Unit 1

Question 1

He has a fairly positive outlook on life.
From the top of the tower, the outlook over the city was breathtaking.

/ˈaʊt.lʊk/

Answer 1

a person’s way of understanding and thinking about something:
what you can see from a particular place:

outlook on

Question 2

A pessimist says the glass is half empty but an optimist says that it is half full.

Answer 2

the glass is half empty

Question 3

people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones

Answer 3

This means that you should not criticize other people for bad qualities in their character that you have yourself.

Question 4

you can’t win ‘em all
you win some, you lose some

Answer 4

something you say that means it is not possible to succeed at everything you do:

Question 5

If you keep on driving like that, it’ll only be a matter of time before you have an accident.

Answer 5

used when you think that something will happen at some point in the near future:

a matter/question of time

Question 6

what are you going to do?

Answer 6

used to say that there is nothing you can do to make a situation better

Question 7

I know he’s annoying, but you shouldn’t let him get to you.
The heat was beginning to get to me so I went indoors.

Answer 7

If someone gets to you, they make you feel upset or angry:
to cause feelings, esp. suffering or disgust, in someone:

get to someone

Question 8

roll with the punches

Answer 8

to be able to deal with a series of difficult situations

Question 9

With their bullets all gone, the soldiers were sitting ducks for the enemy.

/ˌsɪt̬.ɪŋ ˈdʌk/

Answer 9

someone or something that is very easy for an enemy to shoot or attack:

sitting duck

Question 10

Make sure you take an umbrella – I know it’s sunny now, but better safe than sorry.

Answer 10

said when you think it is best not to take risks even when it seems boring or difficult to be careful

better safe than sorry

Question 11

I had spent two months worrying about it and I was glad to get it off my chest.

Answer 11

to tell someone about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty for a long time:

get something off your chest

Question 12

What on earth is going on in there?

Answer 12

used for showing surprise:

what on earth

Question 13

in a little while

Answer 13

as in soon

Question 14

I think I was just tired and I kind of checked out

Spaced out º Zoned out

Answer 14

You weren’t mentally present in the situation. You might not have been following the conversation or activity fully.

Drifted off º Lost focus

Question 15

You look like you just lost your best friend

Answer 15

Do you think he’d mind my going in?

Question 16

The waiter accidentally spilled a drink on you. You can say, “It happens! It’s not worth getting all upset about. I’ll just grab some napkins.”

Answer 16

used to advise someone to calm down and not let something bother them excessively.

It’s not worth getting all upset (informal):

Question 17

“Oh, you’re a sweetheart ,” she said, when I brought her breakfast in bed.

Answer 17

a kind and generous person:

sweetheart

Question 18

He gave his first interview since moving up to the role of chairman.

Answer 18

to get a more important job in a company or organization:

move up

Question 19

That child is a real pain in the neck .

Answer 19

someone or something that is very annoying:

a pain (in the neck)

Question 20

The others had complained that Sarah wasn’t pulling her weight .

Answer 20

to work as hard as other people in a group:

pull your weight

Question 21

Donna was a people person . She was warm, outgoing, and an excellent listener.

Answer 21

someone who is friendly and enjoys meeting and talking to people:

people person

Question 22

The law forbids the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 16

/fɚˈbɪd/

Answer 22

to refuse to allow something, especially officially, or to prevent a particular plan of action by making it impossible:

forbid

Question 23

They had to take out two of his teeth.

Answer 23

to remove something from somewhere:

take something out

Question 24

They’re working around the clock to get it done.

Answer 24

all day and all night without stopping:

around the clock