Unit 12.1

Question 1

start/set/get the ball rolling

Answer 1

to do something that starts an activity, or to start doing something in order to encourage other people to do the same:
I decided to set the ball rolling and got up to dance.

Question 2

get up to sth

Answer 2

to do something, often something that other people would disapprove of:
She’s been getting up to all sorts of mischief lately.
I wonder what those two got up to yesterday?

Question 3

in the vanguard

Answer 3

a group of people who lead the development of new ideas, or a leading position in the development of something:
He is in the vanguard of economic reform.

Question 4

double-edged

Answer 4

Something that is double-edged acts in two ways, often with one negative and one positive effect:
She paid me the double-edged compliment of saying my work was “excellent for a beginner.”
The government’s programme to grow cash crops for export is a double-edged sword because it has created a local food shortage.

Question 5

layperson

Answer 5

someone who is not an expert in or does not have a detailed knowledge of a particular subject:
Any layperson can sit down at this console and begin doing productive work in minutes.
To the layman these rules may seem unnecessarily complex.

Question 6

for its own sake

Answer 6

If you do something for its own sake, you do it because it is interesting and enjoyable, and not because you have or need to do it:
I believe in education for its own sake, not just to get a good job.

Question 7

hastily

Answer 7

said or done in a hurry, sometimes without the necessary care or thought:
“He looks good for his age. Not that 55 is old,” she added hastily.
Some thought the government acted too hastily.

Question 8

lop sth off

Answer 8

to cut something off in one quick movement:

I’ll need to lop off the lower branches of the tree.

Question 9

padlock

Answer 9

candado

Question 10

shut off (something)

Answer 10

to stop the operation of a machine or system:
Did you shut off the light in the bedroom?
Shut the engine off and take the keys.

Question 11

another/the final nail in the coffin

Answer 11

an event that causes the failure of something that had already started to fail:
Each successive revelation of incompetence is another nail in the chairman’s coffin.
That report drove the final nail in the company’s coffin.

Question 12

leverage

Answer 12

power to influence people and get the results you want:

If the United Nations had more troops in the area, it would have greater leverage.

Question 13

call a spade a spade

Answer 13

to say the truth about something, even if it is not polite or pleasant

Question 14

go down the tubes

Answer 14

to fail completely:

If business doesn’t pick up soon, the company will go down the tubes.

Question 15

weak link

Answer 15

a weak part, especially the weakest part of something:

They’re a fairly good team - their only weak link is a relatively inexperienced goalkeeper.

Question 16

blow a fuse

Answer 16

to become very angry:

When he told her how much it cost, she blew a fuse.

Question 17

strings attached

Answer 17

If something such as an agreement has strings attached, it involves special demands or limits:
Most of these so-called special offers come with strings attached.
They immediately agreed to donate $1,000, no strings attached.

Question 18

get your wires crossed

Answer 18

When people get their wires crossed, they have a different understanding of the same situation:
Somehow we got our wires crossed because I’d written the 23rd in my diary and Jen had the 16th.

Question 19

have shot your bolt

Answer 19

to have already achieved all that you have the power, ability, or strength to do and to be unable to do more:
He started off the game well but seemed to have shot his bolt by half-time.

Question 20

be in/go into high gear

Answer 20

to be or become very active, exciting, or productive:

The movie really goes into high gear when Williams appears on screen.

Question 21

twist/turn the knife (in the wound)

Answer 21

to make someone who is annoyed, worried, or upset feel even worse:
Just to turn the knife a little, he told me he’d seen my old girlfriend with her new man.

Question 22

hit the nail on the head

Answer 22

to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem:

I think Mick hit the nail on the head when he said that what’s lacking in this company is a feeling of confidence.

Question 23

hit/touch a (raw) nerve

Answer 23

to upset someone:

She touched a raw nerve when she mentioned that job he didn’t get.

Question 24

plump

Answer 24

having a pleasantly soft, rounded body or shape:
a nice plump chicken
plump juicy grapes
a child with plump rosy cheeks

Question 25

pull your socks up

Answer 25

to make an effort to improve your work or behaviour because it is not good enough:
He’s going to have to pull his socks up if he wants to stay in the team.