2.2. Number Idioms

NUMBER IDIOMS

1. Study These Idioms and their Meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

all in one - combined

all rolled up in one - combined

at one time - at a time in the past

at one with someone - share the same view as someone

at sixes and sevens - in a state of confusion

back to square one - back to where one started

cut both/two ways - be capable of having two opposite effects

dressed to the nines - dressed in one's best clothes

(I/you/he etc) for one - as one example

for one thing - for one reason (among others)

 

1.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. It is not possible to use the old building. For one thing it will not pass the fire regulations. 2. I for one do not believe that our president will really change the company policy related to hiring new staff. 3. My decision to complain to our boss could cut two ways and cause him to be pleased as well as angry at me. 4. The woman who we saw at the concert was dressed to the nines. 5. We were forced to go back to square one in our efforts to change the name of the company. 6. Everyone was at sixes and sevens after the announcement that the company was going out of business. 7. At one time the man had no money but now he is very rich. 8. The other members of the committee are at one with me over my decision to fire the lazy worker. 9. His brother is president and vice-president all rolled up in one. 10. I was able to use my car for travelling and sleeping all in one.

 

1.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (1); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (1); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (1); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (1); Student H translates them into English.

 

2. Study These Idioms and their Meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

forty winks - a short sleep during the day

give three cheers for someone - give praise or approval for someone who has

done well

great one for something - a great enthusiast for something

hundred to one shot/chance - a small chance not likely to bring success

hundred/thousand/million and one - very/too many

in two minds about something - undecided

in two shakes of a lamb's tail - very quickly and without difficulty

kill two birds with one stone - achieve two aims with one effort/action

new one on me - something surprising that one did not know before

nine-day wonder - someone /something who briefly attracts a lot of attention

 

2.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. The man was a nine-day wonder but soon was forgotten by most of the people at his former company. 2. As soon as I arrived home I lay down and had forty winks. 3. The crowd gave three cheers for the team after they won the final game.4. My friend is a great one for staying up all night and watching horror movies. 5. He only has a hundred to one shot at getting the job that he has applied for. 6. I can think of a hundred and one reasons why the new employee is not capable of doing his job. 7. My niece is in two minds about whether or not she will come and visit me this summer. 8. Wait one minute. I will be able to help you in two shakes of a lamb's tail. 9. If you take the course now you may be able to kill two birds with one stone and receive credit for it on a future program. 10. My friend's desire to go to London is a new one on me.

 

2.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (2); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (2); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (2); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (2); Student H translates them into English.

 

3. Study These Idioms and their Meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

nine times out of ten - almost always

nine-to-five job/attitude - a routine job in an office, attitude to life that reflects  

routine

number one (look after/take care of number one) - oneself

on all fours - on one's hands and knees

on cloud nine - very happy

one and only - the only person or thing

one and the same exactly the same

one by one - individually, one at a time

one for the road - one last drink (of alcohol) before one leaves for home

one good turn deserves another - if someone helps you it is fair to help them

in return

 

3.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. Nine times out of ten if you have a problem on the computer it is something small that can be easily fixed. 2. One good turn deserves another so we made a great effort to help those people who had helped us in the past.3. Doing the job at home or at the company is one and the same to me so feel free to do what you want. 4. The children entered the school building one by one and very quietly. 5. We decided to stay at the party and have one for the road before taking a taxi home. 6. The company has been selling the one and only compatible printer in the world. 7. My sister has been on cloud nine since she won the new car in the contest. 8. He has a nine-to-five attitude and is not doing very well as a salesperson in his company. 9. His attitude is to always look after number one without thinking about anybody else. 10. The man was down on all fours in the store looking for the keys to his car.

 

3.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (3); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (3); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (3); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (3); Student H translates them into English.

 

4. Study These Idioms and their Meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

one hell/heck of a something - the emphasis that something is very good or

bad

one in a million - a great or unique person

one of the boys - an accepted member of a group

one of these days - soon, before long

one of those days - a bad day where nothing goes right

one of those things - something is unfortunate but must be accepted

one or two - a few, a small number

(the) one that got away - referring to a fish that you didn't catch or an

opportunity that you missed

one too many - too much alcohol

one up on someone - have an advantage over someone

 

4.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. The residents of the town gave the Prime Minister one heck of a welcome when he visited them last winter. 2. I am one up on my best friend because he is still looking for a job while I have already found one. 3. The man drank one too many so his friends would not let him drive home. 4. My father said that he had caught many fish but the biggest one was the one that got away. 5. There were only one or two people at the meeting so it was postponed until later. 6. Her sudden illness is one of those things and there is nothing we can do about it. 7. It was one of those days and right from early morning things went wrong. 8. One of these days they say that they will open a new movie theater but still we have been waiting many years. 9. He always tries to act like one of the boys but in reality nobody really likes him. 10. He is one of the finest coaches in the world and is definitely one in a million.

 

4.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (4); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (4); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (4); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (4); Student H translates them into English.

 

5. Study These Idioms and their Meanings. Give their Ukrainian equivalents.

one's lucky number comes up - someone is lucky or has good fortune

one's number is up - something bad will happen to someone

one's opposite number - someone who has the same position as oneself in

another company or organization

pull a fast one (on someone) - cheat someone

put two and two together - make a correct guess

quick one - a single drink of alcohol taken before one does something else

seventh heaven - in a situation of great happiness

six feet under - dead and buried

six of one and a half dozen of the other - there is little difference between

two things/situations

(a)   stitch in time saves nine - any damage or mistake should be corrected

immediately in order to prevent it getting worse

ten to one - very likely

there are no two ways about it - there is no alternative

two can play that game - you can also treat someone in the same way as

they have treated you

two heads are better than one - it is better to work with another person to

solve problems etc

two wrongs don't make a right - you can't justify a wrong action by saying

that someone else did the same thing to you

two's company (three's a crowd) - better to leave two people together than

for a third person to interfere

three R's - the three basic skills from school - reading, (w)riting,

(a)rithmetic

 

5.1 Translate the sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the use of the idioms.

1. My lucky number finally came up when I was chosen to go to Los Angeles in order to represent our company at the conference. 2. Many people believe that teaching the three R's is the most important role for schools. 3. I will make a bet that ten to one he comes to work late again today. 4. You should try and repair your car before it becomes worse. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine. 5. His boss told him that there are no two ways about it and he will have to change his habits or he will be fired. 6. The employees told the boss that two can play that game and if he was too strict they would also be unflexible at work. 7. Two heads are usually better than one when you are trying to solve a difficult problem. 8. I think that the manager's number is up and he will soon be fired from his job. 9. I spoke with my opposite number in the other company but he didn't agree with me about the new sales policy. 10. They tried to pull a fast one on me at the car repair shop but I stopped them easily. 11. We stopped for a quick one on the way home but stayed for more than an hour. 12. We were able to put two and two together and discover who was sending the unwanted E-mail. 13. She has been in seventh heaven since she moved to the new department. 14. My uncle has been six feet under for over five years now. 15. My friend wanted to come along on the date between me and my girlfriend but I told him that two's company and three's a crowd so he stayed home. 16. Two wrongs don't make a right and if someone does something bad to you you should not try and hurt them as well. 17. Whatever you do is no problem for me. It is six of one and half a dozen of the other.

 

5.2 Group work:

a) Student A makes up sentences with the idioms from (5); Student B translates them into Ukrainian;

b) Student C makes up sentences in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (5); Student D translates them into English;

c) Student E makes up a situation with the idioms from (5); Student F translates it into Ukrainian;

d) Student G makes up a situation in Ukrainian using Ukrainian equivalents of the idioms from (5); Student H translates them into English.

 

Check your knowledge of number idioms

Choose an idiom at the bottom to replace the expression in the brackets below. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

 

 

PART 3

 

  ENGLISH PROVERBS WITH VERBS IN THE PAST INDEFINITE TENSE

1. Memorize the following proverbs in which the Past Indefinite Tense is used. Point out the regular and irregular verbs giving three forms of the latter.

1. Care killed a cat. 2. Faint heart never won fair lady. 3. When 1 lent I had a friend; when I asked he was unkind. 4. The pot called the kettle black. 5. The golden age was never the present age. 6. A bad shearer never had a good sickle. 7. Too much curiosity lost Paradise. 8. Curiosity killed the cat. 9. He who pleased everybody died before he was born. 10. A little bird told me. 11. It just came and went. 12. Almost never killed a fly. 13. He who never climbed never fell. 14. If you want a pretence to whip a dog say that he ate a frying-pan. 15. Since Adam was a boy.

 

2. Give English equivalents of the following proverbs and sayings using the Past Indefinite Tense.

1. У плохого косаря всегда серп виноват. 2. Любопытство до добра не доводит. (Много будешь знать - скоро состаришься). 3. Робость мешает успеху. 4. Говорил горшку котелок: уж больно ты черен, дружок. (Сам-то ты хорош). 5. Повезло, как той корове, которая боднула себя своим рогом. 6. Слухом земля полнится. (Сорока на хвосте принесла. Мне об этом рассказали по секрету). 7. Что было, то сплыло. 8. Коли быть собаке битой, найдется и палка. (При жела­нии к каждому можно придраться). 9. Заботы и кошку уморят. 10. На всех не угодишь. 11. Не ошибается тот, кто ничего не делает. 12. Осторожность никогда немешает.

 

3. Express the idea of the following by using suitable proverbs, sayings or idiomatic phrases with the Past Indefinite Tense form of the verb. Consult the reference list below.

1 Old or growing old (the implication being that there is loss of vigour, good health or good looks). 2 We are back to where we started, we have seen, done, this before. 3 (informal) Smug, (self) satisfied, gloating. 4 Popular pompous remark justifying one's own or another efforts or criticizing idliness. 5 A timid or easily discouraged person won't get the best of anything in life. 6 It is usually used to warn someone who asks a question trying to find out too much about other people's affairs that he is likely to suffer injury or harm 7. A long time ago, long before the birth of the person who is being addressed or talked about. 8. Just what is needed, suitable, or what one enjoys in a particular situation. 9 The final thing that, when added to an unpleasant or bad situation, causes failure, ruin, etc. 10. It does not do to be too curious or inquisitive. The reference is to the story of Adam and Eve, who were expelled from the garden of Eden because they had tasted the forbidden fruit. 11. Good workmanship depends no more on the quality of the tools than it does on the way in which they are used. 12. Care is a great load on the mind. 13. This is usually used with reference to a person discouraged or fearful, sad, dissappointed. 14. The idiom is used to avoid saying how one knows something secret, it is usually used in answer to a question. The time being spoken about was a good or enjoyable time when compared with the present. (the last straw ... , too much curiosity lost paradise; curiosity killed the cat; a little bird told me; those were the days!; one's heart sank, when you were just a twinkle in your father's eye; care killed a cat; (just) what the doctor ordered, a bad shearer never had a good sickle; faint heart never won fair lady; this is where we came in; hard work never hurt etc anybody yet, not as/so young as one (once) was/used to be; like the cat that stole the cream)

 

Check your knowledge of English proverbs with verbs in the Past IndefiniteTense

Complete the following sentences by filling in the blank spaces with appropriate proverbs, sayings or idiomatic phrases. Consult the reference list below. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

(my heart sank; when you were just a twinkle in you father's eye; those were the days!; just what the doctor ordered; a little bird told me; a bad shearer never had a good sickle; the last straw that broke the camel's back; this is where we came in; not as/so young as she used to be/(once) was; like the cat that stole the cream; hard work never hurt anybody yet; faint heart never won fair lady)