Level 3 idioms – Unit 02

Conversation:

Gary:  My computer crashed, and all my work went down the drain.

Victor:  Join the club.  It’s happened to me many times.  Did you call an expert?  There’s bound to be someone who can help you.

Gary:  As a matter of fact, I tried to find someone, but real experts are few and far between.

Victor:  Well maybe my roommate can help.  He’s an old hand at computers.  I’ll give him a call.

Gary:  That would be nice.  Make a point of telling him my computer’s a Mac.

Victor:  That’s not a problem.  He’s got a Mac too.

Gary:  Also, I don’t want him to think I’m trying to take advantage of him, so it goes without saying that I’ll pay for his time.  For the time being, I think I’ll call it a day.

Victor:  Okay, and I’ll see to it that my roommate calls you soon.

Vocabulary:

crashed:  broke down
expert:  someone who knows a lot about computer
Mac:  an Apple computer

Idioms:

go down the drain                                    be a wasted effort
join the club                                                I and several others have had that experience
bound to                                                        certain to
as a matter of fact                                     actually, in reality
few and far between                                 infrequent, uncommon
an old hand (at)                                         very experienced (at)
make a point of (something)              emphasize (something)
take advantage of                                      use while (someone/thing) is available
it goes without saying                              it is obvious
for the time being                                      for the present
call it a day                                                    stop working for the day
see to                                                                do the necessary work

Notes:

Take advantage of, when followed by a person, is a negative idea, meaning that you get something from the person and don’t give equally in return.  Example:  I took advantage of Paul and bought his guitar for only twenty dollars.  When followed by an object, however, it’s a positive idea.  Example: We’re going to take advantage of the sale and get two for the price of one.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

Quiz: Level 3 idioms 02 - True/False exercise

  1. Question 1 of 12

    1.

    If I ask you to join the club, then I know what you experienced.

    • Nice!

    • Wrong

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  2. Question 2 of 12

    2.

    Most people who drive for twelve straight hours are bound to be tired.

    • You got it!

    • Sorry. No.

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  3. Question 3 of 12

    3.

    If we call it a day, then it’s time to stop working.

    • Well done!

    • Not it

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  4. Question 4 of 12

    4.

    Students often miss things that teachers make a point of.

    • Way to go!

    • Incorrect

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  5. Question 5 of 12

    5.

    It’s easy to find a good babysitter because they are few and far between.

    • Right!

    • Not right

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  6. Question 6 of 12

    6.

    The words ‘as a matter of fact’ precede something true.

    • Sweet!

    • Afraid not

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  7. Question 7 of 12

    7.

    If I take advantage of a sale, then I don’t spend so much money.

    • That’s it!

    • That’s wrong

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  8. Question 8 of 12

    8.

    Something that goes without saying should be said anyway.

    • Right you are!

    • Wrong answer

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  9. Question 9 of 12

    9.

    If he’s an old hand at horseback riding, then he’s too old to ride a horse.

    • Excellent!

    • Not good

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  10. Question 10 of 12

    10.

    If someone asks me to see to something, I have to look at it for a long time.

    • You’re right!

    • That’s not right

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  11. Question 11 of 12

    11.

    Because of a power shortage, for the time being we should use more electricity.

    • Good job!

    • Sorry. Not right.

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  12. Question 12 of 12

    12.

    If my computer crashes, my work could all go down the drain.

    • Nicely done!

    • Too bad

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Your Score:  

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Quiz: Level 3 idioms - Unit 02 - exercise

  1. Question 1 of 12

    1.

    John is not an average student. __________________ he got an A on his last test.

    • Nice job!

    • Not right

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  2. Question 2 of 12

    2.

    She __________________ his kindness and borrowed his car without telling him.

    • Good!

    • Not good

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  3. Question 3 of 12

    3.

    Don’t worry about your car. Joe is __________________ repairing engines.

    • Yes. Right!

    • No. Wrong

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  4. Question 4 of 12

    4.

    Professor Mann didn’t accept your late paper. __________________; he didn’t accept mine either.

    • Way to go!

    • Afraid not

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  5. Question 5 of 12

    5.

    The fact that Peter is a handsome man __________________, but he has some bad habits that bother me.

    • Sweet!

    • That’s not it

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  6. Question 6 of 12

    6.

    After driving all day, he’s __________________ tired.

    • Well done!

    • Sorry. No

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  7. Question 7 of 12

    7.

    Would you please __________________ booking a room for the union president?

    • Excellent!

    • No good

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  8. Question 8 of 12

    8.

    If you drive through the desert, keep a full tank of gas because gas stations are __________________.

    • Nicely done!

    • You missed it

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  9. Question 9 of 12

    9.

    All my renovation work __________________ when the basement flooded.

    • Good for you!

    • Incorrect

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  10. Question 10 of 12

    10.

    I may need your help later, but __________________ I can do it myself.

    • Terrific!

    • Not right

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  11. Question 11 of 12

    11.

    We’ve been working for ten hours, so I think we should __________________.

    • That’s it!

    • That’s not it

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  12. Question 12 of 12

    12.

    The instructor __________________ telling us that dictionaries could not be used for in-class essays.

    • Bravo!

    • Afraid not

    << BACKNEXT >>Check My Answer!

Your Score:  

Your Ranking:  

Quiz: Level 3 idioms - Units 01-02 - exercise

  1. Question 1 of 20

    1.

    This meal is ________________ the last one you made. What went wrong?

    • That’s correct!

    • Sorry. That’s incorrect

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  2. Question 2 of 20

    2.

    Our movie doesn’t start for half an hour, so ________________ let’s play cards.

    • Way to go!

    • Not right

    << BACKNEXT >>Check My Answer!
  3. Question 3 of 20

    3.

    I’ve tasted better nachos. These are just ________________.

    • Excellent!

    • Incorrect

    << BACKNEXT >>Check My Answer!
  4. Question 4 of 20

    4.

    We ________________ her generosity and stayed the night at her house.

    • Well done!

    • Nice try but wrong

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  5. Question 5 of 20

    5.

    I know a little about construction, but I’m ________________ an expert.

    • Yes. Right!

    • No. Not right

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  6. Question 6 of 20

    6.

    There are a few programmers who can solve this problem, but they’re ________________.

    • Nice!

    • Afraid not

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  7. Question 7 of 20

    7.

    I spilled coffee on my computer and all my work ________________.

    • Bravo!

    • No good

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  8. Question 8 of 20

    8.

    Everyone was full, but no one could ________________ the creme brule for dessert.

    • Right you are!

    • You missed it

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  9. Question 9 of 20

    9.

    There are some problems with your writing, but ________________ it’s not bad.

    • Good for you!

    • Not the right answer

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  10. Question 10 of 20

    10.

    I don’t want to go to the grand opening of the new art gallery. I would feel like _________________.

    • Sweet!

    • Sorry. No

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  11. Question 11 of 20

    11.

    The company would like everyone to ________________ for the victims of the earthquake.

    • You’re right!

    • Not it

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  12. Question 12 of 20

    12.

    You should ________________ telling everyone to be on time tomorrow morning.

    • Perfect!

    • That’s not it

    << BACKNEXT >>Check My Answer!
  13. Question 13 of 20

    13.

    It ________________ that I’ll help you move this weekend.

    • Impressive!

    • Nope

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  14. Question 14 of 20

    14.

    I’ll start saving up for a diamond ring. Those things ________________.

    • Right you are!

    • Sorry. Not right

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  15. Question 15 of 20

    15.

    The kids are ________________ excited about Grandpa’s visit this weekend.

    • You got it!

    • No. Not it

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  16. Question 16 of 20

    16.

    He gave some thought to ________________ but decided to start his own business instead.

    • Nicely done!

    • Too bad

    << BACKNEXT >>Check My Answer!
  17. Question 17 of 20

    17.

    She has to hold down two jobs to ________________.

    • Good job!

    • Sorry

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  18. Question 18 of 20

    18.

    They want to find out how their product ________________ the competition.

    • Terrific!

    • Wrong

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  19. Question 19 of 20

    19.

    Let’s finish painting this room, and then we’ll ________________.

    • Great job!

    • Incorrect

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  20. Question 20 of 20

    20.

    He’s ________________ farming. He’s been doing it for forty years.

    • Good answer!

    • Not right

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Your Score:  

Your Ranking:  

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

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