IDIOM CONNECTION

Clothes Idioms and a Full Closet

Introduction

Do you think that you have too many clothes?

Reading

My clothes closet is bursting at the seams and I want to try and get rid of some of these clothes. I also want to put some of them in mothballs for the summer. Now is a good time to go through everything and see what I really do not need. I like to get dressed up when I go out in the evening so I have many clothes. However, many of these clothes are now out of fashion. I need to buckle down and begin to do something about this situation soon. I will be much happier when I have more space in my closet. I will pull up my socks and do something about this problem during the next few weeks.

Reading Questions

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

1. Is the woman's clothes closet bursting at the seams?

2. What does she want to get rid of?

3. For how long will she put her clothes in mothballs?

4. What is she going to go through?

5. When does she like to get dressed up?

6. Are many of her clothes out of fashion?

7. What is she going to buckle down and do?

8. When is she going to pull up her socks and do something about this problem?

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 following idioms:

1. The seams of a suitcase is the place where two pieces of material are sewn and join together. To burst means to break or crack or explode. What does it mean when something is bursting at the seams?
a) something is not fashionable
b) something is very full or very crowded

2. someone is trying to get rid of something
a) someone is trying to give or sell something to someone
b) someone is trying to buy something

3. Mothballs contain a chemical and they are often in the shape of a ball. They are used to protect clothing from moths and other insects. What does to put one's clothes in mothballs mean?
a) to pack one's clothes for a holiday
b) to put one's clothes somewhere for a period of time

4. someone is going through something
a) someone is going somewhere
b) someone is searching or looking carefully through something

5. someone is dressed up
a) someone is wearing good clothes
b) someone is wearing casual clothes

6. something is out of fashion
a) something is very popular for people to wear
b) something is not popular for people to wear

7. One possible origin of the idiom to buckle down and do something is from the time when knights put on a suit of armor and had to buckle it up to get ready to work hard and fight. What could it mean when someone decides to buckle down and do something?
a) someone will begin to work hard to do something
b) someone has decided to relax and not do anything

8. someone is pulling up his or her socks
a) someone is going to continue to do things the same as usual
b) someone is making a greater effort than before to do something

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Correct or Incorrect

Which of these sentences uses the idiom correctly? Which uses it incorrectly? Why?

1. My friend likes to get dressed up and go to nice restaurants. She probably has many nice clothes.
a) Correct
b) Incorrect

2. I must buckle down and begin to study hard for my exam. There is no reason to work hard now.
a) Correct
b) Incorrect

3. My father wants to get rid of some of his books. He has too many of them.
a) Correct
b) Incorrect

4. The woman does not have many clothes. Her closet is bursting at the seams.
a) Correct
b) Incorrect

5. I plan to put my winter clothes in mothballs for the summer because I may need some of them soon.
a) Correct
b) Incorrect

6. “Please go through your purse to see if my keys are there. They are not here.”
a) Correct
b) Incorrect

7. Many of my clothes are out of fashion. I do not want to wear them anymore.
a) Correct
b) Incorrect

8. My friend must pull up his socks and begin to work hard at school. He has been working hard all term.
a) Correct
b) Incorrect

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Statement and Response

Choose the best response to each of the following statements:

1. “My cousin finally pulled up his socks and began to study before his final exams.”
a) “That's great.”
b) “Well, he should be making a greater effort.”

2. “Why are you dressed up?”
a) “I am going to relax in the park.”
b) “I have a job interview today.”

3. “My clothes closet is bursting at the seams.”
a) “Maybe you should give some clothes to your friends.”
b) “Why don't you buy some more clothes?”

4. “I am going to put my winter coat in mothballs this weekend.”
a) “That's a good idea. Then you can easily wear it if it gets cold.”
b) “What if it gets cold again?”

5. “I want to go through my old photographs and get rid of some of them.”
a) “Yes, I also want to keep all of my photos.”
b) “That's a big job.”

6. “All of my clothes are out of fashion.”
a) “Yes, they are very nice and modern.”
b) “Why not buy something new.”

7. “I need to buckle down and study for my test tonight.”
a) “Maybe we can meet another time.”
b) “Great, what time should we go to the movie?”

8. “I am going to get rid of my old bicycle next week.”
a) “That's good. Maybe you can ride it next month.”
b) “What are you going to do with it?”

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Grammar Focus

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

1. The man's apartment is bursting __________________.
a)   in the seams
b)   for the seams
c)   at the seams

2. I plan to ______________ my old computer.
a)   search to
b)   get rid off
c)   get rid of

3. I plan to put my winter coat __________________ for the summer.
a)   in a mothball
b)   in mothballs
c)   in the mothballs

4. I plan to _____________ my old clothes this weekend.
a)   have went through
b)   go through
c)   going through

5. I like to ________________ when I go to a nice restaurant.
a)   get dressed down
b)   get a dress up
c)   get dressed up

6. The woman does not like her clothes because they are ______________ .
a)   not in fashion
b)   into fashion
c)   in the fashion

7. I will ________________ and finish my homework early tonight.
a)  buckle up
b)  buckle down
c)  buckle under

8. I plan to _____________________ and try to finish my school project this weekend.
a)  put my socks on
b)  pull up my socks
c)  pull down my socks

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Has your suitcase ever been bursting at the seams?

2. Is your backpack or other bag usually bursting at the seams?

3. Do you plan to get rid of any books soon?

4. Do you have anything else that you want to get rid of?

5. Do you ever put your winter clothes in mothballs during the summer?

6. Do you know anyone who keeps his or her clothes in mothballs all year?

7. Do you ever go through your old clothes and give some of them to your friends?

8. Do you have anything that you want to go through and organize?

9. Do you like to get dressed up when you go out?

10. Do you know anyone who does not like to dress up?

11. Do you have any clothes that are out of fashion?

12. What style of clothes have recently gone out of fashion?

13. When you have some work to do, do you usually buckle down and do it?

14. Do you know anyone who will never buckle down and do his or her work?

15. Have you ever had to pull up your socks to study hard for something?

16. Do you know anyone who recently pulled up his or her socks and began to work hard?

Role Play

Student A: Your clothes closet and your room are bursting at the seams. You need to do something about this. You need to get rid of some things.

Student B: You are advising your friend. You suggest that your friend get rid of many things. Your friend thinks that you want to get rid of too many things.

Return to main page