1. The two brothers set off in quest ______ gold.
2. ______ balance, I thinkătheăgovernment’sădoingăaăreasonableăjob.
3. His decision to downshift and swap his managerial position for a less demanding one took everyone ______ surprise.
4.ăTheăshopăsentămeătheăcookeră______ăapprovalăasăIăwasn’tăsureăităwasătheămodelăIăwanted.
5. Green vegetables are rich ______ vitamins and minerals.
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PH Nă9:ăTHĨNHăNG ă(IDIOMS)
LEVEL A2
I. Choose A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
1. To take something for granted is to ______.
A. look it over B. permit it
C. accept it without investigation D. permit it 2. To feel sorry for someone is to ______.
A. like him B. praise him C. pity him D. call him down 3. For the time being means ______.
A. up to now B. in the near future
C. up to date D. at present
4. Paul never looks at a book from one day to another. Looks at a book means ______.
A. looks up to a book B. buys a book
C. borrows a book D. cracks a book
5. They are working against the ______ to have the presentation ready for Monday.
A. wall B. clock C. shadow D. day
6. Before he left home, he had dropped his parent ______.
A. a note B. a word C. the news D. a line 7. Sport is not my ______ of tea.
A. cup B. bowl C. plate D. spoon 8.ăThat’săexactlyăwhatăIămean,ăTom.ăYou’veă______!
A. put your foot in it B. killed two birds with one stone C. put two and two together D. hit the nail on the head
9.ă“I’măgoingăforăanăinterviewăforăaăjobăthisăafternoon.”ă“Goodăluck!ăI’llăkeepămyă______ă crossedăforăyou”
A. legs B. arms C. fingers D. hands
10.ăIăjustătookăită______ăthatăhe’dăalwaysăbeăavailable.
A. into consideration B. easy C. for granted D. into account 11. I agree with what you said completely. You really ______.
A. gave me a hand B. took the words out of my mouth
C. know it inside out D. get a clue
12. Every time my boss has a problem, even when it is really small, she gets far too upset.
She’săsuchăaă______.
A. loner B. drama queen C. wet blanket D. wet behind the ears
13. One day I hope to be a ______ and make tons of money.
A. pain in the neck B. cry baby C. high flyers D. flying colors 14ăI’veăbeenăanăaccountantăforă20ăyearsănow,ăsoăIă______.
A. am a cry baby B. am wet behind the ears
C. know my job inside out D. am a drama queen 15. Can you please ______? I really need some help.
A. be a high flyer B. take the words out of my mouth
C. give me a hand D. know it inside out
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16.ăMyăneighbor’sădogăisă______,ăităneverăstopsăbarking.
A. a drama queen B. a loner C. a high flyer D. a pain in the neck 17.ăɑllăsheăeverădoesăisăsităaloneăatăhome,ăshe’săquiteă______.
A. a loner B. a drama queen C. a high flyer D. a pain in the neck 18. I hate my cousin sometimes, all he ever does is complain and argue about everything.
A. a loner B. a drama queen C. a high flyer D. a cry baby II. Complete each of the sentences with the words given below.
1.ăIăjustăcouldn’tărememberăherănameăevenăthoughăităwasăonătheă______ăofămyătongue.
2.ăI’veăneverăenjoyedăgoingătoătheăopera;ăthey’reănotăreallyămyăcupăofă______.
3. They are twin brothers. They are like two ______ in a pod.
4. Suzy: John is a gentle man and so is his son Lily: Like ______, like ______.
5. I thought he would be shocked, but in fact, he was as ______ as a ______.
6. We are aware of our differences; we accept that we are ______ and ______.
7. After Lan moved to America, I lost ______ with her.
8. I caught ______ of my teacher while coming back to school.
9. The man was caught ______ stealing food in the supermarket.
10. Don't forget to take your umbrella - it's raining cats and______ out there.
11. Can you please give me a______, I really need some help.
12.ăTheăexamăisăaăpieceăofă______.ăIt’sătooăeasy.
LEVEL B1
I. Choose A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
1. Many rare and precious species are now ______ the verge of extinction.
A. in B. on C. from D. by
2. The overall aim of the book is to help bridge the gap between theory and practice, particularly in language teaching.
The phrase “bridge the gap” is closest in meaning to ______.
A. minimize the limitations B. construct a bridge
C. reduce the differences D. increase the understanding 3.ăIădon’tălikeăaăfewăthingsăaboutămyăjob,ăbut______ăităisăquiteăenjoyable.ă
A. by and large B. by mistake C. sooner or later D. what is more 4. It is______ for us to do anything about the chaotic traffic.
A. out of date B. without delay C. out of the question D. out of order 5.ăIăjustăcouldn’tărememberăherănameăevenăthoughăităwasăonăthe______ăofămyătongue.
A. edge B. tip C. top D. front
6. When you do something, you should______.
A. get through to it B. turn over a new leaf C. weigh up the pros and cons C. go down well with 7. I realized______ that he was a thief.
peas son cucumber chalk sight
cool cheese father touch cheese contact dogs hand red-handed cake tip
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A. sooner or later B. all along C. at the beginning D. eventually 8. Even if you are rich, you should save some money for a ______ day.
A. windy B. stormy C. rainy D. cloudy
9. Iădoăwishăyou’dăstopăbitingăyourănails,ăJohn.ăItăreally______.
A. lets me down B. tells me off
C. gets me down D. gets on my nerves
10. Myăfatheră______whenăheăfoundăoutăthatăI’dădamagedătheăcar.
A. hit the roof B. saw pink elephants
C. made my blood boil D. brought the house down 11.ăIăreallyămustăgoăandălieădownăforăaăwhile;ăI’veăgoneăaă______ăheadache.
A. cutting B. cracking C. exploding D. splitting 12. Stop______ about the bush, John! Just tell me exactly what the problem is.
A. beating B. rushing C. hiding D. coming
13. I always get______ in stomach before sitting an exam.
A. worms B. butterflies C. crabs D. birds
14.ăIăusuallyăbuyămyăclothes______.ăIt’săcheaperăthanăgoingătoădressmaker.
A. off the peg B. on the house C. on the shelf D. in public 15. We spent the entire day looking for a new apartment.
The phrase “the entire day” is closest in meaning to ______.
A. all day long B. the long day C. all long day D. day after day 16. I was already fed up with the job, but when the boss walked into my office and told me he expected me to work overtime that was the______.
A. final curtain B. last straw C. end of the line D. last waltz 17. Iăcouldn’tăbelieveăthatătheyăwereăbrothers.ăTheyăwereădifferentăas______.
A. Mars and Jupiter B. chalk from cheese
C. dogs and cats C. milk from honey
18. Li has______; he loves cakes, chocolates, ice-cream-anything which is sweet.
A. a sweet mouth B. sweet lips
C. a sweet tongue D. a sweet tooth 19. It never______ my mind he will tell lies to me.
A. crosses B. enters C. comes D. happens
20. Theăplayers’ăprotests______ănoădifferenceătoătheăreferee’sădecisionăatăall.
A. did B. made C. caused D. created
21.ăIăjustătookăită______ăthatăhe’dăalwaysăbeăavailable.
A. into consideration B. easy
C. into account D. for granted
22. I accidentally______ Mike when I was crossing a street downtown yesterday.
A. kept an eye on B. lost touch with C. paid attention to D. caught sight of
23. If you want a flat in the center of the city you have to pay through the______ for it.
A. teeth B. back of your head C. nose D. arm
24. Thoseăsmartăphonesăareăsellingălike_____.ăIfăyouăwantăone,ăyou’dăbetterăbuyăoneănowă beforeăthey’reăallăgone.
A. shooting stars B. fresh bread
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C. hot cakes D. wild oats
25. She was so frightened that she was shaking like ______.
A. a leaf B. the wind C. a flag D. jelly
26. Peter was born and brought up in Hastings and knows it like the _____.
A. nose on his face B. tip of the tongue C. back of his hand D. hair on his head
27.ăWhat’săwrongăwithăyouătoday?ăDidăyouăgetăoutăofăbedăonătheăwrong ______?
A. end B. foot C. side D. edge
28.ăI’veăneverăenjoyedăgoingătoătheăballetăorătheăopera;ăthey’reănotăreallyămy______.
A. piece of cake B. chip off the old block
C. biscuit D. cup of tea
29.ă “What’să wrongă withă Tomă today?ă He’să unusuallyă quiet,”ă “He’să gotă somethingă onă hisă ______.ăIăexpect”.
A. brain B. mind C. thoughts D. brow
30. He was wearing very shabby, dirty clothes and looked very______.
A. easy- going B. down to earth C. out of shape D. down at heel 31. Since he started his own business he has been making money hand over______.
A. fist B. heel C. head D. palm
32.ăIăcan’tăseeăusăbeatingăthemăatătennisăthisăyear- we’reăsoăoutăof______.
A. step B. practice C. fitness D. breath
II. Complete the sentences with one of the words given below (Some may not be used).
mood new high out way moon
killed boat big fresh earth clue
1.ăDon’tătalkătoăher.ăSheăisăinăaăbadă______ătoday.
2. We have very little contact with each other. We see each other once in a blue ______.
3. One day I hope to be a ______ flyer and make tons of money.
4. I have been an accountant for 20 years now, so I know my job inside ______.
5.ăInăhighăschool,ăIăknewăaălotăaboutăMath,ăbutăIădidn’tăhaveăaă______ăaboutăgeography.
6. After a good night's sleep I'll be as ______ as a daisy.
7. Peter brought the kids to the supermarket and went shopping. He ______ two birds with one stone.
8. None of us have any money, so we are in the same ______.
LEVEL B2
I. Choose A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
1. My new colleague is quite a rough ______ but I think we can cooperate well on our assigned projects.
A. stone B. rock C. diamond D. ruby 2. You would understand my feelings of betrayal if you were in my ______.
A. shoes B. shirt C. socks D. pants
3. He is not the type who can stay one place for long. He always gets ______ feet and starts a new journey again.
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A. chilly B. itchy C. painful D. shaky 4. It is pointless to persuade him - a ______ can't change its spots.
A. tiger B. lion C. leopard D. wolf
5.ăIăhaven’tăseenămyăoldăprimaryăteachersăină______ăyearsăậ I wonder how she has been.
A. donkey’săăăăă ɒ.ămonkey’săăăăă C.ărooster’săăăăăă D.ăpigeon’s 6. Just grab a green tea biscuit. It is ______.
A. on the house B. on the shelf C. off the record D. in public 7. I caught the last train to my hometown by the skin of my ______.
A. arm B. neck C. nose D. teeth 8. All of these assignments have tired me out; let's ______ and grab some cold drinks.
A. make up our mind B. call it a day
C. get back to the drawing board D. burn the midnight oil
9. The situations have been bad lately, Peter, but keep your ______ up; things will soon clear up.
A. chin B. head C. nose D. mind
10. Those lipsticks are selling like ______ since many fans want to the products that their idols endorse.
A. burning pancakes B. fresh shrimps C. hot cakes D. morning coffee
11.ăSheăhasn’tăbeenăinătrafficăaccidentăyetăbutăshe’săhadăaănumberăofă______ăshaves.
A. narrow B. small C. close D. low
12.ăMyăbrotherăcan’tăkeepăhisăhandsăoffătheăbroom.ăHeăalwaysăthinksăhisăroomăisăuncleanăậ he really has ______ in his bonnet about it.
A. a butterfly B. a bee C. a fly D. an ant 13. My father has a quick temper and easily ______ off the handle.
A. walks B. rockets C. runs D. flies
14. I was about to go to the concerts in Seoul all by myself, but at the last minute I ______
and decided to stay home.
A. pulled my finger out B. got cold feet
C. hit the roof D. paid through the nose
15. Since he started his own business he has been making money hand over ______.
A. fist B. heel C. arm D. leg 16. My English is progressing by ______.
A. odds and ends B. ends and odds
C. leaps and bounds D. bounds and leaps
17.ăPleaseădon’t______ăităamissăifăIămakeăaăfewăsuggestionsăforăimprovement.
A. assume B. judge C. think D. take
18. For the first time the young scientist was given the award ______ her work with animals.
A. on recognition for B. in recognition with C. in recognition for D. in recognition of
19. His flat looks so ______ that it is difficult to believe he just had a party last night.
A. safe and sound B. sick and tired
C. spick and span D. by and large
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20.ăI’mănotăsurprisedăthatăTomăisăill.ăHe’săbeenă_____ăforăaălongătime.ăItăwasăboundătoăaffectă his health sooner or later.
A. having his cake and eating it B. burning the candle at both ends C. playing with fire D. going to town
21.ăJustă______,ăɒill!ăLet’săthinkăaboutăthisăforăaămomentăbeforeămakingăyourămind.
A. pulled your finger out B. got cold feet C. held your horses D. called it a day
22.ăIădidn’tăsuspectăanythingăatăfirst,ăbutăwhenăIănoticedăher going through the office drawers I began to smell a ______.
A. rat B. pig C. thief D. culprit
23.ăWhenăSarahăwalkedăintoătheăroomăandăgreetedăeveryoneăwithăaăcheeryă‘’hello’’,ăităseemedă as if all the gloom in that place was______.
A. vanished B. ejected C. driven out D. expelled
24. Before she left for Australia she promised her parents that she would drop them______ at least once a month.
A. a note B. a word C. the news D. a line
25.ă “Whată I’veă gotă toă sayă toă youă nowă isă strictly______ă and most certainly not for publication,”ăsaidătheăgovernmentăofficialătoătheăreporter.
A. beside the point B. for the time being
C. by the way D. off the record
II. Complete the sentences with one of the words given below (Some may not be used).
bag blanket table brow
sun mind moon green
1.ăDon’tăbeăaăwetă______ăandădanceăwithăotherăpeople.
2.ăWhenăcomingătoăanăorphanage,ăyouăhaveătoăbearăină______ăthatădon’tămentionăhometown,ă parents.
3. She is born with ______ fingers. She is great with plants.
4. My brother is over the ______ with his new bike.
5. I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Linda let the cat out of the ______.