English Idioms and Expressions

1. As usual he left it to the last moment and as a consequence he "missed the boat ".

 (a) didn't take advantage of the situation

 (b) didn't take advantage of the opportunity

 (c) didn't take advantage of the fare

 (d) didn't take advantage of the date

2. I'm sorry to tell you that " you've burnt your boats " now and so you won't be able to go back.

  (a) your current situation cannot be reversed

  (b) your current situation cannot be repeated

 (c) your current situation cannot be retaken

 (d) your current situation cannot be restyled

3. I told her I understood exactly what she was feeling as we were both after all " in the same boat ".

 (a) in a similar case

 (b) in a similar find

 (c) in a similar take

 (d) in a similar situation

4. No matter how smoothly things are running, you can always rely on Charlie to " rock the boat ".

 (a) spoil something (b) spoil anything (c) spoil everything (d) spoil nothing

5. We were all a bit worried about the new manager because we heard that she liked to " run a tight  

  ship ".

 (a) be well organized (b) be well disposed (c) be well received (d) be well placed

6. Although they were a couple well into their 80's everything in their house was always "shipshape".

 (a) very old (b) very neat (c) very fresh (d) very clean

7. Everybody imagined that there was a big romance between the two of them but it turned out they  

    were merely " ships that pass in the night ".

 (a) strangers meeting quietly

 (b) strangers meeting softly

 (c) strangers meeting once

 (d) strangers meeting nightly

8. Sadly it never happened but she was absolutely sure "her ship would come in" one day and she  

  could buy that house in the country.

 (a) she would be famous (b) she would be free (c) she would be happy (d) she would be rich

9. In view of his change in fortune he decided to "push the boat out " and hold a big party.

 (a) spend a lot of money

 (b) spend a lot of time

 (c) spend a lot of effort

 (d) spend a lot of energy

10. Once you've read the instruction book, you'll probably find it's " plain sailing ".

        (a)    accurate (b) active (c) straightforward (d) intelligent

answers

1. (b) didn't take advantage of the opportunity

2. (a) your current situation cannot be reversed

3. (d) in a similar situation

4. (c) spoil everything

5. (a) be well organized

6. (b) very neat

7.(c) strangers meeting once

8.(d) she would be rich

9. (a) spend a lot of money

10. (c) straightforward