TIếng Anh 12 - Idioms and other expressions using colours

Nội dung text: TIếng Anh 12 - Idioms and other expressions using colours

1. 20. I hadn't heard from Jo for almost ten years, so when a letter from her came out of IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING COLOURS the , I was naturally very surprised. Complete the sentences with one of the colours from the box. Each colour can be 21. He would never argue with or contradict his boss. He's far too used to complete or make an idiom or other expression (in bold). Some of the colours 22. Yesterday I had an overdraft of almost £300, but I got paid today, so my bank have to be used more than once. Each idiom is explained in the answer key at the end. account is in the again. Unfortunately I don't think it will stay like that for long! 23. Nobody knew who had been stealing money from the office, until the new salesman black blue brown green grey pink red white yellow was caught -handed opening the safe. 24. I feel terrible this morning because I was out painting the town last night, and 1. Elsa congratulated me on getting the job, but I could tell that secretly she was with didn't go to bed until 3 o'clock. envy. 25. If I were you, I would avoid the boss today. You're in his books after that rude 2. Generally I'm a very calm, relaxed person. But when people are rude to me, I start to comment you made about his wife. see 26. I know he was angry, but I was still shocked at the terrible language he was using. 3. I very rarely see my parents these days. They only come to visit once in a moon. The air was turning ! 4. Everyone in my family is a teacher, but I decided from a young age that I wanted to 27. (At a party): Hello, Anthea. Thanks for coming. Lovely to see you again. Let me get be an actor. I guess I've always been the sheep. you a drink. Glass of ? 5. My wife asked me if I liked her new dress. Well, I thought it was horrible, but of 28. I wouldn't recommend him for a senior position in management: he's still a bit course I told her it looked wonderful. You have to tell a little lie from time to time, 29. When I told Sara that I wanted to go out for a drink with my ex-girlfriend, she didn't don't you? say anything, but she gave me a really look. 6. I hate applying for a new passport. There's so much tape involved. 30. There wasn't much we could do when we discovered that the office had been robbed 7. You can ask me to lend you money until you're in the face, but my answer is still except call the police station and wait for the boys in to arrive. 'No'. 31. What's the matter with you? You've been in a mood all evening. 8. When Maria was attacked in the street, instead of running away she started 32. It's only my parents who are coming to dinner tonight, not the Queen of England! screaming murder until someone came to her help. There's no needmto roll out the carpet. 9. The best way to stay in the is to eat sensibly, take regular exercise, drink in 33. (Complete this sentence with two different colours): I was told that I had got the job moderation and not smoke. at the interview, but I won't be happy until I see it in and 10. I think the new underground railway is a elephant. The city already has a very 34. (Complete this sentence with two different colours): After falling off his bicycle, he efficient bus and tram system. was and all over. 11. Everyone in my department is very happy because the project we've been working on for six months has finally been given the light. 12. There were 200 people in a room designed for only 75. It was like the Hole of Calcutta in there. 13. Your report is full of errors and spelling mistakes. I don't think you were using your matter when you wrote it. 14. You must hear the new album by the American rock group Nuclear Puppy: it's - hot! 15. I had a real -letter day yesterday: my boss gave me a pay rise, I won £60 on the lottery, and my boyfriend took me to my favourite restaurant for dinner. 16. Most of the people in my town are -collar workers. There are very few people working in factories. 17. The company has been doing badly for over two years, and now everyone agrees that it's a financial hole. 18. Nobody in the office likes him very much: he's always -nosing the boss. 19. Your garden looks wonderful. What lovely, healthy plants. You must have fingers! TQT USING IDIOMS WITH COLOURS
2. 19. green. Somebody who has green fingers is very good at making plants and flowers ANSWER KEY grow. In American English you would have a green thumb. 1. green. A person who is green with envy is very jealous (= envious) of the success of 20. blue. When something happens out of the blue, it is sudden and unexpected. If it is a big others. Jealousy / envy is sometimes humorously referred to as the green-eyed monster. We surprise or a big shock, we can say that it is a bolt from the blue. sometimes say that a jealous person has a green streak in them. 21. yellow. A person who is yellow is cowardly (= not very brave). We sometimes say that a 2. red. When someone sees red, they become very angry. We sometimes say that they get cowardly person has a yellow streak in them. the red mist. Something that is likely to make an angry person even more angry can be 22. black. A bank account that is in the black has money in it. When the account is described as a red rag to a bull: "Don't ask Charles why his wife left him; that would be like overdrawn (= less than £0 in it, and the account holder owes money to the bank), we say that showing a red rag to a bull". If you become extremely angry, we can say that you go purple it is in the red. with rage. A person who loses his / her temper can be said to lose their rag, fly off the 23. red. If a person is caught redhanded, he / she is caught doing something wrong (we can handle or blow their top. also say caught in the act). The salesman in this situation is committing a white-collar 3. blue. If something happens once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely. crime: see number 16 above. 4. black. Someone who is described as the black sheep (of the family) is different from the 24. red. When you paint the town red, you enjoy yourself by going to bars and clubs. We other members of his / her family, and is not approved of by other members of the family. can also say that you go out on the town or go out on the razzle. 5. white. If you tell a white lie, you tell someone something that is not true in order to avoid 25. black. If you are in someone's black books, you are in trouble with them because of hurting their feelings. something you have said or done. We can also say that you are in the doghouse (with 6. red. Red tape refers to documents, rules or processes that cause delay. someone): Poor old Bob's in the doghouse with his wife: he forgot their anniversary again. 7. blue. If someone says that you can do something until you're blue in the face, they are 26. blue. When the air is turning blue, someone is swearing (= using very rude words) a lot telling you that there is no point in doing it because you will not be successful (we can also in a loud voice. We can also say that the person who is swearing is turning the air blue. use the expression until the cows come home). 27. red / white. A glass of red / white is an informal, shortened expression for a glass of red 8. blue. If you scream blue murder, you shout very loudly because you are angry, / white wine. frightened or in pain. 28. green. Somebody who is described as green, or a bit green, is not very experienced at 9. pink. If you are in the pink, you are healthy and happy. This is an old-fashioned something, usually because he / she is young. We can also say that they are a bit wet behind expression. the ears. 10. white. A white elephant is something that costs a lot of money and is not very useful. Note that green is also frequently used to talk about the environment, and the protection of 11. green. When somebody gives you the green light, they are giving you their official the environment: a green transport policy, greener farming methods, green campaigners, approval for something to be done. This can also be a verb, to greenlight: "Three directors the Green Party, etc). have greenlighted the project". We can also say give the go-ahead or be given the go- 29. black. When someone gives you a black look, they look at you in a very angry way. ahead. 30. blue. The boys in blue is an informal (and usually friendly) expression for the police (= 12. Black. If a place is described as being like the Black Hole of Calcutta, it is very cops). crowded and uncomfortable (it comes from the informal name of a former prison in the 31. black. If you are in a black mood, you are unhappy or angry and in a bad mood. Indian city of Calcutta, which was so hot and small that many people died there). 32. red. If you roll out the red carpet for somebody, you give them special treatment 13. grey. Your grey matter is your brain. We can also say use your head or use your loaf. because they are important. 14. red. Something that is described as red-hot is very good or very exciting. This can also 33. black and white. Something that is in black and white is written on paper (for example, be used to describe someone who is very popular or successful: A new red-hot American a letter or a contract). Note that we cannot say white and black. Do not confuse this with band. The word white could also be used here. "Black or white?" (an expression that is used when we want to know if someone wants milk 15. red. A red letter day is a very happy or exciting day. in their tea or coffee). 16. white. White-collar workers work in offices rather than doing physical work. People 34. black and blue. Someone who is black and blue (all over) is covered with bruises (= who work in factories, down mines, etc, are called blue-collar workers. dark marks on the skin caused by an accident, or perhaps because they have been hit by 17. black. A black hole, in this context, is a situation in which lots of money is spent someone or something). Note that we cannot say blue and black. without bringing any benefits. We can also say a money pit. 18. brown. If you brown-nose someone who is important or powerful, you try very hard to please them by agreeing with them all the time. This can also be a noun: a brown-noser. It is not a polite expression. A man who always agrees with his boss might be called a yes-man and is always sucking up to his boss. TQT USING IDIOMS WITH COLOURS