4.2.1. Clothes Idioms

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

air one`s dirty linen in public - tell about one`s private quarrels or problems

where others can hear

ants in one`s pants - restlessness, nervousness

at the drop of a hat - without waiting, immediately, promptly

bee in one`s bonnet - an idea that seems strange or crazy

below the belt - in an unfair or cowardly way

bet one`s boots - bet everything that one has

birthday suit - complete nakedness

buckle down - give complete attention or effort to do something

burn a hole in one`s pocket - money likely to be quickly spent

burst at the seams - too full or too crowded

 

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

1. His personal problems are nobody else`s business and he doesn`t like his wife to air his dirty linen in public when they go out with friends. 2. You are moving around as if you have ants in your pants the teacher said to the little boy. 3. He will stop working and help you at the drop of a hat if you ask him politely. 4. She has a bee in her bonnet about going to live on an island and starting a herb farm. 5. I think that he was hitting below the belt when he began to criticize me after I told him my true feelings on the matter. 6. I will bet my boots that he is not able to save up enough money to come with us to Greece this winter. 7. The little boy was running around the picnic site in his birthday suit. 8. I told her that it was time that she buckled down and began to work harder than before. 9. The money that he made at his part-time job is burning a hole in his pocket and he will probably spend it quickly. 10. The train station was bursting at the seams as everyone was waiting to go away for their holidays.

 

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 13); 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.

card up one`s sleeve - another plan or argument kept back and produced if

needed

catch with one`s pants down - surprise someone in an embarassing situation

or a guilty act

come into fashion - become fashionable

decked out - dressed in fancy clothes

die with one`s boots on - die while still active in one`s work

dressed to kill - wear one`s finest clothes

dressed to the nines (teeth) - dressed elegantly

dress up - put on one`s best clothes

feather in one`s cap - something to be proud of, an honor

fill one`s shoes - take the place of another and do as well

 

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

1. I don`t know what he is planning to say at the meeting but I think that he has another card up his sleeve and will make an important announcement. 2. He was caught with his pants down when he was asked for the figures but was unable to produce them.

3. Recently in some areas the mini-skirt has come into fashion again. 4. I saw her at the concert last night and she was all decked out in a beautiful silk dress. 5. He worked hard all his life and died with his boots on when he had a heart attack and died in the factory. 6. She was dressed to kill when I saw her at the sales convention. 7. They were dressed to the nines when they went to the opening of the new theater production. 8. I decided to dress up to go to dinner on Saturday night. 9. Winning the speech contest was a feather in his cap and the greatest honor that he has ever won. 10. It will be difficult for him to fill the shoes of the previous supervisor.

 

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.

fine-tooth comb - great care, careful attention so as not to miss anything

fit like a glove - fits perfectly

fly by the seat of one`s pants - do something by instinct rather than by

knowledge or logic

handle with kid gloves - treat very gently and carefully

hand-me-down - clothing that is given away after another person doesn`t need

it

if the shoe fits wear it - that what is said in general can also be said of an

individual person

in one`s shoes - in another`s place or position

keep one`s shirt on - calm down, keep from losing one`s temper or getting

excited

keep (something) under one`s hat - keep something secret

lose one`s shirt - lose all or most of one`s money

 

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

1. We went over the room with a fine-tooth comb but were unable to find the missing credit card. 2. Her new dress fit like a glove so she was very happy. 3. He was forced to fly by the seat of his pants when nobody was in the office to help him fix the computer. 4. You must handle the new computer with kid gloves as it is very fragile. 5. During his childhood growing up on a farm he wore many hand-me-down clothes. 6. You shouldn`t criticize others for something that you would do yourself. Remember, if the shoe fits wear it. 7. I would hate to be in his shoes now that he has lost his job. 8. Keep your shirt on. You shouldn`t get so excited about small problems. 9. I plan to keep my plans to apply for a new job under my hat. 10. He lost his shirt gambling and now is in serious financial difficulty.

 

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.

off the cuff - without preparation

old hat - not new or different, old-fashioned

on a shoestring - on a very low budget, with little money to spend

on one`s coat-tails - as a result of someone else doing something

pull out of a hat - get something as if by magic, invent, imagine

pull up one`s socks - make a greater effort

put on one`s thinking cap - think hard and long about something

roll up one`s sleeves - get ready for a hard job, prepare to work hard or

seriously

shoe is on the other foot - the opposite is true, places are changed

stuffed shirt - a person who is too rigid or too formal

 

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

1. He made a very interesting off-the-cuff speech at the party last night. 2. We have been going to that restaurant for many months now. It is old hat now. 3. We went to China and Japan on a shoestring and enjoyed it very much. 4. She was elected to city council by running on her well-known husband`s coat-tails. 5. At first he said that he didn`t have any of the information but then it suddenly appeared as if he had pulled it out of a hat. 6. It is time that you pull up your socks and begin to work hard and take this job seriously. 7. I will put on my thinking cap and try to find a solution to the problem by next week. 8. Let`s roll up our sleeves and begin to work so that we can finish early. 9. For a long time my friend laughed at my problems at work. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he also has serious problems. 10. I don`t want to invite him to go with us because he is a stuffed shirt and not very interesting to spend time with.

 

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.

take one`s hat off to someone - admire, respect, praise

talk through one`s hat - say something without knowing or understanding the

acts

tighten one`s belt - live on less money than usual

too big for one`s breeches/boots - think that you are more important than you

really are

under one`s belt - in one`s experience or possession; gained by effort and skill

up one`s sleeve - kept secretly ready for the right time or for a time when

needed

wear one`s heart on one`s sleeve - show one`s feelings openly

wear the pants in one`s family - be the boss of a family or household

wolf in sheep`s clothing - a person who pretends to be good but really is bad

you bet your boots - most certainly, yes indeed

 

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

1. You have to take your hat off to him. He has started a small business and now it is very successful. 2. He is talking through his hat again and doesn`t really know what he is talking about. 3. If we want to going on a holiday to Europe this year we will have to tighten our belts and begin to save some money. 4. He is too big for his breeches and needs someone to make him realize that he is not very important. 5. Now that you have experience working for an international company under your belt you will have more chances to apply for a better job. 6. I don`t know what he has up his sleeve but I am sure that he is planning to say something at the meeting. 7. She is wearing her heart on her sleeve and everyone knows that she is having problems with her boyfriend again. 8. She seems to wear the pants in her family and is always telling her husband what to do. 9. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing and someone that you should be very careful about. 10. You can bet your boots that I am going to go and apply for my passport as early as possible.

 

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 clothes idioms

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

 

Variant 1

1. He always comes to help his friends (very promptly) which is the reason why everybody likes him.

(a) dressed to kill (b) below the belt (c) fit like a glove (d) at the drop of a hat

2. It is time that he (gave his full attention) and tried to get this job done.

(a) filled his shoes (b) kept his shirt on (c) buckled down (d) tightened his belt

3. The train was (full and very crowded) when we got on this morning.

(a) off the cuff (b) bursting at the seams (c) decked out (d) buckled down

4. She was (dressed) in her best clothes when I saw her at the musical last night.

(a) decked out (b) coming into fashion (c) filling her shoes (d) on a shoestring

5. The fact that he is the new class president is (something that he should be proud of).

(a) on his coat-tails (b) a feather in his cap (c) talking through his hat (d) up his sleeve

Variant 2

1. He always (shows his feelings openly) and everyone knows his problems.

(a) wears his heart on his sleeve (b) wears the pants in his family (c) pulls up his socks (d) loses his shirt

2. Now that you have that experience(in your possession) you will be able to look for a better job.

(a) below the belt (b) burning a hole in your pocket(c) up your sleeve (d) under your belt

3. He is a (very formal person) and nobody likes to invite him when the company has a party.

(a) wolf in sheep`s clothing (b) fine-tooth comb (c) stuffed shirt (d) bee in his bonnet

4. I told him that he would have to (make a greater effort) if he was going to be successful in passing his exams.

(a) pull up his socks (b) air his dirty linen in public (c) handle with kid gloves (d) put on his thinking cap

5. You should try and (calm down). There is no benefit to you if you become angry.

(a) roll up your sleeves (b) wear your heart on your sleeve (c) lose your shirt (d) keep your shirt on

Variant 3

1. The new supervisor has a reputation for being very mean so you will have to (treat her very gently) if you don`t want to have problems.

(a) fly by the seat of your pants (b) handle her with kid gloves (c) fit like a glove (d) fill her shoes

2. It will be very difficult to (take his place) as he is one of the best workers that we have ever had.

(a) die with his boots on (b) keep it under his hat (c) fill his shoes (d) pull up his socks

3. I don`t want anyone to know when I will be leaving so could you please (keep it secret).

(a) keep it under your hat (b) roll up your sleeves (c) put the shoe on the other foot (d) keep your shirt on

4. He used to complain about having no money but now (the opposite is true) and it is me who has no money.

(a) if the shoe fits wear it (b) you bet your boots (c) the shoe is on the other foot (d) at the drop of a hat

5. You really have to (respect him). He always works hard and never misses a day of work.

(a) handle him with kid gloves (b) burn a hole in his pocket (c) talk through his hat (d) take your hat off to him