II. Insert the necessary word combination

1. They looked at hundreds of houses; they climbed thou­ sands of stairs; they inspected innumerable kitchens. Ruth was exhausted and more than once____________ (W. S. Maugham)

2. It was in the winter when this happened, very near the

shortest day, and a week of fog ___________, so the fact that

it was still very dark when George woke in the morning was no guide to him as to the time. (Jerome K. Jerome)

3. After that it came out, __________ that we were strang­ers in the neighbourhood, and that we were going away the next morning. (Jerome K. Jerome)

so weak-willed! I felt certain you'd get on ⁴ without me. Shame on you, you lazybones, but now that I'm back again I'll put you right in no time, be sure of that

N. It will be all to the good,⁵ if you do.

B. I remember that Pete and Victor didn't bother to learn all that was required, but you used to say that you had set your mind on mastering English. You had all the words and word combinations at your finger-tips. ⁶

N. Yes, there was a time when that was so. But what's the use crying over spilt milk. As a matter of fact, I did practically nothing during the term. Serves me right!

B. That's you alt over ⁷ — always making a mess of every­thing.

N. Now it's too late to do anything about it, so let them expel me!

B. How do you have the nerve ⁸ to talk such nonsense. You'll make me lose my temper in the end. Isn't it time you learned to take the rough with the smooth. ⁹ Now we must see to it that you get out of this predi­cament. We shall go and speak to the dean about it. I used to get on very nicely with him. By the way, do you think I can get a place in the hostel? I'd like to be in our room again.

N. I'm all for it. Your bed is occupied by a first course student, but he'd prefer to be with the boys from his own course, I think.

B. Let's go and speak to the dean, then.

VOCABULARY NOTES

(1) to keep an eye on — to watch carefully; to look after; to observe (from a distance) so that the party under observa­tion is unaware of being observed

1. There, old Monty and Ma Buggins were always at hand and could keep an eye on her. (K. Prichard)

2. My store in Sharp Town, that does fine because I am there to keep an eye on it. (Gr. Greene)

3. I'd like to know more about her. That girl's got something. Just keep your eye on her. (J. Lindsay)

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(2) in (by) fits and starts — in sudden outbursts of energy, not lasting for a long time

1. Youth only recognizes age by fits and starts. (J. Galsworthy)

2. She told him what it was all about in wry, broken sentences, muddling it up and speaking in fits and starts, but he got the main thread.

(3) to make out — to understand

1. From the bedroom Mary was calling but the noise of the storm was too loud for him to make out what she was saying. (G.Gordon)

2. The provoking thing was that, though they had been about Together and met a number of times and really talked, Bertha couldn't make her out. (K. Mansfield)

3. You are a funny boy, can't make you out at all, Johnny, 1 can't make you out. (A. Coppard)

(4) to get on — (a) to succeed; to rise in life; (b) to make progress, to improve; (c) to get older

to get on with somebody — to like and naturally agree with somebody

1. The uncle had been a hearty drunken old fellow who had wanted his nephew to get on in the world. (J. Lindsay)

2. But Herbert got on very well at school. He was a good work­ er and far from stupid. His reports were excellent. It turned out that he had a good head for figures. (W. S. Maugham)

3. "Hello, Max," he said pleasantly. "You're getting on in years." (M.Wilson)

(5) all to the good — as a balance on the right side; as a profit, beneficial

1. Now you've had industrial experience, that's all to the good. (M.Wilson)

2. Don't be silly, dear! If he chooses to make a public apology for any reason, even such a bad one, isn't it all to the good? (J.Galsworthy)

3. It's just that I think if you can make them rest completely when they first come in it's all to the good. Letter-writing is such a strain. (D. Cusack)

(6) to have something at one's finger-tips (ends) — to be

able to repeat or use without any trouble (generally of some­thing committed to memory); to be very familiar with something

1. He had all the figures, all the facts at his finger-ends. (A. Cronin)

2. "There's no need to despair," she said. "It may turn out very well. You've a good trade at your finger-ends that you learned before ever you thought of the Post Office." (A. Philips)

(7) all over — typical of

1. That was Paddy all over. Sharp as needle and fighting back. (K. Prichard)

2. "That's the men all over, dearie," Mrs. Fogarty exclaimed. (K. Prichard)

3. And that was just like Lally, that was Lally all over: the gas, the nobs of sugar in his tea, the way she... and the... О dear, dear! (A. Coppard)

(8) to have the nerve (cheek, face, guts) to do some­ thing — to put a bold face upon; to act boldly, as if there was nothing to be ashamed of; to dare to do something

1. Men whom he had regarded as friends among the alluvial diggers looked straight through him when they met, spat as he pas­sed, exclaiming contemptuously. Alf never had the nerve to resent it. (K. Prichard)

1. If I'd known, 1 shouldn't have had the cheek to ask you to lunch without him. (J. Galsworthy)

3. At the last moment I found 1 hadn't got the face to carry the child in my arms: I thought of what the street-boys would call out after me. (Jerome K. Jerome)

(9) to take the rough with the smooth — to accept things as they come; be prepared to meet the hardships of life, as well as the easy part; to accept the good as well as the bad

1. What I'm trying to do now is take the rough with the smooth. (K. Amis)

2. But she has to bear with disagreeables and take the rough with the smooth, just like a nurse in a hospital or anyone else. (B. Shaw)

2. A young man running along the platform sees only the tail-lights of the train.

3. A little girl is standing at the door of a provision shop looking helplessly at the broken glass-jar at her feet.

4. A student is crying bitterly at the door of a classroom on which there is chalked an inscription "EXAM".

5. A boy is walking along the street singing at the top of his voice.

6. She is contemplating her face in the looking-glass with an air of sadness.

7. He is speaking over the telephone, his face is beaming.

8. She looks at her little girl, a radiant smile on her face.

9. Two boys are looking through the chink in the fence surrounding an orchard.

10. A hunter is telling his friends about the last hunt. He is evidently boasting of something.

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