Idioms

After going to the zoo, the mall, and the movies, Cassie was sick of bending over backwards to entertain her nieces.

• Cassie was doing very little to entertain her nieces.

• Cassie was making small efforts to entertain her nieces.

• Cassie was trying very hard to entertain her nieces.

• Cassie was not trying at all to entertain her nieces.

Bobby would have been playing ball until the cows came home if it hadn't been for Suzie dragging him home for dinner.

• Bobby was just about to stop playing ball.

• Bobby didn't even want to play ball to begin with.

• Bobby prefers nature to athletics.

• Bobby would have continued playing ball for a long time.

Mr. Johnson was very particular about the arrangement of his classroom, so the thing he hated most was when his students caused a ruckus with their wild horseplay.

• Mr. Johnson disliked when his students pretended to be animals.

• Mr. Johnson disliked when his students played sports.

• Mr. Johnson disliked when his students wrestled around with each other.

• Mr. Johnson disliked when his students made animal noises.

Eric wanted to fix his cousin's computer, but he was already having problems setting up his Aunt's Wi-Fi network and he didn't want to open a whole new can of worms.

• Eric was sick of spending his time helping his family.

• Eric wanted to go fishing instead of working on computers.

• Eric was having difficulties untangling the computer wires.

• Eric was not ready to begin working on a complicated new problem.

Even though Candace already had a new job, she submitted her two week notice and conducted herself in a professional way at her old job because she didn't want to burn bridges.

• Candace didn't want to ruin her positive relationship with her old employer.

• Candace wasn't ready to start her new job.

• Candace was really going to miss her old job.

• Candace was waiting until her last day to rub it in everyone's face that she was leaving.

World renown country western super group The Mountain Boys can sell out an arena at the drop o a hat.

• The Mountain Boys may be able to sell out an arena, but it will take a long time.

• The Mountain Boys can sell out an arena very quickly.

• The Mountain Boys are always willing to perform at charity events.

• The Mountain Boys enforce a dress code at all of their shows.

Vivian expected Craig to sob uncontrollable when she broke up with him; however, Craig kept a stiff upper lip.

• Craig cried even more than Vivian expected.

• Craig cried about as much as Vivian expected.

• Craig cried a little less than Vivian expected.

• Craig did not cry.

Mrs. Robinson expects Cassie and my presentation to be good, but we have been working on it every night for the last week, so we are really going to knock her socks off!

• Cassie and the speaker are not prepared to give a good presentation.

• Cassie and the speaker intend on taking Mrs. Robinson's socks rather than presenting.

• Cassie and the speaker's presentation will far exceed Mrs. Robinson's expectations.

• Cassie and the speaker's presentation will meet Mrs. Robinson's expectations.

Over the summer Brian was really excited about being placed in the advanced math class, but after getting his syllabus on the first day an seeing the workload, he was ready to jump ship.

• He was more excited than ever.

• He wanted to start working on his assignments right away.

• He didn't want to be in the advanced math class anymore.

• He wanted to cause some trouble in the advanced math class.

Keisha got up and stared yelling at Ronnie and threatening him but Ronnie didn't even flinch because he knew that her bark was worse than her bite.

• Ronnie thinks that Keisha will get in trouble for yelling.

• Ronnie thinks Keisha has bad breath.

• Ronnie thinks that Keisha is loud but not dangerous.

• Ronnie thinks that Keisha has a crush on him.