IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS FOR DESCRIBING CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR PHRASAL VERBS AND IDIOMS

IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS FOR DESCRIBING CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

The words and expressions in the box can all be used informally to describe different kinds of people. Use them to complete sentences 1 – 35. Note that many of the words / expressions have a negative connotation and are not very polite, so you should be careful how you use them!.

anorak         bigmouth         bunny         boiler        busybody         chatterbox                    chinless wonder         clock-watcher        couch potato        crank         creep        daydreamer Don Juan       eager beaver           early bird         golden boy           happy camper                       life and soul of the party        moaning Minnie          pain in the neck            rolling stone      rough diamond          salt of the earth         Scrooge         scrounger          skiver         slave driver     smart Alec         smart cookie         stuffed shirt         tearaway           troublemaker         wallflower         wet blanket         wimp            wolf in sheep's clothing

1	Nobody likes Peter very much because he's so annoying. He's a right __________!
2	Andy is so boring. Did you know that his idea of a perfect day is going to the station to collect train registration numbers? What a / an __________!
3	I know that you don't like your job very much, but I wish you would stop complaining about it all the time. Don't be such a / an __________!
4	Imelda loves working here: she's a real __________.
5	Alan is an excellent and intelligent manager who runs the department well and deals effectively with any problems that come up. Everyone agrees that he's a / an __________.
6	You've been sitting in front of the television for almost four hours. Why don't you turn it off and go for a walk? You're turning into a / an __________.
7	We were having a wonderful evening until Anne joined us. Why does she have to be so negative about everything all the time? She's such a / an __________!
8	Don't be such a /an __________! If you concentrated instead of speaking all the time, you would get more work done.
9	If you want some help, ask Imelda. She's always happy and willing to help out: she's a real __________!
10	I hope Rick comes out with us tonight. He's such good fun, always the __________.
11	Poor Samantha is a bit of a / an __________. She would have much more fun and would get to know more people if she had more confidence.
12	Don is a bit of a / an __________. He never eats vegetables because he thinks they slow down your brain!
13	Don't be such a / an __________! You've only got a small cut on your hand; you haven't lost a whole arm!
14	All the newspapers are writing about Gordon Stapleton. He's the new __________ of English football
15	When Laurence ended his relationship with Mandy, she refused to accept it and started sending him insulting letters. Then one day she went to his house and threw a brick through his window! I never realised she was such a __________!
16	My line manager Mr Burton is a real __________. Yesterday he made us work for six hours without a break, and wouldn't let us leave until 7 o'clock.
17	Maureen is the __________ in this company. She starts work at 7 o'clock, two hours before anyone else arrives.
18	I'm afraid my son has become a bit of a / an __________. He stays out all night with his friends and he never listens to a word I say.
19	All the girls in the office love Daniel, and he loves them right back! He's a regular __________.
20	Mrs Ranscombe is such a /an __________. I wish she would stop interfering in my private life!
21	My boss is a real __________: he pays us peanuts and hasn't given us a pay rise for two years.
22	James is a bit of a / an __________. He never seems to pay attention during his lessons, and doesn't appear to take in anything I say.
23	Martin isn't ill! He's not at work today because he's too lazy to come in, the __________!
24	Michelle never pays for anything when we go out, and just relies on other people. She's such a / an __________.
25	Mike has always been a / an __________. He can never stay in the same place for very long, and he rarely keeps the same job for more than six months.
26	Our new secretary is a / an __________. She doesn't work very hard, and she can't wait for the working day to end.
27	Everyone respects Arthur. He's the __________.
28	I would avoid Christine, if I were you. She's a real __________, and loves to start arguments.
29	When I ask you a question, I want you to give me a short, sensible answer. Don't be a / an __________!
30	Come on, Bill. Relax and enjoy yourself! Don't be such a / an __________.
31	Anthony is always following the boss around, carrying his briefcase and papers, opening doors for him and bringing him cups of coffee. What a __________!
32	Don't ask Tina to keep a secret: she's a real __________.
33	I know that Mr Connor isn't very well spoken and doesn't behave very politely, but he's a pleasant and kind man, a real __________.
34	Mr Kelly seems nice and kind when you first start working for him, but in fact he's a ruthless businessman who will fire you the first time you make a mistake. He's a real __________.
35	Tarquin is a bit of a __________. He has lots of money, but everyone thinks he's weak and stupid.

Note that most of the expressions in this exercise are informal or very informal.

ANSWER KEY