MODULE 2

 EXERCISE 1: Match the idioms to the meanings on the

right.

 EXERCISE 2: Find the meanings of the following idioms.

 EXERCISE 3 : Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal

verbs.
 EXERCISE 4: Match the idioms with the right meaning.
 EXERCISE 5 : Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms.
 EXERCISE 6 : Dictionary Skills
 EXERCISE 7: Choose the correct answer from the
options given.
COMMON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

COLOUR MEANING
1. out of the blue unexpectedly
2. in black and white in writing
3. green light approval
4. white elephant something expensive but useless and
troublesome
5.true colours true self
.
ANIMALS MEANING
1. let the cat out off the bag to reveal a secret
2. kill two birds with one stone to obtain two results with one action
3. like a fish out of water to be out of place
4. to smell a rat to be suspicious
5. a whale of a time A very enjoyable time

PARTS OF THE BODY MEANING

1. keep in mind to remember
2. to lose face to be disgraced or humiliated
3. see eye to eye agree totally with
4. look down one’s nose to dislike
5. with open arms to welcome warmly

OTHER IDIOMS MEANING

1. a close shave
2. brush up on something
3. in someone’s shoes
4. one’s own free will
5. through thick and thin
6. a rude awakening
7.black as the ace of spades
8.worship the golden calf
9.in mint condition
10. dust someone’s jacket
11. stone deaf
12. bed of roses
a narrow escape
to reveal something that one has learnt
in the past
to be in another person’s situation
do something voluntarily or as one
wishes
through good times and bad times
sudden knowledge of something
unpleasant or disagreeable
very black / very dirty
to believe that money is all important
in perfect condition
to beat someone in a fight
completely deaf
a situation of ease and comfort

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EXERCISE 1

Match the idioms to the meanings on the right.

1. once in a blue moon exact words

2. crocodile tears under the control of

3. under the thumb very rarely

4. food for thought false show of grief

5. word for word something to consider

EXERCISE 2

Pair work: Find the meanings of the following idioms.

1. at the eleventh hour ________________________________

2. break the ice ________________________________

3. by all means ________________________________

4. face to face ________________________________

5. foot the bill ________________________________

6. kick the bucket ________________________________

7. play with fire ________________________________

8. lend a hand ________________________________

9. down to earth ________________________________

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10. tongue tied ________________________________

PHRASAL VERB
A phrasal verb can be made up of a verb and a preposition.

Read these sentences and take note of the phrasal verbs in bold.

1. She ran into Shamsul yesterday.

2. The caterpillar changed into a butterfly.
3. I must keep to my schedule.
4. If we cut across the field we can reach the shelter faster.
5. They had to break into the house to rescue the victims trapped by the
landslide.

EXERCISE 3
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verbs given in the box.

look into put up get off make out

let down take off jump at go in
get over got away put off fed up
look for put out knocked… out make …out
get up went back mark up lay out

1. He tried to_______________ the wall but it was too high.

2. They sent a boat and a helicopter to ___________ the lost campers.
3. He decided not to _____________ the bus until the flood water receded.
4. A committee has been set up to ___________ the problem of flash floods.
5. She was pleased to see her son___________ the opportunity to
participate in the event.
6. That would spoil his plan. He would be so __________if he could not go
camping.

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7. She was so ______________ with lying on bed all day.
8. He does not speak clearly, so I cannot _____________ what he says.
9. You must knock at the door before you _____________.
10. I usually _______________ at 6 o’clock.
11. They _________________ home as it was getting dark.
12. The teacher asked the boys to _____________ their hands.
13. You must _____________ your shoes before going into the house.
14. My father had to ____________________ his trip to Hong Kong as he
was ill.
15. The firemen took two hours to _______________ the fire.
16. The policeman chased the thief, but he ______________.
17. The ________ of the house was done by a famous architect
18. His fall from the ladder ________him______.
19. The traders ________the prices of all the products.
20. She is a strange person. I cannot _________her ______ at all.

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Reading comprehension (Dictionary Skills)
Read the idioms and their meanings below and then answer the questions that
follow.

Blue collar Red-letter day

Adj (only before noun) blue n (C) informal a day that you will
collar workers do physical work, always remember because
rather than working in offices something special happened that
White collar, pink collar made you very happy

White lie Mouth-watering

n (C) informal a lie that you tell Adj food that is mouth-watering
someone in order to protect them looks or smells extremely good
or avoid hurting their feelings

Tongue twister Foot step

n (C) a word or phrase that is n (C) the sound each step makes
difficult to say quickly when someone is walking

EXERCISE 4
Match the idioms with the right meaning.
IDIOMS MEANING

a) Blue-collar the sound each step makes

b) Red-letter day a word or phrase that is difficult to say
quickly
c) White lie a lie to tell to avoid hurting someone’s
feelings.
d) Mouth-watering a worker who does physical work
e) Tongue twister food that looks or smells delicious

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 f) Foot step a happy day in someone’s life

EXERCISE 5
Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms.
a) He heard someone’s __________________ in the hall.
b) A ________________ aroma came from the kitchen.
c) The day I first set foot in Australia was a ________________ for me.
d) Ali’s father is a _______________ worker. He is a labourer.
e) The teacher asked her students to read the _______________ many
times.
f) Danny had to tell his mother a ____________ to avoid hurting his
mother’s feeling.

EXERCISE 6
Dictionary Skills
List three more idioms and state their meanings of the given words below.
black back eye
a) a) a)

meaning : meaning: meaning:

b) b) b)

meaning: meaning: meaning:

c) c) c)

meaning: meaning: meaning:

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EXERCISE 7
Choose the correct answer from the options given.

Situation A
Joan and Hani are in the classroom.
Joan: What is the matter Hani? You look upset.
Hani: I really can’t figure out (1) the solution to this sum.
Joan: Let me have a look at it. Perhaps I can help you.
Joan: I give up(2) I”ve been trying to do it for the past few hours.
Hani: Shh…!let me think. All right. I’ve got the answer! Here, let me explain it to
you.
Joan: Thanks. I knew I could count on (3) you.
Hani; Remember, the important thing is not to give up when you are faced with
difficulties.

1.figure out
A. learn B. explain C. work out D. comprehend

2. give up
A. resign B. surrender C. come to an end D. can do nothing more

3. count on
A. help B. question C. believe in D. depend on

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Situation B

Wahab and his friend Ramli are talking on the telephone.

Wahab: Thank you Ramli. I’ll always remember your kindness.
When I was down and out(4) you were the one who helped me.
Ramli: We are friends, aren’t we? You were in a tight spot(5) And I was
very happy I could help you out.
Wahab: Still, I can’t thank you enough. You’re really a good friend. You’ve
never let me down(6)

4. When I was down and out

A. When I was very ill C. When I had no one to help me.
B. When I was feeling very sad D. When I had no job and no money

5. You were in a tight spot

A. You could not go anywhere C. You were facing a difficult situation
B. You did not know where to go D. You were at a place that was marked

6. You’ve never let me down

A. You’ve never let me fall down C. You’ve never disappointed me
B. You always cheered me up. D. You’ve always made me feel better

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Situation C
Mimi meets Nana at the bookshop.
Mimi: Hai, Nana. You’re late. I wonder when you would turn up.(7)
Nana: I know, I’m sorry. I had to come on foot. My bicycle had a puncture.
Mimi: Oh, I’m sorry. Hasnah still isn’t here.
Nana: There she is.
Hasnah: Sorry for being late. Someone broke into(8) my bungalow.
Mimi: Oh, that’s terrible!
Hasnah: Yes, luckily my parents returned home just in time. The robber did
not run off(9) with anything.
Mimi: I’m glad to hear that.
Nana: So am I.

7. turn up
A. arrive B. start C. late D. wait

8. broke into
A. entered B. escaped C. renovating

9. run off
A. steal B. break C. buy D. sell

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Situation D
Mr Jalil, the discipline master, is reprimanding Helmi.
Mr Jalil: We caught you red-handed(10) so you can’t deny you took your
father’s wallet.
Helmi: No, sir. I’ll make a clean breast of it.(11)I did take his wallet.
Mr Jalil: It is good that you admit it.
Helmi: I know it is wrong. I’ll turn over a new leaf.(12)

10. red-handed
A. recently caught C. at the crime scene
B. caught in the act D. stealing something hot

11. make a clean breast of it

A. to admit C. to hurt one’s feeling
B. to feel ashamed D. to clean up one’s act

12. turn over a new leaf

A. do it again C. go to a new school
B. won’t do it again D. start life in a new country

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 ANSWERS
MODULE 2

Exercise 1
1. very rarely
2. false show of grief
3. under the control
4. something to consider
5. exact words

Exercise 2
1. to do something the last moment or too late
2. to make friends with; get people to be on friendly terms
3. a certainty
4. confront directly
5. to pay for something
6. die or pass away
7. to play with danger
8. to assist
9. practical
10. speechless

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Exercise 3
1) get over 11) went back
2) look for 12) put up
3) get off 13) take off
4) look into 14) put off
5) jump at 15) put out
6) let down 16) got away
7) fed up 17) lay out
8) make out 18) knocked… out
9) go in 19) mark up
10) get up 20) make… out

Exercise 4
IDIOMS MEANING

a) Blue collar a sound each step makes

b) Red-letter day a word or phrase that is difficult to say
quickly
11. White lie a lie to tell to avoid hurting someone’s
feelings
12. Mouth-watering a worker who does physical work
13. Tongue twister food that looks or smells delicious
14. Foot step a happy day in someone’s life

Exercise 5
a) foot step b) mouth-watering c) red-letter day
d) blue collar e) tongue twister f) white lie

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Exercise 6
black back
a) black market a) back-drop
meaning : things bought & meaning: a large piece of
sold, money changed cloth painted with buildings,
illegally. countryside, etc that hung
at the back of a stage
during performance
b) black look b) back-fire
meaning: one is full of meaning: to have the
anger and hate opposite result from the
one you intended
c) black Maria c) back-up
meaning: a police vehicle meaning: support or help
used to transport prisoners.
eye
a) eye-sore
meaning: an unpleasant
sight in the public area.
b) eye-wash
meaning: nonsense or
something which is not true.
c) eye-piece
meaning: part of a piece of
equipment which you look
through

- ACCEPT ANY POSSIBLE IDIOMS

Exercise 7

Situation A

1. C 2. B 3.D

Situation B

4. B 5. C 6. C

Situation C

7. A 8.A 9.A

Situation D

10. B 11. A 12.B

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