IDIOM CONNECTION

Time Idioms and a Cheap Ticket

Introduction

1. Have you ever won a prize? What kind of a prize?

Reading

The telephone rang. It was my friend. He was excited and began to talk in a manner that was fast and furious. I did not understand what he was trying to say. It had something to do with some cheap tickets to Hawaii. That sounded great. I have always wanted to visit Hawaii. He said that in order to get the tickets, I would have to fill in an application form online. In other words, I have to make a decision quickly. Then I will have to get back to my friend. With respect to my job, I will have to talk to my supervisor and check my schedule. This will be easy and in less than no time I should have reservations for one week in Hawaii.

Reading Questions

Answer the following questions. The answers can easily be found in the reading above.

1. How did the friend talk?

2. What did the conversation have something to do with?

3. What does he have to do in order to get the tickets?

4. In other words, what does he need to quickly do?

5. Who does he need to get back to?

6. What must he do with respect to his job?

7. What should he have in less than no time?

Making Connections and Idiom Meanings

Some of the idioms have another meaning or are connected to another meaning. Use this information to help you choose the correct meaning for each of the underlined idioms:

1. One meaning of furious is very angry. It can also mean very energetic or quick. Someone can work at a furious pace to do something. What does fast and furious mean in the following sentence?

The man in the supermarket was talking in a way that was fast and furious.
a) in a strange way
b) very rapid

2. The movie has something to do with India.
a) is about
b) is not about

3. I will do a practice test in order to prepare for the main test.
a) after I prepare
b) for the purpose of preparing

4. Sometimes when you fill in something, it means that you add material to a hole or you make something full. What does to fill in a form mean in the following sentence?

I plan to fill in the form to enter the contest.
a) send in
b) write the words in

5. Hurry, or we will be late. In other words, let's leave now.
a) Saying that in a different way
b) Maybe

6. The bank manager will get back to me tomorrow.
a) meet me in person
b) contact me

7. With respect to my friend's comments, I do not agree with them.
a) Concerning
b) After discussing

8. When you are able to finish something in no time, you can finish it very quickly. What do you think that to finish something in less than no time means in the following sentence?

I finished my work and in less than no time I was ready to go home.
a) much later
b) very quickly

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Match the Sentences

Choose the best answer for each sentence:

1. The driver was talking very rapidly after the car accident.
a) He was talking in an angry manner.
b) He was talking in a fast and furious manner.

2. The book is about a man's trip to Africa.
a) It has something to do with Africa.
b) I am not sure what the book is about.

3. I rented the truck for the purpose of moving a sofa.
a) I do not need to move a sofa.
b) I rented the truck in order to move a sofa.

4. I wrote the words on the application form for my mother's driver's license.
a) I filled in the application form for my mother.
b) My mother does not need help with her driver's license application.

5. The man is late for work almost every day. This is very serious and he may lose his job.
a) In other words, soon he may not have a job.
b) He will never lose his job.

6. I will contact my friend later about the concert tickets.
a) I will give the tickets to him later.
b) I will get back to him later.

7. Concerning the comments of my boss, I agree with them.
a) With respect to the comments of my boss, I do not believe that they are correct.
b) With respect to the comments of my boss, they are basically correct.

8. We will finish eating very quickly and go to the movie.
a) In less than no time, we will be able to go to the movie.
b) Dinner will be ready in less time than yesterday.

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Grammar Focus

Choose the word or expression that makes each of the following sentences correct:

1. The changes in the company have been _________________.
a)   fastly and furiously
b)   fast and furious
c)   fast and furiously

2. The presentation _____________________________ with cars.
a)   has something to be doing
b)   has something to be done
c)   has something to do

3. I bought the computer ________________________ some work at home.
a)   in order for
b)   in order to do
c)   in order to doing

4. I will ____________ the form and take it to the post office.
a)   fill up
b)   fill in
c)   fill over

5. ___________________________, I must take my library books back today.
a)   In other word
b)   In other words
c)   In another word

6. I must ___________________ my friend about the tickets.
a)   get back down
b)   get back to
c)   get back over

7. _________________________ my friend, I do not know if he will join us.
a)  With respect over
b)  With respect on
c)  With respect to

8. I finished cleaning my room _______________________________ .
a)  in less than no time
b)  in less than no times
c)  in less than time

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Have you spoken in a fast and furious manner about anything recently?

2. Have any changes been fast and furious in your life recently?

3. Do you like movies that have something to do with space travel?

4. Do know a book that has something to do with Africa?

5. Would you change jobs in order to get more money?

6. Have you ever rented a truck in order to move something?

7. Have you recently filled in a form for something?

8. Have you ever filled in a form for your mother?

9. Do you need to get back to anyone at the moment?

10. Does anyone need to get back to you at the moment?

11. Do you have any questions with respect to your school or job?

12. With respect to your future plans, what do you want to do?

13. Can you usually finish your homework in less than no time?

14. Can you finish your lunch in less than no time if you have to?

Role Play

Student A: Your friend phones you. He is talking in a fast and furious manner and is very excited. He has two cheap tickets to a great concert. He wants you to go with him.

Student B: You want to go to the concert but you have to work and you have to study for your night course and you are very busy with other things. Still, you really want to go to the concert.

Return to main page