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Idioms & Fixed Phrases
17
Fill in the correct colour(s). Then explain the phrases
formed with the words in bold. Are there similar
phrases in your language?
16
Complete the sentences, using the word in bold.
You must use between two and five words,
including the word given. Do not change the word
in bold.
Key word transformations
1
Sophie goes to the cinema
once in a
..................
moon
. She doesn’t like it much.
2
Jack fell down the stairs and he
is
............
and
............ all over.
3
Angela definitely has .............
fingers
– everything
in her garden grows really well.
4
He
is a bit
.................. – he hasn’t got much
experience in this kind of work.
5
They knew that if she found out the truth it would
hurt her feelings so they told her a
little
............................
lie
.
6
She doesn’t want to say anything until she has seen
the facts
in
.............
and
.............. .
black
green
0
Mildred said it was the best film she had ever seen.
good
Mildred said she
had never seen such a
good
film before.
1
I’ve never seen such a tiny house.
ever
It’s the ........................................................
seen.
2
It’s a long time since he last visited us.
for
He ..............................................................
a long time.
3
It’s a year since he started working here.
been
He ..............................................................
a year now.
4
His new book will be on the market next March.
out
His new book .............................................
next March.
5
Two men forced their way into Sally’s flat last night.
broke
Two men ....................................................
last night.
6
John has a really good relationship with his
parents-in-law.
gets
John .................................................. with
his parents-in-law.
7
A private secretary deals with Dr Williams’
correspondence.
has
Dr Williams ........................................... by
a private secretary.
8
It didn’t rain for six months, so there was a water
shortage.
lack
The water shortage was .............................
rain.
blue
white
18
Underline the correct word, then explain the
phrases.
1
Ian is very active. He is always
out and
about/around
.
2
After the argument they both did their best to
clean/ clear
the air
.
3
I can’t find my keys anywhere – they seem to have
vanished into
thin/delicate
air
.
4
Matt is very determined to buy the cottage. He
won’t
accept/take
no for an answer
.
5
They wanted to build a holiday resort here, but the
owners
of
those
beachfront
cottages
refused/denied
to play ball
.
6
They knew they would have to
drive a
difficult/hard
bargain
if they wanted to buy the
Read the whole sentence, then look at the
key word. Try to work out what the question is
testing (passive, indirect speech, part of speech,
etc). Complete the sentences without changing the
word given. Check that you have written two to
five words.Also check for spelling.
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