Wednesday, October 2, 2013

SPORTS IDIOMS (Advanced) (EXERCISE A1E3)














Idioms have their origins in various areas of life and sometimes knowledge of their origin can help you to remember and understand the meaning of the idiom. For example: “to be blinked” means to have a narrow view. The idiom originates in the horse riding where blinkers (which are leather squires) were fitted to the sides of a horse’s eyes to prevent them from seeing sideways.



1.    A number of idioms have their origins in different sports – riding, sailing, football, boxing, chess and archery. Match the idioms on the left with a sport and definition.

(A)
To be out for the count.
___
Sailing
___
To encourage someone.
(B)
To spur on.
___
Boxing
___
To be exhausted, deeply asleep.
(C)
To give some a free rein.
___
Horse Riding
___
To be in charge.
(D)
To be at the helm.
___
Horse Riding
___
To allow someone to do what they want.
(E)
To rock the boat.
___
Chess
___
To have an alternative open to one.
(F)
To be champing at the bit.
___
Archery
___
To be quick an alert.
(G)
To take the wind out of some ones sails.

___

Sailing
___
To disturb a pleasant situation.
(H)
To have more than one string to one’s bow.

___

Football
___
To get to a stage in a dispute where no action can be taken by either side.
(I)
To be on the ball.
___
Horse Riding
___
To be impatient to get started.
(J)
To rock the boat.
___
Sailing
___
To disturb someone’s confidence.


2.    Put one of the possible idioms into the gaps in the sentences.

(A)     It looks like Mariza is ________________________. She has fallen asleep in her chair.
(i)         out for the count           (ii) rocking the boat           (iii) at the helm
(B)       Tim ____________________________________. He spotted the problem before I did!
(i)         is champing at the bit    (ii) is taking the wind out of my sails    (iii) on the ball
(C)     That new employee disagrees with everything! He has been______________________
      ever since he arrived.     (i) at the helm            (ii) rocking the boat      (iii) at a stalemate
(D)      My boss has been ________________________________ of the company for 20 years.
(i)         a free rein              (ii) at the helm           (iii)   spurring on


ANSWERS: SPORTS IDIOMS


1.     A number of idioms have their origins in different sports – riding, sailing, football, boxing, chess and archery. Match the idioms on the left with a sport and definition.

(A)
To be out for the count.
(d)
Sailing
(b)
To encourage someone.
(B)
To spur on.
(a)
Boxing
(a)
To be exhausted, deeply asleep.
(C)
To give some a free rein.
(b)
Horse Riding
(d)
To be in charge.
(D)
To be at the helm.
(e)
Horse Riding
(c)
To allow someone to do what they want.
(E)
To rock the boat.
(j)
Chess
(h)
To have an alternative open to one.
(F)
To be champing at the bit.
(h)
Archery
(i)
To be quick an alert.
(G)
To take the wind out of some ones sails.

(c)

Sailing
(e)
To disturb a pleasant situation.
(H)
To have more than one string to one’s bow.

(i)

Football
(j)
To get to a stage in a dispute where no action can be taken by either side.
(I)
To be on the ball.
(f)
Horse Riding
(f)
To be impatient to get started.
(J)
To reach a stalemate.
(g)
Sailing
(g)
To disturb someone’s confidence.


2.  Put one of the possible idioms into the gaps in the sentences.

(A)       It looks like Mariza is out for the count. She has fallen asleep in her chair.
(ii)       out for the count           (ii) rocking the boat           (iii) at the helm
(B)       Tim on the ball. He spotted the problem before I did!
(ii)       is champing at the bit    (ii) is taking the wind out of my sails    (iii) on the ball
(C)     That new employee disagrees with everything! He has been rocking the boat
      ever since he arrived.     (i) at the helm            (ii) rocking the boat      (iii) at a stalemate
(D)      My boss has been at the helm of the company for 20 years.
(ii)       a free rein              (ii) at the helm           (iii)   spurring on





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