Each example below contains an
idiom related to a kind of footwear. Can you guess the meaning of
each idiom from the context? Try to match each idiom (1-6) with
its definition (a-f).
I wouldn't want to be
in your shoes - your boss seems very
difficult to work with!
When his father retires, John will be ready to
step into his shoes.
His cooking really
knocks your socks off.
Jim's performance at work is not too
satisfactory. He has to pull his socks
up if he doesn't want to get fired.
They gave him the
boot for being off work all the time.
She crept upstairs
in stocking feet so as not to wake the baby.
Idiom
Definition
1.
to be in one's shoes
a.
something
extremely exciting or good
2.
to step into someone's shoes
b.
to be in the same
situation as someone else, especially an unpleasant situation
3.
(something) that knocks one's socks off
c.
to stop employing
someone
4.
to pull one's socks up
d.
wearing socks or a
similar covering on your feet, but not wearing shoes
5.
to give someone the boot
e.
to take the job or
position that someone else had before you
6.
in stocking feet/in (one's) stockinged feet
f.
to make an effort
to improve one's work or behavior because it is not good enough
Hana said, "I want to
step into Hazel's shoes
and be an English teacher!"
(Note: Hana couldn't
find Hazel's shoes so she stepped into her slippers instead!)
More Practice:
A. Complete the
sentences with an appropriate idiom:
1. A: Have you been to that
new Italian restaurant on Queen Street?
B: No.
Have you?
A: Yes.
We went there last night. The food was excellent. It really
!
2. A: How tall are you?
B: 178 cm
in
.
3. A: What do you have to
say for yourself? You failed 3 subjects in one term!
B: Well,
uh...
A: If you
want to stay in college, you really have to
.
4. A: Yesterday the boss
gave John
.
B: Why?
What did he do?
A: I
heard that he had lost 2 important clients in one day.
5. A: Jane seems to be super
busy: she has 3 part-time jobs, and she has to look after her kids after
work.
