Consolidation 13

Question 1

**(be) in sb’s black books **

Answer 1

to be unpopuular with sb

Question 2

(like) a bolt from the blue

Her dismissal came as a bolt from the blue.

Answer 2

a complete surprise

Question 3

a blue film

Answer 3

a pornographic film

Question 4

an old wives’ tale

Answer 4

false belief (use about health)

Question 5

be born yesterday

Answer 5

a long time ago

Question 6

be in the black >< red

The company has managed to stay in the black.

Answer 6

be out of debt

Question 7

be in the pink

Answer 7

be healthy

Question 8

be tickled pink

She was tickled pink to be given the flowers.

Answer 8

be very pleased

Question 9

beat sb black and blue

Answer 9

hit sb repeatedly until bruised

Question 10

blue eyed boy

Answer 10

favourite boy

Question 11

feel/be blue

Answer 11

be depressed

Question 12

go back on one’s word

Answer 12

not to fulfil a promise

Question 13

have/show a yellow streak

Answer 13

be a coward

Question 14

have it both ways

You can’t have it both ways. If you can afford to go out all the time, you can afford to pay off some of your debts.

Answer 14

refuse to make a decision between two pleasant things

Question 15

have words with sb

Answer 15

have an argument

Question 16

have/keep one’s wits about one

They do tough interviews so you’ll need to** have your wits about you**.

Answer 16

be alert and able to deal with difficulties

Question 17

in black and white

I never thought they put it in black and white on the front page.

Answer 17

in writing

Question 18

in deep water

Answer 18

in trouble/difficulty

Question 19

make sb’s day

Answer 19

make sb very happy

Question 20

once in a blue moon

Answer 20

very rarely

Question 21

scream blue/bloody murder

Answer 21

make a lot of fuss

Question 22

see/look at sth through rose-coloured spectacles

Answer 22

see sth from an unrealistically positive point of view

Question 23

the black market

Answer 23

illegal trading of goods

Question 24

the black sheep of the family

Answer 24

a disgraced family member

Question 25

the boys in blue

Answer 25

the police

Question 26

the pot calling the kettle black

Answer 26

accusing sb of a fault one has oneself

Question 27

the year dot/one

I’ve been going there every summer since the year one/dot.

Answer 27

a long time ago

Question 28

until one is blue in the face

Answer 28

as hard/long as one possibly can (usually without success)