Level 3 idioms – Unit 06

Conversation:

Judy: Hey Lana, you’ll never guess what I heard through the grapevine.

Lana: Tell me!

Judy: Do you want the long version, or should I tell it in a nutshell?

Lana: I want all the juicy details.

Judy: Well, Tina has been keeping everyone in the dark, including Tom.  It turns out she’s been cheating on him — with her fitness coach!

Lana: No way! Really?

Judy: Yes. When I heard the news, I called Tom on his cell phone and heard firsthand that he moved out last month.  He told me he had been feeling so good about everything, so Tina’s confession came from out of the blue.

Lana: Well now that the cat’s out of the bag, everyone’s going to have to take sides, you know.  Personally, I’m on her side.  First of all, she’s my oldest friend, and secondly, Tom is a really dull guy.  He never wanted to do the things she liked.  I guess it was only a matter of time before she wanted more out of life.  I can’t hold that against her.

Judy: You know, I just may ask him out.  Good husbands are hard to come by.

Vocabulary:

version:  the story according to someone
juicy:  fascinating, intriguing
confession:  admitting that she had a lover
personally:  what’s true for me
dull:  boring, unexciting

Idioms:

hear through the grapevine                 hear indirectly through other people
in a nutshell                                                   in a very few words
in the dark                                                      not knowing
cheat on (someone)                                  betray one’s spouse by making love to someone else
no way                                                               that’s not possible
hear firsthand (from)                               hear directly (from someone involved)
from out of the blue                                  without warning, unexpectedly
the cat is out of the bag                           something is no longer a secre
take (or choose) sides                               support one person or group in an argument or break-up
a matter of time                                            definitely going to happen in the future
hold that (or it) against (someone)   not forgive (someone)
hard to come by                                            difficult to get

Notes:

From out of the blue can also be out of the blue.  Example:  Out of the blue he told her that he loved her.
The cat is out of the bag is similar to (someone) let the cat out of the bag, but the first one is a condition and the second is an action implying that the person who told the secret should not have done so.  Example:  Peter was wrong to let the cat out of the bag so soon.
Take sides and choose sides have the same meaning.
Hold that against (someone) and hold it against (someone) have the same meaning.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

Quiz: Level 3 idioms - Unit 06 - True/False exercise

  1. Question 1 of 12

    1.

    If you hear something through the grapevine, it may not be true.

    • That’s so right

    • Erroneous

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  2. Question 2 of 12

    2.

    If someone tells you a story in a nutshell, it may take a long time.

    • Wonderful!

    • Mistake

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  3. Question 3 of 12

    3.

    People know what’s happening if they’re in the dark.

    • Impressive!

    • No way

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  4. Question 4 of 12

    4.

    A man who cheats on his wife usually doesn’t tell her.

    • Terrific!

    • No good

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  5. Question 5 of 12

    5.

    If someone responds “no way,” then it’s not acceptable..

    • You got it!

    • Sorry. Not right

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  6. Question 6 of 12

    6.

    If I hear something firsthand, then I’m sure it’s true.

    • Nicely done!

    • No. The person could be lying

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  7. Question 7 of 12

    7.

    If an old friend visits you from out of the blue, then you’re surprised.

    • Great job!

    • You missed it

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  8. Question 8 of 12

    8.

    If your friend tells you a secret and you don’t tell anyone else, then the cat is out of the bag.

    • Good for you!

    • Afraid not

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  9. Question 9 of 12

    9.

    A couple’s friends often take sides if the couple breaks up.

    • Excellent!

    • Not so good

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  10. Question 10 of 12

    10.

    It’s only a matter of time until your ability to speak English gets better.

    • Well done!

    • Sorry. No

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  11. Question 11 of 12

    11.

    If your brother lived nearby but refused to come to your wedding, you would probably not hold it against him.

    • That’s it!

    • Not it

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  12. Question 12 of 12

    12.

    A credit card is hard to come by.

    • Right you are!

    • No. Credit cards are easy to get

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Your Score:  

Your Ranking:  

Quiz: Level 3 idioms - Unit 06 - exercise

  1. Question 1 of 12

    1.

    ________________ am I ever going to that terrible restaurant again.

    • Correct answer!

    • Wrong answer

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  2. Question 2 of 12

    2.

    I know I was late last time, but please don’t ________________.

    • Yes. Right!

    • No. Not right

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  3. Question 3 of 12

    3.

    Her boyfriend left her, so she moved back to her parents’ house, and that’s the story ________________.

    • Nice!

    • Not it

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  4. Question 4 of 12

    4.

    Joe accidently told us he and Christine are getting married this summer, and now ________________.

    • Right you are!

    • Not correct

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  5. Question 5 of 12

    5.

    I would never ________________ my spouse as long as I live.

    • Perfect!

    • No. Wrong

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  6. Question 6 of 12

    6.

    I ________________ Jim that he’s dropping out of school.

    • Well done!

    • Sorry. No

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  7. Question 7 of 12

    7.

    If there’s a civil war here, we’ll all have to ________________.

    • Yes. Right!

    • That’s not it

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  8. Question 8 of 12

    8.

    I ________________ that Mr. Jameson is giving a pop quiz today.

    • Right you are!

    • Afraid not

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  9. Question 9 of 12

    9.

    Many people take courses in computer programing, but good programmers are ________________.

    • Nice job!

    • Not this time

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  10. Question 10 of 12

    10.

    It was hard to keep my roommate ________________ about his surprise birthday party.

    • Nicely done!

    • I think not

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  11. Question 11 of 12

    11.

    If you smoke, it’s only ________________ before your health gets worse.

    • Bravo!

    • Mistake

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  12. Question 12 of 12

    12.

    I hadn’t seen my old friend in years when ________________ he knocked on my door.

    • Way to go!

    • Not right

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Your Score:  

Your Ranking:  

Quiz: Level 3 idioms - Units 05-06 - exercise

  1. Question 1 of 20

    1.

    Joan and Jack are having another argument. I hope they don’t make us ________________.

    • That’s right!

    • That’s not right

    << BACKNEXT >>Check My Answer!
  2. Question 2 of 20

    2.

    I ________________ small talk very much. I like deep conversations.

    • Nicely done!

    • Not good

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

    3.

    He cheated on her and she broke up with him, and that’s the story ________________.

    • Correct!

    • Incorrect

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

    4.

    There are kids who ________________ video games who play for six plus hours a day.

    • Way to go!

    • Not correct

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  5. Question 5 of 20

    5.

    I think ________________ concerning Debra’s surprise birthday party. I think she already knows.

    • Perfect!

    • Incorrect

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  6. Question 6 of 20

    6.

    I ________________ that Julien is dropping out of school. Have you heard anything?

    • Right you are!

    • That’s not it

    << BACKNEXT >>Check My Answer!
  7. Question 7 of 20

    7.

    If you had been ________________, none of this bad stuff would have happened!

    • Good for you!

    • You’re wrong

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  8. Question 8 of 20

    8.

    I think she gets emotional ________________ because she’s pregnant.

    • That’s it!

    • No. Not it

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  9. Question 9 of 20

    9.

    I ________________ that you’d be here. We need to talk.

    • Well done!

    • Nice try but wrong

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  10. Question 10 of 20

    10.

    She must have been ________________ to invite all these people to her small apartment.

    • Yes. Right!

    • That’s incorrect

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  11. Question 11 of 20

    11.

    I don’t know if I can ________________ this camera in time for the wedding.

    • Excellent!

    • Sorry. No

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  12. Question 12 of 20

    12.

    Since I started taking vitamins everyday, I ________________.

    • Good job!

    • Afraid not

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  13. Question 13 of 20

    13.

    I forgot our last anniversary, and she’s been ________________ ever since.

    • Sweet!

    • Not good

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  14. Question 14 of 20

    14.

    If he keeps cheating on her, it’s only ________________ before she finds out.

    • Great!

    • You missed it

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  15. Question 15 of 20

    15.

    Nobody tells me anything around here. I’m always ________________.

    • Nicely done!

    • Far from it

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  16. Question 16 of 20

    16.

    Once you start playing poker, it ________________, and you don’t want to stop.

    • You got it!

    • Nope

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  17. Question 17 of 20

    17.

    When she retired, she ________________ painting, and now she’s quite a famous artist.

    • Bravo!

    • Sorry. Not right

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  18. Question 18 of 20

    18.

    I ________________ my sister that her relationship is in trouble.

    • Terrific!

    • No good

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  19. Question 19 of 20

    19.

    A good and non-expensive car is ________________, but good luck.

    • Impressive!

    • Not this time

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  20. Question 20 of 20

    20.

    I ________________ sports much, except for hiking and skiing.

    • Wonderful!

    • No way

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Your Ranking:  

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

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