3.As luck would have it, the light was bad there. his car refused to start.

my brother phoned that he couldn't come. we were completely out of bread.

there wasn't time to get another. she had forgotten her car keys. I'd lost your address.

4.Your idea makes sense.

What you say

That news article

Frank's plan

Professor Brown's explanation

The politician's speech

What Jim told us

5.Take hold of the other end of this table. the steering wheel.

my hand. that rope. Jim's arm. the handle. the oar.

6.I'm going to leave the table there for good. He's going back to Kansas

She's stopped eating fried foods Jane's given up candy

They've gone to Alaska George has stopped smoking They're returning to Hawaii

Homework exercise

Fill the blanks with the appropriate idioms.

1.The governor made an excellent speech it...

2.Jim isn't going to return to Washington he's gone back to Los Angeles....

3.When you drive your car, you should...the steering wheel with both hands.

4.I have to move the sofa, but it's too big for me to move alone. Will you..., please?

5.Alice is a person who can't make decisions she can't...about anything.

6.I was very fortunate yesterday. I'd forgotten my wallet at home and didn't have any money. But,..., I was able to borrow some from Jim.

Drill 22

Dialogue

A: Would you like a ticket to the football game? I bought it on the spur of the moment. I forgot I wouldn't be in town this weekend. B: Thanks. I'd like to go. I haven't been to any games this year. A: You haven't missed anything. The good games have been few and far between. Our team hasn't played very well.

B: But they haven't done too badly. Remember, they won the last two games. I'm confident of one thing. They have it in them to play good football.

A:Yes, that's true. I have to admit it. At the moment they seem to be on their toes.

B:I'm sure that they're bent on winning Saturday's game.

A: Maybe in the long run, they'll do all right. I hope so.

Definitions

on the spur of the moment — at that moment without previous thought or plan

I planned to study yesterday afternoon, but on the spur of the moment I changed my mind and went to the movies,

few and far between — scarce, infrequent, rare

Yes, I do hear from Roger, but his letters are few and far between. have it in one — have the capacity, ability, to do something

I think Marie has it in her to be a great concert pianist. on one's toes — alert

I think Bert will get the job. He was really on his toes and made a good impression during the interview.

be bent on something — have a strong desire to do something

I told Harry not to drive his car in such bad weather, but he was bent on leaving right away. in the long run — looking ahead to the distant future, not just the near future

You may get tired studying English every day, but in the long run you'll be glad that you did.

Substitution drill

Repeat the following sentences, using the substitutions listed.

1.I bought the ticket on the spur of the moment. Jim said yes

Harry told us

Alice left for Chicago Jack sold his car Tom decided to leave

John asked Mary to go with him

2.The good games have been few and far between. His payments on the car

The worthwhile movies His words of wisdom Our nice summer days Their trips to New York Phillip's letters

3.They have it in them to play good football.

be good students become good singers earn lots of money win every game

be leaders.

4. Jim's doing much better. He's really on his toes now. Jack's

Bill's