UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA

FACULTY OF EDUCATION SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY

TEACHER EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT

EXAMINATION ASSIGMENT: CONTEXTUAL USE OF IDIOMS

English lexicology and phraseology for teachers

Author: Veronika Duševska

ID NO.: vd23022
Work supervisor: Laura Karpinska

RĪGA 2024
1. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
(number the sentences)
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
(as presented in the
dictionary)
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
2. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
3. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
4. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Oh, and on top of all the once-in-a-lifetime experiences, there’s an
abundance of caviar, liquor, wine, and beauty treatments on the table.
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a46198865/2024-
golden-globes-gift-bags/
2023
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
Once in a lifetime
Very rare or very rarely
Words are separated by hyphen
It wasn’t the right timing, and it wasn’t the right thing. It was in poor
taste. All pure intentions, but sometimes you don’t hit the bull’s-eye,
right?
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a38673630/gal-
gadot-controversial-imagine-cover-poor-taste/
2022
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
Hit the bull's-eye
To be exactly correct
The same as the base form
Steven Spielberg considered directing the film, but after seeing the
gem that is A Star is Born, he passed the baton to Cooper for a second
home run.
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/a46132400/how-
to-watch-maestro/
2024
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
Passed the baton
To pass job and responsibility on to another
The verb is used in the past tense
Gaga and Bradley have been friends since filming A Star Is Born,
where their chemistry was so off the charts that they endured
*endless* dating rumours...especially after their Oscars performance,
which Gaga actually addressed on Jimmy Kimmel Live:
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a46115437/lady-
gaga-bradley-cooper-maestro-premiere/
2023
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Off the charts
At a very high level
 Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
5. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
6. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
7. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
8. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The same as the base form
Life though is not always a bed of roses.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanceeliot/2023/04/19/solving-the-
mystery-of-how-chatgpt-and-generative-ai-can-surprisingly-pick-up-
foreign-languages-says-ai-ethics-and-ai-law/?sh=4de8b32a6b1d
2023
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Bed of roses
An easy and happy existence
The same as base form
The scholarship aims to bridge the gap from business schools wanting
more diverse students, but diverse students often facing a financial
barrier to entry.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattsymonds/2023/11/30/could-these-
mba-scholarships-help-to-fund-your-business-school-
dreams/?sh=574599e411f2
2023
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Bridge the gap
To connect two things or to make the difference between them smaller
The same as base form.
Lawyer Brettler and his royal client make no bones about the value of
the 2009 release agreement to their strategy.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/guymartin/2021/10/31/prince-andrew-
requests-dismissal-virginia-roberts-giuffres-lawsuit-because-of-her-
2009-settlement-with-jeffrey-epstein/?sh=350fcbc77e21
2021
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english
Make no bones about something
To not hesitate to express your thoughts or feelings about something,
even though other people will not like what you say
The same as base form.
Since its debut on Apple AAPL -1.3% TV+ in April 2022, Slow
Horses has become a real jewel in the crown for the streamer.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2023/11/29/will-smith-
takes-slow-horses-to-thrilling-new-highs-in-season-
three/?sh=7a0b7b6816bc
2023
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Jewel in the crown
 The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
9. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
10. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
11. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
12. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
The best or most valuable part of something
The same as the base form.
Her hopes for college, and a career as a writer, hang by a thread of
false papers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/theater/jajas-african-hair-
braiding-review.html
2023
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
Hang by a thread
To be in a very dangerous situation or state.
The same as base form.
For her and others, supporting Oslo was the price to pay for moving
the peace process forward and for giving the P.L.O. a new lease on
life.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/20/magazine/israel-
gaza-oslo-accords.html
2023
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
A new lease on life
An increase in the period for which something can be used or
continued
The same as base form.
His and other counterculture families moved to Last Chance to break
loose from American society and live communally amid the redwoods
and meadows.
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/air-taxis-flying-
cars-joby-aviation-1234909157/
2023
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
Break loose
To get away from someone or something by using force or effort
The same as base form.
Some candidates are using the calm before the storm of the first
debate to showcase other skills.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ron-desantis-fire-listless-vessels-
remark-campaign-trail/story?id=102427099
2023
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
The calm before the storm
A quiet or peaceful period before a period during which there is great
activity, argument, or difficulty.
 Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
13. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
14. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
15. The sentence presenting the
contextual use of the idiom
The link to the source text
The year of publication of
the source text
The title or link to the
dictionary used
The base form of the idiom
The definition of the idiom
Comments on the
contextual use of the idiom
The same as base form
Sunak says he had 'no choice' as he is accused of 'stabbing Boris in
the back' at first hustings as Truss compares herself to Don Revie.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/19357598/rishi-sunak-
accused-of-stabbing-boris-johnson-in-back/
2022
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Stab someone in the back
To do something harmful to someone who trusted you
The verb is used in gerund form.
The rule of thumb people typically followed was the three-month
salary guideline – which was created during the Great Depression,
when diamond sales weren’t doing too well and De Beers, a leading
diamond company, sought to improve the situation.
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/how-much-should-you-spend-on-an-
engagement-ring
2023
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Rule of thumb
A practical and approximate way of doing or measuring something
The same as the base form.
The expression “I love that for you” and its variants (“I love that for
me/us/them”) has picked up steam of late.
https://www.vogue.com/article/i-love-that-for-you
2019
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Pick up steam
To start working or producing at a faster rate or more effectively
The verb is used in the past participle tense