Idiom

Idiomania

By OH TEIK THEAM

(The Star)

CHOOSE the idiom whose meaning is given in the brackets:

1. In the 1965 movie The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews plays Maria, a spirited governess who (is kind and compassionate).

(a) is soft in the head (b) has a heart of stone (c) has a heart of gold

2. After Captain von Trapp has introduced his seven children to her, Maria (eases nervousness) by asking the children to say their names again and their ages.

(a) steps on the juice (b) breaks new/fresh ground (c) breaks the ice

3. Maria and the children (have an excellent and friendly relationship).

(a) keep open house (b) get on/along like a house on fire (c) bring the house down

4. Maria loves the children (deeply).

(a) at heart (b) with all her heart (and soul) (c) in good heart

5. The guests at the party are (dressed in their finest and most formal clothes).

(a) dressed (up) to the nines (b) dressed (up) to kill (c) in their shirtsleeves

6. Maria and the Captain dance (close together).

(a) neck and neck (b) on their toes (c) cheek by jowl

7. Before Maria can finish her dance with the Captain, she suddenly (becomes red in the face).

(a) changes colour (b) shows her (true) colours (c) feels off colour

8. Maria must have (made her feelings apparent), for the Baroness tells her that she (Maria) is in love with the Captain.

(a) held her nose in the air (b) worn her heart on her sleeve (c) turned the other cheek

9. Confused by the whole situation, Maria goes back to the abbey, but she eventually has (a change in her feelings) and returns to the mansion.

(a) a one-track mind (b) a change of heart (c) a swollen/swelled head

10. The nuns at the abbey help Maria and her new family (elude the soldiers).

(a) teach the soldiers a painful lesson (b) wipe the smile/grin off the soldiers’ faces (c) give the soldiers the slip

Answers

1.c

2.c

3.b

4.b

5.a

6.c

7.a

8.b

9.b

10. c