expensive than it should be.

pull your weight

Activity
Complete the sentences with the idioms above.
1. I had to be up so I wouldnt miss my flight.
2. This TV is very cheap. Did it ?
3. Michael paid 5,000 for his second-hand car. What !
A new one only costs 6,000.
4. The boss is angry with you, Jim. If you dont ,
youll lose your job.

4. The boss is angry with you, Jim. If you dont pull your weight, youll lose your job.
3. Michael paid 5,000 for his second-hand car. What a rip-off! A new one only costs 6,000.
2. This TV is very cheap. Did it fall off the back of a lorry?
1. I had to be up at the crack of dawn so I wouldnt miss my flight.
Answers