Q.1
When somebody stands between you and something you are trying to watch (deliberately or otherwise), in such a way as to block your view, you might well say: 'Could you move a little, please? ... ... '
  • You make a better door than a window.'
  • There seems to be an elephant in the room.'
  • I'm in between a rock and a hard place.'
  • Blood is thicker than water.'
Q.2
Choose the most accurate and stylish answer. 'He served that club for years on end and if there were any decency, they would have made him president once old Cyril retired or died: that would have been such a nice thing for him, after all his other recent bad luck. But instead, they've given him ... ... '
  • ... a slap in the face.
  • ... a kick in the teeth.
  • ... the hard shoulder.
  • ... a bunch of fives.
Q.3
You are out for the day with a group of English friends, who have also brought along some other people that you don't know very well. In casual conversation you ask one of your own friends about one of these other people, and he tells you ~ almost offhandedly ~ 'Oh, Steve? He's all right really, but sometimes I wonder whether he isn't a few sandwiches short of a picnic.' What is this supposed to mean?
  • Steve very rarely contributes as generously as everyone else when eating together; i.e., he's mean ('stingy', even).
  • Steve is absent-minded, didn't make or bring along his own packed lunch, and is sure to be 'on the scrounge' for other people's leftovers when you all stop to eat.
  • Steve is not very intelligent.
  • Steve is a trainee caterer who has not quite finished his course yet.
Q.4
Choose the most accurate and stylish answer. 'Our team consists of nice, competent people who all know one another and their duties well, and work very happily together. Bringing in some jumped-up young Motivation Manager is only going to ... ... '
  • ... put the cows among the corn.
  • ... set the cat among the pigeons.
  • ... let the fox into the chicken-shed.
  • ... set the river on fire.
Q.5
Current words for such things are always changing, of course; but in an earlier generation, one might have heard (for instance) a theatre or music-hall audience, or perhaps a group of people in the street, refer to something as 'a smasher', 'a hum-dinger' or 'a peach'. What would they probably have been talking about?
  • A car.
  • A girl / woman.
  • An attractive dessert on a menu.
  • A still-life painting or theatrical 'set'.
Q.6
English has many ways of expressing that something is so rare as to be completely unlikely (e.g. that someone ought to do something, but in practice they will never get round to it). Which is the LEAST likely way, as expressed here?
  • He cleans that car of his once in a blue moon.
  • That car of his gets a wash once in a month of Sundays if it's lucky.
  • There's more chance of Hell freezing over than of anyone ever seeing that car clean and shining again.
  • 'Pigs might fly.'
Q.7
Choose the most accurate and stylish answer. 'If I were you, I'd avoid going outdoors tomorrow if you possibly can: the forecast says it's going to be raining ... ... '
  • ... battleships.
  • ... cats and dogs.
  • ... mothers-in-law.
  • ... buckets.
Q.8
Choose the most accurate and stylish answer. 'When it comes to a crisis, I'm afraid he's about as much use as ... ... .'
  • ... a bull in a china-shop.
  • ... a chocolate teapot.
  • ... a concrete fish.
  • ... a lead balloon.
Q.9
Choose the most accurate and stylish answer. When someone continues to be energetic and enthusiastic about a project, even once everyone else recognises it is far too late to expect any progress or success, we might mock them for ... ...
  • ... kicking a man while he's down.
  • ... flogging a dead horse.
  • ... saving their bacon.
  • ... following the fold.
Q.10
'It's a shame you fell straight asleep after supper last night; you should have stayed awake and watched that film, it was an absolute scream.' What does this final phrase tell you about the film?
  • It was a particularly chilling horror movie.
  • It was an appalling production; the cinematography was of such low quality that you wanted to scream (and/or switch off).
  • The film was very funny indeed.
  • The most memorable part of the film was the long scream as one of the characters died at the end.
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