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