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Paul Sparks - Xiangtan University, Online Postgraduate (Masters Degree) English Lesson Plans, Lesson Material and Ideas...

Speaking Lesson: COMMON EXPRESSIONS

Lesson Objectives: The aim of this lesson is to help students express themselves in different ways.

Lesson Activities: Class discussion and group work.

WHAT ARE EXPRESSIONS? Expressions are common sayings, they are used frequently in everyday spoke English. See if you can select the correct answer for the following questions:

1. He didn't say anything directly but I think he was .......... an invitation to lunch. 
   a) acid test 
   b) angling for 
   c) above par 
   d) all fingers and thumbs

2. They didn't just make small changes, they changed everything .......... 
   a) acid test 
   b) also-rans 
   c) above par 
   d) across the board 

3. It looks like this product will be a success but we will be starting test marketing in the London region soon. That will be the .......... 
   a) acid test 
   b) against the clock 
   c) above par 
   d) all fingers and thumbs 

4. I don't think it is worth getting angry about this. Let's not .......... over such a small decision. 
   a) argue the toss 
   b) against the clock 
   c) above par 
   d) across the board

5. Molly was a not the best candidate I've seen but she was well .......... 
   a) all-rounder 
   b) against the clock 
   c) above par 
   d) all fingers and thumbs

6. he had done well in jobs in Accounting, Sales and Production. He's a real .......... 
   a) all-rounder 
   b) also-rans 
   c) angling for 
   d) across the board

7. I keep dropping things. It's because I'm so worried that I'm ........... 
   a) acid test 
   b) all fingers and thumbs 
   c) above par 
   d) across the board

8. We have always done badly in the French market. In most countries we are among the leaders but in France we are among the .......... 
   a) all-rounder 
   b) also-rans 
   c) angling for 
   d) across the board

9. We had to get everything ready for the printers by 12.00. It was really a race .......... 
   a) acid test 
   b) against the clock 
   c) above par 
   d) across the board

10. There are lots of people who want this job but people with all the necessary qualifications and experience are rare - they're really .......... 
   a) acid test 
   b) against the clock 
   c) angling for 
   d) at a premium

11. I cannot give you a really accurate estimate at this point but 20,000 would be a .......... figure 
   a) on to a good thing 
   b) big fish in a small pond 
   c) begs the question 
   d) ballpark

12. They gave a much better presentation than us and got the contract. It wasn't even close, they .......... 
   a) below par 
   b) beat us hands down 
   c) begs the question 
   d) big cheese

13. I understand you want to discuss how to improve sales in Sweden but that .......... of whether we even want to be trying to sell in such an unpromising market. 
   a) on to a good thing 
   b) begs the question 
   c) beavering away 
   d) big cheese

14. This is definitely a product where we can sell as many as we produce and at a high price and low cost. We're certainly .......... with this. 
   a) on to a good thing 
   b) big fish in a small pond 
   c) begs the question 
   d) big cheese

15. This project has been a total failure. I guess it is time to go .......... 
   a) on to a good thing 
   b) big fish in a small pond 
   c) back to the drawing board 
   d) big cheese

16. He'd didn't do so well in that big company but now he's gone to a small company he acts as if he's really important, a real .......... 
   a) on to a good thing 
   b) big fish in a small pond 
   c) begs the question 
   d) big cheese

17. He's not really that important in the company structure but he acts like he's a real .......... 
   a) on to a good thing 
   b) big fish in a small pond 
   c) begs the question 
   d) big cheese

18. There remains a lot of work today but Harry keeps .......... at it and he's done a lot of it. 
   a) below par 
   b) big fish in a small pond 
   c) beat about the bush 
   d) beavering away

19. The work they did for us on that last project was not at all satisfactory, well .......... 
   a) below par 
   b) beat about the bush 
   c) begs the question 
   d) beavering away

20. he likes people who come directly to the point so do not .......... with him. 
   a) on to a good thing 
   b) beat about the bush 
   c) begs the question 
   d) big cheese
 

Business Expressions:

1. "I thought this time things were going to be better. Losing the contract was ........ to swallow."

a. bottom line 
b. blue collar 
c. a bitter pill 
d. back to the drawing board. 
e. blow-by-blow 

2. "We've lost the contract thanks to your incompetence. You really ........ , didn't you?"

a. back to the drawing board. 
b. bottlenecks 
c. bottom line 
d. blue collar 
e. blew it 

3. "I'd be better off stopping my legal job and doing jobs for cash. The ........ is the only way to make money these days."

a. blow-by-blow 
b. back to the drawing board. 
c. bottlenecks 
d. black economy 
e. bottom line 

4. "The product didn't work in the States. As they say there, it really ........ ."

a. back to the drawing board. 
b. bottlenecks 
c. bombed 
d. blow-by-blow 
e. bottom line 

5. "However, the same product sold really well in England. As they say there, it ........ ."

a. back to the drawing board. 
b. bottlenecks 
c. bottom line 
d. blue collar 
e. went like a bomb 

6. "He used to work on the factory floor. Yes, he really started out as a ........ worker."

a. blue collar 
b. back to the drawing board. 
c. bottlenecks 
d. bottom line 
e. blow-by-blow 

7. "There are many reasons why this should be a success. However, the ........ is that it has been a big flop."

a. bottom line 
b. back to the drawing board. 
c. bottlenecks 
d. blow-by-blow 
e. a bitter pill 

8. "Production has been unable to keep pace with demand. We are doing our best to eliminate the ........ ."

a. blow-by-blow 
b. back to the drawing board. 
c. blew it 
d. a bitter pill 
e. bottlenecks 

9. "We'll have to start again on this one -it's time to go ........ ."

a. blow-by-blow 
b. blew it 
c. black economy 
d. bombed 
e. back to the drawing board. 

10. "Don't leave out any details. I want a full ........ account of what happened in the meeting."

a. blow-by-blow 
b. blew it 
c. black economy 
d. bombed 
e. went like a bomb 

11. "At the start of the meeting everybody was very quiet and reserved but he told a few jokes to ........"

a. across the board 
b. break the ice 
c. broke the news 
d. back to the drawing board 
e. take on board 

12. "He's not very quick on the uptake. it takes him quite a while to ........ new ideas."

a. on to a good thing 
b. take on board 
c. bullish 
d. breathing down 
e. brief 

13. "We're going to have to reduce budgets in every single department. There will be ........ cuts."

a. back to the drawing board 
b. brief 
c. on to a good thing 
d. brainstorm 
e. across the board 

14. "My boss never gives me any freedom. She's always ........ my neck."

a. broke the news 
b. brief 
c. breathing down 
d. back to the drawing board 
e. bullish 

15. "We need a name for our new brand. The best thing is to get a few people together and try to ........ a name."

a. brief 
b. on to a good thing 
c. broke the news 
d. bullish 
e. brainstorm 

16. "I'm very happy with our sales prospects for the next year. I'm feeling really ........ ."

a. bullish 
b. back to the drawing board 
c. broke the news 
d. on to a good thing 
e. brief 

17. "We would have liked to have looked at that but that wasn't part of the ........ you set us."

a. brief 
b. on to a good thing 
c. back to the drawing board 
d. breathing down 
e. broke the news 

18. "I've heard all about it. Sally ........ to me."

a. brainstorm 
b. on to a good thing 
c. back to the drawing board 
d. breathing down 
e. broke the news 

19. "I'm well aware that this is potentially a good new product and that we are probably ........ with it"

a. on to a good thing
b. back to the drawing board 
c. brainstorm 
d. breathing down 
e. across the board 

20. "I guess this market study shows that nobody wants to buy our product. It's ........ for us."

a. back to the drawing board 
b. brainstorm 
c. breathing down 
d. across the board 
e. take on board 

21. "I reckon we owe you about the same as you owe us. Why don't we just ........ ?"

a. call his bluff 
b. called it a day 
c. calls the shots 
d. chicken 
e. call it quits

22. "We've been working on this for fourteen hours now. Isn't it time we ........ ?"

a. called it a day 
b. call it quits 
c. calls the shots 
d. chicken 
e. call his bluff

23. "Let's face it, he decides. He's the boss so he's the one that ........ ."

a. called it a day 
b. calls the shots 
c. call it quits 
d. chicken 
e. call his bluff 

24. "He says he will go elsewhere if we don't lower our price but I don't think he will. I think we should ........ ."

a. call his bluff 
b. call it quits 
c. called it a day 
d. calls the shots 
e. chicken 

25. "I'm sure that there is a lot of corruption in that country. If we order an internal audit we may be opening ........ ."

a. carry the can 
b. chicken 
c. can't win 
d. chicken and egg 
e. a can of worms 

26. "Someone is going to have to take responsibility for this disaster. Who is going to ........ ."

a. can't win 
b. carry the can 
c. chicken 
d. a can of worms 
e. chicken and egg 

27. "Whatever we do, we are going to come out badly. It's a ........ situation."

a. a can of worms 
b. carry the can 
c. chicken 
d. can't win 
e. chicken and egg 

28. "She always like to think things through very carefully. She likes to ........ ."

a. chicken and egg 
b. chicken 
c. chew things over 
d. call his bluff 
e. call it quits 

29. "We need a loan to start the company and we need a company to get the loan. It's a ........ situation."

a. calls the shots 
b. chew things over 
c. chicken 
d. call his bluff 
e. chicken and egg 

30. "We wanted to expand into Asia but we were a bit frightened. We were soon sorry for being so ........ ."

a. chicken and egg 
b. chicken 
c. calls the shots 
d. chew things over 
e. call it quits 

More Business Expressions:

1. I imagine their company jet was very expensive indeed. It probably ________ . 
   a) cost the earth 
   b) clear the decks 
   c) cut it fine 
   d) cut-throat 

2. Our Silicone Valley site is right at the ________ of the new technology. 
   a) cut our losses 
   b) cutting edge 
   c) cut it fine 
   d) cut-throat 

3. There's lots of unfair competition in our sector from ________ outfits which don't respect the law. 
   a) crocodile tears 
   b) crashed 
   c) cowboy 
   d) cough up 

4. We did badly in the Japanese market so eventually we decided to ________ and stop. 
   a) cut our losses 
   b) cough up 
   c) clear the decks
   d) cut-throat 

5. We had to threaten them with legal action before they agreed to ________ the money they owed us. 
   a) crocodile tears 
   b) cough up 
   c) cut our losses 
   d) clear the decks 

6. We'll have to drop everything else. We'll have to ________ and concentrate on this. 
   a) clear the decks 
   b) crashed 
   c) cut it fine 
   d) cut-throat 

7. Competition is really fierce. In fact, it's ________ . 
   a) crocodile tears 
   b) crashed 
   c) cut it fine 
   d) cut-throat 

8. Bids had to be in by 6.00 and we put ours in ten minutes before the deadline. We really ________ . 
   a) crocodile tears 
   b) cut it fine 
   c) cut our losses 
   d) crashed 

9. We can't access the computer files. The system ________ this morning and we cannot fix it. 
   a) crocodile tears 
   b) cutting edge 
   c) cut our losses 
   d) crashed 

10. He said he was sorry about letting me go but I'm sure they were only ________ he was shedding. 
   a) crocodile tears 
   b) cutting edge 
   c) cut our losses 
   d) cost the earth 
 

11. I've got to learn English fast. I need a real ________ to get me up to speed quickly. 
   a) crash course 
   b) closing a deal 
   c) coining it in 
   d) chew this over 

12. The genuine results for the year were pretty bad but thanks to ________ we made them look OK! 
   a) copped out 
   b) cog in the machine 
   c) keep a cool head 
   d) creative accounting 

13. You did it too fast. You always make mistakes when you try to ________ .

   a) cut corners 
   b) closing a deal 
   c) coining it in 
   d) chew this over 

14. I'm sure a lot of our future income is going to come from the Internet and other ________ activities. 
   a) copped out 
   b) cyberspace 
   c) keep a cool head 
   d) chew this over

15. I'm not an important person in this company. I'm just a lowly ________ . 
   a) keep a cool head 
   b) closing a deal 
   c) coining it in 
   d) cog in the machine 

16. Their products are really selling well. They must be ________ . 
   a) copped out 
   b) closing a deal 
   c) coining it in 
   d) chew this over 

17. Stop getting so angry. You really need to ________ and control your temper. 
   a) closing a deal 
   b) chew this over 
   c) copped out 
   d) keep a cool head 

18. I cannot decide straight away. I'll need to ________ with my colleagues . 
   a) cog in the machine 
   b) chew this over 
   c) copped out 
   d) closing a deal 

19. He isn't a very good salesman. He has a lot of problem when it comes to ________ . 
   a) cog in the machine 
   b) copped out 
   c) cyberspace 
   d) closing a deal 

20. She didn't even try to raise the matter at the meeting. She just ________ completely. 
   a) crash course 
   b) copped out 
   c) cut corners 
   d) creative accounting

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