THE WORLD OF WORDS - ETImag

THE WORLD OF WORDS
WORD LORE AND MORE 3
Dear reader of ETI MAG,
Below you will find the answer key to the exercises in WORD LORE AND MORE 3, June,
2011. Unless you have the printed version of ETI MAG, these answers may make little
sense.
However, to appreciate your effort visiting this section, we are including additional
exercises--with their answers-- and language notes in a self-contained format. Enjoy!
A. INTERACTING WITH THE JUNE ISSUE OF ETI MAG
I. ANSWERS TO THE MULTIPLE CHOICE EXERCISES IN WORD LORE AND MORE (3)
Please remember that the instructions for the multiple choice exercises stated that there
could be one, two or three correct answers or none at all.
1. Right answers: (a) and (b). Both flip one’s lid and blow a gasket are informal
expressions meaning to get angry. To flip one’s lid (or sometimes to flip one’s wig in
American English) also means to become crazy. Other similar informal expressions are to
flip out, to go ballistic and to go postal.
Wrong answer: (c) To anger up is not standard English, at least for the time being. But
please remember that language is a living construct and that if enough English speakers
were to start using this expression, it might eventually be added to the English language.
2. Wrong answers: (a), (b) and (c). A flasher, in informal English, is a male who exposes
himself, i.e. he shows his genitals in public (and presumably derives pleasure out of
doing so).
3. Right answers: (a), (b) and (c). To shake a leg, get craking and get a move on mean to
hurry up. They are usually used as a command: “Hey, shake a leg. We’re running late.”
4. Right answers: (a) and (b). It is in the cards is the American version, and the British
equivalent is It’s on the cards.
Wrong answer: (c) Strictly speaking, the expression It’s carded is not part of the standard
English lexicon. To card someone or to get carded means to ask or to be asked to
produce an ID to prove that your age entitles you to buy alcohol, be admitted to a social
gathering, etc. Ex: I got carded before I could buy beer/ They carded me before they sold
me some beer.
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5. Right answers: (a) and (b). If something is easy to do it’s a piece of cake or a cakewalk.
Wrong answer: (c) a cakedance is just not part of the stand English lexicon (vocabulary).
II. DID YOU KNOW?
MORE ABOUT THE HIDDEN MEANING OF CERTAIN WORDS
In addition to come, as indicated in the magazine, other everyday words with a hidden
meaning are box, which is used to refer to a woman’s genitalia, while basket makes
reference to a man’s sexual organs, particularly as seen through tight clothes.
There are several other words that belong in this category (sexual meanings) which we will
be presenting from time to time in forthcoming issues.
III. ANSWERS TO MATCH THE COLUMNS
The idea behind this exercise was to test your knowledge of words which usually go
together, as we explain below:
1. slip---mind :
If something slips your mind, your forget it. Ex: I’m sorry I did not phone you as I had
promised. It completely slipped my mind.
2. dash—hopes:
Ex: Her decision to live abroad dashed my hopes of establishing a relationship with her,
i.e. destroyed it, ruined it.
3. touch—bargepole (British English)/ ten-foot pole (American English):
The complete phrase is not to touch someone or something with a bargepòle/teen-foot
pole. This is used as a warning for somebody not to go near somebody or something, or
to become involved with somebody or in something because of the possible danger in
doing so. Ex.: I hear your are planning to use LSD. It’s riskyh. I wouldn’t touch it with a
ten-foot pole.
4. dig---heels:
To dig in your heels is to become obstinate, to refuse to change. Ex.: Our teacher dug in
her heels and had us learn the poem by heart even though we begged her not to ask us
to do that.
5. keep—eye
To keep an eye on something or somebody is to watch or take care of sth or sb. Ex:: Will
you keep an eye on my stuff while I go to the restroom(at the airport, bus station, etc.)?
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B. ADDITIONAL EXERCISES FOR WHOEVER VISITS THIS WEB PAGE
I. FURTHER MULTIPLE CHOICE
One, two, or all three choices may be correct, or none at all. The right answers are at the
bottom of this article.
1. If you are in a vulnerable/risky situation alone and without the explicit support of
others you are out on a ..........
a. prank b. ruse c. limb
2. To trick or deceive someone, usually by confusing them is to ..................into doing
someting.
a. bamboozle b. befuddle c. begrudge
II. DECIDE WHETHER TRUE OR FALSE
1. If something is off the charts you cannot get it, buy it or get hold of it any longer.
2. To jump the gun is to use a gun unwisely, unnecessarily, etc.
3. One of the meanings of to clock someone is to hit them.
4. To swindle someone is to get something from them (usually money) through
deception.
5. To quibble is to argue about what might be regarded as unimportant matters or
details.
III. WHAT DOES THE EXPRESSION PECKING ORDER MEAN?
Pecking order is the hierarchical order in an organization where some people are more
powerful, have more rights and presumably more obligations than others. For instance,
a boss is higher in the pecking order than an employee who has just joined a company.
In turn, the owner of the company is higher up than the boss (unless he is the boss
himself). The expression is apparently taken from what happens among fowl, where
some birds peck those that are weaker than them and submit to being pecked by
dominant, stronger birds.
IV. AN INVITATION TO SUBMIT AN ANSWER AND WIN A PRIZE
This issue’s answer is: What is it that has a silver lining?
Those who send the right answer will receive a gift from TOOLS FOR TEACHERS. Email
your answer to newtoolsforteachers@yahoo.com.ar
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V. ANSWERS TO FURTHER MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Right answer: (c) limb
Wrong answers: (a) and (b) A prank is a rather silly trick you play on someone just for
fun. A ruse is a trick intended to deceive.
2. Right answer: (a) bamboozle
Wrong answers: (b) and (c). To befuddle is to confuse. This word is usually used as an
adjective. Ex.: They looked befuddled after they listened to the lecture.
To begrudge is (i.) to be annoyed that someone has something that you think they do
not deserve. Ex.: To begrudge someone’s success. The other meaning (ii) is to feel
unhappy or irritated that you have to do something. Ex.: Most commuters begrudge
having to spend a lot of time in order to get to their jobs (or) ...the time they spend
getting to their jobs.
VI ANSWERS TO DECIDE WHETHER TRUE OR FALSE
1. False: something which is off the charts is exceptional, extraordinary. It is so good
that it cannot be included in the regular charts (best sellers, etc.). This is a new
expression which is similar to off the chain/hook/heezy, used mostly by teen agers in
informal language.
2. False: to jump the gun is to act prematurely without thinking about the
consequences of your actions. Ex.: The pollsters jumped the gun when they
announced Robertson as the winner of the election.
3. True. Ex.: I didn’t like what he said to me so I clocked him.
4. True: Ex.: I bought a TV set from a stranger who assured me it was brand new.
Unfortunately, it soon went out of order and I realized I had been swindled.
5. Right. Ex.: Let’s not quibble about whether we’ll meet at 8:00 or 8:15
TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE
We hope you enjoyed this section of ENGLISH TEACHING INTERACTIVE. Comments and
suggestions are welcome. Send your email to newtoolsforteachers@yahoo.com.ar
WORD LORE AND MORE is written by Oriel Villagarcia, a certified teacher from the
Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. He holds a Master of Arts in linguistics for language
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teaching from the University of Lancaster, and has done graduate work at the Univeristy
of Texas as a Fulbright Scholar. He was a member of the Advisory Panel for the first
edition of the Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners. He runs advanced
language workshops on idioms, informal/language and vulgar English. He can be
contacted at newtoolsforteachers@yahoo.com.ar
TOOLS FOR TEACHERS announces a workshop on FUN WITH SLANG: Over 100
expressions fully contextualized to make them memorable and easy to remember.
Date: Saturday, 25 June, 10:00 to 13:00
At: SBS BARRIO NORTE, Avda. Cordoba 1840, Buenos Aires
Fee: $58 or $54 (students)
Reserve a seat by sending an email to newtoolsforteachers@yahoo.com.ar with your full
name, phone numbers, and postal address
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