Luong The Vinh High school IDIOMS Teacher: B.N.

Xinh
ĐDT - Week 3 [18 December, 2021]

Part 1:
Read the following dialogue and choose the correct key word to complete the idioms.

Two robbers, Harry the Grab and Mini Murphy, have just escaped from the police and are
hiding in a warehouse.

Harry: That was a near thing. We got away just in the (1. edge/ nick) of time. Get down
behind those
boxes and we’ll sit (2.tight / close ) until Max and the rest of the gang arrive,

Mini: How do they know where to find us? We could be here for a month of (3. holidays /
Sundays ) and we’ve got nothing to eat. I’ll look around and see how the (4.place /land)
lies. What’s that noise?

Harry: Shut up and keep still or you’ll give the (5. match / game ) away. It’s the night-
watchman. He must have smelt a (6. rabbit /rat). His torch is getting nearer — Oh no —
look — the police!

Policeman: Hello! Hello! Hello! If it isn’t Harry the Grab and Mini Murphy. The (7. game /
match ) is up, Mad Max has spilt the (8. beans /salt ) on you lot. He’s told us everything
so you may as well throw in the (9. glove / towel).

Harry: What do you mean officer? You’re barking up the wrong (10.tree /avenue), we’ve
been drinking in the King’s Head all evening.

Policeman: It’s no good Harry. We’ve got all the evidence we need. You haven’t got a (11.
foot / leg) to stand on. You’ll be doing (12. time / days) before long, No one will be able to
get you off the (13. nail / hook ) this time, not even the best lawyer in the land!

Part 2:
Put each of the following colloquial ‘pair-phrases’ in its correct place in the sentences
below.
cloak and dagger length and breadth hard and fast on and off
chop and change song and dance by and large on and on
pins and needles tooth and nail right and left over and above
prim and proper collar and tie the rights and wrongs over and over (again)
by / in fits and starts grin and bear it crash and burn come and go (2)
this and that ways and means

1. Don’t dress casually tonight. It’s going to be a…… collar and tie ……………. occasion.
2. She’s very strict in moral matters and rather a snob. She’s very ……… prim and proper
…………….
3. I agree that the shop treated you very badly. But just write a polite letter of complaint. It’s not worth
making a ……… song and dance ………… about it.
4. Of course a few pupils were lazy, but ……… by and large ………… the children were interested and
hard-working.
5. If you take a decision, you must stick to it. You can’t ……… come and go ……………… all the time.
6. When the old man died, his greedy relatives …… chop and change ………………… over his will.
7. We don’t regard our entry requirements as …… tooth and nail ……….. rules. We are prepared to be
flexible.
8. He knows Britain very well. He’s travelled the ……… length and breadth ……….. of the country.
9. I like exciting novels about …… cloak and dagger …………….. I love that …… pins and needles
…………… stuff.
10. You’ve been sitting in one position for a long time without moving, you sometimes get … hard and
fast ………….. .
11. She owes money ………… right and left …………….
12. She went ……… on and on ……………. about her trip.
13. There are other factors ……… over and above ……… those we have discussed.
14. It was difficult to establish the … the rights and wrongs ………….. of the matter.
15. It rained …… on and off
………….. all day.
16. I’ve told you ……… over and over (again)…………… not to do that.
17. Because of other commitments I can only write my book …… by / in fits and starts ……………..
18. There's nothing we can do about it. We'll just have to …… grin and bear it …………….
19. His career …………… crash and burn …………… after he threatened a journalist.
20. ‘What did you talk about?’ ‘Oh, ……… this and that …………...’
21. The pain in my leg ……………………..
22. They had a party next door—we heard people ……… come and go …………. all night.
23. Newspapers have …… ways and means
……… of getting hold of secret information.

Part 3:
Put each of the following colloquial ‘pair-phrases’ in its correct place in the sentences
below

safe and sound to and fro down and out spick and span
ups and downs ins and outs pros and cons (every) now and again
up and about sick and tired to and fro neck and neck
twists and turns off and on odds and ends born and bred

1. I’m ____ sick and tired ___________ of his continual bad behaviour.
2. She’s very house-proud. Her kitchen is always ______ spick and span
_____________.
3. I just keep various _______ odds and ends _______ in that drawer, nothing special.
4. Like everyone else, she has her _____ ups and downs ______ of course, but on the whole
she’s quite satisfied with life.
5. He lost everything, family, job, money, home... Now he’s ____ down and out
________ and sleeping it the park.
6. You should consider the ______ pros and cons _______ carefully before you make a
decision.
7. She’s ill in bed, but she’ll be _______ up and about ______ in a couple of days.
8. The parents were beginning to worry but finally the children arrived home ___ safe and
sound ________
9. This ferry-boat operates between England and France. it just goes _____ to and fro
_____ all the time.
10. He’s the right man for the job. He’s experienced. He knows the ___ ins and outs
________ of the business.
11. _______(every) now and again _______she checked that if he was still asleep .
12. You must drive slowly on this road because it is full of ______ twists and turns
________ .
13. It rained _____ off and on _________all day.
14. The cyclists were____ neck and neck _______as they approached the final lap.
15. He was _____ born and bred ______in Paris, but lives in Cannes nowadays.
16. She rocked the baby _____ to and fro ________.

Part 4:
Put each of the following colloquial ‘pair-phrases’ in its correct place in the sentences
below.

wear and tear fair and square scrimp and save

doom and gloom part and parcel bread and butter
pride and joy bits and pieces/bobs all in all
hit and miss divide and rule in/by leaps and bounds
through and through chalk and cheese short and sweet

1. There’s bound to be some …… wear and tear ………….on these boots after six months.
2. We lost the match …… fair and square ………..; I have no complaints.
3. A lot of families have to ………… scrimp and save
………….to buy things in recessions.
4. The economic prospects are not great, but it’s not all …… doom and gloom
……………..
5. He made a bit of money from music, but accountancy is his real………… bread and
butter ……………..
6. Injuries are …… part and parcel …………….of being a professional sportsman.
7. “Does he clean that car every day?” – “Yes, it’s his …… pride and joy ………………”
8. “Have they chosen good colour scheme?” _ “Er…actually, I think they’re a bit …… hit
and miss ………….”
9. “Did you buy anything at the auction?” – “Nothing much – just a few …… bits and
pieces/bobs …………….
10. “Is your boss always like that?” – “Yes. Basically, ……… divide and rule ………..is
the way he operates.”
11. “Is Helen making progress?” - “Yes, her English has come on …… in/by leaps and
bounds
…………..
12. “Will Carol move to the city? – “No, she’s a country girl …… through and through
………………..
13. “Did he give a speech?”- “Yes, but thankfully it was … short and sweet
………….
14. “Did you enjoy the conference?” – “Yes, ……… all in all ………….I think it was very
successful.
15. Frank and I will never get along. We’re …… chalk and cheese ……………….