Lesson 7 – English Idioms with Numbers

Introductory Quiz
Guess the correct meaning of each idiom from the context. It's OK if you get a lot of
answers incorrect - the important part is to do your best in trying to figure it out!

Question 1

Robert did a one-eighty as soon as he saw that he'd walked into the ladies' restroom.

To "do a one-eighty" means...

A to apologize to the people present

B to have a panic attack
C to turn around and go in the opposite direction

Question 2

I haven't missed a single class all semester - I'm batting a thousand!

If you're "batting a thousand," you...

A are the teacher's favorite person

B are very dedicated to your studies
C have a perfect record

Question 3

When Melissa walked into the office the morning after dyeing her hair blonde, I did a
double take - I almost didn't recognize her.

To "do a double take" means...

A ignore somebody
B look two times to confirm
C say the same thing two times

Question 4

After the divorce, the judge declared that Mr. Johnson had to split everything fifty-fifty
with his wife.

"Fifty-fifty" means...

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 A 50 times
B equally
C immediately

Question 5

I've known my best friend for over four decades. Friends like that are one in a million.

"One in a million" means...

A easy to get along with

B extremely loyal
C very rare

Question 6

I saw him leaving the hotel early in the morning with another woman... so I put two
and two together and figured he must be cheating on his wife.

To "put two and two together" means...

A come to the logical conclusion

B to be in an embarrassing situation
C watch someone without them knowing

Question 7

We should have hired the other candidate; even though Jack was more qualified, he
turned out to be a terrible employee. Oh well - hindsight is 20-20.

"Hindsight is 20-20" means...

A People are not always as good as they appear

B Sometimes you need to make difficult decisions
C Things are perfectly obvious when you look back on them in the past

Question 8

Everyone else brought a date to the banquet, and I went alone. I felt like a fifth wheel
the entire evening.

A "fifth wheel" is...

A an independent person
B a person who is sad because they are single
C an extra, unwelcome person

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Question 9

We could take either the bus or the train to Boston. It's six of one, half-dozen of the
other - they both take about 4 hours, and the price isn't much different.

"Six of one, half-dozen of the other" means...

A neither one is very good

B two options are equivalent
C you can make the choice

Question 10

I really wasn't in the mood to exercise today. I made a half-hearted attempt, but I gave
up after about five minutes.

"Half-hearted" means...

A without energy or enthusiasm

B trying to do something that's too difficult
C while feeling sad

Video Explanation
#1 - do a one-eighty = to turn around and go in the opposite direction

In geometry, a rotation of 180 degrees means to turn in a half-circle. So if you are

walking in one direction, and you turn 180 degrees, you would then continue walking in
the opposite direction.

This idiom is used for both physical movement and for complete changes in emotions,
beliefs, etc. For example, if a politician supported a law in the past, and then later voted
against the same law, he "did a 180" because he changed and took the opposite position.

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#2 - batting a thousand = have a perfect record

This idiom comes from baseball statistics. If a baseball

player hits the ball with the bat every time he tries, his
record is 1.000 (called "a thousand"). If he hits the ball
only one out of every four times, he is batting 0.250
(two-fifty). So the idiom batting a thousand means to
"have a perfect record."

We also use this expression when you try to do multiple

things and succeed at all of them. For example, if you're
shopping for Christmas gifts for your family, and you go
to 5 stores and find 5 great presents to buy, then you're
"batting a thousand" because all your attempts were
successful.

#3 - do a double take = look two times to confirm

In the world of filmmaking, each attempt to film a scene is

called a "take." Sometimes it's necessary to film the same
scene twice to make sure the quality is good - this is called a
"double take" and it is the origin of the idiom in English,
meaning to look at a person or thing two times to confirm
that what you are seeing is true.

#4 - fifty-fifty = equally

The origin of this idiom is pretty simple - Dividing something into two equal parts of
50% each.

#5 - one in a million = very rare

When this idiom is used to describe a person, it is a compliment - it means the person is
very special and unique. The expression "one in a million" is also used in a different
phrase: the chances are one in a million, which means it's almost impossible; it's very
unlikely to happen.

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#6 - put two and two together = come to the logical conclusion

This idiom comes from math (2 + 2 = 4): if you add two and two, the result is four.
"Putting two and two together" means that you put some pieces of information together
to produce a logical conclusion.

#7 - hindsight is 20-20
= things are perfectly obvious when you look back on them in the past

"20-20" is a term used by optometrists to describe perfect

eyesight (vision). People often use this expression when
reflecting on something they regret in the past. At the time,
the results of the action were not clear, but now they can look
back and see clearly.

#8 - fifth wheel = an extra, unwelcome person

Cars have four wheels. A fifth wheel would be extra and

unnecessary. This idiom is used to describe an
uncomfortable social situation when you feel like
everyone else has a partner and you "don't fit."

#9 - six of one, half-dozen of the other = two options are equivalent

A dozen is 12, and a half-dozen is 6. If you buy 6 of one item, and a half-dozen (6) of
another item, you have the same number of each - so this idiom is used to describe a
situation where two options are equivalent; there is little or no difference between the
two options.

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#10 - half-hearted = without energy or enthusiasm

The heart is considered the center of emotion. So if you do

something with only 50% (half) of your heart, you do it without
emotion, energy, or enthusiasm. You can also say "my heart
wasn't in it" - this has the same meaning.

You’ve finished Lesson 7!

Take the practice quiz and try the writing exercises – and log in tomorrow for Lesson 8.

Practice Quiz
Question 1

My two sisters and their boyfriends invited me to go to the movies with them, but I said
no. I don't want to be _____________.

A fifty-fifty
B a one-eighty
C the fifth wheel

Question 2

My son is really excited about starting music lessons, but my daughter has shown only
____________ interest.

A half-hearted
B 20-20
C one in a million

Question 3

I've made sales to the past four clients I've called. I'm _______________.

A batting a thousand
B doing a double take
C putting two and two together

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Question 4

I _____________ when I saw a 12-year-old kid driving a car!

A did a one-eighty
B did a double take
C said hindsight is 20-20

Question 5

I shouldn't have stayed with my abusive ex-husband for so long, but

_______________.

A he's one in a million

B hindsight is 20-20
C I put two and two together

Question 6

As soon as I realized I'd forgotten my wallet, I ____________ and went back to get it.

A did a one-eighty
B had six of one, half-dozen of another
C made a half-hearted attempt

Question 7

Relax - this surgery is a routine procedure. The chances of serious complications are
_____________.

A six of one, half dozen of the other

B fifty-fifty
C one in a million

Question 8

According to the weather forecast, there's a ___________ chance of rain this

weekend, so the baseball game might be cancelled.

A batting a thousand
B fifty-fifty
C 20-20

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Answers
1) C

2) A

3) A

4) B

5) B

6) A

7) C

8) B

Speaking / Writing Exercises

1) Have you ever done a one-eighty?
2) When was the last time you did a double-take?
3) Describe a situation in your past that now you look back on and say “hindsight is
20-20.”
4) Do you believe a husband and wife should divide the household responsibilities
fifty-fifty?
5) Have you ever made a half-hearted attempt at doing something?

If you want correction / feedback, you can either e-mail me your writing at
help@espressoenglish.net or leave me a voice mail message:
www.speakpipe.com/espressoenglish

Image sources:

digitalart, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Allisonandvalerie
digitalart, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Laurinemily at en.wikipedia
Biswarup Ganguly
stockimages, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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© Shayna Oliveira 2012
skladchik.in