UNIT 9

Question 1

at one time or another

Answer 1

Not very often, but occasionally

Question 2

least of all

Answer 2

Especially not or not at all

Question 3

blow sth out of all proportion
stretch the truth

Answer 3

exaggerate

Question 4

play up
drive the point home
labour the point
with the accent on

Answer 4

emphasize

Question 5

suffer a defeat (at the hands of)
meet one’s match
come off worst
take a beating

Answer 5

lose

Question 6

revise one’s opinion
do a U-turn

Answer 6

change one’s mind

Question 7

hold fast/hold sth fast

Answer 7

not change one’s mind when others try to persuade you to
hold sth tightly and firmly

Question 8

hold the fort

Answer 8

look after sth while sb is away

Question 9

hold court

Answer 9

be surrounded by many people who are paying attention because one is interesting or famous

Question 10

hold sb spellbound by one’s words

Answer 10

fascinate, interest sb very much in what one says

Question 11

hold sth dear

Answer 11

consider sth as precious, have affection for

Question 12

hold in high esteem

Answer 12

have great respect/admiration for

Question 13

lay one’s hands on

Answer 13

obtain (with difficulty)

Question 14

lay down one’s life for

Answer 14

sacrifice one’s life for

Question 15

lay one’s cards on the table

Answer 15

be honest/open about one’s feelings/plans

Question 16

lay sth bare

Answer 16

reveal/expose

Question 17

lay sth on the line

Answer 17

risk losing sth as a result of doing sth
express sth in a clear manner

Question 18

lay down the law

Answer 18

give orders

Question 19

momentary weakness

Answer 19

A moment when one fails to have the discipline to act according to one’s principles or better judgment and instead does something regrettable

Question 20

moot

Answer 20

not important or not relevant, therefore not worth discussing

Question 21

in full swing

Answer 21

at a stage when the level of activity is at its highest

Question 22

jostle for something

Answer 22

If people jostle for something, they compete with each other in order to get what they want

Question 23

lame duck

Answer 23

an unsuccessful person or thing

Question 24

get/start the ball rolling

Answer 24

to make something begin or happen

Question 25

slip of the tongue

Answer 25

something that you say by accident when you intended to say something else

Question 26

catch/get someone's drift

Answer 26

to understand the general meaning of what someone is saying

Question 27

duck responsibility

Answer 27

avoid responsibility

Question 28

get into the swing of it/things

Answer 28

to start to understand, enjoy, and be active in something

Question 29

make someone's heart flutter

Answer 29

If someone makes your heart flutter, you find that person very physically attractive and you feel excited when you see or talk to them

Question 30

sleep on it dwell on weigh up toy with the idea be wrapped up in turn sth over in your mind

Answer 30

think

Question 31

not be in the running be a pushover lose one's bearings

Answer 31

lose

Question 32

pull out the stops put one's mind to sth go out one's way to do sth bend over backwards to do sth take the trouble to do sth

Answer 32

try

Question 33

like a shot

Answer 33

without hesitation; willingly

Question 34

at the top of one's voice

Answer 34

as loudly as one can

Question 35

off the top of one's head

Answer 35

without careful thought or investigation

Question 36

go out of one's way

Answer 36

make a special effort to do something

Question 37

put (something) right

Answer 37

To fix, correct, or make amends for something.

Question 38

good as gold

Answer 38

description of sb who behaves very well

Question 39

set the wheels turning/in motion

Answer 39

do sth to get a process started

Question 40

not have an atom of sense

Answer 40

a very small amount of common sense

Question 41

blind sb with science

Answer 41

explain sth to sb in a scientific way so that they do not understand

Question 42

nerves of steel

Answer 42

describing sb who is not afraid in any situation

Question 43

cog in the machine

Answer 43

a person having a small (and unimportant) role in a large organisation

Question 44

do a 180* turn (of attitude)

Answer 44

to change one's mind completely, reverse one's attitude

Question 45

a mercurial temper

Answer 45

a very quick temper

Question 46

study of concentration

Answer 46

area of focus you can choose to study that relates to your college major the ability to focus the mind on one subject, object or thought without being distracted

Question 47

production

Answer 47

the act of taking something out and showing it

Question 48

faux pass

Answer 48

socially embarrassing mistake

Question 49

over-familiar

Answer 49

too friendly

Question 50

sure-fire

Answer 50

certain