Exercise 1: Exam-Format Blanks
Fill in each blank by choosing the right expression. One option in every set is not needed.
Set A
The number of women cyclists in Pudukkottai grew . Their rally the whole town on Women's Day. [took by storm, by leaps and bounds, for dear life]
Answers: by leaps and bounds · took by storm (left over: for dear life)
Set B
Roof had promised his vote to both parties, so matters soon got . When the elders finally picked up the coins, their protest . [out of hand, vanished into thin air, in cold blood]
Answers: out of hand · vanished into thin air (left over: in cold blood)
Set C
In Japan a man's telephone receiver , for nobody listens to his call. In Brazil a pedestrian who steps off the pavement is treated as . [is his castle, fair game, easy going]
Answers: is his castle · fair game (left over: easy going)
Set D
Fatima could not afford a cycle, but she refused to _ cycling. She hired one every evening and, _, thousands of women were doing the same. [give up, before one knows where one is, put up with]
Answers: give up · before one knows where one is (left over: put up with)
Set E
The women had to _ dirty remarks when they began cycling. Arivoli, however, left no stone unturned, and _ thousands of them ride to work. [put up with, to this day, at the eleventh hour]
Answers: put up with · to this day (left over: at the eleventh hour)
Set F
Marcus was a poor teacher once; his sudden wealth was _ for the villagers. They decided to bargain, and the elders were soon _ of the whole deal. [a bolt from the blue, at the wheel, once in a blue moon]
Answers: a bolt from the blue · at the wheel (left over: once in a blue moon)
Exercise 2: Match the Expression with its Meaning
Set 1
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| all and sundry | everyone |
| cut in | to move suddenly in front of another vehicle |
| get into | to develop a particular habit |
| for dear life | as hard or as fast as possible |
| clear cut | definite; easy to identify |
Set 2
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| in a flash | in an instant |
| flesh and blood | one's own family; a real human being |
| stand on one's own feet | be independent |
| to have a brave heart | to be courageous |
| the calm before the storm | a quiet spell before trouble |
Set 3
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| for all one knows | considering how little one knows |
| as things turned out | as it actually happened in the end |
| turn out in one's best | be well-dressed |
| hit out at | attack strongly |
| sweep across | spread quickly over an area |
Exercise 3: Which Expression Fits?
- The cycle dealer was cautious, because __ the visitor was a tax official. → for all he knew
- The learners came to the camp __. → turned out in their best
- The women __ their backwardness by learning to cycle. → hit out at
- Cycling __ the whole district within eighteen months. → swept across
- The elders' anger __ once the extra shillings appeared. → vanished into thin air
- Roof left the booth __ before anyone could question him. → in a flash
Exercise 4: Use the Expression in a Sentence
| Expression | Model sentence |
|---|---|
| to the day | Our college reopened on the fifteenth, to the day as announced. |
| the calm before the storm | The quiet corridor before the results was the calm before the storm. |
| before one knows where one is | Before you know where you are, the exam week will be over. |
| put a spoke in somebody's wheel | A jealous rival tried to put a spoke in his wheel. |
| as things turned out | We feared rain, but as things turned out, the match was played. |
| take to one's heels | The thief took to his heels when the dog barked. |
| in cold blood | The villain in the play kills in cold blood. |
| stand on one's own feet | After her first salary she could stand on her own feet. |
| break the ice | The teacher told a joke to break the ice. |
| leave no stone unturned | The collector left no stone unturned to spread literacy. |
Exercise 5: Correct the Expression
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| The traffic grew by jumps and bounds. | by leaps and bounds |
| He took to his legs when he saw the police. | took to his heels |
| She is my flesh and bone. | flesh and blood |
| The protest vanished into the thin air completely. | vanished into thin air |
| They put a spoke in his cycle. | put a spoke in his wheel |
| Keep your shirt off and stay calm. | keep your shirt on |
| He looks up at his elder brother as a model. | looks up to his elder brother |
| Once in a blue sky she visits us. | Once in a blue moon |
[Exam Tip] — When you revise, cover the meaning column and test yourself from the expression, then cover the expression column and test yourself from the meaning. The exam can ask either way: fill in the blank, or match the columns.