Chuyên Anh’s little corner

Destinations C1-C2 Practise Test: Idioms

I. Multiple choices:

Choose the best answers by marking A, B, C or D to complete these following sentences (60)

1. She was __________ and needed more time to understand the instructions, making her frustrated and anxious.

A. quick on the uptake B. on the ball

C. sharp as a tack D. slow on the uptake

2. They broke up __________ and never spoke to each other again, ending their long and tumultuous relationship.

A. for the nonce B. for good C. fleetingly D. temporarily

3. When she saw her ex-boyfriend, she __________ the exit.

A. made a beeline for B. made a case for

C. busted out of D. lied her way into

4. After losing his job and his house, he ended up __________.

A. rolling in dough B. on the streets

C. making a killing D. loaded

5. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the judge who __________ him.

A. threw a fit at B. threw a tantrum at

C. threw the book at D. threw a glance at

6. For a photographer, a good camera and a tripod are __________.

A. like a fifth wheel B. like carrying coals to Newcastle

C. the tools of the trade D. the keys of every problem

7. Yoga and meditation are preferred by her as her forms of exercise as she only goes to the gym __________.

A. once in a blue moon B. ten to one

C. like clockwork D. once in a while

8. This city is __________ , so he can show you around.

A. superficially known by him B. known by him inside out

C. what he’s in the dark about D. known by rote by him

9. When he said he had other plans, I didn’t __________.

A. miss the boat B. bark up the wrong tree

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C. catch his drift D. go off the mark

10. Leaving nothing behind, she sold her apartment __________.

A. lock, stock and barrel B. hook, line and sinker

C. bread and butter D. partly

11. Living in the __________ , he enjoys the benefits of both urban and rural life.

A. commute ring B. commuter belt

C. commuting fence D. commuted block

12. He __________ and invested in a promising start-up.

A. followed his footsteps B. followed his fortune

C. followed his nose D. chased his nose

13. She inherited her __________ from her mother, who was also a keen gardener.

A. brown thumbs B. green thumbs

C. green fingers D. brown fingers

14. They __________ the pizza and paid five dollars each.

A. went halves on B. splashed out on

C. lashed out on D. shouldered the complete burden

15. He fixed the leaky faucet as soon as he noticed it, because __________.

A. a stitch at right time saves nine B. a pin at time saves nine

C. a stitch at time helps ninety D. a stitch in time saves nine

16. She __________ and “landed” a job at a prestigious company.

A. followed due process B. pulled a few strings

C. avoided favoritism D. operated aboveboard

17. He tried to __________ when he told her the joke, but he couldn’t help smiling.

A. be responsive B. keep a straight face

C. be hysterical D. be enthusiastic

18. He bought a new car just to __________ , even though he couldn’t afford it.

A. make up with the peers B. get along with the Joneses

C. keep up with the Joneses D. fall in with the Joneses

19. __________, he complimented her cooking and asked for more.

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A. Switching his tune B. Changing his tune

C. Switching his vibe D. Changing his aura

20. She needed some time to __________ what had happened as she was really shocked at that time.

A. take matter of B. take stock of

C. take her grasp D. take her chance

21. There is no __________ to her decision, she just followed her intuition.

A. rhyme or reason B. rhythm or reason

C. cause or reason D. what and when

22. __________ , they argue about trivial things, but they always make up.

A. Consistently B. From time to time

C. Once in a donkey’s years D. As rare as hen’s teeth

23. She claimed that the flood was __________ and not her fault.

A. an act of God B . an act of Parliament

C. an act of Congress D. an act of Nature

24. He never __________ and accepted any offer that came his way.

A. took it as face value B. grasped the opportunity

C. looked a gift horse in the mouth D. embraced the gesture

25. He __________ in the negotiation and got what he wanted.

A. had the upper hand B. had the short end of the stick

C. took a backseat D. played second fiddle

26. She looked __________ in her wedding dress, which makes her the most beautiful woman in her wedding .

A. like a face that would stop a clock B. down and out

C. off-color D. out of this world

27. She was __________ , and his words wounded her deeply, making her feel sad and angry.

A. just nature-made B. only human

C. infallible as a rock D. picture-perfect

28. She thinks that __________ and she travels to different places every year.

A. a penny saved is a penny earned B. the early bird catches the worm

C. variety is the spice of life D. birds of a feather flock together

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29. She would do anything for her __________ , even if it means sacrificing her own happiness.

A. interloper B. flesh and blood

C. slave driver D. itinerant people

30. She exploited his __________ and made him lose his confidence.

A. achilles’ heel B. ironclad defense

C. rock-solid foundation D. strong suit

31. She didn’t let the fame __________ and remained humble and kind.

A. keep herself stay grounded B. keep herself stay down-to-earth

C. keep herself a level head D. go to her head

32. She bought the dress __________ , without checking the price or the size.

A. on purpose B. of her own volition

C. on her accord D. on the spur of the moment

33. __________ , they never gave up on their dreams.

A. Shine blue or green B. Come rain or shine

C. It rains it pours D. Go what may

34. She felt that the library was __________ , where she could relax and read.

A. out of her element B. a home from home

C. an uncharted territory D. like a square peg in a round hole

35. __________ he pranked them back after they had tricked him.

A. Turning the other cheek B. Rising above it

C. Giving them a dose of their own medicine D. Offering an olive branch

36. She doesn’t agree with their choices, but she __________.

A. imposes and opposes B. lives and lets live

C. judges and begrudges D. interferes and makes strife

37. He was __________ and had nothing to hide from the police.

A. clean as a whistle B. grimy as a coal mine

C. as white as a sheet D. pure as the driven snow

38. She is like __________ with her mother, so they could share her hobbies and passions.

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A. chalk and cheese B. a pea in a pod

C. oil and water D. poles apart

39. She had to __________ when she lost a great deal of money as a consequence of her stolen wallets.

A. rebel and revolt B. mope and lament

C. grin and bear it D. wallow in misery

40. She needed to __________ after working hard for months.

A. recharge her batteries B. fill up her capacity

C. fulfill her energy needs D. boost her productivity

41. It was __________ whether they stayed at home or went out because they were bored either way.

A. full of beans B. champing at the bit

C. as broad as it’s long D. bouncing off the walls

42. I __________ that she got a promotion, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.

A. read it in black and white B. heard on the grapevine

C. got straight from the horse’s mouth D. heard it out in the open

43. He invested a lot of money in the stock market, but he only managed to __________ after a year.

A. rake in the dough B. cash in

C. count his blessings D. break even

44. After a long and tiring trip, he finally arrived at his apartment and said, “ __________”.

A. Home sweet home B. Sweet home

C. On cloud nine D. Piece of cake

45. She was __________ when she walked into the room wearing a beautiful dress.

A. a slap on the wrist B. a sight for sore eyes

C. a thorn in everyone’s sides D. a fly in the ointment

46. He decided to __________ and have some fun at the party, even though he had an exam the next day.

A. burn the midnight oil B. let his hair down

C. leave no stone unturned D. pull out all the stops

47. She didn’t understand the joke because it was __________, so I had to explain it to her.

A. in the pipeline B. before her time

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C. on the horizon D. ahead of the curve

48. He __________and realized that she was lying to him about where she was last night.

A. put one and one together B. combine the one and two parts together

C. put two and two together D. craft half and half together

49. She__________ the library, but she got lost on the way and wasted more time.

A. played by the book to go to B. took a shortcut to

C. did it a hard way to go to D. followed the traditional route to

50. He __________ and thought that she was angry with him, but she was actually just tired.

A. had the rabbit’s foot in his pocket B. had the luck of the devil

C. got the wrong end of the stick D. found a four-leaf clover

II. Trios of Gapped Sentences:

1.

- He was down on his __________ and had no job, no money, and no friends.

- With any __________ , we will get there on time and catch the flight.

- As __________ would have it, he ran into his old friend at the supermarket and they had a nice chat.

2.

- You should take a __________ out of his book and study hard for the exam.

- She decided to turn over a new __________ and quit smoking and drinking.

- He __________ through the magazine, but he didn’t find anything interesting.

3.

- He was __________ against going to the party, but his friends persuaded him to join them.

- She stopped __________ in her tracks when she saw the snake on the road.

- He was flogging a __________ horse by trying to convince her to change her mind.

4.

- He drove me round the __________ with his constant nagging and complaining.

- She says she will __________ over backwards to help me with my project, and I really appreciate it.

- He has to __________ the law a little by using his brother’s ID to enter the club.

5.

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- He decided to lay his __________ on the table and tell her how he really felt about her.

- It was in the __________ that they would get married someday, as they were so in love with each other.

- He had the __________ against him when he applied for the job, as he had no experience or qualifications.

6.

- The police __________ me off balance when they ask me unexpected questions.

- The park is a stone’s __________ away from my house, so I can walk there easily.

- They __________ me to the dogs whenever they get into trouble, and I have to deal with the consequences.

7.

- I __________ a veil over her past, and never talk about it.

- They __________ the line at lying to their boss, and refuse to do it.

- It’s the luck of the __________ what kind of teacher you get in this school.

8.

- He runs out of __________ after working for eight hours straight, and needs a break.

- She lets off __________ by going for a jog every evening.

- It’s full __________ ahead for the project, as we have a tight deadline to meet.

9.

- He comes to __________ with his loss, and tries to move on with his life.

- She is on good __________ with her neighbors, and they often help each other out.

- He speaks in __________ of efficiency and productivity, and ignores the human factor.

10.

- He had to deal with a lot of __________ tape before he could start his own business.

- She didn’t have a __________ cent to her name, and had to borrow money from her friends.

- He saw __________ when he found out that his car was stolen, and wanted to find the thief.

11.

- She decided to take the __________ into her own hands and confront the bully who harassed her son.

- He was on the right side of the __________ , and never broke any rules or regulations.

- She laid down the __________ to her children, and told them what they could and could not do.

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12.

- He tried to __________ his boss for as much money as possible, and asked for a raise every month.

- She didn’t cry over spilt __________ , and accepted her mistake and moved on.

- He showed the __________ of human kindness, and helped the old lady cross the street.

13.

- He intends to __________ his pockets with the money he embezzled from the company in order to live a lavish
lifestyle.

- His job was on the __________ , and he had to work hard to prove his worth.

- She was in __________ to become the next CEO of the company, as she had the most experience and
qualifications.

14.

- He hoped to see her again down the __________ , and kept her number in his phone.

- She liked to travel off the beaten __________ , and visited places that were not popular or crowded.

- He lost __________ of time, and realized that he was late for his meeting.

15.

- You have to keep your __________ about you when you walk in this dangerous neighborhood.

- He likes to pit his __________ against his friends in chess and trivia games.

- She tries to gather her __________ after the shocking news, and calm herself down.

16.

- He is sick at __________ when he sees the suffering of the animals in the shelter.

- She takes everything to __________ , and gets easily hurt by criticism or jokes.

- He has a change of __________ and decides to donate his money to charity instead of buying a new car.

17.

- She can pack her bags and leave at the __________ of a hat, as she loves to travel spontaneously.

- His donation is a __________ in the ocean compared to the amount of money needed for the cause.

- He tells his enemy to __________ dead, and walks away angrily.

18.

- She wrings her __________ nervously, as she waits for the test results.

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- He sits on his __________ and does nothing, while others work hard to solve the problem.

- She has a lot of time on her __________ , as she is retired and has no children.

19.

- It’s six of one and half a __________ of the other, whether you choose this option or that option, they are both
equally good or bad.

- He buys a baker’s __________ of donuts, and gets 13 instead of 12.

- His books are a dime a __________ , and you can find them in any bookstore or library.

20.

- A car came out of __________ and hit him, and he was rushed to the hospital.

- He felt like he was heading __________ in his career, and decided to quit his job and start a new one.

- She lived in the middle of __________ , and had no neighbors or friends nearby.

III. Gap fill:

Choose one idiom from the boxes below to fill in each gap, make changes to them if necessary:

1.

bury one’s head in the sand under one’s thumb for donkey’s years
come clean get sth off one’s chest kick oneself
keep one’s hair on out of the blue fifty-fifty

Jack and Jill had been married ____________________ , but their relationship was not very happy. Jack was
always ____________________ , and he had to do everything she said. Jill was also very suspicious of Jack, and
she often accused him of ____________________ or hiding something from her. Jack wanted to
____________________ , but he was afraid of her reaction. He had been having an affair with his secretary,
Mary, for the last six months. He felt guilty, but he also felt alive with Mary. He didn't know what to do.

One day, ____________________ , Jill came home early from work and found Jack and Mary in bed. She was
furious, and she started screaming and throwing things at them. Jack tried to calm her down, but she wouldn't
listen. She said she wanted a divorce, and she would take half of everything he owned. She said it was
____________________ , and that was fair. Jack felt like he wanted to ____________________ , but he
knew he had to face the consequences. He wished he had ____________________ about his affair sooner, or
better yet, never started it at all. He knew he would ____________________ for the rest of his life for ruining
his marriage. He told Mary to leave, and he begged Jill to ____________________. He said he was sorry, and he
still loved her. But Jill didn't want to hear it. She said it was too late, and she walked out of the door.

2.

break the mold (mould) the other day stick to one’s guns
split hairs born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth

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let sleeping dogs lie ring a bell add fuel to the fire

____________________ , I met a man who claimed to be a self-made millionaire. He said he was

____________________ , but he decided to ____________________ and start his own business. He said he
had to ____________________ on his vision, even when others doubted him. He said he was not like those
who could not see the wood for the trees, or those who ____________________ over trivial matters. He said he
was a visionary and a leader, who knew how to handle challenges and opportunities.

I listened to his story with interest, but something did not ____________________ with me. I felt that he was
exaggerating his achievements and hiding his flaws. I remembered the old saying: a leopard can’t change its spots. I
wondered if he was really as successful and honest as he claimed, or if he was just a fraud and a liar. I decided to do
some research on him, and I found out that he had a history of scams and lawsuits. He had also been involved in
some shady deals that ____________________ of his enemies. He had made many enemies along the way, and
some of them were looking for revenge.

I realized that I had uncovered a dangerous secret, and I did not know what to do with it. Should I expose him and
his lies, or should I ____________________ and mind my own business? I was torn between my sense of justice
and my fear of consequences. What would you do in my situation?

3.

let nature take its course have pride of place steal the show
speak volumes the powers of be

Last weekend, I went to see a musical with my friends. It was a spectacular show, with amazing songs, costumes,
and choreography. But the highlight of the night was the performance of the lead actress, who
____________________ with her powerful voice and charisma. She received a standing ovation from the
audience, and ____________________ on the stage. She thanked ____________________ for giving her
the opportunity to play the role of her dreams. She also thanked her co-stars, the crew, and the fans for their
support. She said that she had worked hard to prepare for the role, but she also ____________________ and
trusted her instincts. Her words ____________________ about her passion and humility. She was a true star,
and I was lucky to witness her talent.

4.

all mods con as the crow flies take the scenic route
big mouth for the time being

My friend has a ____________________ and he always tells everyone his secrets. He told me that he was
planning to surprise his girlfriend with a romantic trip to the countryside. He said he wanted to
____________________ and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. He said he did not care how long it
would take, as long as they had fun. He said he had booked a cozy cottage with ____________________ , such
as a fireplace, a jacuzzi, and a smart TV. He said he wanted to make her happy and show her how much he loved
her. He said he had everything planned out, except for one thing: how to get there. He asked me if I knew the best
way to get to the cottage from the city. I told him that ____________________ , it was about 100 kilometers,
but by road, it was much longer. I suggested that he should use a map or a GPS to avoid getting lost. He thanked
me for my advice and said he would do that. He also asked me not to tell anyone about his plan, especially his

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girlfriend. He said he wanted to keep it a secret ____________________ , until he surprised her. I promised
him that I would not tell anyone, but I secretly wondered if he would be able to keep his mouth shut.

5.

all in good time concrete jungle a satellite city on the town

Lisa was a spoiled girl who always got her own way. She lived in ____________________ near the capital,
where she enjoyed the benefits of both urban and rural life. She loved to go ____________________ with her
friends, spending money on shopping, dining, and entertainment. She hated the ____________________ of
the city center, where she felt suffocated by the noise and pollution. She dreamed of traveling to exotic places and
having adventures. She always nagged her parents to let her go abroad, but they refused. They said she was too
young and naive, and that she should focus on her studies. They said that ____________________ , she would
have the opportunity to see the world. But Lisa was impatient and rebellious. She decided to run away from home
and pursue her dreams. She did not realize how much trouble she was getting into.

6.

reinvent the wheel know what’s what see eye to eye

get on like a house on fire fall short of keep under one’s hat
not have a leg to stand on

Alice and Bob ____________________ when they first met at a party. They both ____________________
in the world of business and shared many interests and hobbies. They decided to start a company together, but
soon they ran into trouble. Alice wanted to ____________________ and create a new product from scratch,
while Bob wanted to improve an existing one. They could not ____________________ on anything and
argued all the time. Bob also had a secret that he ____________________: he had borrowed money from a loan
shark to fund the company. When the loan shark came to collect, Bob did ____________________ and had to
admit his mistake to Alice. She was furious and felt betrayed by him. Their partnership
____________________ their expectations and they decided to part ways.

7.

a blot on the landscape draw the short straw put things in perspective
knee-high to a grasshopper the life and soul of a party

Cathy was always ____________________ . She loved to make people laugh and have fun. She had many
friends who admired her for her cheerful personality and positive attitude. She had been
____________________ when she discovered her talent for comedy. She dreamed of becoming a famous stand-
up comedian one day. However, fate had other plans for her. She was diagnosed with a rare disease that affected her
voice and made it hard for her to speak. She was devastated and lost all hope. She felt like
____________________ and isolated herself from everyone. Her best friend Dave tried to help her
____________________ and reminded her of all the good things in her life. He also encouraged her to pursue
other forms of art, such as painting or writing. He even bought her a lottery ticket as a joke, hoping to cheer her up.
As luck would have it, Cathy ____________________ and won the jackpot. She was overjoyed and realized

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that life still had surprises for her. She decided to use the money to travel the world and explore new cultures and
experiences.

IV. Sentence transformation:

1. Watching some TV on the sofa was his only desire after a hard day’s work. (FEET)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

2. If you want to become a doctor, you will have to study hard and pass many exams. (HEART)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

3. Although he had been on good terms with his teacher for most of the year, he failed the final exam because he did
not study enough. (BOOKS)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

4. Her new smartphone was the epitome of technology, with its sleek design and advanced features. (WORD)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

5. He felt under the weather after eating too much junk food.

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

6. An angry reaction from the residents resulted from the new highway project that threatened to wipe out their
homes and farms. (ARMS)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

7. She chose to stay at home rather than go to the party, as she was not in the mood for it. (MISS)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

8. He lost his temper when he saw his car had been scratched by a careless driver. (FLEW)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

9. Because of living in the countryside, they are far from the city and its conveniences. (STICKS)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

10. He welcomed the guests warmly, and told them to feel comfortable. (HOME)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

11. After Alex’s secret was revealed, his friends left him and hid things from him. (DARK)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

12. You should get a map as soon as possible, you have no sense of direction in this city. (BEARINGS)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

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13. He ran so fast that he reached the train station just in time, just as the train was about to leave. (NICK)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

14. Please update me on your progress, I want to know how you are doing. (POSTED)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

15. I will trust you only when you promise me that you will never lie to me again. (WORD)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

16. She was able to act on impulse and quit her job because she had enough savings to support herself. (WHIM)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

17. His colleagues said that he was bone idle. (END)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

18. She was ahead of her competitors because she had more experience and skills. (EDGE)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

19. It would be a good idea to wear a clown costume to the funeral because your outfit is too sensitive and not
suitable. (TOP)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

20. Suzie is so lazy that her mom couldn’t put up with her lifestyle. (POTATO)

→ ____________________________________________________________________________________.

Keys
I. Multiple choices:

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1. D 18. C 35. C

2. B 19. B 36. B

3. B 20. B 37. A

4. B 21. A 38. B

5. C 22. B 39. C

6. C 23. A 40. A

7. A 24. C 41. C

8. C 25. A 42. B

9. C 26. D 43. D

10. A 27. B 44. A

11. B 28. C 45. B

12. C 29. B 46. B

13. C 30. A 47. B

14. A 31. D 48. C

15. D 32. D 49. B

16. B 33. B 50. C

17. B 34. B

II. Trios:

1. luck 8. steam 15. wits

2. leaf 9. terms 16. heart

3. dead 10. red 17. drop

4. bend 11. law 18. hands

5. cards 12. milk 19. dozen

6. throw 13. line 20. nowhere

7. draw 14. track

III. Gap fill:

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1. for donkey's years - under Jill's thumb - get something
off his chest - out of the blue - fifty-fifty - bury his head in
the sand - come clean - kick himself - keep her hair on.
2. The other day - born with a silver spoon in his mouth -
break the mold (mould) - stick to his guns - split hairs -
ring a bell - added fuel to the fire - let sleeping dogs lie.
3. stole the show - had pride of place - the powers of be -
let nature take its course - spoke volumes.
5. a satellite city - on the town - concrete jungle - all in
good time.
6. got on like a house on fire - knew what's what - reinvent
the wheel - see eye to eye - kept under his hat - not have a
leg to stand on - fell short of.
7. the life and the soul of the party - knee-high to a
grasshopper - a blot on the landscape - put things in
perspective - drew the short straw.

4. big mouth - take the scenic route - all mods con - as the
crow flies - for the time being.

IV. Sentence transformation:

1. After a hard day’s work, he just wanted to put his feet 11. Alex was left in the dark after his secret was revealed.
up and watch some TV.
12. It’s high time you got a map, you lose your bearings in
2. Should you set your heart on becoming a doctor, you this city.
will have to study hard and pass many exams.
13. So fast did he run that he reached the train station in
3. Despite being in his teacher’s good books for most of the nick of time, just as the train was about to leave.
the year, he failed the final exam because he did not study
14. I won’t know what you are doing unless you keep me
enough.
posted on your progress.
4. With its sleek design and advanced features, her new
15. Only when you give me your word that you will never
smartphone was the last word in technology.
lie to me again will I trust you.
5. After eating too much junk food, he felt below par.
16. She was capable of acting on a whim and quitting her
6. The residents were up in arms about the new highway job because she had enough savings to support herself.
project that would destroy their homes and farms.
17. He was said by his colleagues to be at a loose end.
7. She was not in the mood for a party, so she gave it a miss
18. Because of her greater experience and skills, she had the
and stayed at home.
edge over her competitors.
8. No sooner had he seen his car scratched by a careless
19. You may/might as well wear a clown costume to the
driver than he flew off the handle.
funeral, your outfit is so over the top.
9. They are far from the city and its conveniences are
20. Suzie is such a couch potato that her mom couldn’t
boiled down to their living in the sticks.
put up with her lifestyle.
10. With a warm welcome, he asked his guests to make
themselves at home.

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