Page 241 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 16: Vocabulary and Usage: Idioms and Idiomatic Phrases and Their Usages

33. To show a clean pair of heels Notes
(i) to admonish (ii) to reject
(iii) to announce (iv) to run away
34. Harp on the same string
(i) to play music (ii) to dwell tediously on the same subject
(iii) to beat someone (iv) to acknowledge
35. Keep a good table
(i) to have artistic taste (ii) to throw a party
(iii) to provide luxurious food (iv) to be extravagant
36. Take up the cudgels
(i) to take notice (ii) to accept a present
(iii) to defend someone vigorously (iv) to accept a challenge
37. Splitting hairs
(i) to be worried (ii) to be venturesome
(iii) to trouble someone (iv) to dispute over petty points
38. A great hand at
(i) to be a good artist (ii) to be an expert
(iii) to be a good player (iv) to be generous
39. To make a pile
(i) to make a fortune (ii) to make a mess
(iii) to be absent-minded (iv) to be corrupt
40. Under someone’s wing
(i) to work under someone (ii) to be under someone’s protection
(iii) to be alert (iv) to be in the army
41. To sow one’s wild oats
(i) to swear (ii) to be at ease
(iii) to engage in youthful excesses (iv) to till the land
42. An olive branch
(i) an offer of peace (ii) an idea
(iii) a lady (iv) a wicked person
43. Not worth a rap
(i) worth nothing (ii) very expensive
(iii) worth a lot (iv) modestly priced
44. In merry pin
(i) perplexed (ii) merry making
(iii) embarrassed (iv) in a merry humour
45. To leap the pale
(i) to throw a bucket
(ii) to get into debt, to spend more than one’s income
(iii) to have much of fear (iv) to become pale
46. To cut the gordian knot .
(i) to perform the opening ceremony (ii) to be present at the opening ceremony
(iii) to solve a difficult problem (iv) to get a sharp cut

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 235