University of Economics and Technology

Foreign Languages Department Teacher Copy

Daily Language/ Idioms/ Phrasal Verbs Level: CR

SET 3

IDIOMS

1. Go over one’s head: to be too difficult for someone to understand.

Example: A lot of what was said in the meeting went right over my head.
2. Throw one’s weight around: to attempt to boss people around; to give orders.
Example: The district manager came to our office and tried to throw his weight around, but no one
paid any attention to him.
3. As clear as mud: difficult to see or understand, not clear at all.
Example: I guess I need to call a lawyer because these legal contracts are as clear as mud.
4. Have a chip on one’s shoulder: to seem angry all the time, to have an attitude that causes one to
become easily angered.
Example: He has a chip on his shoulder about not having been to university.
5. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak: people are not always physically capable of doing
what they are willing to do.
Example: Alan: Have you started the diet your doctor recommended?
Fred: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

PHRASAL VERBS COMMON ENGLISH EXPRESSIONS

1.Payoff: If something you have done pays off, it
is successful.
Example: All her hard work paid off in the end, and
she finally passed the exam.
2. Break down (in tears): to start crying
suddenly.
Example: After her divorce with her husband, she
broke down in tears.
1. Cry one’s heart out: to cry for an extended
period of time.
Example: Poor Jane really cried her heart out
during the funeral service.
2. Bail sth/sb out: (1) to rescue someone or
something from trouble or difficulty. (2) to pay
money to a court so that someone can be released
from prison until their trial.
Example: I was going to be late with my report, but
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my roommate lent a hand and bailed me out at the

3. Come away with sth: to leave a place or
situation with the stated feeling, idea, condition,
etc.
Example: I recently spent about 90 minutes shopping
on the Internet, and I came away with empty-handed.
4. Leak out: to become known by the public.
Example: When the story leaked out, my telephone
would not stop ringing.
5. Stir (sth) up: cause or provoke trouble or bad
feeling.
Example: The photographs stirred up some painful
memories.
last minute.
3. It’s the same old story: said when talking about
a bad situation that has happened many times
before.
Example: It’s the same old story – the rich get richer
and the poor get poorer.
4. At a snail’s pace: extremely slowly.
Example: The roads were full of traffic and we were
travelling at a snail’s pace for two hours.
5. Put sth/sb on the map: to make someone or
something famous.
Example: It was a role that really put her on the
map as a serious actor.

EXERCISE 1: In this exercise, listen carefully to the short conversation and question in the
recording program, and then choose the best answer to the question. You should be particularly
careful with idioms and two-or three-part verbs.

1) Woman: I haven’t checked news for more than a week. Is anything important happening this week?
Man: A chief executive was found guilty of fraud. It is the same old story. They always think
they’ll get away with it.
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a) He is upset that the chief executive has escaped again.
b) He feels bad for the chief executive because he has been found guilty.
c) He thinks the chief executive should hire someone to help him.
d) The news is about a situation that happens repeatedly.
2) Woman: What do you think about the new guy?
Man: Honestly, I can’t say I like him. He thinks he is something just because he is a graduate of
Harvard. He’d better not try to throw his weight around when I am in the office.
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a) The new guy keeps throwing away his trash on the ground.
b) He is annoyed by the new guy’s bossy behavior.
c) He wants to confront him to tell that he doesn’t like him.
d) He felt better after talking to the new guy about the office.

3) Man: Have you been able to tell Sarah that she was fired?
Woman: It was tough, but we managed to do that. When Mr. Williams gave her the bad news,
she broke down in tears.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a) Sarah was unable to control her feelings and started to cry.
b) They failed to give the news not to upset Sarah.
c) Mr. Williams had to fire Sarah although she didn’t want to.
d) Sarah was fired since she kept crying all the time.

4) Man: As far as I remember you completed your PhD courses. Have you started to work on your
thesis?
Woman: Yes, I have. I’ve been occupied by it for more than six months, but my research is moving
at a snail’s pace.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
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a) She needs a bigger space in order to conduct her research.
b) There are only six months left for her to finish her thesis.
c) She is showing a slow progress while doing her research.
d) She is wasting her time instead of focusing on her research.

5) Man: I’ve heard that you passed your Spanish proficiency exam.
Woman: Yes, I did. Those private lessons that I’ve been taking for six months have really paid off.
Everyone says my Spanish sounds totally fluent!
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a) She paid a lot of money for her private lessons.
b) She is happy to see the good results of her hard work.
c) People think her Spanish is still poor to pass the exam.
d) She needs to pay for six more months for her lessons.

6) Man: Hey Maddie, could you explain the instructions of this project that is due Monday?
Woman: Of course, but Prof. Johnson talked about all the steps in yesterday’s class. You were
there, weren’t you?
Man: I was, but I thought his explanation was as clear as mud.
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a) He needed clarification for the assignment as he missed the class.
b) He had a hard time to understand the procedures of their assignment.
c) He thought the explanation that the professor made was for another task.
d) He pretends that he has been confused by the professor’s explanation.

7) Woman: Have you seen the news? I think there has been a protest against the President. Do you know
why?
Man: Yes, I have heard about it this morning. The remarks made by the President have been
strongly condemned by the student communities and stirred up trouble.
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a) Although they first reacted negatively, students agreed with the President.
b) Student communities made some unpleasant comments about the protest.
c) He is blaming the students as they criticize the authority.
d) The President’s comments have been the reason of a problem.

8) Man: My girlfriend and I went to a play the other night. It is called Adam’s Downfall. Have you heard
of it?
Woman: I don’t think so, but by looking at the name, I think I can make some deductions about
the plot. Is it some kind of tragedy?
Man: Basically it is describing the damaging physical and psychological effects of ambition on
those who seek power. It was so good that my girlfriend was crying her heart out at the end.
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a) His girlfriend was deeply affected by the play.
b) He felt embarrassed when his girlfriend started to cry at the end.
c) He was on the verge of tears in the final scene.
d) He was so touched by the play that his heart wasn’t feeling right.

9) Man: Edward Snowden has finally been released from jail.

Woman: I’m not familiar to him. Who is that?
Man: The classified information belonging to US government was copied and leaked out by
him a few years ago. Since then, he has been a prominent figure in the news.
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Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a) He condemns Edward Snowden for what he did several years ago.
b) Edward Snowden made some information public, but he wasn’t supposed to.
c) He doesn’t understand why Edward Snowden is so popular and important.
d) The U.S. makes sure the classified information hasn’t been shared with public.

10) Woman: Your business has been growing day by day. What is your secret?
Man: Well, as you know, there aren’t many options for a good Mexican meal in the city of
Kingsfield. Plus, it was my grandma’s chili recipe that put our restaurant on the map years ago.
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a) Although their business is developing, it is hard to get the restaurant without a map.
b) The main reason of their success is that it is easy to find the restaurant.
c) The technique his grandmother used for chili was a landmark for the business.
d) People love to go to their restaurant even though there are other famous restaurants.

11) Woman: What happened? Stephanie seems upset about what you told her.
Man: I didn’t do anything. I was just joking around, but my jokes always seem to go over her
head. Isn’t there anyone who is going to think I am funny at least?
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a) Stephanie didn’t like his joke which was about her head.
b) He is resentful since his jokes aren’t understood and laughed.
c) He agrees with Stephanie on the fact that he is not funny at all.
d) He accepts that his joke didn’t make any sense and understands her.

12) Man: Hey Andrea, I really want to join this school trip with you guys, but my dad gave me
only $50, could you lend me some money?
Woman: Listen, this is the second time you have asked for money. I’ll bail you out this time
too, but next time bring enough money please. It gets a bit too much.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?

a) She agrees to get him out of a difficult situation.

b) She is happy to help him whenever he needs.
c) She is willing to give him more than $50.
d) She will ignore his request since she is annoyed.

13) Man: Are you enjoying your new job?

Woman: Well, although I like my job, I am having a hard time to get used to my new boss. He
has such a chip on his shoulder – you never know what’s going to set him off next. That’s
why, I hesitate to ask questions to him.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a) She sounds regretful that she is in the wrong job.
b) She never knows when her boss will leave the office.
c) She is not happy about her boss’ attitude towards her.
d) She is annoyed by the chip on her boss’ shoulders.

14) Man: I’ve heard that you have been to Chicago. Have you visited Jack and Sandy?
Woman: Yes, we visited them in their house for a weekend, but they are not this perfect couple that
we knew. We came away with the impression that all was not well with their marriage.
Narrator: What does woman mean?
a) She visited Jack and Sandy, but some other perfect couple was living in their house.
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b) She preferred not to visit Jack and Sandy as they are having some problems.
c) She left Chicago with a certain feeling about Jack and Sandy’s relationship.
d) She had a hard time to believe that Jack and Sandy loves each other.

15) Man: I’ve gained 10 more pounds in a week. I need to start eating healthy.
Woman: You definitely should, but you should also start working out. Why don’t you come and sign up
for the gym that I’m going?
Man: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a) Going to the gym is not a good idea because he is so thin.
b) He is willing to go to the gym but doesn’t have enough money.
c) He wants to sign up for the gym, but his health problems stop him.
d) He is not physically capable although he wants to go to the gym.