Unit 15: War and conflict

Question 1

a call to arms

Answer 1

a strong request to fight in the army; a strong request to defend something or get ready for a fight about something

Question 2

lay down your arms

Answer 2

stop fighting

Question 3

beat a retreat

Answer 3

go away or back quickly, especially to avoid something unpleasant

Question 4

drop a bombshell

Answer 4

an event or a piece of news which is unexpected and usually unpleasant

Question 5

on the warpath

Answer 5

angry and wanting to fight or punish somebody

Question 6

shoot yourself in the foot

Answer 6

unintentionally do or say sth foolish which made your situation worse

Question 7

shot somebody down in flames

Answer 7

immediately criticised my idea and refused to accept it

Question 8

hang/hold fire

Answer 8

delay making a decision

Question 9

a fighting chance

Answer 9

a small but real possibilty

Question 10

baptism of fire

Answer 10

very difficult first experience of sth

Question 11

run the gauntlet

Answer 11

face a lot of people who were criticising or attacking you

Question 12

battle of wills

Answer 12

conflict between two different, strong desires or intentions

Question 13

join the ranks of

Answer 13

become sb

Question 14

steal a march on sb

Answer 14

get an advantage by acting before sb does