10. …Of course, if she were to find out about Berenice, she would probably turn to Tollifer for advice. And then it would be a matter of having to buy them off. A pretty kettle of fish! (Th. Dreiser)

II. Paraphrase the following sentences using the idioms studied

1. I didn’t want to smile, yet I did.

2. My friend was right to some degree.

3. More than anything else I like Verdi’s music.

4. The father never understood his son, that is why he was so cruel to the boy especially when he answered back.

5. When the parents returned home they found everything in great disorder.

6. How they got to know of the affair is beyond me.

7. He hadn’t had a substantial meal for a long time. The very thought of a steak filled him with great desire.

8. The child was seriously ill but still his mother hoped that it would pull through.

9. What a nice mess you’ve made of the whole thing!

10. For the life of me I can’t guess what is worrying her.

III. Answer the following questions using the idioms studied

1. How did you get to know about it?

2. Why do you look so mysteriously?

3. Do you agree with me?

4. How did you dare to do it?

5. Do you really like his offer?

6. What reason do you have to be angry with him?

7. What books are you fond of?

8. In what condition did you find your house when you returned from work?

9. Why don’t you stop looking for your wallet?

10. Did you really get in such a mess?

IV. Compose the situations using the idioms studied

1. A stranger comes up to speak to you.

2. You’ve burnt your favourite dress.

3. You couldn’t keep your promise of going to the theatre with your friend.

4. You’ve missed your train.

5. Someone has stolen your bag.

6. You’ve fallen ill and can’t make a report.

7. Your mother has quarreled with your boyfriend.

8. Your neighbours are constantly quarrelling.

9. Your first day at the institute after the summer holidays.

10. You’ve started to paper the walls of your room.

V. Under what circumstances would you say

1. You are right in a way.

2. I did it in spite of myself.

3. Where did you get wind of it?

4. I can’t understand you. What are you having on your mind?

5. Don’t be too hard on her.

6. I appreciate your help above all.

7. This cake is making my mouth water.

8. It’s a pretty kettle of fish.

9. It’s a topsy-turvy world.

10. It’s silly to hope against hope.

11. Why are you so hard on me?

12. I don’t have anything on my mind.

VI. Make the following story more idiomatic using the idioms studied

He put on his hat and took down from the racks the things the porter had put in them. He looked at her with shining eyes and his lips twitched. She saw that he was only just able to control his emotion. He looked out of the window, too, and they passed over brightly-lighted thoroughfares, close-packed with tram-cars, buses, and motor-vans, and they saw the streets thick with people. What a mob! The shops were all lit up. They saw the hawkers with their barrows at the kerb. “London,” he said.

He took her hand and gently pressed it. His smile was so sweet that she had to say something. She tried to be facetious.

“Does it make you feel all funny inside?”

“I don’t know if I want to cry or if I want to be sick.” (W.S. Maugham)