Mini-Lesson 4.1

Fill in – write in a blank (on an application form, for example)

Fill in (for) – substitute for

Fill one in – provide missing information

Fill out – complete (an application form, for example)

Find out – learn, discover

A fish out of water – someone not in his/her normal surroundings

Fix up – repair, renovate

Follow in one’s footsteps – do what someone else did (esp. a parent)

For good – permanently, forever

For the time being – temporarily, for now

From out of the blue – unexpectedly, without warning

Mini-Lesson 4.2

Get a kick out of (doing smth) – enjoy, have fun doing smth

Get along with – have good relationships with

Get carried away – go too far, do too much, buy too much

Get in one’s blood – become a habit, become customary

Get in over one’s head – take on too much responsibility, bite off more than one can chew

Get in the way – block, obstruct

Get in touch with – contact

Mini-Lesson 4.3

Get off – leave (a vehicle)

Get off the ground – start to be successful

Get on – board (a vehicle)

Get over – recover from (a disease)

Get rid of – discard, no longer have

Get under way – begin, start

Give (someone) a cold shoulder – act unfriendly toward someone, ignore

Give away – distribute (for free)

Exercise: Fill in the blanks in the sentences or dialogues with idioms from the list above. There will be one word per blank. It may be necessary to change the verb forms in order for the sentences to be grammatically correct.

1. “How did you _________ _________ where Warren lives?” “I just looked it up in my address book.”

2. “I’m interested in the job that was advertised in the newspaper.” “Fine. Just _____________ ___________ this application form.”

3. Don’t forget to ____________ ___________ the date on your check.”

4. “Is Agnes still mad at you?” “I suppose so. I saw her at a party last weekend, and she just _______________ me __________ ____________ ________________.”

5. “Are you moving to Baltimore ___________ _____________?” “No, just _____________ _____________ ___________ ___________. I’ll be back here in a month or two.”

6. “That old paint that you have stored in your garage is a fire hazard.” “You’re right. I should ___________ ___________ _____________ it.”

7. Some companies _______________ ______________ free samples of new products in order to familiarize customers with them.”

8. “How’s that advanced computer class you’re taking, Polly?” “Not so good. I can’t understand a word that the teacher or any other students are saying. I really feel like _______ _______ ________ _____ ______.”

9. “Don’t you just hate all this graffiti?” “It is ugly, isn’t it? I’ve never understood why people __________ ___________ __________ _______ __________ writing on walls. It doesn’t seem like much fun to me.”

10. When the train stopped, a mysterious looking woman in a black raincoat _____________ _____________ the train and found her seat.

11. “Maxwell’s project will be very successful, I think.” “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure it will ever __________ _________ _________ _________.”

12. Do you ______________ _____________ ____________ your new roommate, or do you two argue?

13. “That run-down old house that David bought looks terrific.” “Yes, he’s _____________ it ___________ beautifully, hasn’t he?”

14. “Has Edward ___________ ___________ ___________ __________ you lately?” “No, he hasn’t. I don’t think he has my new telephone number.”

15. “Will the concert start soon?” “It should ___________ __________ ___________ any minute now.”

16. Living by the ocean really _____________ _____________ your _____________. Once you’ve lived here, you never want to leave.

17. This is the last stop. Everyone has to _________ ________ the bus here.

18. Professor Dunbar came down with the flu, so her teaching assistant ___________ ___________ ____________ her for a few days.