16 Transport

As transport is such an everyday experience for many people, it is unsurprisingly a rich

source of idioms.

Trains

Karl was full of enthusiasm when he started his university course. He worked extremely hard at first,
but, after a couple of years, he ran out of steam 1 and lost interest in his studies. He spent much more
time going to parties and staying out all night than studying, and his tutor worried that he had gone
off the rai1s2. But then Karl fell in love with a student in his department. Now, six months down the
line 3, he is back on track4 towards gaining an excellent degree and fulfilling his dreams.

1 3
lost energy or interest later
2 4
started behaving in an unacceptable way again on the way to achieving something

Cars
We use at/ behind the wheel to mean 'be the driver' (NB in this expression, wheel refers to
the steering wheel): I saw their car this morning but couldn't make out who was at the wheel.
We talk about someone being in the driving seat to mean that they are in control of the
situation: Although the general manager is officially in charge, everyone knows his deputy
is really in the driving seat.
We talk about life in the fast lane to mean a life that is active, exciting and dangerous.
Life in the slow lane is correspondingly lacking in excitement and danger: I've had
enough of life in the fast lane, so I'm giving up my executive sales job and moving to the
countryside.
Doing a U-turn means changing direction, and it is used idiomatically when talking about
politics: Initially, the minister was against increasing road tax, but he has now done a
U-turn and is defending the plan.
If we go/ move/ step up a gear, we start to work or play more effectively or quickly than
before: After half-time, the team stepped up a gear and managed to score three goals.

Planes
idiom I example I meaning
be flying high The company had some initial problems is very successful
but now it is flying high.

fly by the seat of your We had no business experience before doing something difficult without
pants opening the shop, so we were really flying much experience or ability
by the seat of our pants at first. (informal)

do something on I've written so many references now that I do something without thinking
autopilot can more or less do it on autopilot. (informal)

take a nosedive Share prices took a nosedive last week. went down suddenly and fast

be on a collision The two countries are on a collision are behaving in such a way
course course, and it seems that nothing can be that is likely to cause a major
done to prevent serious trouble. disagreement or fight

come to a standstill Production has come to a standstill stopped

because of the strike.

36 English Idioms in Use Advanced

 Exercises

16.1 Which idioms do these pictures make you think of?

1 2 3

go ................................... run ................................................................... do ........................... .

16.2 Complete each dialogue with an idiom from the opposite page.
1 Tim: Edward's moving to New York. He said he needs more excitement in his life.
Ruth : Yes, I think he's tired of .................................................................................... ........................ .
2 Rob: The government have changed their mind completely on the new vehicle tax!
Pierre: Yes, they've .............................................................................................................. .
3 Mona: Their son has started getting into trouble with the police.
Leon: Yes, he seems to have ............................................... ............................................................... .
4 Rajiv: They were so enthusiastic when they started the new conservation scheme, but
now it all seems to have slowed down.
Nick: Yes, the whole project seems to have ................................................................................................ .
5 Ursula: We need to start doing things more effectively and quickly.
Mark: Yes, we definitely need to ................................................................................................................ .
6 Freda: Did you see who was driving when the accident happened?
Krishnan: No, I couldn't see who was ....................................... .

16.3 Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending.

1 I'm glad to say that things are now back
D a driving seat any more.
2 We don't know what could happen a year down
D b a collision course.
3 Things are out of control. Nobody seems to be in the
D c the line.
4 Profits of Internet-based companies have taken
D d a complete standstill.
5 I think the employers and the unions are on D e on track.
6 Nothing's happening. Things have come to
D f a nosedive recently.

16.4 Choose the correct answer.

1 If a business is flying high, it is a) failing b) just starting up c) doing well and is profitable.
2 If you do something on autopilot, you do it a) without thinking
b) using a computer c) deliberately.
3 If someone is back on track, they are a) being punished for bad behaviour
b) behaving in a less responsible way c) behaving responsibly again.
4 If you are flying by the seat of your pants, you are doing something a) without much ability or
experience b) without thinking about it c) which is very exciting.

Over to
--~' _.,_._,....,. ~ _,.
Find the meanings of these idioms in a dictionary or on line and make a note of them in your
notebook under the heading 'Transport idioms'. Note down the definition, an example sentence
and any other useful information, such as whether it is formal or informal, etc.: drive someone
round the bend, a back-seat driver, step on it, put the brakes on, give / get the green light.

English Idioms in Use Advanced 37