Name:_____________________ Class:_____ ( ) Date:______________ Mark:_________

SCMP (25-5-2004)

There are many idioms and expressions involving metals and other materials. Fill in the blanks
with the words below.
Ex. 1 concrete/gold x 3/iron x 2/ivory/silver/stone/tin
a. He fell to the ground __________________ dead.
b. If you want muscles, you need to go and pump some _______________.
c. The music sounds cheap and _______________ny.
d. Arthur can persuade anyone with his ________________ tongue.
e. He can’t do anything wrong – he’s the _______________en boy of the class.
f. During the old War, Europe was divided by the _______________ Curtain.
g. He shouldn’t marry her. She’s just a ______________-digger.
h. Don’t say the songs are old-fashioned – these are _____________en oldies.
i. He lives in an _______________ tower and doesn’t know what’s going on in the real world.
j. The government must take ________________ measures and not just talk.
Ex. 2 brass/cloth/cotton/gold/iron/silver/steel/stone/stony/wool
a. When I asked for money, there was a _________________ silence.
b. He just _______________ -walled and wouldn’t give an answer.
c. He saved the company through his _______________y determination not to fail.
d. He ruled the country with an _______________ fist and allowed no opposition.
e. We’ve been married 25 years and are celebrating our ________________ anniversary.
f. He hopes the idea will become a pot of ______________.
g. Listen carefully this time, ______________-ears.
h. At first she didn’t understand, but then she began to _______________ on.
i. They pulled the _______________ over my eyes, so that I didn’t know what was going on.
j. She’s loud and _______________y. I don’t like her at all.
Ex. 3 brass/cement/gold x 2/pearl/silver/steel/tin/velvet
a. Let’s get down to _______________ tacks: How much will it cost?
b. _______________ yourself. I have some very bad news.
c. Yes, he looks kind, but there is an iron fist in that ______________ glove.
d. If you want new musical ideas, you need to visit a _____________ Pan Alley district.
e. She was born with a ______________ spoon in her mouth.
f. Be careful you aren’t too greedy and kill the _______________en goose.
g. That shop is an absolute _____________ mine.
h. Why do I waste my ______________s of wisdom on you?
i. To ______________ the alliance, I suggest my son marry your daughter.
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Ex. 4 bronze/concrete/glass/gold/paper/pearl x 2/plastic/silver/wood
a. Let’s go into the countryside. I’m sick of this _______________ jungle.
b. Teaching 4C is just like casting ______________s before swine.
c. Wow, you have become _______________d in the sun.
d. You can’t drive any sense into him. He’s completely _____________ en-headed.
e. Women never seem to get the top posts. There’s a ______________-ceiling stopping them.
f. Nowadays, people prefer to shop with ________________ money.
g. She was a great star of the ______________ screen.
h. He left, but they gave him a ______________en handshake.
i. It won’t be long before he goes to the ______________y Gates.
j. It looks okay on ________________, but I’m not sure about the reality.
Ex. 5 gold/iron x 2/paper/platinum/rubber/stone/wood x 2
a. You must have a heart of ________________ not to help.
b. That actor spoilt the play with his ______________-en performance.
c. He’s not worried. He’s made sure that if he has to jump, there’s a _____________en
parachute.
d. Oh dear, I’ve won the ______________en spoon.
e. They’ll try to _____________ over the cracks, but it won’t last long.
f. There’s no real discussion. They just ____________-stamp the decisions.
g. The record has gone _______________- it has been an incredible success.
h. He gave me _____________-clad guarantees.
i. Bismarck was nicknamed the ______________ Chancellor for his toughness.
Ex. 6 copper/glass/gold x 3/paper x 2/rubber/stony/wood
a. Sorry, I can’t help. I’m ______________ broke.
b. That was a _____________en age of painting.
c. Look who’s crawled out of the ____________-work! We thought you’d left Hong Kong.
d. The ________________ en rule is to keep calm.
e. What a _______________-thin excuse!
f. And that’s it – that _______________en goal is going to win them the championship.
g. That’s a ________________-bottomed promise, I assure you.
h. They were all _______________-necking the accident.
i. People who live in ________________ houses shouldn’t throw stones.
j. I’m sorry it’s been a long time since I last put pen to _________________.
End

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