Other useful idioms and their explanation
To be full of the joys of spring – to be glowing and cheerful, full of optimism and energy
To do smth (just) for kicks – to do smth because it is exciting, often dangerous
To get a (real) kick out of smth – to enjoy doing smth very much
Smth blows one’s mind – smth makes a person very excited
Smth is a dream come true – smth desired, but not likely to be realized, has actually happened
Smth is music to one’s ears – smth that makes a person feel better, happy
Smth makes one’s day – smth makes a person feel very happy
Proverbs
He is happy that thinks himself so – счастлив тот, кто себя счастливым считает.
He is happy who finds peace in his home – зачем и клад, коли в семье лад.
Every man has his delight – у всякого барона своя фантазия.
Every man is the architect of his own fortune – всяк своему счастью кузнец.
The fewer the better cheer – меньше народу – больше кислороду.
EXERCISES
1.1 Combine the words from the box below to make sixidioms. Use each word once only.
1.2 Which idioms do the given pictures make you think of?
1.3 Complete each idiom in the following sentences.
1. Have you heard the news about Tom and Jill? They have won $1,000,000 on the lottery. They are ………….. moon.
2. Sally’s at the greengrocer’s now buying exotic fruit. Finally her diet is over, and she’s thrilled …………. As she can eat almost anything she wants.
3. Ted is ………… king because he’s finally got his driving license.
4. Yesterday John proposed to Helen, and, though she said she’d think it over, I’m sure she was in ………….
5. Don’t try to talk Claire into studying German abroad with you. Every man ………….. fortune.
6. The news about Helen’s miraculous recovery was ………… ears of her family.
7. Tim tried many times to get into that culinary TV show, and, when he did, he was ……………. world.
8. Nancy lost her first child and miscarried a second one. That’s why she was ………….. nine after giving birth to her third baby.
9. William is so weird; he never eats his lunch without licking his index fingers first. Really, ………….. delight.
1.4 Replace the underlined part of each sentence with an idiom.
1. Our teacher loves asking very difficult questions to fail his least favorite pupils. If he gives two or more bad marks during the lesson, it makes him feel very happy.
2. Joanna was very excited when her family came from Mexico to see her new place in Australia.
3. Michael enjoyed very much tackling tasks in Maths.
4. I wanted to visit France so much that, when I was selected as an exchange student from our school, I couldn’t believe it had actually happened.
5. My dream of having my own big house has finally come true. There’s no one in the world who could be happier than me. I’m in seventh heaven.
6. Jumping from an aircraft by parachute, climbing mountains without any safety equipment are just a few activities Frank does for fun.
7. At the training, I’ve learnt to value myself and my family. Now my motto is «Believe you’re happy and you’ll be happy.»
1.5 Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending.
1.6 Correct the mistakes in these idioms and proverbs.