Unit 8

Question 1

last-ditch

Answer 1

used to describle a final attempt to achieve sth, when there is not much hope of succedding

Question 2

last-gasp

Answer 2

done or achieved at the last possible moment

Question 3

cut your losses

Answer 3

stop doing sth that is not successful before the situation becomes even worse

Question 4

loss-leader

Answer 4

an item that a shop sells at a very low price, so that they lose money on it, in order to attract customers

Question 5

loss-making (adj)

Answer 5

(of a company or business) not making a profit; losing money

Question 6

the tip of the iceberg|a drop in the ocean/bucket

Answer 6

only a small part of a much larger problem

Question 7

at the drop of a hat

Answer 7

immediately; without hesitating

Question 8

vanish into thin air

Answer 8

disappear suddenly in a mysterious way

Question 9

out of hand

Answer 9

1) difficult or impossible to control
2) do sth immediately without thinking about it fully

Question 10

out of your hands

Answer 10

no longer your responsibility

Question 11

overplay your hand

Answer 11

fail to achieve success by judging your position to be stronger than it really is

Question 12

not have a hope in hell

Answer 12

have no a chance at all

Question 13

sit tight

Answer 13

stay where you are rather than moving away or changing position

Question 14

chance it

Answer 14

take a risk

Question 15

pick up the pieces

Answer 15

return or to help sb return to a normal situation, particularly after a shock or a disaster

Question 16

pick your way (across, through sth)

Answer 16

walk carefully, choosing the safest, etc. place to put your feet

Question 17

ripe for the picking

Answer 17

offering sb an ideal opportunitu to gain an advantage

Question 18

by the skin of your teeth

Answer 18

only just manage to do sth

Question 19

get under sb’s skin

Answer 19

annoy sb

Question 20

have got sb under your skin

Answer 20

be extremely attracted to sb

Question 21

with your bare hands

Answer 21

without weapons or tools

Question 22

bare-knuckle(d)

Answer 22

(of a boxer or boxing match) without gloves

Question 23

in a tight corner/spot

Answer 23

in a difficult situation

Question 24

deliver/come up with the goods

Answer 24

do what you have promised to do or what people expect or want you to do

Question 25

signed and sealed|signed, sealed and delivered

Answer 25

definite, because all the legal documents have been signed

Question 26

have your back against/to the wall

Answer 26

be in a very difficult and desperate situation

Question 27

off the wall

Answer 27

unusual or slightly crazy

Question 28

up the wall

Answer 28

crazy or angry

Question 29

go to the wall

Answer 29

(of a company or an organisation) fail because lack of money

Question 30

be banging, etc. your head against a brick wall

Answer 30

keep trying to do sth that will never be successful

Question 31

be bouncing off the walls

Answer 31

be so full of energy or so excited that you cannot keep still

Question 32

at the end of your tether/rope

Answer 32

feel that you cannot deal with a difficult situation any more because you are tired, worried, etc.

Question 33

give sb enough rope (to hand themselves)

Answer 33

allow sb freedon to do what they want, especially in the hope that they will make a mistake or look silly

Question 34

on the ropes

Answer 34

very close to being defeated

Question 35

show sb/know/learn the ropes

Answer 35

show sb/know/learn how a particular job should be done

Question 36

throw in the towel

Answer 36

admit that you have been defeated and stop trying