Each example below contains an
idiom related to an item in the house. Can you guess the meaning
of each idiom from the context? Try to match each idiom (1-6) with
its definition (a-f).
I was hoping to start my online business last
month but things did not pan out
and I had to change my plan.
Young people these days like to
sponge off their parents. They
live at home and do not work.
I tried to fix my computer but I got tired and
threw in the towel after 3
hours.
You shouldn't
sweep all your problems under
the carpet. You should face them one by one and try
to solve them.
We rolled out the
red carpet when the Pope visited Toronto.
John is such a wet
blanket. He always stays home and never does
anything fun with his friends.
Idiom
Definition
1. to
pan out
a. a person who does not
enjoy things and who keeps other people from having fun
2. to
sponge off
b. to work out, to
succeed
3. to
throw in the towel
c. to give up; to accept
defeat or loss
4. to
sweep under the carpet
d. to warmly welcome
someone; to show a lot of hospitality
5. to
roll out the red carpet
e.
to take
money or hospitality and never pay anything back
6. a wet
blanket
f. to hide problems, to
cover mistakes
"When I have a problem, I
usually
sweep
it
under the carpet
and sleep on it!"
More Practice:
Complete the dialogs with a
suitable idiom.
1. A: What does your brother
do?
B:
Nothing! He stays with me and
.
2. A: Aren't you going to
invite Mary to the party?
B: No
way! She's such a
!
She will spoil everybody's fun!
3. A: I thought you were
going to Canada to study last summer.
B: Well,
things didn't
.
I didn't get the scholarship.
4. A: I want to come and
visit you in Japan this fall.
B: Sure!
Come on over! I'll
.
5. A: The crime rate in our
city is increasing.
B: I
know, but it seems that our government is just
.
6. A: Did Mr. Tanaka win the
election?
B: No,
half way through the election, he realized he couldn't win, so he
and dropped out of the race.
