CHECK YOUR
ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR PHRASAL VERBS AND IDIOMS
IDIOMS AND OTHER
EXPRESSIONS USING ANIMALS
Complete the idioms and other expressions in bold
with an animal, insect, etc, from the box. Many of the animals must be used
more than once. The meaning of each idiom / expression is explained in italics
at the end of each sentence.
bee bird cat chicken dog donkey duck fish fly goat goose hen horse monkey pig rat shark whale
|
1
|
I always thought Laurence was rather
shallow and superficial, but yesterday I saw him reading a book of
Renaissance poetry. He's a bit of a dark _____, isn't he? (someone with a
secret, especially a secret ability, skill or achievement that
surprises you when you discover it)
|
2
|
I'm not going out with you looking like
that. You look like
something that the _____ dragged in! Brush your hair and put on some
clean clothes! (to have a very dirty or untidy appearance)
|
3
|
I live on the 14th floor of a tower
block, so I have a wonderful _____'s-eye view of the town. (a good view of
something from a high position)
|
4
|
How did I know that you were going out
with Lucy? Aha! A
little _____ told me! (an expression used for saying
that you are not going to say who told you something)
|
5
|
It really gets my _____, the way she keeps interrupting all the
time. (to annoy someone)
|
6
|
William didn't get the promotion he
wanted last year, and he's had a _____ in his bonnet about it ever since. (to be very
involved in something that you think is important, in a way that other people
find annoying)
|
7
|
You really let the _____ out of the bag when you
asked Louise what time her party started. She didn't know anything about it.
It was supposed to be a surprise. (to tell someone something that was
supposed to be a secret)
|
8
|
Where have you been? You're soaking
wet! You look like a
drowned _____!
(looking very wet and cold)
|
9
|
Tony! What a surprise! It's wonderful
to see you again. I haven't seen you for _____'s years! (an extremely
long time)
|
10
|
The hotel used to be the best in town,
but since the new manager took over it's really gone to the _____s. (not as good at it was
in the past)
|
11
|
I don't trust Eric when he says he's
working late at the office. To be honest, I smell a _____. (to be suspicious, or to think that
someone is trying to trick you)
|
12
|
That's the third burger you've eaten. I
wish you'd stop making
such a _____ of yourself. (to eat a lot of food)
|
13
|
"Do you think I'll pass my driving
test tomorrow, Julie?" "Sorry, Mark, I don't think you have a _____ in hell's chance."
(to have no chance at all of doing something)
|
14
|
I only started my new job last week,
and I still feel like
a _____ out of water. (to be in a situation that you know nothing about or are not used
to)
|
15
|
"How did you know that Mr Roberts
is going to resign?" "I got it straight from the _____'s mouth." (information
that comes from someone who is directly involved – in this case, from Mr
Roberts)
|
16
|
Have you met our new manager? He really
thinks he's the
_____'s knees! (to think you are very clever and
important)
|
17
|
What do you think of our new English
teacher? Personally I think she's a bit of a cold _____. (someone who is not very friendly)
|
18
|
Antonia is very timid: she wouldn't say boo to a _____. (an expression
used to describe someone who is very quiet and shy)
|
19
|
Why do I always have to do the _____ work?
(boring work that needs a lot of effort but has to be done as part
of a job)
|
20
|
I'd love to be a _____ on the wall when
Debbie tells Mr Roberts what she thinks of him! (to be able to see
what people are doing without them noticing you)
|
21
|
Two weeks before her wedding, Jane went
to a nightclub for her _____
night. (a celebration for a woman who is about to get
married, in which only her women friends take part)
|
22
|
I'm so hungry, I could eat a _____! (an expression
used for saying that you are very hungry)
|
23
|
The bank wouldn't lend me the money, so
I had to go to a loan
_____.
(someone who lends money to people and charges them a very high
rate of interest)
|
24
|
My boss is such a _____bag. I don't
think I can go on working for her much longer. (somebody who is
unpleasant with other people)
|
25
|
I feel really sorry for poor old
Steven: he's so _____pecked.
(criticised and given orders all the time by a wife or female
partner)
|
26
|
It was a very simple job, but I made a _____'s ear of it.
(do something very badly)
|
27
|
I wanted to go to Spain for my holiday,
but just before I left for the airport I lost my passport. As you can
imagine, that really cooked
my _____.
(to cause a lot of problems for someone, or spoil their plans)
|
28
|
I can't help you at the moment, I'm
afraid. I've got
bigger _____ to fry. (to have more important things to
do or think about)
|
29
|
The party was wonderful. We had a _____ of a time.
(to have a lot of fun)
|
30
|
You can tell John that he's a stupid
boring idiot if you like, but I'm afraid it will just be water off a _____'s back. (an
expression used for saying that advice, warnings or insults do not affect
someone)
|
31
|
I've got so many things to do today.
I'm running around
like a headless _____! (trying to do a lot of things quickly without
being sensible or calm about it)
|
32
|
He thinks he's better than us. I wish
he would get off his
high _____.
(stop behaving as if he knows more or is better than anyone else)
|
33
|
Corporate fat _____s have once again been
accused of putting profits before people. (people who receive too
much money for the job they do)
|
34
|
I don't like him, I don't respect him,
and I don't give a
_____'s what he thinks. (to not care about something at
all)
|
35
|
While we're in town doing our shopping,
let's go and see my mother. That way, we can kill two _____s with one stone. (to
achieve two aims with one action)
|
36
|
I've never seen Arnie looking so happy.
He's like a _____
with two tails. (to be very happy because something good
has happened)
|
Note that most of the expressions in this
exercise are informal or very informal.
ANSWER KEY
No comments:
Post a Comment
thank you for visiting my blog and for your nice comments