2.14. A) Study these words and expressions connected with clothes (1-9) and

shops (1-6) used metaphorically and match them with their definitions

on the right.

Think of their Russian equivalents.

Clothes metaphors:

1) off the cuff (a) (usually of a woman) be the

dominant partner in a marriage

2) to be hand in glove with someone (b) involving mystery and secrecy

3) cloak-and-dagger (c) simple and plain

4) to have/ take the shirt off smb’s back (d) spending as little as possible

5) (to do smth.) on a shoestring (e) have a close working relationship

with someone

6) without frills (f) restrict smb’s freedom

7) to put someone in s strait-jacket (g) without having prepared anything

8) to wear the trousers (h) to deprive smb. of his/her last

possession

9) shop around

Shop metaphors:

1) to set up shop a) to discuss smb’s work

2) all over the shop b) to begin doing something

3) to shop around c) to stop doing something, working

4) to shut up shop d) to compare prices, quality of goods at

several shops before buying anything

5) to talk shop e) a meeting where things are discussed but

no action is ever taken

6) a talking-shop f) spread out everywhere

b) Explain the meaning of the following idioms and use them in your

sentences.

hem in, burst at seams, cloak in, feather in one’s cap

c) Many idioms are based on colours. Put each of the following phrases in

Its correct place in the sentences below.

a)

out of the blue in black and white green with envy

In the red a black sheep to have green fingers

once in a blue moon red tape to catch someone red-handed

(a) The offer of a job sounded very good on the phone, but I shan’t believe it till I

have it______.

(b) I must remind you that this is a non-smoking office. I suspect that some of you

have been smoking. If I happen______, I’m afraid it will mean dismissal.

(c) To import firearms into Britain you’ll have to fill in a lot of forms. There’s a lot

of______.

(d) If you want to be a successful gardener, of course you’ve got______.

(e) The rest of the family were respectable, honest people, but he was always in

trouble. I'm afraid he was______.

(f) When I saw him in a new sports car, I was______.

(g) Tourists often go to the Louvre, but most Parisians only go______.

(h) The firm is______. It owes a lot of money.

(i) I had lost touch with Jack, and then one night he arrived at my flat right______.

What a surprise!

b)

red-carpet treatment to see red rose-coloured spectacles

a red herring a white-collar job a green belt

blue-eyed boy a white lie

(a) Naturally the President’s wife received ______ on her visit.

(b) He said he didn’t want to have ______ and sit in an office all day.

(c) All round the city there is ______ of open country where building is restricted.

(d) She loves animals and tends ______ when she sees one being badly treated.

(e) He told _____ to avoid hurting his wife’s feelings.

(f) Everyone thinks he’ll be Director of the firm one day. He’s the ________.

(g) Be realistic. You can’t go though life looking at the world through _______.

(h) In class pupils sometimes introduce _____ to distract the teacher from his

subject.