Consolidation 11&12

Question 2

(by) trial and error

Answer 2

learning from one’s mistakes

Question 3

be ahead of one’s time

Answer 3

have modern ideas

Question 4

be tickled pink

She was tickled pink to be given flowers.

Answer 4

be really pleased

Question 5

be thick as two short planks

Answer 5

be very stupid

Question 6

come to a standstill

Answer 6

not to progress

Question 7

come to terms with

Answer 7

accept a difficult situation

Question 8

do time

Answer 8

serve a prison sentence

Question 9

for the time being

Answer 9

temporarily

Question 10

in a tick

I’ll be with you** in two ticks**.

Answer 10

shortly; soon

Question 11

in the nick of time

Answer 11

just in time

Question 12

kill time

Answer 12

pass time while waiting for sb/sth

Question 13

lay the table

Answer 13

set the table

Question 14

not be one’s cup of tea

Answer 14

not to suit one’s taste

Question 15

on second thoughts

Answer 15

having changed one’s mind

Question 16

out of turn

Answer 16

not in the correct order/time

Question 17

play truant -> truancy

Answer 17

stay away from school without good reason

Question 17

paint the town red

I’m ready to** paint the town red** with a few of my closest friends

Answer 17

have a lonely time

Question 17

put two and two together

Answer 17

arrive at the truth by looking at facts

Question 18

red tape

Answer 18

unnecessary bureaucracy

Question 19

take one’s time

Answer 19

not to hurry

Question 20

through thick and thin

In marriage, you have to stick together through thick and thin.

Answer 20

whatever happens

Question 21

touch and go

She’s fine now, but it was touch-and-go for a while.

Answer 21

with uncertain result

Question 22

be all very well

It’s** all very well** for you to say it doesn’t matter, but I’ve put a lot of work into this and I want it to be a success.

Answer 22

appear satisfactory but in fact not be

Question 23

be on the up and up

Answer 23

improve steadily

Question 24

be up and about/around

Answer 24

have recovered from an illness

Question 25

drive (sb) up the wall

Answer 25

make sb angry; annoy sb

Question 26

frosty welcome

Answer 26

unfriendly reception

Question 27

get out of bed on the wrong side

Answer 27

be in a bad mood

Question 28

get wind of

Answer 28

receive information about sth indirectly

Question 29

give vent to

She gave full vent to her feelings in a violent outburst.

Answer 29

express sth freely

Question 30

give way to

He refused to give way on any of the points

Answer 30

give in; yield

Question 31

hold water

Her alibi just didn’t hold water.

Answer 31

be able to be proved true

Question 32

make a flying visit

Answer 32

make a quick trip

Question 33

make waves

It’s not a good idea to start making waves in a new job.

Answer 33

cause trouble

Question 34

no/little wonder

Answer 34

not surprising

Question 35

quick/slow on the uptake

Answer 35

quick/slow to understand

Question 36

set in one’s ways

Answer 36

fixed in one’s habits

Question 37

speak volumes

His achievement speaks volumes for his determination.

Answer 37

be strong evidence of sb’s merits, etc.

Question 38

under the weather

Answer 38

depressed; unwell

Question 39

up and coming

up-and-coming young actors

Answer 39

likely to be successful

Question 40

wet behind the ears

He’s a nice young fellow but a bit wet behind the ears.

Answer 40

inexperienced

Question 40

ups and downs

Answer 40

alternate good and bad luck