Choose the right idiomatic expression to the bold word and phrases in the sentences.. Match up the definitions on the left 1-16 with the correct idioms on the right a-p 1.. Each of the i
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Các ban thân m ến!
Trong xu thế hội nhập và toàn cầu hóa, tiếng Anh ngày nay đã thực sự trở thành ngôn ngữ thông dụng khắp hành tinh và là phương tiện giao tiếp giúp cho mọi người hiểu nhau và xích lại gần nhau hơn
Nhằm đáp ứng nhu cầu ngày càng tăng của bạn đọc trong công việc, học tập và giao tiếp bằng tiếng Anh hàng ngày, chúng
tôi đã biên soạn cuốn sách “Bài tập thành ngữ tiếng A nh”.
Thành ngữ là điểm khó học và khó nhớ trong tiếng Anh Tuy nhiên, chúng lại đóng vai trò làm phong phú thêm cho việc diễn đạt bằng tiếng Anh, dù dưới hình thức nói hay viết
Cuốn sách được trình bày rõ ràng, súc tích giúp người đọc dễ dàng hơn trong việc hoc
Trong quá trình biên soạn không tránh khỏi những sai sót Rất mong nhận được sự đóng góp quý báu của quý bạn đọc gần xa
Chúc cấc bạn thành công!
Nhóm biên soạn
The Windy
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TESTS
I Fill in the missing words from the sentences below Choose from the following, using plural forms where necessary.
1 Being retired, he suddenly found himself with lots of timeon his but with little to do to occupy it
2 You need to have a strong to work in aslaughterhouse
3 He got up very late this morning and then had the to complain about his breakfast being cold!
Trang 54 She had a sweet and couldn’t resist buyingchocolates and cream cakes.
5 None of the students liked Mr Baker In fact, everyone wasglad to see th e of him when he left to teach inItaly
6 I think I’ll go and stretch my I’ve been sittingdown all morning and I’m feeling a bit stiff
7 I’ve got an essay to write on the history of computing.Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about it, so do you mind if I pick your ?
8 He used to love mountain-climbing, but when a friend ofhis was killed in the Himalayas, he lost his and never went climbing again
9 The viewers were up i n when the televisionstation announced that it was going to change the time of the evening news broadcast from 9 o’clock to 9.30
10 There’s something wrong somewhere I can’t putmy on what it is exactly, but something justdoesn’t feel right
11 The cruel way some owners treat their pets makesmy boil
12 “Hurry up, Dorothy! The taxi’s waiting!”“ All right, keep your on! I’m coming.”13 Getting a problem off your is the first stage to
being able to solve it.14 She decided to make a clean of everything and
confessed that she was the one who had stolen the money.15 You’d better be careful with what you say to Samantha
You know how sensitive she is to criticism - she takes everything to
Trang 616 I think there’s going to be trouble at the meeting tonight; Ican feel it in my
17 David and the new boss seem to have got off on the wrong Poor David! There go his chances for
promotion.18 Stop putting words into my ! I never said
opera was boring, I just said I preferred musicals, that’s all
II Choose the right idiomatic expression to the bold word and phrases in the sentences.
1 To take something for granted is to
a permit it b object to itc look it over d accept it without investigation
2 If I say that something stands to reason, this means that it is
a difficult to understand b clear and logicalc not reasonable d foolish
3 As to that means
a because of that b in addition to thatc concerning that d despite that
4 To feel sorry for someone is to
a like him b pity himc praise him d call him down
5 Instead of saying that an epidemic had happened suddenly,
we generally say that it hasa stopped b burned outc burned up d broken out
Trang 76 To blow up is to
a increase in size c decrease in size
7 If a place burns down, it
a burns rapidly c bums out
8 To burn up is to
a bum slowly c explode
9 Which of the following can burn out
a a desk b a shipc a fuse d a curtain
10 If I say that Allan made good in his last position, I mean
that he
b explode d ache" it v: ■V4-"*’
b does not burn at all d bums to the ground
b burn completely d go out
a always arrived on time c liked it
b failed d succeeded
Trang 8I Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence.
1 I haven’t had an accident yet but I’ve had a numberof shaves
a narrow b near c close d tiny2 My father refused to eat meat that had been fried He had
in his bonnet about it causing cancer.a a bug b a bee c a bull d an ant3 You really dropped the other day when you told
Brian you’d seen his wife at the cinema He thought she was at her mother’s
a a brick b a stone c a log d a plank4 I can’t stand Mr Smith He’s always blowing his
own - telling everyone how good he is ateverything
a balloon b breath c mind d trumpet5 The escaped prisoner fought before he was
finally overpowered.a head over heels b tooth and nailc heart and soul d foot and mouth
Trang 96 1 didn’t suspect anything at first, but when I noticed her going through the office drawers I began to smell a a rat b a pig c a thief d a culprit7 Jane looked at the shop assistant who had been
rude to her.a arrows b needles c poison d daggers8 Peter was born and brought up in Hastings and knows it like
th e a nose on his face b tip of his tonguec back of his hand d hair on his head9 1 bought a computer last year, and had nothing but trouble
with it As far as I’m concerned it was $800 down the
a loo b sink c drain d plughole10 John will never buy you a drink - he’s far too
a tight-fisted b pigheadedc highly-strung d easy-going11 I’ve heard that argument before and quite frankly it jmst
doesn’t !a face the music b hit the nail on the headc carry weight d hold water
Trang 1012 I was already fed up with the job, but when the boss walked into my office and told me he expected me to workovertime that was th e
a final curtain b last strawc end of the line d last waltz13 He has a quick temper and easily off the
handle.a leaps b goes c runs d flies14 I don’t like turning down work, but I’ll have to, I’m afraid
I’ve got far too m uch at the moment.a up my sleeve b on my platec on my mind d in effect15 And th a t Brian, is why I can’t marry you!
a in a flash b on the dotc off and cuff d in a nutshell
II Match up the definitions on the left (1-16) with the correct idioms on the right (a-p)
1 intelligence, reasoning, ability
a a blessing in disguiseb a blue-collar worker2 something that is
extremely easy (to do)3 stealing goods while
shopping
c a dead-end jobd elbow greasee a false alarm
Trang 114 a story that is so exaggerated or incredible that it is difficult to believe5 something which appears
bad at first but then turns out well
6 a worker who does an * office job
7 a trick played upon someone
8 a factory worker rather than an office worker9 a lot of excitement and
discussion about something that is trivial10 an amount of money saved
for future use11 a job without prospects12 a very important day in
someone ‘s life13 a tiresome, irritating
person14 physical application to
hard work15 a wild guess16 a warning of danger which
turns out to be false
f grey matterg a nest-eggh a pain in the necki a piece of cakej a practical joke
k a red-letter dayl shopliftingm a shot in the darkn a storm in a teacupo a tall story
p a white-collar worker
Trang 12I Each of the idioms on the left (1-18) can be associated with one of the words or phrases on the right (a-r) Try to match them up.
1 in a cold sweat a on strike2 in a flash b authority3 long-winded c a doctor4 mind one’s p’s and q’s d soldiers5 on call e a debate6 on the level f a prisoner7 out of tune g a speech8 a bottleneck h a husband9 a picket line i a party
10 armed to the teeth j a job interview11 behind bars k It’s a trick!12 break the ice 1 buying a second-hand car13 do wonders m too many cars
14 Dutch courage15 henpecked
n an ideao I can’t sing!
Trang 1316 pull the wool over p going to prisonsomeone’s eyes
q alcohol17 put one’s foot down
r this medicine18 take the floor
n For each of the sentences below write a new sentence with a similar meaning Substitute the words in italics with the word in CAPITAL LETTERS plus one of the verbs in the box (You may need to use some of them more than once)
call come do get give gohave keep lose pull put take
1 If things go wrong, James, whatever you do, don’t panic
HEAD
2 More than 5,000 runners participated in this year’s
Manchester marathon.PART
3 The way he took everything she did for granted really
annoyed her.
BACK
Trang 144 The personnel officer promised him that she wouldn’t tell
anyone that he had been in prison.WORD
5 We’d get the job finished much quicker if everyone worked
as hard as everyone else.
WEIGHT
6 If you don’t like the idea then just say so I believe you
should always speak frankly.
SPADE
7 My father’s going to be really angry when he finds out that
I’ve lost the car keys.WALL
, , • • ' • 1
8 Don’t pay any attention to what he says; he’s only trying to
annoy you.NOTICE
9 My husband is obsessed with football; it’s the only thing he
ever thinks about.BRAIN
10 We’re organizing a going-away party for Sue on Saturday
But don ’ttell her as it’s supposed to be a surprise.
QUIET
Trang 1511 Telephone me if you feel like going out for a meal one day
next week.RING
12 That wasn’t what I meant at all! You’ve completely
misunderstood me as usual!
STICK
13 There’s no need for us to hurry; the play doesn’t start until
7.30.TIME
14 The fact that the President had been a drug addict was not
revealed until several years after his death.
LIGHT
1 5 1 may not come first in the race, but I’ll try as hard as I can
not to come last.BEST
Trang 16I Fill in the missing adjectives in the sentences below Choose from the following:
broad foregone practical tallconfirmed golden rough unwritten
1 She had a very tongue, and could be reallysarcastic when she was angry
2 The result of the election was a/an conclusion.Everyone knew which party would win
3 There is a /a n law in this club that you neverborrow money from a fellow-member
4 She had a very vivid imagination but her spelling was her point when it came to writing essays
5 You don’t need a telescope to see the planet Venus - you cansee it with th e eye
6 Watch out for Paul Blake in the competition; he’s a bit of a/an horse
Trang 177 The competitors waited with breath for theresults to be read out.
8 The robbery was committed i n daylight.9 “How many people were there at the meeting last night?”
“ I’m not sure exactly, but at a/an guess I’d sayabout three hundred.”
10 One of his hates was people pushing in frontof him at bus stops
11 I was late for work this morning because my car had a
tyre.12 This is a/an opportunity for you, Tom You
must take it.13 It was the first meal the tramp had had in days.14 We decided to play a/an joke on our teacher by
putting a “ For Sale” sign on his car.15 Don’t mention last year’s Christmas party to Harry; it’s a bit
of a /a n point with him.16 The one thing about Pamela is that you can trust her; you
know she will give you a/an deal.17 He’ll never get married; he’s a/an bachelor.18 Don’t believe a word he says; it’s just another of his
stories.19 Do you know if there’s a/an line between 10
Downing Street and the Kremlin?2 0 1 don’t really want to be twenty again It was just
thinking
Trang 18II Choose the expression corresponding to the bold idiom in the sentences.
1 If someone drops out, he/she
a is disappointed b beginsc is often absent d leaves permanently
2 If someone drops in on me, he/she
a visits me b drops me a linec gives me a ring d makes me fall
3 To draw up a contract is to
a sign a contract b prepare a contractc look over a contract d agree to a contract
4 To run across someone is to
a run over him b run up to himc meet him unexpectedly d run along with him
5 If I set out early, I
a walk out early b arive earlyc wake up early d leave early
6 If orders are carried out, they are
a executed b not understoodc criticized d rejected
Trang 197 If someone has been knocked out, he has been
a knocked unconscious b beatenc punched d wounded
8 If something doesn’t make sense, it is not
a funny b true c logical d sensitive
9 To cheer someone up is to
a criticize him b make him feel happierc sit with him d make him feel sad
10 If a watch keeps good time, it
a runs fast b needs windingc often stops d runs accurately
Trang 20I Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence.
1 He may be shy now, but he’ll soon come out of his when he meets the right girl
a shoe b shell c shed d hole2 It’s true, I tell you! I got it from the My sister
works at the Town Hall She’s the one who made the decision!
a nag’s head b cat’s whiskersc horse’s mouth d lion’s den3 Just look at the way he goes around giving people orders
He’s getting a bit too big for h is if you ask me.a boots b braces c trousers d brains4 I’m afraid you’ve caught me on th e I wasn’t
expecting you until this afternoon.a stove b grapevine c spot d hop
Trang 215 Nagging Susan because she smokes too much has no effect, on her whatsoever - it’s like water off
a a windmill b a duck’s backc dripping tap d an umbrella6 Why don’t we have potatoes in their tonight for
a change?a sleeves b shells c jackets d coats7 Have you seen the new boss? She’s t h e image
of Marilyn Monroe.a live b true c spitting d same8 He’s one of the few composers we have in this
country.a budding b blooming c growing d promised9 Writing rhymes for birthday cards is really easy It’s money
for old a rags b bread c rope d rubbish10 Of course you won’t become more intelligent if you eat a lot
of fish - that’s just an o ld tale.a maids’ b ladies’ c mothers’ d wives’11 The day after the office party, Jack had a terrible and
couldn’t bear the slightest noise.a hangover b conscience c feeling d anxiety
Trang 2212 I agree that this is a bit of a shot, but we’redesperate - we have to do something to try to save the company.
a hot b long c wild d high13 We looked in every and cranny for the missing ring,
but we couldn’t find it anywhere.a nook b gap c hole d niche14 I like my new job; the only fly in t h e is the fact
that I have to work every other weekend.a fat b porridge c soup d ointment15 It’s a shame that so little is done nowadays to help
the homeless in our large cities.a sweeping b crying c dying d pitying16 My aunt is a bit of a w e t - she’s always spoiling
everyone’s fun.a rag b sheep c rat d blanket17 There were loud from the audience when the
compere announced that the main group were unable to perform because of illness
a outcry b wolf whitslesc catcalls d hoots
Trang 2318 He just wanted one before settling down andgetting married.
a final fling b last leapc happy hop d joyful jump19 He had a soft for his niece and thoroughly spoilt her
a heart b way c smile d spot
20 Everyone bosses me about at work; I’m nothing but a
»
a lame duck b general dogsbody
t
c blue - eyed boy d marked man
II Choose the right idiomatic expression for the bold word or words in the sentences.
1 She began to love him when she was only a child,
a fell into loving b fell to lovec fell in his love d fell in love with
2 She and Ann alternated helping the teacher after school,
a took turns b took partc took in d took on
3 Up to the present we have no information about him.
a as yet c up to now
b for present d now
Trang 244 The police say that he was not connected with the crime.a was not to charge with it b had nothing to do with itc had something to do with it d was not responsible for it
5 He had a pair of shoes which were completely useless from
wear.a worn away b not to wearc worn out d no use
6 He told us the same thing repeatedly.a again b over and overc right away d over and about7 Why don’t you discard those old newspapers?
a throw away b throw offc throw out d throw along8 1 was on the point of calling you when your telegram arrived
a not ready to call b around to callc about to call d starting to callHe continued talking as though nothing had happened
a went on b went outc went along d went away
Trang 2510 Each time he tried to light his cigar, the match ceased burning.
a went off b went onc went out d went away
Trang 26I Match up the definitions (1-16) with the correct idioms a-p)
1 incite someone to do something that perhaps they should not do2 make a serious effort to improve one’s work
3 live from day to day, often without regular money4 hear a rumour
5 be humiliated or be made to look foolish in front of others6 make a mistake, have the wrong idea of something
7 annoy or irritate someone8 speak angrily to someone9 wait patiently for a suitable opportunity to do something
10 help someone11 completely ignore a person while passing him or her12 find faults or mistakes in something (e.g an argument)13 go from a bad situation to one that is even worse
14 flatter someone (often in order to get something)15 become angry
16 challenge someone to do when he or she has threatened to do (usually because one does not believe the person will do it)
Trang 27a bark up the wrongb tree
c bide one’s timed butter someone upe call someone’s blufff cut someone deadg egg someone onh hear something on the grapevinei jump down someone’s throatj jump out of the frying pan into the fire
k lend someone a handl live from hand to mouthm lose face
n lose one’s tempero pick holes in somethingp pull one’s socks upq rub someone up the wrong way
II Choose the expression corresponding to the bold idiom i n the sentences
1 To get away with something is toa enjoy it b do it repeatedlyc do it and escape without d leave it
punishment
Trang 282 If someone bursts out laughing, he
a begins to laugh suddenly b hurts himself laughing c laughs regularly d laughs constantly
3 If I say that something served you right, I mean that you
1
/
a are waited upon well b had a good timec deserved it d received good service
4 To meet someone halfway is to
a argue with him b run into himc run over him
5 To stand out is to
d compromise with him
a be prominent or outstanding b wait outsidec stand in line
6 To let on is to
d remain outside
a wait b give permissionCi reveal d accept
7 If after a quarrel, two friends make up, this means that they
a become reconciled b come to blowsc hate each other d never speak to each other
again
Trang 298 If I say that John made up that story, I mean that he
a told it well b invented itc repeated it several times d believed it
Trang 30I Fill in the missing words in the sentences below.* Choose from the following:
on account on principle on the on the runof
on purpose contrary ,on the shelfon and off
on average
ontenterhooks
on the dot on the house
on the spur of the
on board on the cards on the other momenton call
on one’s toes
on the carpet hand
longer, the company will soon be
Trang 315 His work is quite good but there are still one ortwo things I’m not really happy with.
6 Arnold has been learning Russian for three years.7 When I was growing up in Wales, a girl was considered to be
if she wasn’t married by the time she wastwenty-five
8 “The drinks are !” said the smiling landlord tohis customers on Christmas morning
9 My mother, being an ardent socialist, disagrees witheverything the Conservative Party does
10 We mustn’t be late tomorrow, so I expect you all to be hereat 8 o’clock
11 Selling computers is very competitive You really have to be to keep youf job
12 You’ll b e if the boss ever finds out that you forgotto deliver those parcels on time last week
13 She didn’t know whether to take the job or not On the onehand the salary was much better, but it meant a lotmore travelling every day
14.1 hate travelling by boat As soon as I g e t I start tofeel seasick
15 After ten days of being he finally gave himselfup to the police
16 One of the disadvantages of being a doctor is that you arefrequently at weekends
17 The students were all as they awaited theresults of the examination
Trang 3218 It isn’t true that I hate pop music; I like it very much.19 It’s that the Foreign Secretary will be forced to
resign because of that business in the Middle East.20 It was no accident! You did i t !
II Match up the definitions (1-16) with the correct idioms (a-p)
1 the death penalty2 a drink (alcoholic) taken before one goes to bed3 a short sleep in a chair (not in a bed)
4 a success that only lasts a short time5 someone who is blamed for other people’s mistakes6 someone who is very conceited
7 someone who attends a party without being invited8 a difficulty - often hidden or unexpected
9 a heavy shower of rain10 someone who offers to work when the regular workers
are on strike11 unnecessary bureaucracy12 a sudden, clever thought or idea13 something which is unexpected but which is very much
needed and appreciated14 a search for something which has no hope of being
successful15 something very unpleasant to look at (e.g a building)16 a place in a road where accidents often happen
Trang 33a abigheadb a black spotc a blacklegd a brainwavee capital punishmentf a catnap
g a godsendh a downpouri an eyesorej a flash in the pan
k a gatecrasherl a nightcapm red tapen a scapegoato a snag
p a wild goose chase
Trang 34I Fill in the missing words in the sentences below choosing from the following.
at a loose end at dealth’s door at one’s wits’endat a loss at fault at random
at a pinch at first sight at short noticeat a standstill at least at sixes and sevensat all costs at loggerheads at the crack ofat all hours at most dawn
1 When Richard Burton was Elizabeth Taylor it was a classic case of love
2 Traffic was this morning because of anaccident on the A21
3 I’m afraid everything’s this week Both thesecretaries are ill and no one knows where anything is
4 The hotel wasn’t that modern, but it was cheapand reasonably clean
5 I’ve got room in the car for three - fo u r
Trang 356 Mrs Smith’s daughter is ■ ¿rrible, isn’t she? Out and never a kind word to anyone.
7 You should be able to sell your stereo equipment for $200 $250
8 If you don’t get out then I shall have youthrown out
9 Pamela and David are always I really can’timagine why they got married in the first place They’ve got absolutely nothing in common
10 A chameleon is a remarkable creature - it is able to changethe colour of its skin
11 You can’t expect me to workovertime such ! I need to be told atleast two days in advance
1 2 1 was in a hurry for my train, so I choose a book 13 We m u st catch the 7.30 train Otherwise, we
won’t get to the meeting in time.14 It is difficult to know who’s in the matter
Perhaps, we’re all to blame.15 It’s late I think you’d better go to bed now, darling
Remember, you’ve got to get u p tomorrow.16 Since it’s his first offence he’ll properly get off with a
warning - a small fine.17 If you’re this weekend, Joan, why not come
over for a meal? It’ll give us a chance to catch up on some gossip
18.1 may be getting on a bit, but I’m certainly not yet.I hope to live for at least another ten to fifteen years!
Trang 3619 When her daughter didn’t come home on the last bus withthe other girls, Mrs Jenkins was - she wasterrified that something dreadful had happened to her.
20 Like you, I’m to explain the sudden fall inshare prices I’ve absolutely no idea what can have caused it
II Choose the right idiomatic expression to the bold word or words in the sentences.
1 I used to meet him occasionally on Fifth Avenue.
a in one occasion b once in a whilec one time d none is correct2 Helen has promised to watch and care for the baby while
we go to the movies.a to take care of b to take offc to be in care of d to take away3 It is always difficult for me to select a good present for my
wife
a pick up b pick outc take out d take on4 John always works leisurely in everything that he does.
a spends his time b takes his timec works freely d works slowly
Trang 375 How is Marie doing in her new French class?a getting away b getting upc getting well d getting along6 It is of little importance to him whether he passed his
English examination or not.a is not different b is not importantc makes no difference d doesn’t make no
difference7 I am sure that he didn’t leave that cigarette there
intentionally.a on purpose b with purposec by purpose d by intention8 We spent the entire day looking for a new apartment,
a all day long b day after dayc all long day d the long day9 Some old friends of my father’s visited us last night
a called on b called downc called up d called out10 I am extremely tired after all that physical exercise today
a tired up b tired awayc tired out d turn away
Trang 38I Match up the definitions on the left (1-16) with the correct idioms on the right (a-p)
1 be in prison2 enjoy oneself3 be experienced4 have one’s revenge5 quarrel in public, have a row6 look angrily at someone7 lose money over something8 remain alert
9 reach a crisis10 wait, be patient11 not keep a promise12 become known
a be an old hand at somethingb be out of pocket
c break one’s wordd bring something to minde come to a head
f come to lightg do time
h get one’s own backi give someone a black lookj give someone the slip
k have a good timel have one’s hands full
Trang 3913 relax m hold one’s horses14 recall, remember something n keep on one’s toes15 be very busy o make a scene
16 escape from someone (e.g the police)
p put one’s feet up
II Choose the right idiomatic expression to the bold word or words in the sentences.
1 Since the treasurer had been ill when the annual meeting took
place, he later asked the secretary to give him the details of
the meeting.a fill him out b fill him onc fill him full d fill him in2 Although Mary had consistently refused to go out with Jack,
he pleaded with her to reconsider and give him a chance.
a give him a break b give him an appointmentc give him a place d give him a space
3 Mother had promised to go to the Flower Show with us, but
at the last moment she decided not to go.
a throw out b to cop outc to stop d to halt
Trang 404 I’m sorry, the doctor can’t see you today He is so busy that he can only take care of patients who seriously ill “That sounds reasonable.”
a It figures b It can figure outc It seems good d It can imagine5 Paul never looks at a book from one day to another,
a looks up to a book b buys a bookc borrows a book d cracks a book6 Yes, I can follow the point you are making
a I am with you b I am on your side,c I run after you d I catch you
7 After the teacher had listened to the three girls quarreling over their marks, she told them to quit
a knock it off b knock it outc knock it down d knock it up8 Is it girls or money that motivates that man?
a makes him move b makes him goc make him run d makes him tick9 Elsa agreed to assume Irm a ’s duties in the office while the
latter went shopping.a look for her sister b cover for her sisterc take for her sister d do for her sister