PART I :Animal idioms

For each idiom find the correct meaning

1. The cat is out of the bag. The cat was in the bag It is no longer a secret You no longer put cats inside bags nowadays.

2. Mr Smith is no spring chicken. He doesn't like spring chicken. He isn't young He doesn't look like a chicken.

3. Let sleeping dogs lie. It is dangerous to wake up dogs when they are asleep. Not to bring up matters that may cause problems. He or She might be a lier.

4.She has got other fish to fry. She's got more important matters to attend to. She can cook all sorts of fish. She always fries fish when she cooks.

5. He thinks all his geese are swans. He confuses geese and swans He hardly makes a difference between a goose and a swan. He believes things to be better than they really are.

          PART II : How much do you know about idioms?

For each statement choose R or W

1.All proverbs are idioms. W R

2.Idioms are fixed expressions that cannot be changed. R W

3.All idioms, by definition, are clichés. R W

4. Words with grammatical features can be used idiomatically. W R

5. An idiom is a phrase which has a different meaning from the meaning of its components W R

6. One of the problems for language learners is that idioms are culturally bound. R W

           PART III : Incomplete idioms

For each sentence, read the explanation and choose the one word or phrase that best completes the idiom.

1. You took the black teeth words right out of my mouth. EXPLANATION :You knew what I was going to say.

2. You're bleeding me red white yellow and I can't take anymore. EXPLANATION : You're making me spend all my money on you.

3. It was only a wise sound white lie. EXPLANATION : I didn't tell you the truth but for a good reason.

4. Since he came to Paris, he's been living from top foot hand to mouth. EXPLANATION : Life has been a struggle.

5.I've told you till you're red blue white in the face. EXPLANATION : I've told you endlessly.

6. He can hear the  child cat grass growing. EXPLANATION : Nothing escapes his attention.

7. They're up to the  neck hair ears in debts. EXPLANATION: They are full of debts.

8.He's always got something up his jacket coat sleeve EXPLANATION : always something (idea, plan, information) ready to serve.

9. The shoe's on the other shelf foot box EXPLANATION : Roles have been inverted.