DR FINGERS’ VOCABULARY CLINIC
DR FINGERS’ VOCABULARY CLINIC:
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
Here are some more useful expressions for you to learn. Learning lots of expressions will improve your level of English, and help you with exams such as First Certificate, Advanced and Proficiency, which test your knowledge of these things. The images will help you associate the expression with its meaning. Look at the definitions, then try the exercise. (Answers on page 44.)
Exercise Not to be on the agenda To understand what someone is trying to say, even though they are saying it indirectly.
Complete each sentence with the correct expression. You may have to change some of the forms, or parts of the words. Remember, after a preposition, the verb is in the gerund (verb,-ing). 1. I’m sorry but you can’t print from here because the computer is ________ again.
Have an ace up your sleeve To have an advantage that other people don’t know about.
2. We’ve got three weeks to repay the money or else they’ll take the house away from us. We’re really __________.
Catch somebody in the act
3. Simon was transferring company money into his own personal bank account when Gordon walked in and _____ (him) ___________.
To discover someone doing something bad. 4. First of all she arrived late to the cinema, then, just to __________, she complained about the choice of film.
Get your act together To organise your activities so you do things in an effective way.
5. I don’t understand it: he lost everything but he’s still smiling. Maybe he’s got _____________.
Be out of action
6. If you don’t want to see him any more, just stop answering his calls. That way he’ll soon ___________.
Not to be working. 7. He testified against them in court, and now they’re ___________. 8. You’ve been sitting around doing nothing for the past 6 months. You need to _________ and start looking for a job.
Add insult to injury To make a bad situation even worse for someone by doing another bad thing.
Be after somebody’s blood To want to catch someone in order to hurt them or punish them.
Be up against it To be in a very difficult situation.
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