UNIT 5. PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS

EXERCISE 1. Pick out phraseological units from the sentences below and arrange them in three groups according to the degree of idiomacity: a) phraseological combinations, b) phraseological unities, c) phraseological fusions.

1. The bread and butter of its operation was by far its oldest and simplest offering known as anonymous safe-deposit boxes.

2. Facilities like this had become controversial in the art community because they provided a perfect place for art thieves to hide stolen goods, for years if necessary, until the heat was off.

3. You’ve worked your socks off for the past few years and carved a good niche for yourself in the world.

4. Virgos fear the world will stop if they don’t keep their noses to the grindstone.

5. Keep hope in your heart and keep looking for that rainbow.

6. I’m not very good at small talk.

7. I asked her to keep an eye on my suitcase while I went to the toilet.

8. It’s not a problem in the short term but in the long term we will need to think about it.

9. Hello, Mrs Watson. Do take the weight off your feet.

10. I’m afraid, you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.

11. Don’t poke your nose into my business.

12. I don’t see why you have to take a meal out of everything.

13. Most politicians are on the make. I don’t trust any of them.

14. I think you are barking up the wrong tree.

15. All the promises these politicians make! It’s just pie in the sky.

16.The small amount of money donated is just a drop in the ocean compared with the vast sum we need.

17.I can’t do that job. I’ve got enough on my plate as it is.

18.I wasn’t really sure. It was just a shot in the dark.

19.It’s midnight. Time to hit the sack.

20.This is just kid’s stuff. I want something challenging.

21.She has to wine and dine important clients.

22.Sooner or later, you’ll learn your lesson.

EXERCISE 2. Classify the idioms from the following sentences according to their structure: a) compounds, b) phrases, c) clauses.

1. She’s a bit of an odd-ball.

2. She has a heart of gold.

3. He’s rather a cold fish.

4. My politics are very middle-of the road.

5. Mary seems to be on cloud nine these days.

6. I’m as hungry as a hunter, I could eat a horse.

7. I suddenly felt as if my head was going round.

8. Keep a cool head and take everything as it comes.

9. We need a proper investigation to get to the bottom of things.

10. You should say sorry. It would go a long way.

11. The teachers want one thing, the students want the exact opposite. I’m sure we can find a happy medium.

12. I think he’s just trying to butter me up.

13. She’s a dab-hand at carpentry, just like her father.

14. My work-mates are always talking behind my back.

15. Let’s sit somewhere else. They always talk shop over lunch and it bores me rigid.

16. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

17. One swallow doesn’t make a summer.

18. Hey! Your new friend has become a talking point among the stuff!

19. Mary really has green fingers. Look at those flowers!

20. She’s miles better than the other girls.

EXERCISE 3. Identify the following grammatical phenomena in the phraseological units below: a) synonymy, b) antonymy.

a) as heavy as lead

b) as white as snow

c) as drunk as a lord

d) as light as a feather

e) as sober as a judge

f) as black as night

g) as white as a sheet

h) to have a heart of gold

i) to be as good as gold

j) to be as hard as nails

k) to be a cold fish

l) to be quick off the mark

m) to be a fast worker

n) to be slow off the mark

o) to be a slow-coach

p) to be a big head

q) to be a real know-all

r) to have a face as long as a fiddle

s) to look down in the dumps

EXERCISE 4. Which proverbs on the left are synonymous to the proverbs on the right?

1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the Never judge a book by its cover.

bush.

2. Don’t count your chickens before they Familiarity breeds contempt.

are hatched.

3. All that glitters is not gold. Never look a gift-horse in the

mouth.

4. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Don’t cross your bridges before

you come to them.

EXERCISE 5. Some common names appear in idiomatic expressions. Put each of the following items in its correct place in the sentences below.

peeping Tom smart Alec Jack of all trades

doubting Thomas bobby Tom, Dick or Harry

a) A British policeman is sometimes called a __________. The name comes from Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the first London police force.

b) It is often said of someone who can do many different things that he is a _______.

c) Someone who spies on other people, especially by looking through their windows, is called a _______.

d) Oh, don’t take any notice on him. He thinks he knows everything. He’s just a ________.

e) He’s a real snob. He’s only interested in people who are rich or famous. He won’t talk to any ___________.

f) When the Wright brothers invented the first aeroplane which actually flew, there was many a _________ who said that air-travel would never be commercially successful.

EXERCISE 6. Instructions as above

Keeping up with the Joneses

Robbing Peter to pay Paul

I don’t know him from Adam

Before you could say Jack Robinson

a) No, I’m sure I’ve never met him. He’s complete stranger. Really, _______.

b) The couple next door are very conscious of their social position. They’ve got a new car, a modern kitchen, trendy new clothes. They don’t really need them. They’re just ________.

c) One man insulted another and suddenly, ________, they were involved in a violent fight.

d) It’s ridiculous to borrow from your uncle to settle your debt to your cousin. That’s just __________.

EXERCISE 7. Put the following words into the correct spaces in the sentences below.

sandboy hills sheet new pin

feather knife dust flash

a) I’ve heard that story a hundred times before. It’s as old as the __________.

b) Her children are always beautifully dressed and as clean as a _______.

c) I’m afraid I find ancient history as dry as ________.

d) What’s wrong? Are you ill? You’re as white as a ________.

e) She went on a diet, lost several kilos and now she is as light as a __________.

f) The schoolchildren were very bright. They answered my questions as quick as a ________.

g) He loves cars. When he’s repairing his car, he’s as happy as a ________.

h) He’s very intelligent and quick-thinking. He’s as sharp as a _______.

EXERCISE 8. Put the correct adjectives from the following list into the sentences below.

сool sober good poor

thin deaf drunk fit

a) He was as ________ as a lord.

b) I was as ________ as a judge.

c) He’s as ________ as a church mouse.

d) She remained as ________ as a cucumber.

e) The children were as _______ as gold.

f) He’s as ________ as a rake.

g) He’s as ________ as a post.

EXERCISE 9. Match each of the following common proverbs with the most appropriate situation from the list below.

a) Actions speak louder than words.

b) Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

c) When in Rome, do as the Romans.

d) Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.

e) Blood is thicker than water.

f) Prevention is better than cure.

g) One good turn deserves another.

h) Make hey while the Sun shines.

1. Yes, you’ll probably pass the exam, but don’t depend on it till you hear the result.

2. Make the most out of life while you can, while you’re young and without any big responsibilities.

3. Well, the cassette recorder he gave you may have a few defects, but you shouldn’t complain. It cost you nothing.

4. I’m not impressed by fine speeches. Why doesn’t the government do something?

5. Don’t wait till you’ve got flu. Try not to catch it.

6. If you’re in a foreign country, you should get used to the customs there.

7. I’ll probably lose my job by going there to help him, but he is in trouble and he is my brother.

8. Yes, of course I’ll help you. You lent me a hand last week.

EXERCISE 10. Instructions as above.

a) Nothing venture, nothing gain.

b) It never rains but it pours.

c) Once bitten, twice shy.

d) A bad workman blames his tools.

e) Too many cooks spoil the broth.

f) It’s no use crying over spilt milk.

g) Pride comes before a fall.

h) Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

1. Well, it’s a pity but it’s in the past now and there’s nothing we can do about it.

2. Oh, my God, I’ve got tickets for the wrong day and they ruined my suit at the cleaner’s and my wallet was stolen and I forgot my wife’s birthday!

3. My wife’s spending a week with her parents. I do miss her.

4. I’m not investing my money in that company again. I lost everything last time I did.

5. Ask her out to dinner. If you don’t, you’ll never know if she likes you.

6. He was over-confident. He thought he couldn’t go wrong, but then he got complacent and failed the all-important exam.

7. Do we really need so many of us to do this job? Won’t we get on each other’s way?

8. It’s not my fault I haven’t finished this typing yet. It’s not a very good machine and the stuff I have to copy is very difficult to read.

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