B Road idioms that comment on situations

I think the government is on the right/wrong track these days. [thinking or acting rightly/wrongly]

It's an uphill battle/fight/struggle trying to persuade Joe to get a job. [a very difficult task]

That restaurant's really gone downhill lately. [it was good, but is not any longer]

She lives right off the beaten track, but she loves the peace and quiet. [in a very isolated place]

The Conservative Party is at a crossroads. [at a decisive moment in its history]

This job I have now is a complete dead end. [it has no future / no prospects]

I use a bicycle these days to go/get from A to B. [to make simple/typical journeys]

The new hotel has really put the village on the map. [now everybody has heard of the village]

Well, it's almost midnight. We should hit the road. [start our journey (home)]

Road rage is increasing in many countries. [violent incidents resulting from traffic disputes]

?25. Complete each of these idioms.

1. Airlines ...................... me round the .................................. ! You can never get simple information from them when you phone them up.

2. I don't have any extreme views about anything. I'm quite .....................-

.......................-the-........................ .

3. I didn't like her at all, and I hope our......................... never ................ again, to be honest.

4. It's a good idea to change your job every few years. It's very easy to get

stuck .........................a.............................if you're not careful.

5. This video's ............................ up your .............................. . It's all about

how violins are made.

Use the idioms to rewrite the underlined parts of

These sentences.

1. Well, it's been nice talking to you. Maybe we'll see each other again

somewhere.

2. That TV programme about birds is just right for you. You should watch it.

3. Jim is fairly neutral when it comes to environmental issues.

4. The photocopier makes me absolutely crazy. It always breaks down just

when you need it most.

5. I gave up my job and went round the world. I felt I had got into a boring

routine with no prospects for the future.

27. True or false? Tick (^) the correct box. True False

1 If someone lives off the beaten track, they live in the

middle of a city. D D

2 If a street is a dead end, you can't drive down it and out

the other end. D D

3 Road rage is when people get angry and violent because

of problems and arguments while driving. D D

4 If something is an uphill struggle, it's like the pleasant

feeling of travelling up a beautiful hill. D D

5 If someone is on the wrong track, they are dialling a

wrong number on a telephone. D D

— 28. Use the idioms to...

1 ... tell someone it's time to start a journey.

2 ... tell someone that the bus is the easiest way to travel round in your area.

3 ... tell someone not to go to the Imperial Hotel as it's not as good as it used to

be.

4 ... tell someone that you think what they are going to do is the right course of

action.

5 ... tell someone that a new rock music festival has really made your town

famous.

6 ... tell someone that you think your country is at an important and decisive point in its history.

29. Think of idioms connected with roads, paths and tracks in your language. Do any of them match the idioms. If they don't, try to find out the equivalent expression in English.

& 30. Read the idioms and examples connected with boats and sailing.

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 937