Consolidation 14

Question 1

(fight) like cat and dog

Answer 1

(disagree) violently

Question 3

(like) a bull in a china shop

Answer 3

a very clumsy person

Question 4

(to make) a dog’s breakfast/dinner (of sth)

Answer 4

(to make) a mess (of sth)

Question 5

a bear with a sore head

I should keep out of his way. He’s like a bear with a sore head.

Answer 5

an irritable person

Question 6

a cat in hell’s chance

Answer 6

no chance at all

Question 7

a different kettle of fish

Answer 7

a totally different situation etc. from the one just mentioned

Question 8

a dog’s life

Answer 8

a difficult, hard life

Question 9

a fish out of water

Answer 9

person who feels uncomfortable because he is in unfamiliar surroundings

Question 10

** a night owl**

Answer 10

sb who enjoys the night life

Question 11

a red rag to a bull

Answer 11

action, comment, etc. liable to provoke sb

Question 12

a sitting duck

Its location makes the island a sitting duck for attackers.

Answer 12

an easy target

Question 13

as busy as a (busy) bee

Answer 13

(sb) very busy

Question 14

as the crow flies

Answer 14

in a direct line/by a direct route

Question 15

be in the doghouse

Answer 15

be out of favour, in trouble

Question 16

bought it

Joe finally **bought it **in a plane crash in Tunisia.

Answer 16

got killed

Question 17

cook sb’s goose

Answer 17

make sure of sb’s defeat

Question 18

dog eat dog

Answer 18

ruthless competition, rivalry

Question 19

dog-eared

Answer 19

(of books) with the corners bent and turned down through use

Question 20

donkey work

Answer 20

boring, monotonous work

Question 21

donkey’s years

Answer 21

a long time

Question 22

drink like a fish

Answer 22

drink a lot (of alcohol)

Question 23

go to the dogs | go to hell in a handbasket

This firm’s **gone to hell in a handbasket **since the new management took over.

Answer 23

deteriorate

Question 24

hold one’s horses

Answer 24

wait a moment; restrain oneself

Question 25

kill two birds with one stone

Answer 25

achieve two things with one action

Question 26

let sleeping dogs lie

Answer 26

avoid interfering with a situation that could potentially

Question 27

let the cat out of the bag

I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.

Answer 27

reveal a secret

Question 28

make a pig of oneself

Answer 28

eat/drink to excess

Question 29

no room to swing a cat

Answer 29

no room at all

Question 30

play cat and mouse with sb

Answer 30

keep sb in a state of uncertain expectation treating alternatively cruelly and kindly

Question 31

put the cat among the pigeons

Answer 31

cause trouble

Question 32

swim like a fish

Answer 32

swim well

Question 33

talk the hind legs off a donkey

Answer 33

talk constantly

Question 34

the rat race

Answer 34

the competitive nature of modern urban life

Question 35

until the cows come home

You can talk till the cows come home—you’ll never make me change my mind.

Answer 35

for a long time