INDEPENDENT LANGUAGE AND CULTURE SEARCH

Exercise 1. Use your e-dictionary to complete the idiom in the picture.

Comment on its meaning and illustrate any of them in your context.
Example: value for money – something is worth what you pay for it

1) value for

2) (at) first hand-directly from the origin

,without intervation . Ex:Like many of us, I have seen the problem at first hand.

3) have one’s full

Have one's hands full-to be so busy that you don't have time to do sth else.

Ex:i have my hands full with studying that is why i do not have a time to have a
ball with my friends

4) by fits and s

By fits and starts- If something happens in fits and starts, it often stops and then
starts again

Replies to the advertisement are arriving in fits and starts.

5) it’s all to me

It's all greek to me- difficult to understand

Ex: when i came to the university ,the new naterial was all greek to me ; i
couldn't pick up the basis

6) to the point

Stick to the point-focus on the point of the discussion

Ex: my mother always complain with me about the sticking to the point because
i always forget about it and start to speak silly.

7) to hit the

To hit the books-to study

Ex: i have started to hit the books in foreign languages

8) with flying
With flying colors-to do sth successfully

Example: i have passed the entrance exams with flying colors

9) put/get your thinking on

Put/get your thinking cap on-to think seriously about sth

Ex: i get my thinking cap on how to pass my exams with good grades

10) as easy as

As easy as abc- extremely easy

Ex: it is as easy as abc for me to translate different poems

11) learn something by

Learn sth by heart- learn sth in such way you can say it from memory

Ex:my mother can still recite the poem she learned by heart at school

Exercise 2. Fill in the gaps with a suitable idiom from Exercise 1.

1. Students’ academic development and achievements fully depend on studying

systematically but not _____value for money________.
2. I couldn’t stand Physics at school. It was _all greek to me_____.
3. While writing an essay you should organize it into paragraphs with topic
sentences and make sure you _____stick to the point_____.
4. Harry had been studying hard for the whole term; it’s no wonder he managed
to pass his exams _____with flying colors________.
5. The curriculum is extremely intensive, so we _will _gave our hands full__
throughout the academic year.
6. The college provides an all-round education which is excellent ____________.
7. She can’t have failed the test; it was _____as easy as abc_______.
8. Take a chance to view ____at first hand_____ the university campus, lecture
rooms, a library and other facilities on a school’s open day.
9. I can’t go out tonight, I need to ____hit the books________.
10. It’s no use crying, you’d better put/get your thinking cap on in order to find
the right solution.
11. What a beautiful poem! I’ll definitely _learn it by heart__.