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Question
Find out the meaning of the following phrase. Use them in your own sentence.
Lower than the angels
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Solution
Lower than the angels: less than perfect
sentence: The employees in Raj’s firm are lower than angels as they are seldom motivated to perform their duties.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences :
(a) coloured bus / children / we saw / full of / a yellow / excited /
(b) they were / we guessed / on the / planetarium / way / to the /
(c) part / this / study tour / of their / was /
Rearrange the following words / phrases to form meaningful sentences:
(a) your destiny / it / right hand / is said / your / that / is in /
(b) problems / determines / how / our personalities / with / in life / we deal /
(c) than others / can cope / some people / better / hardships / with /
Use the following phrase in your own sentence.
By fits and starts
Make a sentence of your own using the following phrase:
‘In search of’
Match the phrases given under Column A with their meanings given under Column B:
| A | B | |
| 1 | Fly a flag | Move quickly/suddenly |
| 2 | Fly into rage | Be successful |
| 3 | Fly along | Display a flag on a long pole |
| 4 | Fly high | Escape from a place |
| 5 | Fly the coop | Become suddenly very angry |
Idioms
Here are a few sentences from the text which have idiomatic expressions. Can you say what each means? (You might want to consult a dictionary first.)
-
Our entire class is quaking in its boots. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-
Until then, we keep telling each other not to lose heart. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-
Mr Keeping was annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-
Mr Keeping was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him.____________________________.
Here is sentence with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)
During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2)
Here is sentence with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)
Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (para 7)
1. This play has been translated into English from the Russian original. Are there any expressions or ways of speaking that strike you as more Russian than English? For example, would an adult man be addressed by an older man as my darling or my treasure in an English play?
Read through the play carefully, and find expressions that you think are not used in contemporary English, and contrast these with idiomatic modern English expressions that also occur in the play.
3. Look up the following phrases in a dictionary to find out their meaning, and then use each in a sentence of your own.
(i) You may take it that
(ii) He seems to be coming round
(iii) My foot’s gone to sleep
Look at the italic words in the following examples.
a. We bought their biggest basket, then set off toward town.
b. One night we came upon them in the windy and deserted square.
c. He bit his lip, then in a rather put out tone he said, 'Very well.'
d. I shook my head and turned away.
Here are a few more. Match the phrases to their meanings.
| Phrases | Meanings |
| set up | to start on a journey |
| break down | to tolerate a situation or a person |
| set off | to lose control of your feelings and start crying |
| put up with | to enter |
| put off | to be faced with or opposed by |
| put on | to start/ establish a company |
| come in | to refuse/ reject |
| come across | to postpone |
| come up against | to try to get help/advice/ sympathy from someone |
| turn down | to wear |
| turn in | to meet or find by chance |
| turn to | to inform on or deliver up |
Now use the phrases given above to complete the following sentences.
1. The landlord was suspicious of the two men staying in his flat so he called the police and ……………. them …………….
2. Early in the morning we packed our bags and …………… for a hike over the mountain.
3. Janvi ……………………. some photographs of her grandfather in the old trunk.
4. My father ……………….. his own business 10 years ago.
5. The Bank …………………………….. Paul's request for a loan.
6. The Corporation's decision to reduce the leave of the employees …………………… a lot of opposition.
Complete the table by explaining the following phrases/ sentences in your own
words:
| Phrases | Meanings |
| happy memories light up a life that is nearing its close |
|
| the sounds helped him along his lonely way | |
| the cold used sleep to extend its sway over all things even as a false friend lulls his chosen victim with caressing smiles |
|
| when the evening of his life was drawing in, he left his old ways and suddenly took a new turn |
|
| the whole universe is built up through love and that the grief of separation is inescapable |
|
| the post-master, a man with a face as sad and as inexpressive as a pumpkin, would be seen sitting on his chair inside |
|
| And so the clerk, like a worshipper of Lord Vishnu, repeated his customary thousand names |
|
| The haughty temper of the official had quite left him in his sorrow and anxiety, and had laid bare his human heart |
Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B
| Column A | Column B |
| (a) break out | (i) to try to find somebody or something |
| (b) to look for | (ii) as a rule or in general taking all relevant factors into account |
| (c) to take over | (iii) start suddenly and strongly |
| (d) to go into | (iv) to obtain or assume control of something, or gain control of something from somebody else |
| (e) on the whole | (v) to begin a job or career in a particular area of activity |
is / reading / tea / not / books / cup of/ everybody’s.
books / them / only / read / those who / will / love
long term / on / reading / impact / has / a / one’s personality
good / is/ for / it / substitute / a / watching TV
is / the / it / hobbies / one / best / of
There are some phrases where the word crown is used with different shades of meaning. Use the following phrases to complete the sentences meaningfully.
In her pursuit of success, Radha has distanced herself from her family. Her fame has become a real _______.
There are some phrases where the word crown is used with different shades of meaning. Use the following phrases to complete the sentences meaningfully.
They threw a wonderful party for me with costumes, games and _______ my favourite kind of ice cream.
There are some phrases where the word crown is used with different shades of meaning. Use the following phrases to complete the sentences meaningfully.
Medical science has great inventions, but organ transplantation is definitely a ______ for human beings.
Find out the meaning of the following phrase. Use them in your own sentence.
a black eye
Find out the meaning of the following phrase. Use them in your own sentence.
knock someone down
Find out the meaning of the following phrase. Use them in your own sentence.
knock someone down
Guess the meaning of the following idioms and phrases and use them in sentences of your own. One is done for you.
One-size-fits-all – suitable for or used in all circumstances
Statement: The wrist watches have adjustable belts, so one- size- fits- all.
'One man army'
Guess the meaning of the following idioms and phrases and use them in sentences of your own. One is done for you.
One-size-fits-all – suitable for or used in all circumstances
Statement: The wrist watches have adjustable belts, so one- size- fits- all.
'Once bitten twice shy'
Guess the meaning of the following idioms and phrases and use them in sentences of your own. One is done for you.
One-size-fits-all – suitable for or used in all circumstances
Statement: The wrist watches have adjustable belts, so one- size- fits- all.
'One up on'
Find out expressions/phrases which denote, ‘going away’, from each stanza. One is given below. “Vanish in the throng”.
Find out the meaning of the phrase given below and use them in your own sentence.
be in the money
Find out the meaning of the phrase given below and use them in your own sentence.
win lots of money
Find out the meaning of the phrase given below and use them in your own sentence.
money for old rope
Insert the appropriate word/phrase given below, in the sentence that follow.
After the death of my pet dog, my ______ when dad got me a new pup.
Insert the appropriate word/phrase given below, in the sentence that follow.
Do not stoop to ______ just to gain something from someone.
Insert the appropriate word/phrase given below, in the sentence that follow.
The artist completes his paintings _________.
Read the following incident.
Lokesh had always been a class-topper in tests and examinations. However, invariably, he used foul means during exams to gain those high marks.
Once, on the day of History examination, Lokesh realized that his classmate and friend Farhan came all prepared for Maths instead of History. Farhan had become desperate. So Lokesh offered to let him copy from his answer-sheet since Farhan sat just behind him.
Farhan refused. He said, ‘‘It’s all right even if I get a zero, but I can call it my own zero. I do not want to score a single mark, unearned. Cheating in exams is for cowards. Not me!’’
These words were a turning point in Lokesh’s life. He gave up cheating forever. He worked hard for what he desired and never, ever used false measures to acquire anything.
In the given story, which words/phrase can be replaced by the following ones?
- became aware - ______
- always - ______
- very upset and helpless - ______
- cheating - ______
- without working for it - ___________
- A sudden change - ___________
- gain/achieve - ___________
Rewrite the following sentence inserting the appropriate phrases in their proper form.
(to get out of, to come up, to turn on, to give in, to get into, to come down, to work out, to turn off, to give off, to give out, to work in)
He _____________ bed and _______________ the living room, to see if the door was closed
Rewrite the following sentence inserting the appropriate phrases in their proper form.
(to get out of, to come up, to turn on, to give in, to get into, to come down, to work out, to turn off, to give off, to give out, to work in)
To enjoy the music and relax, he _____________ the music and ___________ the lights.
Rewrite the following sentence inserting the appropriate phrases in their proper form.
(to get out of, to come up, to turn on, to give in, to get into, to come down, to work out, to turn off, to give off, to give out, to work in)
You should ________________ Mathematics so that you can __________ problem.
Replace the underline word/phrase with the appropriate one, to retain the proper meaning.
After the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth took over the control of Scotland.
Write as many phrases as you can using ‘enough’ and use them in your sentences.
Example: good enough
Match the phrases in table A with lines of the poem given in table B.
| Phrases | Lines |
| (1) Toil hard | (a) If you want a thing bad enough... |
| (2) Get rid of all | (b) If neither cold nor poverty, famished... |
| (3) Extremely poor condition | (c) To work day and night for it. |
| (4) Need desperately | (d) Lose all your terror of the opposition for it. |
Use the following idiom/phrase in a sentence of your own.
drop it
Use the following idiom/phrase in sentences of your own.
stumble on
Use the following idiom/phrase in sentences of your own.
look backward
Use the following idiom/phrase in sentences of your own.
let (someone) down
Use the following idiom/phrase in sentences of your own.
sign off
Use the following idiom/phrase in sentences of your own.
begin a new
Fill the gap in choosing the appropriate idioms.
The wealthy landlord made a will __________ before he could die.
Fill the gap in choosing the appropriate idioms.
If you ______________ you will realise that crime ultimately leads to poverty.
Fill the gap in choosing the appropriate idioms.
When the father learned about his son’s misdeeds, it ___________.
Fill in the blank a word or a phrase given in the brackets in their appropriate form.
“I never____________ my stomach”, she said
Fill in the blank a word or a phrase given in the brackets in their appropriate form.
The author____________ the guest at the play.
Fill in the blank a word or a phrase given in the brackets in their appropriate form.
I had seen asparagus in the shops, my mouth often____________ at the sight of them.
Fill in the blank a word or a phrase given in the brackets in their appropriate form.
The author’s guest was____________ through Paris.
Read the text again. You will find that the text contains many phrases. Match the phrases in ‘A’ and their meanings in ‘B’. After matching their meanings, make sentences of your own.
| ‘A’ Phrases | ‘B’ Meanings |
| 1. run of terrible bad luck | a. hit on a topic |
| 2. draws heavily on | b. without being affected by a particular factor |
| 3. struck a chord | c. endure in difficult circumstances |
| 4. in spite of | d. a period of time when bad things happen |
| 5. holding on | e. makes use of |
Discuss with your partner and find proverbs, idioms, or phrases of similar meaning to the one given and fill them in the stars given below:
Name the five sensory organs and provide phrases/idioms/proverbs related to them. (One is given for you.)
- to turn a deaf ear ____________
- ____________________________
- ____________________________
- ____________________________
- ____________________________
When different Prepositions are added to the same action verb meaning of the phrase, thus formed changes.
For example,
call out - announce
call at - visit
call for - summon
call up - make a telephone call
Try to guess the meaning of the underlined phrase and write them down.
- She has to carry out her duty regularly.
- You must carry on trying for success
Make a meaningful sentence by using the phrase
‘in front of’
Make a meaningful sentence by using the phrase “to belong to”.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
| 1. | A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea so he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the heavenly bird. “Have you no one to care for you, grandpa?” asked the bird. “Not a soul.” “You should not be doing such work at your age,” said the bird. “From now on I will bring you a big fish every evening. You can sell it and live in comfort.” True to her word, the bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman. |
| 2. | One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our king has news of a great bird called Kaha,” said the courtier. “Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the kingdom!” The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half the kingdom would make him a prince! |
| 3. | “Why does the king want the bird,” he asked. “He has lost his sight,” explained the courtier. “A wise man has advised him to bathe his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be found?” “No…I mean …no, no…” Torn between greed and his sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew something about the bird, informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace. |
| 4. | “If you have information about the bird, tell me”, urged the king. “I will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will personally crown you king of half my domain.” “I will get the bird for you,” cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. “But Kaha is strong. I will need help. The king sent a dozen soldiers with him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman called out to her to wait. “You drop the fish and go and I never get a chance to thank you for all that you‘ve done for me," he said. “Today I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in. Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation but the fisherman pleaded so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down. |
| 5. | She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging to her leg. By the time he realised he was being carried away, the fisherman was too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor Kaha was ever seen again. |
Pick out the words/phrases from the passage which are opposite in meaning to the following:
- Take off (Para 1)
- Readily (Para 4)
