Unit 4.2 & 4.3

Question 1

to spear sth

Answer 1

to catch something on the end of a pointed tool or object:

He speared a meatball with his fork.

Question 2

winkle sth/sb out

Answer 2

to get or find something or someone with difficulty:

I managed to winkle the truth out of him eventually. (UK!!!!)

Question 3

spoon-fed

Answer 3

to give someone so much help or information that that person does not need to try himself or herself:
By giving out printed sheets of facts and theories, the teachers spoon-fed us with what we needed for the exam.

Question 4

on a knife edge

Answer 4

in a difficult or worrying situation of which the result is very uncertain:
At the moment the election seems balanced on a knife edge.

Question 5

silver-plated

Answer 5

(of metal) with a thin covering of silver:

On the desk was a solitary photograph in a silver-plated frame.

Question 6

introduce

Answer 6

to speak or write before the beginning of a performance, programme or book and give information about it; to tell an audience about the person who is going to speak, sing, etc. :
The director will introduce the film personally at its premiere.

Question 7

silly

Answer 7

showing little thought or judgment:
Don’t do that, you silly boy!

not important, serious, or practical:
She gets upset over such silly things.

Question 8

carve

Answer 8

to make something by cutting into especially wood or stone, or to cut into the surface of stone, wood, etc.:
This totem pole is carved from/out of a single tree trunk.

Question 9

fastidious

Answer 9

giving too much attention to small details and wanting everything to be correct and perfect:
He is very fastidious about how a suitcase should be packed.

Question 10

craven

Answer 10

extremely cowardly (= not brave):
a craven act of terrorism

Question 11

strive

Answer 11

to try very hard to do something or to make something happen, especially for a long time or against difficulties:
In her writing she strove for a balance between innovation and familiar prose forms.

Question 12

sugar-coated, foil-wrapped

Answer 12

(ya know them)

Question 13

foolproof

Answer 13

(of a plan or machine) so simple and easy to understand that it is unable to go wrong or be used wrongly:
I don’t believe there’s any such thing as a foolproof system for making money.

Question 14

in place

Answer 14

If something is in place, it is in its usual or correct position:
The chairs are all in place.

Question 15

vogue

Answer 15

a fashion or general liking, especially one that is temporary:
In the 1920s, short hair for women became the vogue.

Question 16

ripe for

Answer 16

developed to a suitable condition for something to happen:

The company is ripe for takeover.

Question 17

sweeten the pill

Answer 17

to make something bad seem less unpleasant:

Plans to improve public services are a way of sweetening the pill of increased taxation.

Question 18

put all your eggs in one basket

Answer 18

to depend for your success on a single person or plan of action:
I’m applying for several jobs because I don’t really want to put all my eggs in one basket.

Question 19

have egg on your face

Answer 19

If you have egg on your face, you look stupid because of something that you have done:
This latest scandal has left the government with egg on its face.

Question 20

have bigger fish to fry

Answer 20

to have something more important to do

Question 21

eat crow

Answer 21

After boasting that his company could outperform the industry’s best, he’s been forced to eat crow

Question 22

spill the beans

Answer 22

to tell people secret information:

So who spilled the beans about her affair with David?

Question 23

have sth on your plate

Answer 23

to have something, usually a large amount of important work, to deal with:
She’s got a lot on her plate - especially with two new projects starting this week.
The aid agencies have (more than) enough on their plate without having unnecessary visitors to take care of.

Question 24

sell like hot cakes

Answer 24

to be bought quickly and in large numbers:

With-profits bonds have sold like hot cakes to older people looking for a low-risk, high return for their money.

Question 25

heavenly

Answer 25

giving great pleasure:

It was a good party and the food was heavenly.

Question 26

exquisite

Answer 26

very beautiful and delicate:

an exquisite piece of china