Exercises to learn useful everyday idioms in the English language, for ESL lessons.
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Exercise A: Find the Meaning
Dialogue 1
Read the following dialogue:
Kevin: I can make it. I’m out to win!
Ella: You’ll make it Kevin. Just put your best foot forward in all you do.
Kevin: I certainly try. I know life has its ups and downs and hard times to get through, but it’s important to make best of every situation.
Ella: That’s right. And if a plan falls through, we have to try and try again.
Kevin: I don’t give up, Ella, you know that. I’m determined to make out well.
Ella: Why not? Just be on your toes and keep your eyes open. There are opportunities everywhere. You only have to search out and take advantage of them whenever possible.
Kevin: Well, Ella, like you, I’m go-getter, so I’m sure to make it!
Ella: With your confidence and optimism, you will. You’ve already come a long way.
Figure out and write the meaning of the idioms provided below:
- Out to win:
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- To put one’s best foot forward:
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- Ups and downs:
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- To make the best of:
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- To fall through:
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- To give up:
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- On one’s toes
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- To keep one’s eyes open:
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- To search out:
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- To take advantage:
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- Go-getter:
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- To come a long way:
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Dialogue 2
Read the following dialogue:
Aldi: I can’t wait to get going with my new classes at Stanford.
Njel: Neither can I. Which classes did you sign up for? I signed up for Biochemical.
Aldi: I signed up for that, too, and also for a computer technology course.
Njel: Do you think you can handle two courses at the same time?
Aldi: I hope so. I want to make out well in spite of language barrier.
Njel: Then, you’ll just have to put your best foot forward, and give it all you’ve got.
Aldi: That’s right. I want to keep up with the class. I certainly don’t want to fall behind the others.
Njel: Oh, you’ll keep up if you pay attention to the instructors, take notes, and burn the midnight oil.
Aldi: I guess so, but we’ll both have to get used to studying.
Njel: Well, with perseverance and determination, I’m sure we’ll have it made.
Aldi: I think so. I have set my sights on a bright future. We both will definitely out to win.
Njel: Yeah … a bright future for us. Education is the key.
Figure out and write the meaning of the idioms provided below:
- To get going:
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- At the same time:
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- In spite of:
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- To give something all one’s got:
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- To keep up:
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- To fall behind:
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- To take notes:
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- To burn the midnight oil:
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- To have it made:
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- To set one’s sights on:
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Exercise B: Select the Correct Answer
Read the sentences and choose the answer that has the closest meaning to the bold-marked phrase.
That movie was nothing to write home about. The ending left a lot to be desired.
a. amazing
b. terrible
c. nothing special
d. nothing I could understand
a. was interesting
b. was unsatisfying
c. was stupid
d. was what I wanted
Why are you talking about politics? We’re discussing our relationship. What you are saying has no bearing on this conversation.
a. is similar to
b. isn’t interesting to us in
c. has information useful for
d. is completely unrelated to
I saw her cheating on the test, but I didn’t say anything to the teacher, and she got away with it. She got an A and I got a C. I should have said something!
a. did very well on
b. did something bad and wasn’t punished for
c. did badly on
d. was happy about
Jennifer says that Lou quit his job and moved to Italy, but as far as I know, he’s still working for General Motors in Detroit.
a. I don’t think
b. I’m sure
c. the information I have is
d. it’s possible
Many people didn’t like Inception because they didn’t understand it. As far as I’m concerned, however, it was a fascinating movie.
a. for everybody
b. for me
c. because of that
d. I’m worried that
When our kids lose a tooth, they put it under their pillow and during the night we take it and put money in its place. As far as the kids are concerned, it’s the Tooth Fairy.
a. the kids believe is
b. what we say to the kids is
c. we think
d. the kids don’t think that
From my standpoint, Obama is a much better president than Romney would be, but from your point of view, Romney would do better with the economy. This is a bone of contention between us. How can I get through to you that you should vote for Obama? All of Romney’s plans and explanations don’t hold water.
a. What I think is
b. It’s a fact that
c. I don’t believe
d. When I stand up
a. in your opinion
b. you don’t think
c. it’s crazy to say
d. the point of this conversation is
a. a problem for the country
b. nothing to argue about
c. something we can agree on
d. something we disagree about
a. surprise you
b. convince you
c. fight you
d. tell you
a. are great
b. are terrible
c. don’t make sense
d. don’t work in the rain
Look, I was only fifteen minutes late. We can still see the movie. We’re only going to miss the previews, so we’ll still get our money’s worth. Don’t blow this out of proportion. It’s not the end of the world. When you get upset about something small, you really drive me up the wall.
a. get our money back
b. get a good value for our money
c. spend a lot of money
d. work hard
a. make a mistake
b. explode
c. exaggerate
d. make an excuse
a. make me crazy
b. make me happy
c. take me home
d. drive your car
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