Idiom Exercise #5: Describing Resistance

Communicative Goal: Describing Resistance          

Context: The Civil Rights Movement

Part 1, Speaking: Review and discuss the following idioms, providing your own examples.

1.   to hold out: to resist pressure for a lengthy period of time (formal, nonseparable, general, neutral to

     negative) Example: The union is still holding out, refusing negotiations.             

2.   to put up a fight: to resist using violence (formal / informal, nonseparable, general, neutral)

     Example: Sharks usually put up a fight when you try to reel them in.            

3.   to speak up: to protest in the sense of “reject an injustice,” especially if one is reluctant to do so

      (formal, nonseparable, general, neutral)

      Example: It is important to speak up for yourself.     

4.   to stand up: to protest in the sense of “reject an injustice or control” (formal,  nonseparable, general,

      positive) Example: Children usually begin standing up to their parents when they are in their teens.               

5.   to turn the other cheek: to not respond violently to violence (formal, nonseparable, general, positive)

      Example: Turning the other cheek may get all of your cheeks slapped.   

Part 2, Reading: Complete the passage below with the most appropriately conjugated idioms.

     The Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s sought to better the legal, social, financial and political status of minority groups in the United States, especially the long suffering African-American community. Although occurring in the mid-20^th century, the movement had roots stretching back more than a hundred years, to abolition. Considering the extreme repercussions they faced for exercising even their basic legal rights, it is not surprising that almost a century passed before African Americans began __________. 

     Many prominent figures emerged over the course of the movement, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. being the best remembered. Observing that __________ was not effective in the face of brutal police tactics and counter-protestor assaults, he followed Gandhi’s example of nonviolent resistance, urging his followers __________.

     Successful nonviolent resistance strategies included sit ins and lie ins, whereby protestors would refuse to move from segregated locations, such as businesses, __________ for hours until they peacefully disbanded or until carted away by police. 

     Today, civil rights leaders continue King’s legacy. They call upon younger generations to build upon the momentum of the 20th century and __________ for their rights and those of others.   

© James Doyle, 2013

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

English Class: 
Are you interested in learning more idioms? Take this great class!
http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!advanced-integrated-english-skills-workshop/c12pt

Answers: 
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link: 

http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!english-exercises-answers/c11f1    

Idiom Exercise #4: Describing Betrayal

Communicative Goal: Describing Betrayal 

Context: American Mobsters

Part 1, Speaking: 

Review and discuss the following idioms, providing your own examples.

1.   to drop a dime: to betray (informal, nonseparable, negative, in the sense of “anonymously provide

      information” Example: USCIS is encouraging citizens to drop a dime on undocumented immigrants.    

2.   to rat on: to betray (informal, nonseparable, highly negative in the sense of “provide information”)

      Example: Teachers’ pets usually rat on their classmates.             

3.   to turn in: to betray (formal, separable, general, neutral in the sense of “give to one’s enemies”)

     Example: The don was apprehended when one of his former associates turned him in to the FBI.            

4.   to turn on: to betray (informal / formal, nonseparable, general, neutral)

     Example: Dogs can turn on their masters.            

5.   to turn state’s: to betray (formal, nonseparable, positive, in the sense of “testify against someone”)

      Example: It is rare for wise guys to turn state’s.   

Part 2, Reading: 
Complete the passage below with the most appropriately conjugated idioms.

     Although ruthless criminals, American mobsters live by their own codes of honor and loyalty to one another. This is vital to their success as their very survival depends upon secrecy and operating in the shadows. Indeed, the greatest taboo within the syndicates is __________ one’s partners in crime.

     As such, they can usually only be successfully prosecuted when law enforcement agencies are able to convince them __________ each other.

     It is incredibly difficult, however, for the Department of Justice to convince gangsters __________ against their former employers. Every wise guy knows that, by taking the stand, he and his family immediately become targets of deadly reprisals. 

     The same is true for the larger community. Victims of mafia extortion often have ties to "the family" and a confused sense of ethnic solidarity. Most obviously, they are also reluctant __________ as they fear the grave repercussions.

     Despite this culture of loyalty and climate of fear, an ambitious soldier or enforcer who wishes to move up the ladder of the underworld may __________ a kingpin, expecting to fill the void left once his former employer is locked up. 

© James Doyle, 2013

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

English Class: 
Are you interested in learning more idioms? Take this great class!
http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!advanced-integrated-english-skills-workshop/c12pt

Answers: 
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link: 

http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!english-exercises-answers/c11f1    

Idiom Exercise #3: Describing Lying

Communicative Goal: Describing Lying

Context: President Nixon

Part 1, Speaking: Review and discuss the following idioms, providing your own examples.

1.    to lie through one’s teeth: to blatantly lie (nonseparable, informal, highly negative)

      Example: The pickpocketer lied through his teeth when we caught him red-handed.

2.   to live a lie: to pretend to be someone / something that one is not (nonseparable, informal, negative)  

      Example: Many homosexuals in conservative societies live a lie.    

3.   to be economical with the truth: to be slightly misleading (nonseparable, formal, positive)

      Example: Most attorneys are economical with the truth.        

4.   to pull a fast one: to lie in the sense of “cheat” (nonseparable, informal, negative)

      Example: The con artist almost pulled a fast one on her.  

5.   to take in: to lie in the sense of “trick” (separable, formal, slightly negative)

      Example: Defense attorneys often take in juries.  

Part 2, Reading: Complete the passage below with the appropriately conjugated idioms.

     U.S. president Richard Nixon is, perhaps, the one American politician most reviled for his deceptiveness, so much so that it earned him the epithet “Tricky Dick,” popular caricatures of him commonly depicting him in the act of nervously lying and __________ the gullible.

     Although most politicians can __________ to some degree, Nixon was accused of __________ to the American public by denying any involvement in the notorious Watergate scandal, infamously claiming during a news conference “I’m not a crook.”

     He almost __________ on voters, but with the House of Representatives poised to impeach him, Nixon decided to resign from the presidency of the United States in 1974 instead of continuing __________.

© James Doyle, 2013

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

English Class: 
Are you interested in learning more idioms? Take this great class!
http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!advanced-integrated-english-skills-workshop/c12pt

Answers: 
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link: 

http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!english-exercises-answers/c11f1    

Idiom Exercise #2: Describing Honesty

Communicative Goal: Describing Honesty 

Context: Honesty in American Society

Part 1, Speaking: Review and discuss the following idioms, providing your own examples.

1.   to come clean: to tell the truth (informal, nonseparable, positive, in the sense of “confess”)  

      Example: Come clean, buddy!               

2.   to come forward: to tell the truth (formal, nonseparable, positive, in the sense of “share information”)

      Example: The police are asking witnesses to come forward.    

3.   to lay [something] on the line: to tell the truth (informal, separable, negative, in the sense of “being

      direct regarding a negative condition or situation”)

      Example: Lay it on the line for me, doc.                

4.   to play by the rules: to act honestly (informal, nonseparable, positive, general) 

      Example: If you play by the rules, you will get ahead.           

5.   to shoot from the hip: to tell the truth (informal, nonseparable, positive, in the sense of “being direct”)

     Example: I am going to shoot from the hip and tell you how it is.            

Part 2, Reading: Complete the passage below with the most appropriately conjugated idioms.

     Honesty is an important value in American society, instilled in us from an early age. Parents often impart this to their children through the well-known, probably apocryphal,  story of a young George Washington _________ to his father that he had cut down a cherry tree.   

     Another prominent president admired for his forthrightness, Lincoln, was nicknamed “Honest Abe” for his fair business practices. Upon entering politics, however, he soon discovered that he could not always __________ in order to pass legislation and that he had to resort to bribery, at times.

    Taking a cue from these respected leaders, American candidates for office often try to portray themselves as unreserved,  no-nonsense reformers who __________.

     Many, if not most, politicians today are far from honest, of course. President Nixon, also known as “Tricky Dick,” was notorious for lying through his teeth to the American public. Although he eventually stepped down as a result of the Watergate scandal, he never really ______it all_____.  

     Today, the general public is generally truthful in personal and business dealings. As a civic responsibility, we are also expected __________ and report any suspicions of wrongdoing. Indeed, we are now constantly urged in public announcements to do so with the familiar advice “If you see something, say something.” 

© James Doyle, 2013

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

English Class: 
Are you interested in learning more idioms? Take this great class!
http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!advanced-integrated-english-skills-workshop/c12pt

Answers: 
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link: 

http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!english-exercises-answers/c11f1    

Idiom Exercise #1: Describing Revolutions

Communicative Objective: Describing Revolutions

Context: The American Revolution

Part 1, Speaking: Review and discuss the following idioms, providing your own examples.

1.   to drive off: to temporarily expel (informal, separable, neutral, emphatic)

      Example: Poor customer service can drive off customers.     

2.   to drive out: to permanently expel (informal, separable, neutral, emphatic)   

     Example: Catholics were driven out of colonial New England.            

3.   to hold off: to successfully resist an attack (informal, separable, positive, desperate)   

      Example: We couldn’t hold off the rioters any longer.               

4.   to take on: to challenge (informal, separable, positive, optimistic)  

      Example: Apple took on Microsoft in the tablet market and has won.               

5.   to throw off: to reject control (formal, separable, positive, emphatic)  

      Example: Slaves who threw off their masters followed the underground railroad to the north.          

Part 2, Reading: Complete the passage below with the most appropriately conjugated idioms.

    The American War of Independence (1775-1783) developed out of the failure of the British crown to address American colonists’ political grievances, beginning with protests against what was perceived as unjust taxation. This culminated in Samuel Adams and his associates, the Sons of Liberty, __________ the hated Tea Act by boarding three British ships and dumping hundreds of chests of tea into Boston harbor.  

     Although British troops had previously murdered 5 civilians in the March 5^th, 1770 incident that  would become known as the Boston Massacre, the colonists’ frustrated political movement became a real revolution when colonial militias were able __________ British regulars at the April 19^th, 1775 Battle of Lexingon and Concord, forcing a tactical withdrawl to Charlestown.

     This was followed by the Siege of Boston, in which the militias, now the Continental Army, besieged British troops in Boston. This permitted Washington __________ British forces from deploying to other areas of New England.

     Victories and defeats continued on both sides for years. The war concluded with the new nation __________ the last British garrison from New York with cheers and jeers during their evacuation and the formal __________ of the shackles of the British empire in the signing of the Treaty of Paris, both in 1783. 

© James Doyle, 2013

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

English Class: 
Are you interested in learning more idioms? Take this great class!
http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!advanced-integrated-english-skills-workshop/c12pt

Answers: 
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link: 

http://www.mylanguagesolutions.com/#!english-exercises-answers/c11f1