Vargas Sánchez José Luis

LEI, English VIII

Lexical Activities Unit 12.

At the cutting edge
I. Use the name of the following pictures to complete the idioms. Then, match the columns with
the appropriate meanings by writing the correct number in the parenthesis (1-10 – a-j)

a. to twist the ___________ - (___)

b. to get into ____________ - (___)
c. to shoot your ___________ - (___)
d. with (no) ____________ attached. - (___)
e. to blow a ___________ - (___)
f. a weak link in the ____________ - (___)
g. to go down the ____________ - (___)
h. to call a __________ a _____________ - (___)
i. the final ___________ in the coffin - (___)
j. to get your ___________ crossed – (___)

1. Something that has finally caused failure

2. to speak directly
3. to fail
4. unreliable part of something, usually used for people
5. to lose your temper
6. unconditional
7. to misunderstand
8. to run out of energy before should
9. to start do deal with something effectively
10. to deliberately make someone feel worse
II. Use the previous idioms to complete the following sentences. Make any appropriate change
in grammar tenses and conjugations.

1. The magnificent Egyptian kingdom was destroyed because of Ramses III. He will always be
considered as ________________ of that powerful dynasty.

2. Okay Natalie, I am going to ________________. I have always loved you and I would be
really honored if you marry me.

3. Look! Mister Roberts is ________________ because the children destroyed his beautiful
garden.

4. Differential calculus is too difficult. When I was a child I used to _____________ every time
I had to do mathematics homework.

5. If Ana Gabriela continuous running like that, she is going win the gold medal. I really hope
she does not _______________ or everything will be lost.

6. Hey dad, look! Yesterday Marie could not ride her bicycle and now she is even playing
races with Kevin. She has certainly _____________.

7. Not only did Tom fail his test, but also it was his father’s scolding what _______________.
He must feel terrible.

8. Matthew is behaving strangely well; he has even lent me his new laptop. I hope there are
no ________________ and then he wants me to do something for him.

9. My sisters´ attempt to persuade my parents to let them go to the party _______________

because they got really bad grades at school.

10. Kerenha’s arriving late from the party was the ___________________ for my mom to send
her to a convent.
III. Find the phrases of the verb SET and use them appropriately to complete the sentences. The
number of words required is given in brackets. Make any necessary change.
S E T T H E R E C O R D S T R A I G H T
E W E G H J K L P F T Y U I O P Q A Z S
T E R V B N M A S D C T Q Y U O P L Ñ E
T Q W D G V T Y U I S V G T E W B N M T
H Q Z C V S D B G Y U I O P W Q W R T O
E G D E N O H T E E T R U O Y T E S O U
W Q S V B N M K L P T I U H W Q C V B T
H Q R T H U I O P Ñ M N B H J K L S G Y
E Q W S T Y U I O P L Ñ M N C V G T I O
E Q W E R T H B G A W R U I O P L Ñ I U
L Q W T U I O P K G B C D F J M A S S R
S E T T H E W O R L D O N F I R E E G S
I W E H Q Z C V B H I T H L O P R T Y T
N Q R E C V D R T H N M S W E R T I O A
M A J S Q D F H U I O P L Ñ N M C N P L
O E Q C W E R V G D T H J L I O W S W L
T V Y E A S C V B H G N M W S R T T Q N
I N P N A Z X S W Q V B N G T R E O A B
O Y Q E Q A Z X C V F R T W J K L N V C
N O T R A E H R U O Y T E S Q C V E B V

ACROSS
1. Jeremy persuaded the school’s secretary to ______his_____________ (4) so that he
doesn’t have bad grades and then be able to be accepted at university. He’s such a liar!
2. Marco’s friends have really _______________ (4) in building the new school. They have
been working day and night and are determined to finish it next week.
3. I refused working as an English teacher in that kinder garden because the children’s noise
really __________________(5). I can’t stand them.
4. Les Miserables has been awarded 5 Oscars. It has really ________________ (5) because
now it is considered as one of the movies with the highest incomes in film history.

DOWN
5. The whole group had problems understanding the chemistry exercises; nevertheless, the
teacher has kindly ________________ (4) and now we can even solve the most difficult
chemistry problems.
6. I am so sorry Mister Hopkins, but you signed a contract with our company and you cannot
quit the job just because now you want to go earlier. Our contract is _______________(5)
and it is impossible to accept any change.
7. As English teachers, it is imperative to always use a warm up to ________________ (3) of
our classes so that the students know what they are expected to work with.
8. No sooner had the brilliant young engineer finished his Master’s degree and
_________________ (5) than a leading company took steps to recruit him
IV. Put the second halves of the phrases is the appropriate verb’s column.

PULL RUN

1. …a tight ship 2. …your socks up 3. …the gauntlet 4. …out all the stops

5. …a fast one 6. … the other one 7. …rings round 8. …the strings

V. Match the previous phrases with the following meanings by writing the number in the correct
parenthesis (a-h – 1-8).

a. Improve your behavior or work (____)

b. Do everything possible to make something happen (____)
c. Not no believe what someone has just said to you (____)
d. Control people or an organization (____)
e. Trick someone (____)
f. Beat or do better than someone (____)
g. Suffer unpleasant behavior in order to achieve sth. (____)
h. manage something efficiently (____)

VI. Use the phrases in exercises IV and V to complete each sentence.

1. William accepted to ______________ of the company in order to improve it and generate

higher incomes.
2. Some thieves _______________on my grandfather and stole him some of his belongings
by pretending they were plumbers.
3. My sisters’ boyfriends had to _________________ with me if they wanted to date them.
4. Jaquie _________________ when she passes the exam with no problems.
5. Come on Sophie! These rude boys just want to bother you with such comments. Just
_____________!
6. Mariane _______________ to be able to be accepted to study at Harvard University.
7. If you really want to be promoted, you will really have to ______________ and show the
boss you are capable for the position.
8. Look! Kevin has _____________ with all the other children in the race. He is just
awesome!

ANSWER KEY
I.
a. to twist the _KNIFE_ - (_10_)
b. to get into __GEAR___ - (_9_)
c. to shoot your ___BOLT___ - (_8_)
d. with (no) ___STRINGS___ attached. - (_6_)
e. to blow a ___FUSE___ - (_5_)
f. a weak link in the ___CHAIN___ - (_4_)
g. to go down the ____TUBES____ - (_3_)
h. to call a ____SPADE__ a ____SPADE____ - (_2_)
i. the final ____NAIL___ in the coffin - (_1_)
j. to get your ____WIRES___ crossed – (_7_)

II.
1. a weak link in the chain
2. call a spade a spade
3. blowing a fuse
4. get my wires crossed
5. shoots her bolt
6. got into gear
7. twisted the knife
8. strings attached
9. went down the tubes
10. the final nail in the coffin

S E T T H E R E C O R D S T R A I G H T
E S
T E
T T
H O
E G D E N O H T E E T R U O Y T E S U
W T
H Y
E S O
E E U
L T S R
S E T T H E W O R L D O N F I R E E S
I H T T
N E I A
 M S N L
O C S L
T E T
I N O
O E N
N O T R A E H R U O Y T E S E
III.

1. Set his record straight

2. set their heart on
3. Gets my teeth on edge
4. set the world on fire
5. set out his stall
6. is set in stone
7. set the scene
8. set his wheels in motion

IV.
PULL RUN
your socks up rings round
out all the stops the gauntlet
the other one a tight ship
the strings
a fast one

1. …a tight ship 2. …your socks up 3. …the gauntlet 4. …out all the stops

5. …a fast one 6. … the other one 7. …rings round 8. …the strings

V.
 a. Improve your behavior or work (____) 2
b. Do as much as possible to make something happen (____) 4
c. Not no believe what someone has just said to you (____) 6
d. Control people or an organization (____) 8
e. Trick someone (____) 5
f. Beat or do better than someone (____) 7
g. Suffer unpleasant behavior in order to achieve sth. (____) 3
h. manage something efficiently (____) 1

VI.
1. pull the strings
2. pull a fast one
3. run the gauntlet
4. ran a tight ship
5. pull the other one
6. pull out all the stops
7. pull your socks up
8. run rings round