When Charlotte goes out, I _____ an eye on her dog. (watch over)

I’ve got a lot of studying to do for the exams but I will ______ my chin up. (stay positive)

After school events, Tim and Dave often______a hand with tidying up. (help out)

I should _____ you on the back for all your hard work. (praise)

I know he seems like a nice boy, but a word in your _______ – I’ve heard he’s not trustworthy. (a piece of advice)

Come on, then. Spill the _____ about what happened at school yesterday. (tell a secret)

My parents talk so much at the dinner table, I can’t get a word in ________ most nights! (have difficulty taking part in a conversation)

She talks nineteen to the ______ – I can’t keep up with her! (speaks very fast)

Match the idiom to the correct meaning

Mind your Ps and Qs

Match to idiom to the correct meaning

You've got the wrong end of the stick!

Match the idiom to the correct explanation

Don't sugar the pill

Match the idiom to the correct explanation

She’s giving me the cold shoulder.

Match the idiom to the correct explanation

I don’t mean to rub salt in the wound.

The British have a ______ upper lip.

You have to look at the big ________ instead of concentrating on the details. (the main facts in a situation)

Ben is the director, but it’s his assistant who really runs the _________ . (is in charge)

We’ve put our suitcases in the car and locked the front door, so let’s get this show on the ________ . (begin sth that has been arranged)

Print literature has stood the _______ of time. (existed for a long time)

I can’t use my laptop as it bit the ______ . (broke down)

Interactive fiction is a far _____ from print novels. (very different to)

Gemma used a state-of-the- ________ computer to create her hypertext novel. (very up-to-date)

Connor is new to the ______ of generative poetry. (inexperienced at)

When Michael Joyce wrote hypertext fiction in 1987, he was ahead of his _____ . (had ideas that others didn’t)

Without a sound alibi, the suspect didn’t have a ______ to stand on. (couldn’t prove anything)

The officer opened a can of _______ when he started investigating the crime. (caused a lot of problems)

The suspects were on the _____ for months before the police arrested them. (avoided being caught)

He couldn’t deny it, the police caught him _____ -handed. (found him while he was committing a crime)

At night, the city comes _____ as all the cafés and restaurants open. (gets/becomes lively)

New York is the perfect cosmopolitan city for a ______ vulture. (sb who enjoys arts/theatre/music)

I loved the hustle and ______ of the street markets in Paris. (energetic environment)

A city break to London is right up Ana’s ______ . (perfect for sb)

Margaret was told she was a bit long in the ______ to start a new career. (too old)

Those that live on the _______ are less likely to go to university. (are very poor)

Debbie was being paid ______ compared to the men at her office. (paid very little money)

The teacher told the children to never judge a _______ by its cover. (judge people based on their appearance)

Regarding our society, I believe that variety is the _____ of life. (differences make life interesting)

When fighting against discrimination, actions speak louder than _______ . (what we do is more important than what we say)

The manager’s job will be at ______ if it turns out he was treating an employee unfairly. (at risk of being lost)

There’s a fine ______ between positive action and discrimination. (small but important difference)

Katie is so nice to everyone; she’s full of the _______ of human kindness. (very kind)

When we had a work meeting about equality, the ________ in the room was the gender pay gap. (obvious issue that no one wanted to discuss)

His news article was so important that it was printed above the fold.

The editor decided to run the story even though it was controversial.

The politician refused to go on record during the interview because he was sharing confidential information.

The author’s stories usually have a good press in the local newspapers.

Read my ______ – if you don’t do your homework, you won’t go out with your friends.

My brother often finishes my sentences; it’s as though he can read my ______ .

She said she didn’t mind hosting the book club at her house, but reading between the ______ I think she found it quite stressful.

My best friend can read me like a ______ ; she always knows how I’m feeling just by looking at my face.

He loved the novel so much that he read it from cover to ______ in one day!

My mum used to read us to _____ at night when we were kids.

You should always read the fine _____ before you sign a contract.

In my opinion, that TV tower is a blot on the _________ ; it looks terrible and ruins the view.

I wish you’d seen Sarah’s reaction to the surprise party, her face was a(n) ________ . (angry or surprised)

Your life is a blank ________ ; you’re so young and you have your whole future ahead of you.

Her description of the event was painted with a very broad ________ ; she left out a lot of important details.

I’ve been making clay pots for so many years now that I have it down to a fine _______ .

This computer is a(n) ________ piece – I think it’s time you got a new one!

The project is quite difficult so I suggest we put on our thinking ______ and come up with some useful ideas.

I’ve been racking my ______ all day but I can’t remember the name of the website.

Will you help me with this article? After all, two _____ are better than one.

The only way to finish my research paper in time is to burn the candle at both ____.

I asked Alice and George about it and they both said the same thing. I guess, great _____ think alike.

Chris, I need to pick your _____: which of these two sites is the most useful in your opinion?

The news story sparked interest the moment it hit the _________. (was first broadcast on radio)

The journalist wanted to get the ____ straight before writing the controversial article. (fully understand the details)

The journalist wanted to get the ____ straight before writing the controversial article. (fully understand the details)

After they closed the local park, the company got a lot of bad _____ . (criticism from the media)

To receive news updates _____ off the press, give us your email address. (as soon as they’re available)

They interrupted the film to broadcast a ______ news story about a disaster. (an important news story that interrupts regular broadcasts)

The scientist hit the ____ after making a ground-breaking discovery. (got a lot of attention from the press)

The design of the self-driving car is ______ ahead of its time.

Why is Sally finding it so hard to print that document? It’s not ________ !

Jill and Tony make a good team because they are always on the same __________.

Our funding has been cut, so they’re pulling the ____ on the research project.

If a stranger starts leaving you negative comments, ignore them: don’t feed the _____. (encourage negative Internet activity)

When I was studying abroad, I liked knowing that I could talk to my family at the _____ of button. (very quickly)

When you’re on holiday, please _____ me a line. (contact me)

I didn’t understand your last comment. Please, explain it like I’m ____. (repeat it more simply)

Don’t ____ a fight with him. He doesn’t want to argue. (start an argument)

The news story went _____ after someone uploaded a video of the event.

This article is really well written; the journalist remains neutral and presents both sides of the____.

A journalist raised the _____ on the terrible treatment of animals at that zoo, and now it’s being shut down.

I haven’t heard anything about the cutbacks yet, but I guess that no news is good _____!