Александра Егурнова - Idioms and Proverbs on Personal Issues. Учебное пособие

3. It’s clear that nobody wants to stay after classes, but lagging behind is much worse. So, you’d better ………….. bear it.

4. As Ivan was sick, his mother didn’t let him go to the theatre with the rest of the class. That’s why he felt ……… dumps.

5. Family occasions and holidays in general made her ………… heart as she had no relatives and was an orphan.

6. Extracurricular activities were a ………….. bore for Jack because he didn’t like spending extra time at school.

7. The process of studying turned out to be very demanding. And Bob was ………….. himself for having taken up violin classes.

3.4 Replace the underlined part of each sentence with an idiom.

1. By her face Paul understood his present was not to her taste.

2. A piece of bad news upset Rose very much .

3. Ron is depressed because the weather’s changing all the time.

4. I don’t want to invite Boris to my birthday party. He’ll ruin all the fun as he’s always unhappy .

5. Mary didn’t like Michael’s look. He told her he was ill .

6. When Laura was on her way to school, she saw her classmate who was the color of a rain cloud . It crossed her mind that something unfortunate had happened to him.

3.5 Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending.

3.6 Correct the mistakes in these idioms.

1. At breakfast I broke my tooth, at lunch I choked, and in the evening I was late for the meeting. All in all, I had a bad hair do.

2. No wonder Tom was black as cloud yesterday; he crashed his dad’s car.

3. I don’t know why, but, every time I share my troubles with my friend, I feel better – misery likes company.

4. Susan is not in mood to talk because she’s just quarreled with her boyfriend.

5. When Peter is down into the dumps, you’d better not bother him.

6. She’s always out of sots on the eve of her birthday.

3.7 Give appropriate and full answers to the following questions.

1. Can you guess when a person is in low spirits? How?

2. What kind of situation is not the end of this world?

3. Under what circumstances do people lose heart?

4. Are there any people who get the blues because of the weather?

5. Which month of the year can put a damper on skiing and snowboarding?

6. Would a piece of bad advice or a piece of good advice knock you for six?

7. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, doesn’t it? Why?

8. Does playing volleyball or dusting the furniture hold no pleasure for you?

9. Will you make a wry face if you hear a sick joke? Why?

10. It is more pain to do nothing than something, isn’t it? Why/ why not?

3.8 Fill in the gaps with the information about you and your environment.

1. It’s sour grapes when ………… say (s) that something isn’t good, but it really is.

2. ………………………….…………….…… is a real misery guts.

3. ……………. kick (s) ……………. for having …………………………

4. When ……………. am (is/are) out of humor, …………….………..

5. ……………. just grin (s) and bear (s) it if ………………. can’t change anything.

6. It’s a frightful bore to ………………………….… for ………………

7. ……………………………… believes that misery loves company.

3.9 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Что случилось? Ты мрачнее тучи.

2. Наконец-то, Вова получил пятерку, но потерял дневник. За радостью горе по пятам ходит.

3. Вчера Мария не спала всю ночь, поэтому сегодня она не в настроении идти на дискотеку.

4. Извини, что не написал тебе раньше. Мне нездоровилось.

5. Все сегодня идет не так: утром проспала и опоздала на работу, днем поругалась с начальником.

6. Хотя я живу бедно и одеваюсь не по моде, но я выиграю этот грант на обучение за рубежом. Лучше пусть все завидуют, чем жалеют.

7. Я была в подавленном настроении, потому что моя учительница сказала, что моя контрольная работа – это что-то с чем-то.

8. Когда Диана видит, что Том работает без энтузиазма над их общим проектом, у нее руки опускаются.

9. Андрей хандрит уже вторую неделю подряд.

10. Его неуместные шутки отбили у меня всякую охоту выходить с ним куда бы то ни было.

11. Билли – бездельник и постоянно твердит, что скучен его день до вечера, коли делать нечего.

12. Помогать бездомным животным ему было не в радость.

13. Перестань плакать, у тебя будет еще много предложений работы. Это не конец света.

3.10 Write a letter to your pen-friend of about 150 words describing some sad event or situation of yours. Find a proper place for at least 3 idioms.

Guess Russian equivalents of the idioms by the pictures given

Other useful idioms and their explanation

Down-to-earth – with no illusions; practical and realistic

Like gold dust – difficult to find or obtain

Out of this world – extremely enjoyable or impressive

Smth goes with a swing – smth is successful and exciting

To be as good as gold – to be of the highest reliability, exemplary in deportment

To be on good terms with smb – to be friendly with smb

To break the ice – to do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a strained situation

To get on with smb – to like and have a friendly relationship with smb

To give smb credit for smth – to acknowledge or praise smb for smth

To have smth in common with smb/ smth – to share interests or characteristics; to resemble one another in specific ways

To have what it takes – to have the necessary qualities for success

To hit the spot – to be exactly what is required

To make the best of smth – to use smth as well as possible

To pay attention to smb/ smth – to take notice of smb/ smth

Proverbs

A hedge between keeps friendship green – с соседями дружи, а тын городи.

All are not friends that speak us fair – в очи льстит, а за глаза костит.

Civility costs nothing – от учтивых слов язык не отсохнет.

Do well and have well – когда хочешь себе добра, то никому не делай зла.

Handsome is as handsome does – не тот хорош, кто лицом пригож, а тот, кто для дела гож.

EXERCISES

4.1 Combine the words from the box below to make seven idioms. Use each word once only.

4.2 Which idioms do the given pictures make you think of?

4.3 Complete each idiom in the following sentences.

1. Martin is a tactful guy who always pays ………….. to other people’s feelings.

2. Alice is our English teacher’s daughter; that’s why mother praises any progress of hers ……………

3. Bill has what ………….. to become a vet. He’s kind and likes to take care of the animals.

4. Tomorrow John is going to have a barbecue at his neighbors’ as he is ………….. terms ………….. them.

5. Good professionals with excellent qualifications and many years’ experience are ………….. dust.

6. Fred should ………….. Mary credit ………….. not snitching on him to parents for breaking his mother’s favorite vase.

7. Troy is very polite, hard-working, and never complains. He is ………….. gold for his employer.

4.4 Rewrite each sentence using the word in brackets.

1. We haven’t spoken to each other for ages; I think it’s high time for me to be the first to make up. (ICE)

2. The atmosphere in this restaurant is absolutely amazing. (OUT)

3. Jeremy didn’t know what to give Jill for her birthday, but, eventually, he made the right choice. (SPOT)

4. Bob believes in practical approach to things; he never gets involved in infeasible activities. (DOWN)

5. We organized a school play with national costumes and spectacular scenery. It was a success. (SWING)

6. Ann and Amanda are both interested in many things, such as shopping, sports, performing arts, and French cuisine. (COMMON)

4.5 Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending.

4.6 Correct the mistakes in these idioms.

1. The works of designers who use organic cotton, bamboo, hemp and soy, as well as reclaimed, recycled and vintage materials were raised to the skies.

2. All the neighbors are ready to help John in any situation because he’s always there for them. Do well and get well.

3. You should give Mark credit on having taken part in that surfing competition instead of you.

4. Ann says very bad things about Sally when the latter is not around. All are not friends that tell us fair.

5. Tom tries to be in good terms with everybody as someday the qualities of being sensitive and tactful will help him to become a diplomat.

6. The chance of having a duplex apartment in the district that offers an array of parades, concerts and events for people of all ages is one in a hundred thousand.

4.7 Give appropriate and full answers to the following questions.

1. What kind of person do we call down-to-earth?

2. Do tests and exams have anything in common? What?

3. Have you ever broken the ice after a quarrel?

4. A hedge between keeps friendship green, doesn’t it?

5. How should people in your country make the best of the natural resources?

6. Which professionals are like gold dust in the world today?

7. Should teachers pay attention to the interests of their students? Why?