TEST 1

1.What he told me made me very curious to hear the rest of the story

-What he told me whetted my appetite for the rest of the story.

What one’s appetite for something: make someone want something more

Điều gì một người thèm muốn thứ gì đó: khiến ai đó muốn thứ gì đó nhiều hơn

2. I knew the project would not succeed from the start.

- I knew the project was doomed to failure from the start.

Be doomed to failure: be certain to fail Cam chịu thất bại: nhất định thất bại

3. The politician tried to find people who were willing to back his campaign to help the
homeless.

- The politician tried to drum up support for his campaign to help the homeless.

Drum up support for something: to try to get support for something

4. Digging in the garden gives me an outlet for my frustrations.

- Digging in the garden allows me to vent my frustrations

Vent(v): to express a negative emotion in a forceful way.

5.She was miserable when her mother made her give away all her childhood toys.

-She was miserable to have parted with all her childhood toys.

Part with: give something you prefer to keep to somebody else

6. By leaving Mary alone, I am sure she will finish the project on time.

-If Mary is left to her own devices, I am sure she will finish the project on time.

Leave somebody to their own devices: to leave somebody alone to do as they wish, and not

tell them what to do.

7.Martin cannot go higher in his career.

-Martin has reached the pinnacle of his career.

Pinnacle of something: the most important or most successful part of something

8. He suddenly realized that she was never coming back.

Dawn on somebody: if something dawns on you, you begin to realize it.

9. You‘ve been looking miserable all day.

- You’ve done nothing but moon around all day.

Moon around/ about: to spend time doing nothing

10. She‘s only happy when somebody does all her jobs for her.

- She‘s only happy when somebody dances attendance on her.

Dance attendance on somebody: to be with somebody and do things to help and please
them.

11.Ray’s good work record enabled him to get promotion.

- Ray got promotion on the strength of his good work record.

On the strength of something: because somebody has been influenced or persuaded by

12.The company tried unsuccessfully to secure a bank loan.

- The company’s attempts/efforts were to no avail in securing a bank loan.

To little/ no avail: with little or no success

13. They remain close friends despite having had many arguments.

-They haven’t fallen out although they have had many arguments.

Fall out: be no longer friendly with somebody

14.Have you ever thought of changing jobs?

-Has it ever crossed your mind to change jobs?

Cross your mind: to come into your mind

15. I’m sick of that program because I’ve watched it too often.

-I’ve gone off that programbecause I’ve watches it too often.

Go off something: be bored of something

16.A new arrangement over working conditions has been made between the management and
the Union.
 -The management has struck a new deal with the Union over working conditions.

Strike a deal: to make an agreement with somebody

17.We can’t possibly imagine how we are going to afford a new car.

- We haven’t the remotest idea how we are going to afford a new car.

Not have the remotest idea: to not know at all

18. Mike has a more complex personality than you may think.

- Mike has greater depths to him than you may think.

Have greater depths to somebody: someone is more complex than their outlook

19.I don’t understand why she’s been acting in an unfriendly way lately

-I don’t understand why she’s been giving me the cold shoulder lately

Give someone the cold shoulder: be unfriendly with someone

20.Tom teased Alice about her new hairstyle.

- Tom poked fun at Alice’s new hairstyle.

Poke fun at something: make a joke of something

TEST 2
1.They are living in poverty and are worried about being evicted for not being able to pay the
rent.

- They are living from hand to mouth and are worried about being evicted for not being able
to pay the rent.

Live from hand to mouth: to have just enough money and nothing extra

2. Seeing the damage to his car, Jerry became furious.

-Jerry was beside himself with anger when he saw the damage to his car.

Beside oneself with anger: beovercome with anger

3.I happened to see James as he walked past the door.

- I caught a glimpse of James as he walked past the door.

Catch a glimpse of somebody: see something only for a moment

4.You must do anything you can to make the negotiations successful.

Pull out all the stops: to do everything you can to make something successful

5. The government has tried to make the incident seem less serious.

-The government has played down the seriousness of the incident.

Play down: reduce, decrease

6. A cup of tea is the most refreshing drink of all.

-There‘s nothing to match tea as a refreshing drink.

7. Tom didn’t understand the situation and so made a terrible mistake.

-Tom got the wrong end of the stick and so made a terrible mistake.

Get the wrong end of the stick: misunderstand something

8. In my opinion, computers are more trouble than they’re worth.

- In my opinion, computers are more of a hindrance than a help.

9. Since the advertisement, we’ve had more applications than we can deal with.

- Since the advertisement, we’ve been swamped with applications.

Be swamped with: be overwhelmed with

10. Mary was always making Jones the subject of her cruel jokes.

- Jones was always the butt of Mary’s cruel jokes.

Be the butt of something: if you are the butt of jokes or criticism, people often make jokes

about you or criticize you.

11.She was an excellent playwright whose work didn’t get the recognition it deserved.

- She was an excellent playwright who gained little renown for her work.

Gain renown for something: gain reputation for something.

12. There was hardly any movement in the traffic in front of us.

- The traffic inched along in front of us.

13.The community spoke enthusiastically about the recently elected mayor.

- The community sang the recently elected mayor’s praises.

Sing somebody’s praises: speak highly of somebody

14.The subject of productivity bonuses has been mentioned at every management and

workers meeting.

-The subject of productivity bonuses has cropped up at every management and workers

meeting.

Crop up: appear, be mentioned

15.My husband and I had a row about buying a car.

-I had words with my husband about buying a car.

Have words with somebody: have arguments with somebody

16.Rick’s boss says he thinks Rick is doing a wonderful job.

-Rick’s boss is full of praises for Rick.

17. When he made friends in the new place, Ron became less shy and reserved.

- When he made friends in the new place, Ron came out of his shell.

Come out of one’s shell: be open and friendly to others

18.He‘s a pleasant man socially, but he’s a tough businessman.

-He‘s a pleasant man, but drives a hard bargain in business.

Drive a hard bargain: be uncompromising in making a deal

19.The lease on my flat is valid until the end of the year.

-The lease on my flat does not come up for renewal until the end of the year.

20.Mark didn’t get home until just before dawn yesterday.

Small/ early hours: the early hours in the morning (between twelve o'clock at night and the

time when the sun rises)

TEST 3
1.When you lose someone you love, everything else seems pointless

-When you lose someone you love, everything else pales in comparison.

Pale in comparison: not as good as something

2.Before you start working on the projects, first finish doing the minor jobs.

- Before you start working on the projects, first clear the decks.

Clear the decks: solve all the minor problems

3.His latest film is not nearly as good as his earlier ones.

-His latest film is not a patch on his earlier ones.

Be not a patch on something: not as good as something

4. Of all the teams competing in this year’s World Cup, England is in a league of its own.

-England is by far and away the strongest team in the competition.

5.Jack and I obviously think very differently from one another.

-Jack and I are on a different wavelength as you can see.

Be on different wavelength: have different opinions

6. With constant practice, you’ll be a much better pianist than the others.

-If you practice constantly, you’ll be heads and shoulders above other pianists.

Be head and shoulders above someone: be better than someone

7. If you don’t listen to my advice, I will leave you with your problems.
 - If you don’t listen to my advice, I will wash my hands of you and your problems.

Wash one’s hands of something: no longer feel responsible for; no longer willing to help.

8.The police surrounded the entire area and prevented people from entering it while they dusted for
fingerprints.

-The area was cordoned off so that the police could dust for fingerprints.

Be cordoned off: be protected from outsiders

9.Someone undoubtedly told the police that he was going to rob the bank.

-The police must have been tipped off about the robbery.

Be tipped off about something: know something beforehand

10. Had he been a little more penitent, his appeal for mercy would not have been ignored.

-His appeal for mercy would not have fallen on deaf ears had he been a little more penitent.

Fall on deaf ears: be ignored or unnoticed.

11. I panicked when I thought I’d lost the documents.

- I had kittens when I thought I’d lost the documents

Have kittens: panic

12. One day Tim is going to get into trouble with the law.

-One day Tim is going to fall foul of the law.

Fall foul of something: break a rule or law, especially without intending to

13.He is the kind of man who will do anything to crush the competition.

-He is the kind of man who will go to any lengths to crush the competition.

Go to any lengths: do anything possible

14. Why are you looking so unhappy?

-Why have you got such a long face?

15. You lost the game because you failed to give the good answer to the question.

- You lost the game because you missed the mark.

Miss the mark: fail to achieve the intended results.

16. Suddenly, the lights went off.

- Suddenly, the room plunged into darkness.

Plunge into something: to suddenly start doing something enthusiastically (in this sentence,
it means “be filled with darkness”)

17. There were empty lemonade bottles and half-eaten sandwiches all over his floor.

-His floor was strewn with empty lemonade bottles and half-eaten sandwiches

Be strewn with something: containing a lot of something

18. Cars are no longer being produced as a result of the strike.

- Car production has come to a standstill because of the strike.

Come to a standstill: to slow down and finally stop

19. Whenever there is a power cut, we sell a lot of candles.

-Whenever there is a power cut, we doa roaring trade in candles.

Do a roaring trade: to sell a lot of goods very quickly

20. A long, lazy holiday would make you feel very much better.

- A long, lazy holiday would do you a power of good.

Do somebody good: benefit somebody

TEST 4
1.Joe didn’t think it was wrong of him to quit at such short notice.

-Joe had no qualms about quitting at such short notice.

Have no qualms about something: feel no guilt about something

2. She‘s only just started now, but, judging by her recent performance, she should become an
excellent tennis player.

-She has the makings of an excellent tennis player.

Have the makings of something: seem likely to develop into something

3.The needs of the poor should be given more importance than those of the middle classes.

-The needs of the poor should take priority over those of the middle classes.

Take priority over something: be more important than something

4. I made her angry and upset when I said that her novel was amateurish and badly written.

- She didn’t take kindly to the way I described her novel.

Take kindly to something: be willing to accept something

5. The building will be dedicated to the families who are in desperate need of help.

-The building will be dedicated to the families who are on the breadline.

Be on the breadline: be extremely poor

6. Nobody likes him. He will do just anything to win the teacher’s favor.

-He will just do anything to curry favor with the teachers.

Curry favor with somebody: do things to gain support from somebody

7. I felt creeps all over my back when the teacher looked so angrily at me.

- I felt creeps all over my back when the teacher looked daggers at me.

Look daggers at somebody: look angrily at somebody

- Just because I’m his wife he expects me to wait him on hand and foot.

Wait somebody on hand and foot: do everything for somebody

9. Dave does not hesitate to criticize his superiors’ decisions.

-Dave makes no bones about criticizing his superiors’ decisions.

Make no bones about something: do something without hesitation

10. Since I have this argument with William, we haven’t spoken to each other.

-Since I crossed swords with William, we haven’t spoken to each other.

Cross swords with somebody: have arguments with somebody

11. The ministry spoilt our investment plans by changing the tax law.

- The ministry put a spoke in our wheel by changing the tax law.

Put a spoke in somebody’s wheel: spoil somebody’s plans

12. The teacher sent the boy out because he was behaving in a foolish way.

- The teacher sent the boy out because he was playing/ acting the goat.

Act the goat: have foolish behaviors

13. The failed exam has ruined Ann’s chance of becoming a sworn translator.

-The failed exam has put paid to Ann’s chance of becoming a sworn translator.

Put paid to something: to finish or destroy something

14. At your age, you should have learnt to do things for yourself, Holly.

- At your age, you should have learnt to stand on your own two feet, Holly.

Stand on your own two feet: be independent and take care of yourself

15. You will be risking a failure if you entrust this serious task to Malcolm.
 - You will be riding for a fall if you entrust this serious task to Malcolm.

Ride for a fall = Be doomed to failure

16. Could you have a quick look at my essay before I give it in?

- Could you cast an eye over my essay before I give it in?

Cast an eye over something: take care of something

17. Suzy managed to cope with so many problems when she was declared bankrupt.

- Suzy took so many problems in her stride when she was declared bankrupt.

Take something in someone’s stride: somebody handles all the problems on their own.

18. He owes his life to that surgeon.

-He is indebted to that surgeon for saving his life

Be indebted to somebody: owe somebody something

19. There wasn’t a single ticket left for the concert so we couldn’t go.

-The concert was a complete sell-out, so we couldn’t go.

20. The first sign of the disease is blurred vision.

-The onset of the disease is marked by blurred vision.

TEST 5
1. The new rules about school uniforms will apply next year.

- The new rules about school uniforms will be put into force next year.

Be put into force: become mandatory

2.It was blindingly obvious that he knew nothing about the subject.

-It stood out a mile that he knew nothing about the subject.

Stood out a mile: be obvious

- I have so much on my plate at the moment that I can’t take on any extra work.

Have so much on one’s plate: have so many things to do

4.He was given an honorary medal by the military.

- An honorary medal was conferred on him by the military.

Confer something on somebody: give somebody something

5.Sean did all the illustrations for the book but no one acknowledged his work.

- Sean wasn’t given any credit for doing all the illustrations for the book.

Give credit to someone for something: give recognition to someone

6.Susie couldn’t stop crying when her pet rabbit died.

-Susie was in floods of tears when her pet rabbit died.

7. His latest theory is in complete opposition to mainstream thinking.

- His latest theory is flies in the face of mainstream thinking.

Flies in the face: annoying things

8.Sam was really anxious, waiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket team.

- Sam was on tenterhookswaiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket team.

Be on tenterhooks: be extremely nervous

9.The firm went bankrupt after failing to win the contract.

-The firm went into liquidation after failing to win the contract.

Go into liquidation: go bankrupt

10.I burst into laughter when I heard about Harry’s adventure with the bull.

- I split my sides when I heard about Harry’s adventure with the bull.
Split one’s sides: burst into laughter

11.Harvey ordered some new equipment without prior permission.

- Harvey took the liberty of ordering some new equipment.

Take the liberty of something: feel free to do something

12. The BBC produces program to interest all sorts of people.

-All sorts of people are catered for by the BBC.

Cater for somebody: be favorable to somebody

13. The government’s retraining program proved to be unsuccessful due to lack of funds.

- The government’s retraining program metwith failure due to lack of funds.

14. Reality shows on TV are extremely popular at the moment.

- Reality shows on TV are flavor of the month at the moment.

Flavor of the month: be popular at the moment

15.It is believed that the two rival companies have agreed to the merger.

- The two companies are believed to be going through with the merger.

Go through: agree

16. Finally, we reached an agreement by accepting some of our partner’s demands.

- Finally, we met our partner halfway.

Meet someone halfway: to agree to do parts of what someone wants if they do parts of what

you want.

17. It’s not to interfere in other people’s private matters.

- It’s not to poke your nose into other people’s private matters.

Poke nose into something: interfere into something

18. With that comments of yours you did say what was exactly right.
 - With that comments of yours you did hit the nail on the head.

Hit the nail on the head: give the correct answer to something

19. It‘s crucial for us to control the juvenile inmates strictly.

- It’s crucial for us to keep a tight rein on the juvenile inmates.

Keep a tight rein on something: control something strictly

20. Children enjoy unwrapping their Christmas presents.

- Children get a kick out of unwrapping their Christmas presents.

Get a kick out of something: enjoy something

TEST 6
1. That man was so annoying that I hope I never meet him again.

- Such a pain in the neck was that man, I hope I never meet him again.

A pain in the neck: someone or something that is very annoying

2. I cannot accept your dreadful lies any more.

- No longer can I stomach your dreadful lies.

Stomach = bear

3. I had just begun to look through the book when he took it away.

-Hardly had I begun to thumb through the book when he took it away.

Thumb through something: to turn the pages of the books, magazine or a document quickly
and only read a small part of it.

4. You have to obey the rules in this company if you want to get on.

-You have to toe the line if you want to get on in this company.

Toe the line: follow the rules

5. It was hard not to laugh when he sneezed in the middle of the song.

- It was hard keeping a straight face when he sneezed in the middle of the song.
Keep a straight face: to manage to stop yourself from smiling or laughing

6. Take care or he will deceive you.

-He will pull the wool over your eyes if you aren’t careful.

Pull the wool over somebody’s eyes: deceive somebody

7. He‘s usually a good boy, unless his brother encourages him to misbehave.

-If his brother doesn’t egg him on, he‘s usually a good boy.

Egg somebody on: encourage somebody to do bad things

8. If her mother hadn’t held her back, she’d have moved away years ago.

-If it hadn’t been for her mother, she would have spread her wings years ago.

Spread one’s wings: be independent, live on one’s own

9. In his place, I wouldn’t care too much about my reputation.

-If I were him, I wouldn’t give two hoots about my reputation.

Give too hoots about something: care too much about something

10. How could I tell him if I haven’t seen him for months?

- How could I tell him if I haven’t seen hide or hair of him for months?

Hide or hair of somebody: trace of somebody

11. She sent her husband out to buy Bulgarian mushrooms, knowing he wouldn’t find any.

- She sent her husband out on a wild goose chase for Bulgarian mushrooms.

A wild goose chase: a hopeless and foolish pursuit

12. I’m sorry, but I’m not in the mood to discuss this matter right now.

- I’m afraid I’m not in the right frame of mind to discuss this matter right now.

Frame of mind: someone’s mood or the particular way someone thinks or feels about
something

13. Why are you trying to mend something that isn’t broken?

- Why are you monkeying around with something that isn’t broken?

Monkey around: trying to do some foolish things

- Must you dog my footsteps everywhere I go?

Dog somebody’s footsteps: follow somebody

15. We are behind with our mortgage repayments.

-We have fallen into arrears with our mortgage repayments.

Fall into arrears: not be up to date for regular payment.

16. Once dad has made up his mind, he won’t change it.

- Dad won’t budge an inch once he has made up his mind.

Budge an inch: change one’s decision

17. Nigel is so conceited, it’s time someone showed him he‘s not as important as he thinks.

- It’s time someone cut Nigel down to size – he’s so conceited.

Cut someone down to size: let someone know his or her true value

18. We must go back to the beginning and find the error.

- We must go back to square one to find the error.

Square one: the beginning of something

19. There was so much misleading information in the novel, I didn’t guess who the murderer
was.

- There were so many red herrings in the novel, I didn’t guess who the murderer was.

Red herrings: misleading information

20. Tim failed to get into university and he gets very annoyed if it’s mentioned.

- Timothy has got a chip on his shoulder about his failure to get into university.

Get a chip on one’s shoulder: to seem angry all the time because you think you have been
treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people.