Ф Е Д Е РАЛ Ь Н О Е АГ Е Н Т С Т В О П О О БРАЗО В АН И Ю В О РО Н Е Ж С КИ Й Г О С У Д АРС Т В Е Н Н Ы Й У Н И В Е РС И...
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Ф Е Д Е РАЛ Ь Н О Е АГ Е Н Т С Т В О П О О БРАЗО В АН И Ю В О РО Н Е Ж С КИ Й Г О С У Д АРС Т В Е Н Н Ы Й У Н И В Е РС И Т Е Т
Н .А.Маковец кая, О .М.В оевудская П рактикум по лексикологии английского язы ка Ч асть II Ф разеология У чеб ноепособ ие п о сп ец и аль н ост ям : 031201 (022600) -Теори я и м ет оди ка п реп одаван и я и н ост ран н ы хязы ков и куль т ур, 031202 (022900) - П еревод и п ереводоведен и е
В оронеж 2005
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У тверж дено научно-методическим советом ф акультета романо-германской ф илологии П ротокол№ 4 от 17.05.2005 г.
С оставители: Маковец каяН .А., В оевудскаяО .М.
П особ иеподготовлено накаф едреанглийской ф илологии ф акультета романо-германской ф илологии В оронеж ского государственного университета. Рекомендуетсядлястудентовтретьего курса дневного и вечернего отделений ф акультета романо-германской ф илологии.
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Phraseology Exercise 1 . Compare the lexical valency of the correlated words in two languages – Russian and English. Can you give more examples on the analogy? Russian English - вы сокаятрава - long grass - правильны ечерты лиц а - regular features - комнатны ец веты - pot flowers - сильны й дож дь - heavy rain - крепкий чай - strong tea - зелены й лук - spring onions - молодой картоф ель - new potatoes
Exercise 2. a) Give Russian equivalents of the following word combinations. b) State the difference, if any, in the meaning of the adjectives within one group. Knowledge, learning may be: deep, profound, solid, accurate, vast, extensive, encyclopedical. Views, ideas, conceptions, notions may be: one-sided, partial, narrow, confined, superficial. Temper may be: bad, fiery, crooked, irritable. Memory may be: prompt, retentive, tenacious, green, trustworthy, capacious, faithful, correct, exact, ready. Exercise 3. a) Comment on the specific meaning acquired by one and the same adjective when qualifying nouns of different meaning; b) Translate the given word combinations into Russian. 1. Clean copy/ wheat/ timber/ page/ stroke/ figure. Clean: чисты й, неисписанны й, хорош о слож енны й, опрятны й, чистосортны й, ловкий, искусны й, б ез примеси, б ез пороков, etc. 2. Blank silence/ despair/ side/ verse/ wall/ window/ look. Blank: пустой, чисты й, неисписанны й, озадаченны й, смущ енны й, полны й, etc. 3. Big repair/ game/ gun/ noise/ bug/ wig/ Ben/ heart. Big: б ольш ой, крупны й, вы сокий, ш ирокий, важ ны й, значительны й, б лагородны й, etc. 4. Green winter/ wound/ hand/ light/ meat/ cheese. Green: зелены й, незрелы й, сы рой, etc. 5. Intimate friends/ details/ knowledge. Intimate: внутренний, сокровенны й, интимны й, личны й, б лизкий, etc. 6. Common lot/ gender/ land/ man/ soldier/ labour/ manners/ council/ law/ sense/ knowledge/ language/ case. Common: об щ ий, об щ ественны й, простой, б анальны й, etc.
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7. Cold colours/ reason/ snap/ steel/ truth/ scent/ comfort. Cold: холодны й, слаб ы й, неприветливы й, etc. 8. Close friend/ investigation/ translation/ reading/ print/ texture/ contest/ call (Amer.)/ season/ vote/ attack/ column/ defence/ contact/ arrest. Close: закры ты й, уединенны й, замкнуты й, душ ны й, молчаливы й, скры тны й, б лизкий, тщ ательны й, пристальны й, содерж ательны й, плотны й, etc. Exercise 4. Match a verb in column A with an adverb or group of adverbs in column B. Sometimes there is more than one possibility. Write 6-8 sentences to practise some of the collocations adding any necessary words. A B a. rain 1. Peacefully b. breathe 2. Violently, impetuously c. fight 3. Forcefully, convincingly d. explain 4. Heavily e. die 5. Longingly, enviously f. look 6. Clearly, concisely g. argue 7. Courageously h. react 8. Deeply i. behave 9. Thoroughly j. sleep 10. Gently k. whisper 11. Deeply, soundly, fitfully l. stroke 12. Badly, correctly, erratically m. investigate 13. Softly n. listen 14. Carefully o. consider 15. Attentively o. progress 16. Steadily Exercise 5. Match the verbs on the left with the nouns on the right. Which of the verbs can be used with more than one noun? take up develop gain make take go on go for do take in
a holiday self-confidence photos an outing a swim experience sport surroundings a skill plans
Exercise 6. Complete the gaps in the following sentences with one of the collocations above. Make sure that you use the correct form of the verb.
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1. Michael is looking so fit and healthy. He ___________a swim every day since the start of the holiday. 2. ‘Don’t _________ photos of me. Liz is much more photogenic.’ 3. You really should _________ a holiday. It will do wonders for you. 4. People who work for a year between leaving school and going to university tend to _________ self-confidence and become far more aware of the real world. 5. It’s never too late to ________ a new sport such as skiing. 6. Their holiday was a great success. The children __________ numerous outings and visited the best-known landmarks. 7. It’s well worth _________ careful plans before embarking on an activity holiday. 8. Sue ___________ a considerable amount of experience in her two years as a teacher in Italy. Exercise 7. Choose the correct word for each space in sentences 1-12. 1. gentle / polite Paul was very __________ and thanked his hosts for a delicious meal. 2. embarrassed / ashamed When Naima was a student she used to feel ________ of her Asian origins. 3. dependent / dependant Recent work done by the EU found that over 10% of men looked after _______ elderly people. 4. customs / habits The local community actively encourages different ethnic groups to maintain their __________ and religious beliefs. 5. anniversary / birthday The Nixon family always celebrated their son’s ________ with a meal out at MacDonald’s. 6. discussion / quarrel The ___________ was extremely productive and both companies left the meeting feeling positive about the merger. 7. nervous / irritable Beth was so _________ during the interview that she could hardly string two words together. 8. apprehensively / attentively She always listened _____________ to the lecture and took excellent notes. 9. rapturous / ravenous Going swimming on a hot day can be a ___________ experience. 10. fractious / fragile Please take care of this antique photo album, it’s very __________. 11. dramatically / drastically The instructor congratulated Beth for improving her backhand _________
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since the last lesson. 12. feudal / frugal Benjamin Franklin advised readers of Poor Richard’s Almanac to be ________ and industrious. Exercise 8. Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence. 1. The population of the city is _______ rapidly. A expanding B stretching C going out D spreading out 2. The authorities should ______ funds to restore public buildings and monuments. A make B develop C exploit D raise 3. The road _______ are in desperate need of repair. A layers B coatings C crusts D surfaces 4. A number of _________ beautiful buildings have sadly been pulled down. A acutely B considerably C exceptionally D drastically 5. If you pass the Proficiency examination. It will help your future work _______. A hopes B outlooks C prospects D perspectives 6. The international football match was _________by the national anthems. A preceded B proceeded C foreshadowed D foreseen 7. A political system that requires total obedience to those in power is called ____. A authoritative B authoritarian C authentic D authorised 8. The political, economic and social system in the USA is ___________ the individual person’s aim to own property. A fixed on B directed by C based upon D placed upon 9. He tried to ________ he would pass the exam by cheating. A assure B empower C ensure D enable 10. Aristocratic children are generally more ________ . A self-esteemed B self-assured C self-insured D self-estimated 11. If you live alone in a big city, you might have a sense of __________. A insulation B isolation C insularity D intrusion 12. Everything the Royal Family has is due to a(n) _________ of birth. A chance B opportunity C privilege C accident 13. Before the first public performance, the play was ______ for five weeks. A repeated B practised C rehearsed D put on 14. Gourmets are _______ about the food they eat. A special B particular C painful D delicate 15. In a state of extreme depression, he did ________ himself. A away with B down with C off with D over with 16. He’s an expect _________ that subject. A on B about C for D with
Exercise 9. Choose words from the following box and put them in the correct form in the sentences below.
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Stir, flutter, drift, flow, sail, sway, shoot, swerve, dawdle, crawl, tear, trundle, plod, rush. 1. The trees … back and forth as the gale grew fiercer. 2. The leaves … in the light breeze. 3. The traffic … along because of the roadworks. 4. While clouds … across the sky. 5. The car … to avoid a dog which had run into the road. 6. The flag … in the wind. 7. We'll be late! Stop … ! 8. The train … just along at about 30 miles per hour. 9. Suddenly a car came round the bend and … along the road at high speed. Seconds later, a police car … past after it. 10. Everyone … to get their shopping done before closing time. 11. The most famous river in France is the Seine. It … through the capital city. 12. The cruise-liner is leaving tomorrow. It … at dawn. Exercise 10. What other things do you think could be described by each verb apart from the given contexts? sway: a tree, … crawl: traffic,… shoot: a car, … flutter: a flag,… drift: a cloud, … Exercise 11. Fill the gaps with the verbs describing the movement of liquids and put them in the correct form. Flow, pour, gush, trickle, drip, seep, splash, lap, gurgle, pelt. 1. The sound of a tap … kept me awake all night. 2. The rain is really … down! We can't possibly go out in it. 3. There was a loud … sound as the bathwater ran down the plughole. 4. Be careful how you … my beer! 5. There was a … as my camera fell into the river. 6. As I lay in my cabin I heard the gentle sound of waves … against the hill. 7. The River Swift rises in the hills and then … south west to the sea. 8. A water main had burst and water was … out of the ground with great force. 9. Moisture from the fish had … through the paper bag and made the rest of the shopping damp. 10. Rain was falling on my collar and … unpleasantly down my neck. Exercise 12. Complete each of the following sentences with the correct form of an appropriate verb taken from the box. The first is shown as an example. Modify, calm, take, receive, do, spend, meet, organise, attend, provide, answer 1. We all need to spend some time just enjoying ourselves. 2. Not having enough money to ______ your basic needs is a great cause of stress. 3. Many people find it hard to _______their behaviour in order to reduce stress.
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4. We’ve just been told that the new multi-gym will _______ facilities for just about all indoor sports. 5. Excuse me! I wonder if you’d have the time to _____ a brief questionnaire. 6. I try to ________ my mind by ________ yoga. 7. How many alcoholic drinks do you ________ per week? 8. It’s important to both give and ________ affection regularly. 9. I really must try and ___________ my time better. I’m always leaving things until the last minute. 10. Her grandmother is in excellent health and regularly _________ the local club. Exercise 13. Match expressions from the box below to the correct parts of the body. There are two phrases for each part of the body. Churned, shook, turned over, opened wide, fell open, sweated, went dry, sank, filled with tears, pounded 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
My hands _______________. My heart ________________. My stomach _____________. My mouth _______________. My eyes ________________.
Exercises 14. Compare the meaning of the expressions in bold type. Which of them are phraseological? Give Russian equivalents. 1. Where do you think you lost your purse? 2. When losing the game one shouldn’t lose one’s temper. 3. Have a look at the reverse side of the coat. 4. The reverse side of the medal is that we’ll have to do it ourselves. 5. Keep the butter in the refrigerator. 6. Keep an eye on the child. 7. He threw some cold water on his face to wake up. 8. I didn’t expect that he would throw cold water upon our project. 9. The tourists left the beaten track and saw a lot of interesting places. 10. The author leaves the beaten track and offers a new treatment of the subject. 11. I don’t want to have a busman’s holiday. 12. Let’s stretch a point for him. 13. The weak go to the wall. 14. She looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Exercise 15. In the list below find set-expressions corresponding to the following definitions. Show contempt To give a lively and cheerful description of a situation, etc. To diverge from the main line of one's argument, theme, etc. To flatter, to back up Give somebody the advantage Fail to carry out one's promise Remain mentally calm and keep control of oneself
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Run away hurriedly Ignore something, pretend not to see Do whatever somebody wishes a) to play into somebody's hands b) to lose (break) the thread c) to play up to d) keep one's head e) turn one's nose up at f) paint in bright colours g) turn a blind eye to something h) take to one's heels i) break one's word j) eat out of somebody's hand Exercise 16. The expressions below are connected with using language. Match phrases with their definitions on the right. 1. talk at cross-purpose 2. speak one’s mind 3. make head or tail of smth. 4. get a word in edgeways 5. give smb. a good talking to 6. get the wrong end of the stick 7. keep the ball rolling 8. talk smb. down 9. talk behind smb.’s back 10. small talk
a. to be unable to understand b. to be unable to say anything when a very talkative person is speaking c. to misunderstand each other d. to misunderstand things completely e. say exactly what you think f. keep the conversation going g. to finish up h. to say negative things you when you’re not there i. to reproach / scold smb. j. to talk in a way that suggest the speaker is superior k. to say stupid things l. to say nothing serious
Exercise 17. Fill in the spaces with expressions from Exercise 16. She is always dominating in conversation and he had a hard time … . It’s gone too far this time. I shall have to … . Sarah is very direct and always … . We couldn’t … with the other group because they turned out to be uncooperative and dull-witted. 5. I hate people … . I prefer saying things openly. 6. He’s … . I really like him as a friend. But I’m not in love with him. 7. Parents shouldn’t … their children. 1. 2. 3. 4.
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8. I can’t … what he’s saying. It sounds absolutely incomprehensible. 9. They couldn’t decide on the day of their departure. They were … . 10. I get bored with … ; let’s get down to serious matters. Exercise 18. There are many expressions in English which use words to do with the weather. See if you can understand the meaning of the expressions in these sentences. 1. I’m feeling a bit under the weather as I think I’ve got a cold coming on. 2. Sarah accused me of making heavy weather of it but, actually, it really was hard work. 3. This year his business has managed to weather the storm, but I’m afraid that next year things are going to get together. 4. Unfortunately, as soon as David got wind of my plan to sell the car, he put a stop to it. 5. The old lady said she always saved some of her pension for a rainy day. 6. There was a storm of protest in Parliament when the Chancellor announced new tax increases. Exercise 19. Rearrange each of these word groups correctly to form sentences. 1. to lead a dog and life cat 2. wool eyes tried they over the pull to my 3. with liberties she always with took him 4. a have they children way with 5. gave a talking the mother good child the 6. declare his at last love to the he girl 7. makes herself much of always she 8. to do half (halves) by things 9. dirty in linen public one's to wash 10. to take mouth somebody's out the words of 11. for something granted to take 12. to be somebody hard on 13. to shed (cast) on light something Exercise 20. a) Explain the meaning of the phraseological units in these sentences. b) Classify these expressions according to V.V.Vinogradov’s classification system. 1. It's a rich firm. They're simply rolling in money. 2. They left no stone unturned but failed to find the missing documents. 3. He didn't even know what Fanny had believed, let alone concerning the possible consequences of her beliefs. 4. Drop a line when you get there, will you? 5. She is always out for what she can get. 6. A lot of water has flown (passed) under the bridges since we first (last) met, old boy, hasn't it?
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7. We ought to get written permission from them, to be on the safe side. 8. What are you doing? Are you out of your mind? 9.She hit her head on the roof and saw stars. 10. … going to shine among the charming company you keep? I suppose all the standbys will be there … -dancing attendance on you. 11.They said they would move heaven and earth to find them. 12.Whatever I say to that boy goes in at one ear and out of the other. 13.The cries that were coming from the next room made my flesh creep. Exercise 21. Instructions as above. 1. “I married him because I thought he was a gentleman” , she said finally. “I thought he knew something about breeding but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe ” . (F.Fitzgerald). 2. You go out of your way – I mean this, now – you actually go out of your way to torture yourself. (J.Salinger) 3. “A mouse! A mouth! Catch it quick!” I hit the floor and jumped up and ran for my life. (R.Dahl) 4. Perhaps life of a man-of-war with its restrictions irked him, perhaps he was in trouble, and perhaps it was the South Seas and these romantic islands that got into his bones. (S.Maugham) 5. His mouth watered at the thought of it. (Ibid) 6. Vic was now obliged to follow his son upstairs to bed, though he wasn’t sleepy and would, indeed, left to himself, have gone on watching the film, just to keep himself up to date on the decline of public decency. (D.Lodge) 7.I shall ask you to dismiss it from your mind, Martin. (R.Dahl) 8. We kept entirely to ourselves and we were very happy in each other’s company. (Ibid) 9. Her voice made my blood run cold. (Ibid) 10. Every time I get all set to put my foot down, we have dinner out, for some reason, and I meet her somewhere and she comes in with these goddam white gloves on or something. (J.Salinger) 11. It was with a gasp of relief that he reached the last tree and finally set his feet on the firm ground of the other side. (Ibid) 12. He had laid at her feet all the treasures of his soul, and she had cared nothing for them. (Ibid) Exercise 22. a) Choose the colour. Complete the idioms with a suitable colour. (You will need to use some words more than once). b) Classify the expressions on the semantic principle. 1) Monday was a most unlucky day, a real … Monday. grey, b) brown, c) black. 2) After sunbathing for two hours every day, Joanna was as … as a berry. brown, b) red, d) pink. 3) She went as … as a sheet when she heard about the accident. grey, b) green, c) white. 4) I was … with envy when my neighbour drove up a brand-new Jaguar. green, b) red, c) white. 5) In most countries, goods that are scarce are usually freely available on the … market. grey, b) black, c) brown.
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6) Sometimes it is better to tell a … lie than to hurt someone's feelings. pink, b) white, c) blue. 7) I'm sorry, James, I refuse to believe it unless you can show it to me in … and … white, b) grey, c) black. 8) There is a common prejudice that girls who are very beautiful must automatically be lacking in … matter - the so-called "dumb blondes". white, b) grey, c) blue. 9) After several weeks of discussion, the group was given the … light, and could finally go ahead with the new project. red, b) green, c) yellow. 10) Jun is always so cheerful! I'm afraid he does tend to look at the world through … tinted spectacles. pink, b) white, c) rose. Exercise 23. Choose a, b or c as the best alternative. Say whether there are corresponding idioms in Russian. I’ve got a frog in my throat. a) I keep having to clear my throat. b) I’ve got a sore throat. c) Something I’ve eaten is stuck in my throat. Mary’s got butterflies in her stomach. a) She’s feeling nervous. b) She’s got indigestion. c) She feels sick. That vase is rather a white elephant. a) It’s old and very valuable. b) Even though it was probably quite expensive, it’s useless. c) It’s big and simple design. He chickened out of climbing the tree. a) He refused to climb the tree. b) He apologized for not being able to climb the tree. c) He decided not to climb the tree after all, because he was afraid to. David drives at a snail’s pace. a) David drives very carefully. b) David drives very slowly. c) David drives in the middle of the road. There is something fishy about him. a) He smells. b) He likes swimming. c) There’s something about him that I don’t entirely trust. You look very sheepish. a) You look terrified. b) You look ashamed of yourself. c) You look warm.
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The little girl shed a few crocodile tears. a) She shed big tears. b) Her tears were not real tears of sorrow. c) She was crying because she was angry. I haven’t been to the cinema for donkey’s years. a) I haven’t been to the cinema for a few years. b) I haven’t been to the cinema for many years. c) I haven’t been to the cinema for ages. Jane thinks she’s the cat’s whiskers. a) Jane’s too self-important. b) Jane’s shy. c) Jane’s mad. Exercise 24. a) Fill the missing words in the sentences below. Choose from the following, using plural forms where necessary. b) Classify the expressions according to structural-semantic parameters . arm Bone body finger Hair leg stomach back Brain cheek flesh Hand mouth tooth blood Breast chest foot Heart nerve 1. Being retired, he suddenly found himself with lots of time on his … but with little to do to occupy it. 2. You need to have a strong … to work in a slaughterhouse. 3. He got up very late this morning and had the … to complain about his breakfast being cold! 4. She had a sweet … and couldn't resist buying chocolates and cream cakes. 5. None of the students liked Mr. Baker. In fact, everyone was glad to see the … of him when he left to teach in Italy. 6. I think I'll go and stretch my … I've been sitting down all morning and I'm feeling a bit stiff. 7. I've got an essay to write on the history of computing. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about it, so do you mind if I pick your … ? 8. He used to love mountain climbing, but when a friend of his was killed in the Himalayas he lost his … and never went climbing again. 9. The viewers were up in … when the television station announced it was going to change the time of the evening news broadcast from 9 o'clock to 9.30. 10.There's something wrong somewhere. I can't put my … on what it is exactly, but something just doesn't feel right. 11. The cruel way some owners treat their pets makes my … boil. 12. "Hurry up, Dorothy! The taxi's waiting!" "All right, keep your … on! I'm coming." 13. Getting a problem off your … is the first stage to being able to solve it. 14. She decided to make a clean … of everything and confess that she was the one who had stolen the money.
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15.You'd better be careful what you say to Samantha. You know how sensitive she is to criticism - she takes everything to … 16. David and the new boss seem to have got off on the wrong … Poor David! There go his chances for promotion. 17. Stop putting words into my … ! I never said opera was boring, I just said I prefer musicals, that's all. 18. They're sure to reorganize the department. I feel it in my … 19. Are you going to buy a bike? Only over my dead … 20. Life was hard, but we set our … and waited for a change. 21. When I looked down the pit my … stood on end. Exercise 25. a) True or false? Say whether the idioms in the following sentences are used correctly (true) or incorrectly (false). b) Sort out these expressions into: 1) fusions, b) phraseological unities, 3) collocations. 1. He spends all his free time body-building. That's why he's so thick-skinned. 2. Most people would be pleased if they get a windfall. 3. To grease someone's palm means to tell his or her fortune. 4. The policeman saw that I wasn't wearing a seatbelt, fortunately he turned a blind eye to it. 5. I forgot to phone David - it completely slipped my mind. 6. Men are not usually invited to a hen party. 7. My cousin is very strong. He's extremely tight-fisted. 8. Anthony has a way with him. He certainly makes friends easily. 9. His new novel is like his first. They're much of a muchness. 10. We can't afford big expenses. We've got to tighten our belts. Exercise 26. Instructions as above. 1. He's penniless. He lined his pocket while working for that firm. 2. The boy was frightened. He was having the time of his life. 3. If he does well in the exam, I'll give him a good talking. 4. The critics picked his first book to pieces means they read it very closely. 5. The lecture went over the student's heads because it was so boring. 6. I've stopped going to my German classes. I've dropped off. 7. Cowards don't usually stick their necks out. 8. I'm sure someone is talking about me - I can feel my ears burning. 9. If you can't afford the train or the bus fare, you can always try to thumb a lift. 10.I couldn't go to work this morning. I was laid up. Exercise 27. Sort out the phraseological units into: a) fusions; b) phraseological unities; c) phraseological collocations. 1. With every word they were drawing farther and farther apart – and he was unable to stop himself or to keep worry and pain out of his voice. (F.Fitzgerald) 2.
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“The Great Gatsby,” said Ben, “I’ve always want to read it but never got around to it. (H.Bates) 3. Freddy always likes Rosa, and thinks maybe he can patch it up between us. (R.Dahl) 4. If you want to be successful with men you have to hang on to your youth. (M.Spark) 5. I’ll go back to the city, where I’m respected and made much of. (B.Shaw). 6. All right, all right. I’m done. Have it your own way. Only let me alone. I don’t know whether I’m on my head or on my heels when you all start on me like this. I’ll stay. I’ll marry her. I’ll do anything for a quiet life. (Ibid) 7. We would put on long faces and say how sorry we were, but of course business was business, so good-bye and so forth. (H.Bates) 8. That makes me think all three of you are up to something. So if you know where Bruno’s hiding, kindly tell me at once. (R.Dahl) 9. But Weilson could not get the story out of his head. (S.Maugham) 10. She had shut herself off completely. (R.Dahl) Exercise 28. From the books you are reading pick out 15 phraseological units and group them into: a) fusions; b) phraseological unities; c) phraseological collocations. Exercise 29. Sort out the italicized phrases according to the functional principle. 1. But I didn’t want to remind her of the wedding picture for fear it would bring back memories she didn’t like. (A.Sillitoe) 2. He went away only with that vague hint of an overworked man and the implausible notion that after a moment of weakness he had promptly committed hara-kiri. (J.Fowles) 3. “So he wasn’t disappointed by the way Peter had turned out?” - “Good heavens, no. He’s done quite brilliantly. Academically.” – “But hardly following in his father’s footsteps?” (Ibid) 4. He knew his duties: there was nothing personal about them. He’d do it himself, the man in the pub explained, only he’d never be able to keep his hands off an attractive middle-aged woman. (W.Trevor) 5. Nevertheless, he made a wise decision. (J.Fowles) 6. In other words I succeeded in making the best of things, which as much as anything else meant eating a good meal at the canteen every midday. (A.Sillitoe) 7. Am awful feeling of helplessness came over her. (T.Hughes) 8. He tried to dismiss the thought. But the image of the horse as it had appeared against the sky stuck in his mind. (Ibid) 9. “Because I tipped Dally off. Lent him some of my blokes and all, to get the place spick and span. (K.Amis) 10. Captain Rowney, who besides being in charge of the unit’s administration was also the Mess’s catering officer. (Ibid) 11. You can’t get away from it, familiarity breeds contempt. (Ibid) 12. Cleaver might be all right, I agree. We just can’t afford to take the risk. (Ibid) 13. Rylands is the root of all the trouble. (Ibid) 14. “Just inexperience, Tom,” the Adjutant said. “He’d soon snap out of that if we gave him command of the section. Sergeant Beech would carry him until he found his feet.” (Ibid) 15. He Regency counterpart, I suppose, would have born a dozen children with the aid of anaesthetics, while he would have fallen an easy victim to the first dark eyes in Naples. (G.Greene) 16. They know it’s safe, they’re not walking on ice. (J.Fowles) 17. There was that feeling. That he’s put himself out to be nice to us. (Ibid) 18. She nodded; and he thought, how simple it is, or can be… when they
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don’t beat about the bush, say what they actually think and know, actually live today instead of fifty years ago… (Ibid) 19. She puffed: “But Peter does want it. He adores this house. Our life here. Whatever he says” . She smiled with a distinct edge of coldness. “I do think this is the most terrible red herring, sergeant!” (Ibid) 20. She tried to sound light and unworried, she was very probably making a mountain out of a molehill, she managed the man, she was desperately anxious not to have the press involved. (Ibid) 21. He said: “Then, Susan, I have to ask you this question, though you must understand, I’m not putting any sort of pressure on you. (D.Lessing) 22. Terror came back for a moment when she understood this, but she stilled it: things had gone too far for that. (Ibid) 23. Many serious conversations took place between Matthew and the children about not taking Mother for granted. (Ibid) 24. “Come, be reasonable, Fleur! It’s midsummer madness! (J.Galsworthy) 25. “There isn’t a Forsyte now who appeals to me.” – “Not young Mr.Nicholas? He’s at the Bar. We’ve given ‘im briefs.” – “He’ll never set the Thames on fire” . (Ibid) Exercise 30. Translate these sentences and write out phrasemes and idioms. 1. Then they set out the luncheon on the stoop. It was sheltered from any wind where was and the sun of the Indian summer was good to bask in. 2. Nevertheless, I thought she had a soft spot for him. 3. I know it’s only horse sense. 4. Running had always been made much in our family, especially running away from the police. 5. It seemed strange, after he had taken such subtle pains over the most trivial things. 6. The court of Seniors was taking its time, so Margaret and I heard in London. 7. He was a susceptible young man, he wanted to make a hit with her. 8. I want to stay and talk shop with Tim. 9. He didn’t work and he spent a great deal of money and he painted the town red. 10. Do you think one might just sip some sherry before our guests arrive to try it? I must confess, I need some Dutch courage. 11. Since these accusations could with equal truth be brought against her I thought this is a bit thick. 12. I was ready to believe that the suspicion had never so much as fugitively crossed his mind that ever since she had been eating her heart out for him. 13. He was excited now over their approaching departure. “Gosh, it will be great to get into harness again,” he said. “I’m feeling my oats already.” 14. I found Dr Hockett in the gloomy living-room, where the table was laid for high tea. 15. “They’ve only collected five,” said Roy, “Not many. They’ve lost face.” 16. He takes everything so much to heart. 17. Freddy was a quick-tempered man, unused to opposition, and he gave George the rough side of his tongue. Exercise 31. Group the following italicised phraseological units, using Prof. Koonin’s classification system. Translate them into Russian. 1. Margot brightened “Now you are talking! That would be a step up for women’s lib (= liberation).” 2.Why was I more interested in the one black sheep than in all the white lambs in my care? 3. To the young, clichés seem freshly minted. Hitch your wagon to the star! 4. Out of sight out of mind! Anyway it’ll do you good to
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have a rest from me. 5. In a sense it could be said that the ice was broken between us. 6. Rose Waterford smothered a giggle, but the others preserved a stony silence. Mrs. Forrester’s smile froze on her lips. Albert had dropped a brick. 7. “The fact is that Albert Forrester has made you all look a lot of damned fools.” “All ,” said Clifford Boyleston. “We’re all in the same boat.” 8. It’s no good crying over split milk. 9. Like many serious patriots, in her inability to know for certain which way the cat would jump she held her political opinions in suspense. 10. “How long do you want to go for? For always?” “Yes, for always.” “Oh, my God!” Exercise 32. Match these phrasal verbs (1-15) with the explanations on the right (a-o) after you have to explain them in your own way. 1. When will they bring your article out? … .. 2. So she's broken off her engagement! … .. 3. Don't bring that subject up again please! … .. 4. Why don't you call up your mother? … .. 5.Shall I do your room out? … .. 6. What excuse did he cook up this time? … .. 7. They're sure to find him out. … .. 8. You've given away the secret. … .. 9. I can't make out what he means. … .. 10. If you're angry, have it out with her. … .. 11. I'll pay you back for this! … .. 12. Can you put me up for this! … .. 13. Shut him up! … .. 14. The earthquake wiped the village out. … .. 15. Why don’t you top up the battery? …
a) get my revenge b) discuss your grievance c) fill d) give me accommodation e) publish f) invent g) destroyed h) make him stop talking i) ended j) clean k) reveal his dishonesty l) mention m) revealed n) phone o) understand
Exercise 33. What would you say in the following situations, using a phrasal verb? 1. You see someone walking on thin ice. 2. A visitor is about to leave without waiting for you. 3. The flight was delayed, so you had to tolerate it. 4. If someone burdened you with something you don't want. 5. Someone urges you to take a hurried decision. 6. If someone causes you to lose interest in English. 7. He didn't expect to be confronted with so many problems. 8. He is very good at imitating his teacher. 9. She's always trying to persuade her husband to stop smoking. 10. How is your new project progressing? 11.The police are going into the crime very thoroughly. Land someone with someone, take someone off, come up against something, rush someone into something, come along, to be at someone, put up with, hold on, look / watch out, turn someone off something, look into something.
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Exercise 34. Some of the sentences below are correct, the others have one mistake in them. Change the sentences so that they are all correct. 1. I would pass myself off as a famous film star so I could visit Hollywood. 2.They got away from serious crimes. 3. Many pensioners have to get by in very little money. 4. I never go by first impressions because I think they are usually wrong. 5. I thought the message of the story didn't come through very clearly. 6. I expect the music to be wonderful, but it didn't come up to my expectations. 7. Our attempt to climb the mountain in winter didn't come off. 8. I would like the government to bring-out more laws to protect the environment. 9. One should never go back on promises. 10.He simply isn't up to the exam standard. Exercise 35. Paraphrase the following sentences, substituting where possible the verb-adverb collocation by a monolexemic verb. The first one has been done for you. E.g. Smoke was coming out of the ward so he broke down the door to rescue the patients (smashed/ destroyed). break break down: 1. The ambulance broke down on the way to the accident. 2. The doctor had been working 16 hours a day so he finally broke down. break into: 1. She broke into the conversation with urgent news. 2. The poison cupboard was broken into last night. break off: 1. He broke off a piece of the bread and threw it to the birds outside the window. 2. The nurse broke off her engagement to the young doctor. break out: 1. Some of the violent patients broke out of the mental hospital. 2. The boy had measles and broke out into spots. 3.The black plague has broken out in America again. break up: 1. The staff meeting broke up just before lunch. 2. A lot of the furniture was broken up by the violent patients. come come across: He came across his old medical books in the cupboard. come away: Come away at once, it’s dangerous. come back: 1. He came back later than usual and found the house empty. 2. When she looked at the patient, it came back to her where she had seen him before. come down: 1. He came down the stairs at a run. 2. Very few prices come down these days. come into: He ‘s very lucky. He’ll come into a lot of money when his father dies. come off: 1. Your plan didn’t come off after all. 2. Oh dear, the handle’s come off in my hand.
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come out: 1. The truth will come out, you can’t conceal it. 2. I put my skirt in cold water and the stains came out. come out with: He came out with a very strange explanation. come over/ round: Come over for a drink on Sunday. come round/ to: When she came round, she found herself in hospital. come up: The increase in student grants came up at the meeting today. come up to: You’ll have to work harder; your work doesn’t come up to the required standard. come up with: he’s always coming up with good ideas. get get about: 1. Although Mr.Brown’s over eighty, he still manages to get about. 2. Somehow the news got about that he was dying but it’s not true. get ahead: He’s a very bright boy, he’s sure to get ahead in his job. get away: The prisoner got away from his guards. get away with: That man’s so plausible, he gets away with murder. get back: 1. The doctor had a lot of calls to make and didn’t get back till tea time. 2. I finally got my text book back after two months. get behind: He was unable to finish his work on time and got behind. get down: These examinations are getting me down. get in: The train got in at ten o’clock. get off: 1. She got off the bus at the stop near the surgery. 2. The accused got off with a warning as it was his first offence. 3. She got off from work early as she had a hospital appointment. get on: 1. How is Mrs. Brown getting on? She had a very nasty operation. 2. We managed to get on the bus just as it was starting. 3. Mr Smith is getting on, he must be at least fifty. get on/ along with: That boy gets on well with all the other students. get out: 1. I want to get out at the next stop. 2. I don’t know how the news of Nurse Green’s engagement got out. get out of: I managed to get out of going to the theatre this evening. get over: 1. He got over a bad heart attack but still feels weak. 2. I have to take some tests tomorrow; I shall be glad to get them over. get round: 1. She generally gets round her husband when she wants a new dress. 2. We could get round the difficulty by inviting them all. get round to: I’ll get round to ironing after I’ve finished the washing. get through: 1. I had so much work that he thought he would never get through it. 2. He worked very hard and managed to get through the finals. 3. There was something wrong with the line and I couldn’t get through. get up: Some of the nurses have to get up very early in the morning.
give
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give away: 1. He didn’t want his old text books so he gave them away. 2. He gave away the prizes at the Speech Day.2. She inadvertently gave away the secret. give back: I must give back the money I borrowed. give in: 1. Time up. You must give in your examination papers now. 2. He didn’t want to go to the dance, but his girlfriend was so persuasive that he gave in. give out: 1. The UFO was giving out very strange signals. 2. The name of the winner of the medical research grant will be given out at 6 o’clock. 3. The nurse gave out the pills to the patients. give up: 1. must never give up. If you don’t succeed at first, you must try again. 2. The escaped prisoner gave himself up to the police. 3. He gave up smoking on his doctor’s advice. 4. His life was given up to idle pleasures. give on: My windows give on to the square. give off: When I open the bottle, it gave off a peculiar smell. put put up: 1. I was lucky you were able to put me up for the night. 2. He has put his house up for sale. put up with: I won’t put up with your insults any longer. put down to: The air crash was put down to engine failure. put off: 1.The meeting has been put off for a week because the boss is away. 2. The opponent’s remark put him off and he played badly. put out: She put herself out to make everybody feel at home. put aside: He put aside $5 every week towards his summer holiday. put on: When I accused him he put on an innocent expression. put through: Could you put me through to your sales office, please? stand stand for: 1. The letters UNO stand for ‘the United Nations Organisation’. 2. I’m not prepared to stand for any more insults from you. 3. We stand for a fair day’s pay for a fair’s day work. stand in for: He stood in for the leading actor, who was ill. stand up for: If you are not prepared to stand up for yourself, how can you expect us to help you? stand up to: These components are expected to stand up to great pressure. stand by: 1. I will stand by the agreement. 2. Do you expect me to stand by and do nothing when I see a friend being attacked? stand down: When he heard that the President had decided to seek re-election, he stood down. stand out: The painting is so good that it stands out from the others in the exhibition. take take after: You can see from his nose that he takes after his father. take in: I’ve afraid you’ve been taken in. These pearls are not genuine.
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take off: 1. Flight 123 to Paris will take off in five minutes. 2. He took off the Prime Minister perfectly on television last night. take over: They have been buying shares in the hope of taking over the firm. take out on: I know you’re upset at missing the train, but that’s no reason to take it out on the porter. It’s not his fault. take to: The children have taken to their new teacher. take up: 1. I won’t take up any more of your time. 2. When I’m too old to play tennis, I’ll take up golf. 3. I’ve received your report and will take up the matter with the department concerned. Exercise 36. Combine the following verbs and particles to make phrasal verbs. Then use some of the phrasals in the sentences below. Take Hold Set Give 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
up out off on
Carry Work Catch Crop
The plane … and headed west. Don’t be hasty - … looking until you find the colour range you prefer. They’ve … a method of sending a spacecraft to Mars. If you want to be in London by lunch-time, you’ll have to … from here very early. Lucy … a successful modelling career ten years ago. … until I fetch help! I’m sorry. I couldn’t come after all. Something … “ Harry … the tale at the point where Dick had left off. They knew it was impossible to … their plan.
Exercise 37. Match the sentence halves. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Something you were looking forward to Don’t worry – if I help you revise She didn’t get a place at university I applied for a part-time job at the supermarket “Did you enjoy the concert last night with Mary?” – “We didn’t go. I waited an hour, but… 6. This painting can’t possibly be an original 7. Don’t waste time chatting 8. The teacher asked the pupils who had broken the window, but
A B C D
so she has settled for a job at a bank instead. she didn’t turn up. may not come off, so be prepared. I think you’ve been taken in.
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E F G H
get on with your essay. I’m sure you’ll get through the exam. they are going to take me on. at first no one owned up.
Exercise 38. Write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original one, but using the word given. This word must not be altered in any way.The phrases follow the pattern: verb + noun + proposition. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
She hadn’t been planning to go to Egypt, but she went anyway. | spur I didn’t sleep all night because the baby kept crying. | wink The instructions are so complicated I can’t understand them at all. | sense I’d like to make an attempt at running my own business. | ago His explanation did little to clear up the mystery. | light The next time he saw her he didn’t recognize her. He just walked right past her. | recognition
Exercise 39. In the sentences below there are culture-linked phrases. Classify them according to their etymology. You can turn to the reference material. 1. At the foot of the 4th pinnacle I met my Waterloo. The face of the 5th pinnacle rose sheer above us, and it was evident even to me that we wouldn’t be attempting it. (Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms, 1955) 2. It’s no good my saying one swallow doesn’t make a summer: he doesn’t see that it was just a fluke, he thinks the whole thing was due to his own cleverness. It may ruin him. (S.Maugham) 3. “I have not permitted myself, gentlemen, to conclude that I am the best man in the country, but I am reminded in this connection of an Dutch farmer who remarked … that it was not best to swap horses when crossing the stream” . (A.Lincoln) 4. “Why did he come all the way here?” – “He wanted to see me.” – “What did he want?” – “He was holding an olive branch. He said he wanted to make some sort of statement.” (E.S.Gardner) 5. Tom seemed to be all right without it, and as for me, I wanted to postpone crossing that particular Rubicon until I felt … right about it. (J.Wain) 6. And now even Peter disapproved of her to the point of not caring to be seen in public with her. That was the last straw. (M.Mitchell) 7. Don’t you think for one moment that I don’t know of Berenice Fleming here in New York, and how you’re dancing attendance on her – because I do. (Th. Dreiser) 8. Oh, by the way, if you want a bath, take one there ain’t a Peeping Tom on the place. (F.Knebel) 9. Apparently he did not even trouble to acknowledge a very gracious epistle from Richard giving him the Hobson’s choice of going to the Egypt expedition as second-in-command or returning to Mysore. (R.Aldington) 10. I understand you want a baby, but don’t you think you should tie the knot first. In fact maybe you should get a girlfriend first. (Internet) 11. “I don’t want to burn all my bridges behind me,” he told himself. “I’ve got to have at least one friend among the solid men here in town. (Sh. Anderson) 12. He seized with avidity upon the subject which had for him all the charm of forbidden fruit. (B.Russel) 13. I
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can’t complain. No trouble has come my way – touch wood. (A.Christie) 14. “… with knowledge you can face up to anything, for knowledge is power” . (R.Warren) 15. I’ve a grandson – up at Oxford – talks and behalves as if he were the last of some ancient family – blue blood. Crusades, moldering castles. (J.Priestley) 16. I ran my boat into New York, buy from Yankee firms, sub rosa, of course, and away I go. (M.Mitchell) 17. She was born with a silver spoon at once, even if we do run some small chances of spoiling the horn. (J.Galsworthy) 18. A social climber can ill afford an Achilles’ heel and this particular weakness on Hitchuns’ part would probably be disastrous to him sooner or later. (J.Wain) 19. Arthur Brown whatever he hopes of a compromise believed in keeping his poder dry. (C.P.Snow) 20. Lisa’s loafing at work finally caught up with her. She was called on the carpet for playing computer games. (Internet) 21. You see, he was a Chink – not quite of the best period; but he must have gone West five hundred years ago at least. (J.Galsworthy) 22. “Blanche… My,my, what a cold shoulder! And a face like a thundercloud! (T.Williams) 23. The year 1887 opened with an attempt to reconcile the conflicting elements of the Liberal Party which came to be known as the round table conference. (OED) 24. “Then he’s ill.” – “Ill? Ha! If ever I saw a gentleman in the pink.” (P.John) Exercise 40. Below is a list of culture-oriented phraseological units. a) Sort them out according to their source. b) Explain their meaning. Since Adam was a boy; the finger of Fate; to give smb. the key of the street; the Man of Destiny; to climb smb’s wings; the Great Unknown; the Tower of Babel; cut the Gordian knot; above the salt; manna from heaven; ships that pass in the night; snake in the grass; Teddy bear; to read between the lines; to go through fire and water; ride the goat; the Trojan horse; a labour of Hercules; an apple of discord; forbidden fruit; the serpent in the tree; the fifth column; to hide one’s head in the sand; ride the goat; to rise like a phoenix from the ashes; to shake (tremble) like an aspen leaf; fig leaf; the lion’s share; a dog in the manger; a Pyrrhic victory; by the skin of one’s teeth; leave no stone unturned; swan song; a bed of roses; turn the other cheek. Exercise 41. Below is a list of phraseological units with cultural-historical background. a) Subdivide them into several thematic groups. b) Translate them into Russian. Belgrave Square; to keep one’s fingers crossed; to come Yorkshire over smb.; Godfather’s day; Johny head-in-the-air; Black Maria; to reach the woolsack; the State Department; Blue Brick Universities; Midsummer Day; Jack of both sides; Merlin chair; President of the Union; a bread and butter letter; a fish out of water; the First Lord of Admiralty; Kensington Palace Gardens; the Commoner’s Gown; to fight like Kilkenny cats; Trooping the Colours; Cordelia’s gift; to blow one’s trumpet, with open arms.
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Exercise 42. Match each of the following common proverbs with the most appropriate situation from the list below and give their Russian equivalents. a) Actions speak louder than words. b) Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. c) When in Rome, do as the Romans. d) Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. e) Blood is thicker than water. f) Prevention is better than cure. g) One good turn deserves another. h) Make hay while the sun shines. 1. Yes, you'll probably pass the exam, but don't depend on it till you hear the result. 2. Make the most out of life while you can, while you're young and without any big responsibilities. 3. Well, the cassette recorder he gave you may have a few defects, but you shouldn't complain. It cost you nothing. 4. I'm not impressed by fine speeches. Why doesn't the government do something? 5. Don't wait till you've got flu. Try not to catch it. 6. If you're in a foreign country, you should get used to the customs there. 7. I'll probably lose my job by going there to help him, but he's in trouble and he is my brother. 8. Yes, of course I'll help you. You lent me a hand last week. Exercise 43. Instructions as above. a) Nothing venture, nothing gain. b) It never rains but it pours. c) Once bitten, twice shy. d) A bad workman blames his tools. e) Too many cooks spoil the broth. f) It's no use crying over spilt milk. g) Pride comes before a fall. h) Absence makes the heart grow fonder. 1. Well, it's a pity but it's in the past now and there's nothing we can do about it. 2. Oh, my God, I've got tickets for the wrong day and they ruined my suit at the cleaners and my wallet was stolen and I forgot my wife's birthday! 3. My wife's spending a week with her parents. I do miss her. 4. I'm not investing my money in that company again. I lost everything last time I did. 5. Ask her out to dinner. If you don't, you'll never know if she likes you. 6. He was over-confident. He thought he couldn't go wrong, but then he got complacent and failed the all-important exam.
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7. Do we really need so many of us to do this job? Won't we get in each other's way? 8. It's not my fault I haven't finished this typing yet. It's not a very good machine and the stuff I have to copy is very difficult to read. Exercise 44. Match the halves of these proverbs and decide what they are really about. 1) It takes all sorts a) and he'll take a mile 2) Many hands b) out of mind 3) Give him an inch c) three's crowd 4) Out of sight d) to make a world 5) Two's company e) makes Jack a dull boy 6) All work and no play f) make light work 7) You can't have your cake g) and I'll scratch yours 8) A new broom h) run deep 9) A bad workman i) and eat it 10) You scratch my back k) to be wise after the event 11) Still waters l) sweeps clean 12) It's easy m) always blames his tools Now can you think of any Russian proverbs and sayings, which suggest similar ideas? Exercise 45. List 1 consists of a number of common expressions (sayings and provebs). Supply the missing proposition(s) and then match the expressions to the definitions given in List 2. Some are used more than once. against on
before out of
between over
List 1 1. A bird … the hand is worth two … the bush. 2. It’s like banging your head … a brick wall. 3. … the devil and the deep blue sea. 4. Have a card … your sleeve. 5. Have several irons … the the fire. 6. An iron hand … a velvet glove. 7. It’s no use crying … split milk. 8. Keep the wolf … the door. 9. Kill two birds … one stone. 10. Make a mountain … a molehill. 11. … the frying pan and … the fire. 12. Put the cart … the horse. 13. The grass is always greener … the other side. 14. There’s no smoke … fire.
from up
in with
into without
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List 2. A Take advantage of one action to achieve something else as well. B Surrounded by problems with no escape. C There must be some truth in even the most unlikely rumour. D Someone who appears to treat you gently but is hard and ruthless underneath. E You can only be sure of what you have at the moment; you cannot be sure of something that you might get in the future. F Exaggerate, make a bit fuss over something that is not very serious. G Do things in the wrong order. H In negotiations, to have something in reserve that you have not yet revealed. I Manage to earn just enough to live on. J All your efforts are getting you nowhere. K You no sooner get out of one difficulty than you find yourself in another just as bad. L The tendency to believe that life would be better somewhere else. M To have a number of different interests. N You should not waste time regretting things that you cannot change. Exercise 46. Which verb do you think goes in the blank? When the cat's away, the mice will (come out; play; hunt) Love will find (a path; road; way) Boys will (be; see; hit) boys No news is (good; bad; the worst) Love makes the world (go; move; run) Bad news (travels; goes; comes) fast Practice (does; makes; turns) perfect Exercise 47. Here is a list of proverbs and a list of abstract nouns, which describe the themes behind them. Match each proverb to its theme and give their Russion equivalents. 1) Let sleeping dogs lie. 2) It's no use crying over split milk. 3) More haste, less speed. 4) Waste not want not. 5) Count your blessings. 6) Every cloud has a silver lining.
a) regret b) caution c) economy d) urgency e) thankfulness f) optimism
Exercise 48. Choose words from the ones below to fill in the blanks. Love; lover; love; loves; love; time; time; time. 1. … is money 2. True … never run smooth 3. All the world … a …
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4. … and tide wait for no man 5. There's no … like the present 6. … is blind 7. … makes the world go round Exercise 49. Decide if the imperative is affirmative or negative. Make / Don't make hay while the sun shines. Look / Don't look before you leap. Put / Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Practise / Don't practise what you preach. Let / Don't let bygones be bygones. Exercise 50. Work with a partner. Discuss the meaning of the following proverbs and sayings and give their Russian equivalents. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Once bitten, twice - shy. Appearances are deceptive. Honesty is the best policy. Variety is the spice of life. There's many a slip between the cup and the lip. Where there's a will, there's a way. Like mother, like daughter.
How would you express the same ideas in your own language? Classify the proverbs according to their meaning referring to the following spheres: - various traits of character; - human relations; - working activities; - a person's behaviour; - surrounding nature; - everyday life. Do you agree that "Honesty is the best policy"? Why? Exercise 51. In spoken language, people often refer to proverbs by only saying half of them and leaving the rest for the listener to "fill in". Complete the proverbs in these dialogues. 1) A: 'Joel's always criticizing people, who are selfish, yet he's terribly selfish himself. B: Yes, well, people who live in glass houses… C: Exactly. 2) A: The people in the office have been playing computer games all day since the boss fell ill. B: Well, you know what they say: when the cat's away…
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A: Right, and they're certainly doing that. 3) A: I didn't believe those rumours about Nick and Gill, but apparently they are seeing each other. B: You shouldn't be so naive, you know what they say, no smoke… , eh? A: Mm, I suppose you're right. 4) A: Amazing, he's made a fortune from just one shop! B: Well, I think it's a case of take care of the pence… A: Sure, he's always been very careful with his money. Exercise 52. Being so expressive, idioms of all kinds are often “deformed” by writers to produce a certain effect or evoke a certain image in the minds of the readers. State in what way the authors quoted change the original form of the unit (e.g. by inserting additional words, by means of lexical substitution, by ellipsis, by changing the whole structure, etc.) 1. What brains he had were in his hands, and he was slow, and as stubborn as a blind mule but he was tough, and you could trust him. (M.Stewart) (as stubborn as a mule) 2. Having a kid of her own, she began talking baby shop. (E.Aldington) (talk shop) 3. … he caught at the immediate straw of “disorderly conduct” . (O’Henry) (to catch at a straw) 4. The small scene, when it was finally shot apparently did please him. I left at the end of the day thinking my golden hour had arrived. (C.Moore) (one’s golden hour has come) 5. And we don’t want to count our purely putative chickens before they are hatched. (W.Plomer) (to count one’s chickens before they are hatched) 6. Most children in Matilda’s place would have burst into floods of tears. (R.Dahl) (burst unto tears) 7. Do you suppose if I wasn’t at the end of my rope I’d come to you like this? (F.Fitzgerald) (to be at the end of one’s tether) 8. It was odd now, with all his ingrained care for moderation and secure investment, Soames ever put his emotional eggs into one basket. First Irene – now Fleur. (J.Galsworthy) ( to put all one’s eggs into one basket) 9. Poirot kept the conversation ball rolling some little time longer, but when it seemed certain that Mrs.Fowlers had told all that she knew not once but many times over, he terminated the interview… (A.Christie) (To keep the ball rolling) 10. … and two blue jars stood on the ground nearby calling them all manner of sharp names. (J.Steinbeck) (to call smb (bad) names) 11. Nah this is a sensible young feller; … Ah’ll bet yer owt yer like’e agrees wi’me. An’why? ‘cos it stands to bloody reason. (J.Priestley) (it stands to reason) 12. Oh, I don’t think I’m denying the importance of the biographical element in literary appreciation. I know very well how much a full knowledge of a writer’s life… adds to the interpretation of his work. But I am more and more
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disinclined to expose skeletons that have been so carefully buried. (A.Wilson) (a skeleton in the cupboard) 13. It was Sim’s great mistake trying to kill two or rather three birds with one stone. (N.Blake) (to kill two birds with one stone) 14. The Allies are reaping in Nazi Germany what they sowed at Versailles (A.Huxley) (as a man sows, so shall he reap) 15. Yahmose, whom she despised as the meekest of men, had actually been the one to kill Nofret. It turned Satipy’s world upside down. Like most bullying women, she was a coward. This new Yahmose terrified her (A.Christie) (a bully is always a coward) 16. “Do you hear him?” he said, his grin slow, invisible. Yet rich. “He’s been like a cow in a China shop.” (A.Cronin) (a bull in a China shop) 17. “This isn’t Russia, and the tea won’t be Russian, either. We could order tea with lemon, if you’d prefer it.” – “Why should I? When in England do as the English do?” (B.Hanna) (when in Rome, do as the Romans do) 18. I know how much you hate lies and concealment. I do too. But honestly, it might upset the whole apple cart. Uncle Matthew has got an absolute bee in his bonnet about early marriages and the way they wreck a man’s career… (A.Christie) (to have a bee in one’s bonnet) 19. Taking a look at science-fiction again after a wartime interval, one seemed to see indications that it was trying to change its spots. (J.Wyndham) (Can the leopard change his spot?) 20. Drake contemplated the situation and shook his head. “This is once I wouldn’t want to be standing in your shoes, Perry.” Mason grinned. “They are beginning to pinch a little.” (E.S.Gardner) (to be in smb’s shoes) 21. So Annamaria, who had advertised a twenty thousand lire monthly rental, in the end doubled the sum, and Fidelman paid through both nostrils, cash for first and last months… (B.Malamud) (to pay through the nose) 22. Laurel was upset, but she didn’t want to talk about it, and he respected her right to keep her family skeletons locked up in her own closet. (U.Sinclair) (a skeleton in the cupboard) Exercise 53. Instructions as above. 1. When I showed my father his letter and told him how I had replied, he looked at me gravely. “Remember,” he said, “about the frying-pan and the fire.” (V.Peterson) (out of the frying pan into the fire) 2. Of no city, in my experience, is this more true than of Paris. There high society seldom admits outsiders into its midst, the politicians live in their own corrupt circle, the bourgeoisie, great and small, frequent one another, writers congregate with writers… painters hobnob with painters and musicians with musicians. The same thing is true of London, but in a less marked degree; these birds of a feather flock much less together, and there are a dozen houses where at the same table you may meet a duchess, an actress, a painter, a member of
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Parliament, a lawyer, a dress-maker and an author. (S.Maugham) (birds of a feather flock together) 3. Well, believe it or not, that story is made up out of the whole cloth… It’s the perfect answer to people who say there’s no smoke without fire. Believe me this smoke was made by rubbing two pieces of dry stick together. (J.Tey) (there is no smoke without a fire) 4. What’s the good of being sentimental? Father’s dear – I am awfully fond of him. You’ve no idea how I worry him! He has that delightful early Victorian view that short skirts and smoking are immoral. You can imagine what a thorn in the flesh I am to him. (A.Christie) (a thorn in the flesh / side of smb) 5. It was only that she had a complex – a silver spoon, and it had become natural in her mouth. (J.Galsworthy) (to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth) 6. She could set all society by the ears. (R.Worren) (set smb by the ears) 7. Half an hour later I stole to the open door of the room. She was still and white as the sheets of the bed. (J.Galsworthy) (as white as a sheet) 8. I didn’t add, because I was afraid they would think it cynical, that maybe if only Jack Almond hadn’t had those wonderfully long eyelashes he might now have been alive and well, minister to some foreign power and on the high road to the Embassy in Paris. (S.Maugham) (be on the road to smth, the high road) 9. We distinctly charge the dustman with throwing what they ought to clear away into the eyes of the public.(Ch.Dickens) (throw dust in smb’s eyes) 10. A good deal of water has flowed under the Thames’ bridges since the report of … last December. (W.G.Smith) (much water has flown under the bridges) 11. “You prefer to call a spade a spade” . – “No, I don’t” , said Jennie, “Spades have nothing to do with it.” (A.Wilson) (to call a spade a spade) 12. “Watton knows which side his bread is buttered.” – “What extraordinary expressions we do use. It’s hard to imagine that any man have failed to know which side his piece of bread is buttered. (A.Wilson) (to know which side one’s bread is buttered) 13. Cook arrived with coffee, and put down the tray with the air of a camel exhibiting the last straw. (J.Priestley) (it’s the last straw that broke the camel’s back) 14. … The blossom, too, was late this year – no blossom before they left! Well, the milk was spilled! (J.Galsworthy) (there’s no use crying over spilt milk) 15. A new leaf! She would go at once to Bertie Curfew and get him to turn it over for her! (J.Galsworthy) (to turn over a new leaf) 16. Milksop tied to his mother’s. (J.Galsworthy) (to be tied to one’s mother’s apron strings) 17. Richard’s live-and-let-live methods had given place, almost overnight, to the burning of heretics. For three generations heretics had burned. (J.Tey) (live and let live) 18. Michael was still strange, Winifrid still lost, John still buried alive, and nothing seemed new under the sun. (J.Galsworthy) (nothing new under the sun)
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Reference Material Achille’sheel (or heel of Achilles) – a single important weakness that can prevent you from being successful. This phrase comes from the ancient Greek story about Achilles, whose mother held him by his heel when she put him in the water of the river Styx, so that his heel was the only part of his body that was not magically protected against harm. Achilles was the greatest Creek warrior in the Trojan war, and he killed the greatest of the Trojan warriors, Hector. But Hector’s brother, Paris, then killed Achilles by wounding him in his heel. (Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, Longman, 1998) Blue blood – a term used to describe the Noble classes: “He has blue blood in his veins.” The origin is Spain, and has reference to the fact that the veins showing through the skin of the pure-blooded Spanish aristocrat were more blue than those whose family tree showed a mixture of Moorish and other alien blood. (E.Radford. Unusual Words and How They Came About. N.-Y., 1964) Born with a silver spoon in his mouth – to be destined to have great wealth. The allusion is to the silver Apostle spoon formerly presented to an infant by its godfather at baptism. In the case of a child born to wealthy parents such a gift was anticipated at the moment of entering life. (E.Radford. Unusual Words and How They Came About. N.-Y., 1964) Burn one’s boats – the Romans when they invaded a foreign country set fire to their boats, thus forcing their soldiers either to conquer or die. The phrase has thus come to mean to cut off all chance of retreat from any project embarked upon. (E.Radford. Unusual Words and How They Came About. N.-Y., 1964) Called on the carpet – to be held accountable for a mistake, offence, or a lie. In military parlance, called on the carpet refers to having to present oneself to a superior officer, report at attention and receive a disciplining for some offense. Sometimes a defense is allowed, but often, the communication is quite simple, clear, and unidirectional, with the recipient being forced to stand at attention while the abuse takes place. (from the Internet) To give the cold shoulder – when an unexpected visitor is a welcome one, the hostess puts herself to some trouble to prepare a dainty meal for the guest who has made a journey to visit her. But where the visitor is not particularly welcome and is not to be encouraged to pay similar visits in the future, cold meat, for instance the remains of the shoulder which formed the last meal, is usually brought out. To be given the cold shoulder was a pretty plain hint that you were not encouraged by your hostess. (E.Radford. Unusual Words and How They Came About. N.-Y., 1964) To cross (pass) the Rubicon – to make an important decision that cannot be reversed and that determines the course of future events. From the name of the
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river Rubicon which Julius Caesar crossed in 49 BC, thus starting the civil war that changed the history of Rome. (Chambers Dictionary of Idioms, 1996) To dance attendance on – to pay great attention to smb’s wishes, to be at someone’s beck and call. The reference is to an old wedding custom where the bride, on her wedding night, had to dance with every guest, for fear of offending one of them. (E.Radford. Unusual Words and How They Came About. N.-Y., 1964) Forbidden fruit – if you describe smth as forbidden fruit, you mean that you want it very much but are not allowed to have it, or you are not supposed to have it. This expression refers to the story in the Bible in which Eve tempts Adam to cut the fruit of the tree of knowledge which God had forbidden them to touch. (Collins Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms, 1995) To cut the Gordian knot – to solve a problem by taking action quickly and confidently, and without thinking too much about the results. According to an ancient Greek story, it was said that whoever could undo the complicated knot made by King Gordius would rule all of Asia. Alexander the Great did not try to untie the knot, as everyone else had done, but simply cut through it with his sword, and he then took control of Asia. (Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, Longman, 1998) Hobson’s choice – lack of choice, a situation in which there is only one thing that one can choose, only one course of action that one can take, etc. Fron hirer called Hobson who did not give customers any choice. (from the Internet) In the pink – in good health and ready to go. In traditional English fox hunting, hunters wore scarlet coloured jackets called pinks. If you are wearing your pink, you are ready to go hunting. (from the Internet) To keep one’s powder dry – to be prepared for eventualities, to be ready for any emergency. The phrase is attributed to Oliver Cromwell, an English general and statesman, the leader of the bourgeois revolution of the 17th century. Addressing the troops to cross a river and attack the army of the King of England, Cromwell is alleged to have said “Put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.” These words are known as “Oliver’s Advice” . (Эл ь ян ов а Н .М . Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971) Knock on wood – if good luck is willing. One theory is that it originated in the middle ages when there were in circulation pieces of the Holy Wood or Cross on which Jesus was crucified. To touch one of these was supposed to bring good luck hence touch wood for good luck. There were also several Holy Foreskins around at the time… but that was a different story! Alternatively, the Druids, who worshipped trees, especially Oaks, wore a piece of Oak around their neck to ward off evil spirits. Hence touch wood for good luck. (from the Internet)
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Knowledge is power – these words were first used by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, statesman and writer of the 16-17th centuries. He came out against the scholastic teaching of the Middle Ages and stood for experimental science. His books, after the manner of the age, were written in Latin. The literal translation of the Latin phrase under consideration is “Even knowledge itself is power.” (Эл ь ян ов а Н .М . Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971) Meet you Waterloo – if you say that smb meets their Waterloo you mean they suffer a very severel defeat or failure, especially one which causes them to finally give up what they are trying to do. In 1815, Napoleon suffered his final defeat at the battle of Waterloo in Belgium. (Collins Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms, 1995) Olive branch (tree) – in the Bible story of the Flood, Noah let out a dove which came back with a small piece of an olive tree. This showed that the water was beginning to go down. The olive branch therefore regarded as a sign that the loving relationship between God and man had been reestablished. (Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, Longman, 1998) One swallow does not make a spring – the expression is drawn from one of the Aesop’s fables. The moral it contains is – don’t make hasty conclusions. In Aesop’s fable, a light-minded youth, who has squandered his father’s fortune, sells in the end his last property – a cloak when he sees one swallow that has returned from the south. But soon afterwards a heavy frost comes again and the young man curses the swallow which has heralded spring. (Эл ь ян ова Н .М . Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971) A peeping Tom – a person who secretly looks at others who think they are not being watched, especially when they are undressed. From the story of ‘Peeping Tom’ who is said to have been a tailor from the city Coventry in central England, who peeped at Lady Godiva as she rode through the city with no clothes on and was struck blind. (from the Internet) A round-table conference – a formal discussion or meeting all the participants of which have perfectly equal rights. It’s associated with King Arthur and his knights – the knights of the Round Table, so called from the large circular table round which they sat. The table was circular to prevent any heart sore about precedence. It was given to Arthur on his wedding day by Merlin, the wizard. The knights of the Round table, famed for their valour, went into different countries in quest of adventures and are said to have fought to put down evil. (Эл ь ян ова Н .М . Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971) Tie the knot – get married. Some marriage ceremonies actually tie together the wrist of the bride and groom. Webster defines “tie” as “to unite in marriage” . (from the Internet)
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Under the rose – not to be mentioned; strictly between ourselves. It was the custom of the Germans at feast to suspend a rose from a ceiling as a reminder that whatever might be said about people at the feast should not be repeated. The legend, giving rise from the custom, is that the rose was the flower of Venus, whose amorous and stolen sports might never be revealed. (E.Radford. Unusual Words and How They Came About. N.-Y., 1964) To go West – to die. Since the sun sinks in the West, there is little doubt that the sinking and disappearing of the sun in the West has had some influence on this phrase; but of the actual origin, there are various suggestions. Among the ancient Egyptians, the West was spoken of as the home of departed spirits. Mourners on the banks of the Nile uttered the cry ” to the West” . From America, it is stated that the term arose from the Red Indians’ phrase that a dying man had gone to meet the setting sun. A further suggestion is that it belongs to the days of the Pale-faces and Indians, when prospectors did not return from dangerous country West of the Mississippi. They were said to have “gone West” . (Эл ь ян ов а Н .М . Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971)
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С оставители: к.ф .н., доц . Маковец каяН ина Александровна, к.ф .н. В оевудскаяО ксанаМихайловна Рец ензент д.ф .н., проф . С тернинаМ.А. РедакторБунина Т .Д .