Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2) The letter says that they really want to come but, reading between the lines, I don’t think they do.
(The implied meaning is something else)
3) My boss read me the riot act for coming to work late. (Seriously reprimanded)
4) The restaurant was ok but nothing to write home about. (Not impressive)
5) She didn’t have any warning about the presentation and had to give it off the cuff.
(Improvised and unprepared)
6) James was a terrible drunk and totally irresponsible when he was younger but he has since turned over
a new leaf and is now a very responsible person. (Changed his behaviour)
7) He looks like some kind of violent criminal with his broken nose, tattoos, huge size and rough voice.
However, he is one of the nicest and trustworthy people you could ever meet. It just goes to show, you
should never judge a book by its cover. (Never evaluate by appearance)
8) She has been in her boss’s bad books ever since she had an argument with an important customer.
(Disapproved of)
9) He is an open book. He never hides anything from his friends and colleagues. ( Honest and transparent)
10) I don’t know what she is planning but she is definitely planning something. I can read my wife like a
book. (I know her very well)
11) I know your mother said “no.” Asking me and then pretending you didn’t ask your mother first is the
oldest trick in the book. “No” means “no!” (A very obvious and well known tactic)
12) We have been given this project by the government and as such we need to do everything by the
book. (follow the rules)
13) You need to take a leaf out of your brother’s book and do some exercise. If you carry on not looking
after yourself, you will get sick. (Follow somebody’s example)
14) His company fired him and called the police when they discovered that he had been cooking the
books. (Solve our own problems first)
15) He was expecting the judge to treat him lightly but the court threw the book at him. (Gave him the
maximum sentence possible)
16) I was awake until 4 o’clock this morning reading that detective novel my wife bought me. It’s a real
page-turner. (Addictive)
17) I was awake until 4 o’clock this morning reading that detective novel my wife bought me. That book is
completely unputdownable. (Addictive)
18) I don’t think Mary was being critical when she said your speech was short. I think you are reading too
much into it (thinking the worst or over-analysing)
Answers