Mistakes, Idioms.docx

MISTAKES barking slip goose chew tongue 1. Another word for a small mistake is a ......................... . 2. A ................................ is a bird like a duck but with a long neck. 3. Before you swallow food you should ............................ it well. 4. A dog ............................................. can keep you awake all night. 5. It can be very painful if you bite your ........................... ! get your fingers badly burnt fall flat on your face miss the boat make a real pig’s ear of

put your foot in it shoot yourself in the foot bark up the wrong tree take your eye off the ball

1. What’s this special offer – two cinema tickets for the price of one/ > it finished last week. You’ve ............................................ I’m afraid. 2. I’ve thought about it and I think it must’ve been Lucy who took my wallet. >Hang on a minute! No, you’re .................................................. there. She was off sick that morning. 3. How was the wedding? Or more importantly, how was your speech? > The wedding was fine, but I made ................................................ my speech. I was so nervous I kept mixing up people’s names. 4. Have you got any stocks or shares? > I did have, but I ......................................................... I lost about £10,000. 5. Why do you think this month’s sales figures are so bad? >It’s quite simple. We’ve been too busy with other things. We’ve ..................................................... . 6. I don’t know why you’ve asked Pam AND Tony when they’ve split up. >Oh, no! Have they? I’ve really ..................................................................... . 7. So changing courses hasn’t turned out so well, then? >No, I should have stuck to architecture. I think I’ve ................................................... . 8. If your new office in Japan works, we could make a lot of money. >Yes, but if it doesn’t we could ............................................................. . bitten off more than you can chew got on the wrong side of a slip of the tongue

made a real mess of it a wild goose chase got the wrong end of the stick

1. Mary’s a psychologist, not a psychiatrist! > Did I say psychiatrist? Sorry, it was ........................................... . 2. Well, did you manage to find some batteries when you were out? > No, I’ve just been on ................................................... . Nearly all the shops were closed for lunch. 3. How did you get on with Kate? Did you ask her out for a meal? > I tried to, but I was so nervous I .............................................................. . 4. I’m surprised Martin hasn’t been promoted. He’s brilliant at what he does. > I think he ................................. one of the directors a few years ago.

5. I thought we were going to Peter’s for dinner. He said he’s coming to us! > Sorry, I think you must’ve got ........................................... . 6. I’ve promised my parents I’ll have finished painting the house by the time they get back on Sunday. > By Sunday? You must be mad! I think you’ve ............................................. . 1. You’ve upset someone by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. (foot) 2. You’ve started doing something, but it’s become too difficult or you don’t have enough time to finish. (bitten, chew) 3. You’ve spent a long time looking for something which in fact was impossible to find. (I’ve, goose) 4. You’ve lost a lot of money in a deal. (fingers) 5. .................. the boat 6. ....................... fingers badly burnt 7. ........................... off more than I can chew 8. .......................... up the wrong tree. 9. .............................. the wrong end of the stick

10. ........................... flat on your face 11. .................................. a pig’s ear of it 12. .................................... a real mess of it 13. ............................... my foot in it 14. ........................... your eye off the ball