Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Choose the correct word to complete the question. Each question has only one correct answer.

1. She wanted to _____ the students in a way they’d never forget.
a. affect
b. effect

2. She read the story _____.
a. allowed
b. aloud

3. I think we need a new _____ for that lamp.
a. bass
b. base

4. I used a _____ to cover the window.
a. board
b. bored

5. Olympia is the _____ of Washington state.
a. capitol
b. capital

6. We did some grammar _____ in class last week.
a. chance
b. chants

7. The _____ winds through the beautiful valley.
a. creak
b. creek

8. The _____ winds through the beautiful valley.
a. creak
b. creek

9. The full payment is _____ by the end of the month.
a. do
b. due

10. I paid fifteen dollars for the _____.
a. fair
b. fare

11. Could you pick up a bag of _____ at the supermarket?
a. flower
b. flour

12. Timothy Leary wrote the _____ to Ken’s book.
a. forward
b. foreword

13. Students often _____ when I announce a test.
a. groan
b. grown

14. Doctors _____ thousands of patients a year.
a. heal
b. heel

15. Your voice is _____.
a. hoarse
b. horse

16. His efforts came to _____.
a. knot
b. naught

17. She is the _____ person who speaks French.
a. loan
b. lone

18. His ______ friends are crazy!
a. mail
b. male

19. She was in _____ for three years.
a. morning
b. mourning

20. She looks rather _____.
a. pail
b. pale

21. She looks rather _____.
a. pail
b. pale

22. There are fifteen _____ in the theater.
a. rose
b. rows

23. There are fifteen _____ in the theater.
a. rose
b. rows

24. Don’t ______ at that woman! It’s rude.
a. stair
b. stare

25. Tom visited New York, ______.
a. to
b. two
c. too

26. Results may ______ with daily or weekly use.
a. vary
b. very

27. I wish my ______ were lower.
a. weight
b. wait

28. My left arm is very ______.
a. weak
b. week

29. I don’t know ______ he will come or not.
a. whether
b. weather

The correct answers are:

1. a
2. b
3. b
4. a
5. b
6. b
7. b
8. b
9. b
10. b
11. b
12. b
13. a
14. a
15. a
16. b
17. b
18. b
19. b
20. b
21. a
22. b
23. a
24. b
25. c
26. a
27. a
28. a
29. a

The following idioms and expressions use ‘game’. Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help understanding of these common idiomatic expressions with ‘game’:

Ahead of the game

Definition: To have an advantage over a situation

I need to get up early to keep ahead of the game.
Try studying thirty minutes before you go to bed to stay ahead of the game in math.

At this stage of the game

Definition: at a certain point in a process

I think you should talk to a lawyer at this stage of the game.
He feels like he’s sure to win at the stage of the game.

Fair game

Definition: Something that is allowed to take advantage of

I think it’s fair game to enter that market.
She told me her friend wasn’t fair game.

Fun and games

Definition: Enjoyable activities

You know working at a newspaper isn’t all fun and games.
Let’s make sure to enjoy the fun and games before we leave.

Game that two can play

Definition: Used generally to refer to a negative tactic that someone could also use to compete

You know that’s a game that two can play. If you try it, I’ll do the same to you.
She doesn’t realize that she’s playing a game that two can play. It will come back to bite her.

Give the game away

Definition: Reveal a secret

If I tell you our plans, I’ll give the game away.
He gave the game away when he said that he had been in New York on business.

Name of the game

Definition: The type of activity mentioned

Winning at any cost is the name of the game in finding a job these days.
Do you really think that being completely dishonest is the name of the game?

New ball game

Definition: A new situation

I think we’ve just entered a whole new ball game with that deal!
Remember that Chicago is completely new ball game. It’ll be very challenging.

The game is up

Definition: The situation is lost and has a negative outcome

I realized the game was up and packed my bags to come home and start again.
She told him the game was up and that she was moving out.

Choose the correct answer:

1 He’s the perfect person to take on this difficult job. He’s a really hard-______ person and won’t stand for any nonsense.
a. deal
b. ship
c. nosed
d. handshake
e. bargain
2 We have to work hard for our money while the fat ______ in the City make money doing very little.
a. cats
b. pack
c. market
d. shots
e. fish
3 She’s obviously going to get a top job soon. She’s a real high ______ .
a. cats
b. flier
c. market
d. shots
e. fish
4 The product has been a great success. We’re doing a roaring ______ in it.
a. deal
b. ship
c. nosed
d. trade
e. bargain
5 Their accounts were completely phony. They had been cooking the ______ for years.
a. spinner
b. make
c. books
d. trade
e. killing
6 Well I’m not surprised they are in a mess. It’s not exactly ______ -shattering news.
a. spinner
b. make
c. books
d. till
e. earth
7 He thinks he is really important but he is only really a big ______ in a small pond.
a. it
b. pack
c. market
d. shots
e. fish
8 She’s an excellent manager. She runs a really tight ______ .
a. deal
b. ship
c. hat
d. handshake
e. bargain
9 I bought them cheap and sold them for a lot. I really made a ______ .
a. deal
b. ship
c. nosed
d. trade
e. killing
10 Tim was forced to leave his job but he got a very generous golden ______ .
a. cats
b. flier
c. hat
d. handshake
e. fish
11 The accountant had stolen a lot of money. He had had his hand in the ______ for years.
a. spinner
b. make
c. books
d. till
e. killing
12 John doesn’t look very impressive but he’s one of the big ______ in this industry.
a. it
b. pack
c. market
d. shots
e. earth
13 I’ve had enough. I’m going to hang up my ______ and retire.
a. cats
b. flier
c. hat
d. shots
e. fish
14 You can make a lot of money selling this product. It’s a real money-______ .
a. spinner
b. ship
c. nosed
d. trade
e. killing
15 If you want to succeed in this business you need to always stay ahead of the ______ .
a. it
b. pack
c. books
d. till
e. earth
16 It’s hard doing business with Maggie. She drives a hard ______ .
a. cats
b. flier
c. hat
d. handshake
e. bargain
17 He’s the only person who imports this product. He’s really cornered the ______ .
a. it
b. pack
c. market
d. till
e. earth
18 We’re both competing for the same business. Perhaps we can cut a ______ to share out the work?
a. deal
b. flier
c. hat
d. handshake
e. bargain
19 I wouldn’t trust Harry an inch. He’s definitely someone who is on the ______.
a. spinner
b. make
c. nosed
d. trade
e. killing
20 Now that I’ve got a million pounds in savings I really feel I’ve made ______ .
a. it
b. make
c. books
d. till
e. earth

The correct answers are:

1. c
2. a
3. b
4. d
5. c
6. e
7. e
8. b
9. e
10. d
11. d
12. d
13. c
14. a
15. b
16. e
17. c
18. a
19. b
20. a

A) Complete the following sentences by adapting the word given in brackets.

1) Naomi and Kurt have three children. Naomi also has a daughter from a previous ________ . (marry)

2) The film was so ________ . You knew exactly how it was going to end. (predict)

3) The goverment is concerned about the significant rise in ________ . (homeless)

4) It has been ________ proven that stroking a cat can lower your blood pressure. (scientific)

5) Thanks to the large ________ from her grandmother Paula was able to buy a villa in the south of France. (inherit)

6) In the UK it is ________ to sell cigarettes to children under 16. (legal)

7) You can ________ your tea with honey instead of sugar. (sweet)

You need to _______ the final point of the presentation. It’s rather confusing. (clear)

9) The film turned out to be a big ________ . It was really quite boring. (disappoint)

10) The ________ between the city’s two football teams is often quite fierce. (rival)

B)

1) Lizzy has just won a ________ to a world-renowned university. (scholar)

2) It’s ________ arguing with them. They are not going to change their mind. (point)

3) You will need your parents’ _______ if you want to go on the school trip. (permit)

4) It’s a wonderful restaurant. Great food and excellent service. We _______ recommend it! (high)

5) Thank you so much for the flowers. It’s very ________ of you. (thought)

6) Sarah speaks perfect French as she spent much of her __________ in Canada. (child)

7) I’ve ________ my wallet. Have you seen it anywhere? (place)

Don’t forget to ________ the modem when you have finished using it. (connect)

9) Ben sulks like a child when he doesn’t get his own way. He’s so ________ . (mature)

10) Oliver’s CV is truly _______ . He’s bound to get the job. (impress)

The correct answers are:

1) marriage

2) predictable

3) homelessness

4) scientifically

5) inheritance

6) illegal

7) sweeten

clarify

9) disappointment

10) rivalry

B)

1) scholarship

2) pointless

3) permission

4) highly

5) thoughtful

6) childhood

7) misplaced

disconnect

9) immature

10) impressive

Which word goes before each of these?

A. ball
shadow
lash
lid

B. bag
shake
held
stand

C. rest
start
strong
bang

D. dresser
dryer
band
brush

The correct answers are:

A. eye
B. hand
C. head
D. hair

Here are some English idioms that describe relationship idioms!

Positive

get on like a house on fire = to get on really well with someone: “They get on like a house on fire.”

have a soft spot for someone = to be very fond of someone: “She has a soft spot for her youngest child.”

go back a long way = to know someone well for a long time: “Those two go back a long way. They were at primary school together.”

be in with = to have favoured status with someone: “She’s in with the management.”
Negative

get off on the wrong foot with someone = to start off badly with someone: “She really got off on the wrong foot with her new boss.”

keep someone at arm’s length = to keep someone at a distance: “I’m keeping her at arm’s length for the time being.”

they’re like cat and dog = to often argue with someone: “Those two are like cat and dog.”

rub someone up the wrong way = to irritate someone: “She really rubs her sister up the wrong way.”

be at loggerheads = to disagree strongly: “Charles and Henry are at loggerheads over the new policy.”

sworn enemies = to hate someone: “Those two are sworn enemies.”
Equality and inequality

bend over backwards for someone = do everything possible to help someone: “She bent over backwards for them when they first arrived in the town.”

be at someone’s beck and call = to always be ready to do what someone wants: “As the office junior, she was at his beck and call all day.”

pull your weight = to do the right amount of work: “The kids always pull their weight around the house.”

do your fair share = to do your share of the work: “He never does his fair share!”

take someone under your wing = to look after someone until they settle in: “He took her under his wing for her first month at work.”

keep tabs on someone = to watch someone carefully to check what they are doing: “He’s keeping tabs on the sales team at the moment.”

wear the trousers = to be in control: “She wears the trousers in their relationship.”

be under the thumb = to be controlled by someone else: “He really keeps her under the thumb.”
How you communicate

get your wires crossed =to misunderstand someone because you think they are talking about something else: “I think I’ve got my wires crossed. Were you talking about car or personal insurance?”

get the wrong end of the stick = to misunderstand someone and understand the opposite of what they are saying: “You’ve got the wrong end of the stick. The fault was with the other driver, not with me.”

be left in the dark = to be left without enough information: “We’ve been left in the dark over this project. We haven’t been told how to do it.”

talk at cross purposes = when two people don’t understand each other because they are talking about two different things (but don’t realise it): “We’re talking at cross purposes here.”

go round in circles = to say the same things over and again, so never resolving a problem: “We always end up going round in circles in these meetings.”

leave things up in the air = to leave something undecided: “I hate leaving things up in the air.”

Here is some work related vocabulary!

Hiring and firing

take on = hire someone: “They’re taking on more than 500 people at the canning factory.”

get the boot = be fired: “She got the boot for being lazy.”

give someone the sack = fire someone: “He was given the sack for stealing.”

give someone their marching orders = fire someone: “After the argument, he was given his marching orders.”
How do you work?

get your feet under the table = get settled in: “It only took him a week to get his feet under the table, then he started to make changes.”

burn the candle at both ends = work day and night at something: “He’s been burning the candle at both ends to finish this project.”

knuckle under = stop wasting time and start working: “The sooner you knuckle under and start work, the better.”

put pen to paper = start writing: “She finally put pen to paper and wrote the letter.”

work all the hours that God sends = work as much as possible: “She works all the hours that God sends to support her family.”

work your fingers to the bone = work very hard: “I work my fingers to the bone for you.”

go the extra mile = do more than is expected of you: “She’s a hard worker and always goes the extra mile.”

pull your weight = do your fair share of the work: “He’s a good team worker and always pulls his weight.”

pull your socks up = make a better effort: “You’ll have to pull your socks up and work harder if you want to impress the boss!”

put your feet up = relax: “At last that’s over – now I can put my feet up for a while.”
Office politics and relationships

get on the wrong side of someone = make someone dislike you: “Don’t get on the wrong side of him. He’s got friends in high places!”

butter someone up = be very nice to someone because you want something: “If you want a pay rise, you should butter up the boss.”

the blue-eyed boy = a person who can do nothing wrong: “John is the blue-eyed boy at the moment – he’s making the most of it!”

get off on the wrong foot = start off badly with someone: “You got off on the wrong foot with him – he hates discussing office politics.”

be in someone’s good (or bad) books = be in favour (or disfavour) with someone: “I’m not in her good books today – I messed up her report.”

a mover and shaker = someone whose opinion is respected: “He’s a mover and shaker in the publishing world.”

pull a few strings = use your influence for something: “I had to pull a few strings to get this assignment.”

take the rap for something = take the blame for something: “They made a mistake, but we had to take the rap for it.”

call in a favour = ask someone to return a favour: “I need a holiday – I’m going to call in a few favours and ask the others to cover for me.”

put your cards on the table = tell people what you want: “You have to put your cards on the table and tell her that you want a pay rise!”

beat around the bush = not say exactly what you want: “Tell me – don’t beat around the bush!”

sit on the fence = be unable to decide about something: “When there are arguments, she just sits on the fence and says nothing.”

pass the buck = pass on responsibility to someone else: “The CEO doesn’t pass the buck. In fact, he often says “the buck stops here!”

take someone under your wing = look after someone: “When he was taken on, Sarah took him under her wing.”

show someone the ropes = show someone how things are done: “My predecessor showed me the ropes, so I felt quite confident.”

be thrown in at the deep end = not get any advice or support: “He was thrown in at the deep end with his new job. No-one helped him at all.”

a them and us situation = when you (us) are opposed to “them”: “The atmosphere between the two departments is terrible. There’s a real them and us situation.”

Which word goes before each of these?

A. national
millionaire
task
media

Which word goes before each of these?

B. war
natal
date
graduate

Which word goes before each of these?

C. achieve
wear
hand
weight

Which word goes before each of these?

D. legal
licit
logical
literate

The correct answers are:

A. multi
B. post
C. under
D. il

Here is some useful shopping vocabulary in English!

Types of shops in English

department store – a shop that sells many different items in different departments. Harrods is probably the world’s best known department store.

supermarket – a large shop that sells mostly food and household items.

grocer (UK) / grocery store (US) – a shop that sells food.

greengrocer – sells fresh fruit and vegetables.

butcher - sells fresh meat.

baker – sells fresh bread and cakes.

fishmonger – sells fresh fish.

chemist (UK) / drugstore (US) – sells medicines and toiletries.

pharmacy (US) – sells medicines.

newsagent - sells newspapers and magazines.

stationer – sells paper goods.

optician – sells glasses / contact lenses.

DIY store – sells things for home improvement.

hardware shop / hardware store / ironmonger – hard goods, such as nails and screws.

corner shop (UK) – a shop on the corner of your street, selling a range of basic goods – food, newspapers, sweets, bread, etc.

delicatessen (deli) – sells specialist food not normally found in supermarkets. For example, an Italian deli, an Asian deli.

bookshop / bookstore – books.

market – market traders (people who work on a market) have stalls that sell fruit and vegetables, clothes, household items and so on.

petshop - for pets and pet food.

flea market – a group of stalls selling old furniture or clothes.

tea shop (UK) – like a cafe, but sells tea and cakes.

petrol station (UK) / gas station (US) sells petrol, car products and sometimes food.
Using ’s

When we talk about shops, we often put an ’s on the end. For example, “I’m going to the chemist’s / greengrocer’s / butcher’s / baker’s / newsagent’s / fishmonger’s/ optician’s.”

We don’t use an ’s with these shops: supermarket, hardware store, petrol station, department store.
Asking for things

“Do you have any…?”
“I’m looking for…”
“I wonder if you could help me…?”
What the shopkeeper says

“I’m sorry, we’re out of stock.”
“I’m sorry, that’s the last one.”
“I’m sorry, that’s all we have left.”
What a sales person says

“Can I help you?”
“Are you looking for anything in particular?”
Your reply

“I’m just looking, thank you.”
“I’m just browsing, thank you.”
Asking about things

“Do you have this in another size?”
“Do you have this in another colour?”
“Is this made of leather / silk / plastic…?”
“Does this come with a guarantee?”
“Is this fully refundable?”
“Can I bring this back if it’s not the right size?”
“Can I bring this back if it doesn’t fit?”
Paying – what the shopkeeper says

“Do you have anything smaller?” (If you pay with a large denomination note.)
Paying – what you say

“I’m sorry, I don’t have any small change.”
“I don’t have anything smaller.”
“Would you have change for this?”
“Can I have the receipt, please?’
“Can I pay by credit card?”
“Can I pay in cash?”
“Is this on sale?”

Choose the correct answer:

1. a blessing in disguise
Losing that job was a blessing in disguise because it meant I

a. got a much better job
b. lost my house
c. was unemployed for years

2. add insult to injury
After saying Beverly made too many mistakes, Bob added insult to injury by saying

a. they were small mistakes
b. she worked very slowly
c. her work was excellent

3. clean as a whistle
The school thought their new teacher’s record was as clean as a whistle because he hadn’t told them about

a. his arrest for drunk driving
b. his dirty bathroom
c. his cheating at cards

4. hang in there | hang on in there
My friends all called and told me to hang in there after I’d

a. left for my honeymoon
b. decided to go sky-diving
c. broken my leg in an accident

5. leave well enough alone | let well enough alone
Some staff think we need new packaging for our products, and others think we should leave well enough alone and

a. change to new packaging
b. go back to older packaging
c. keep the same packaging

6. playing with fire
People who have sex with many partners without using condoms are playing with fire because

a. they could get sick of having sex
b. they could get a disease such as AIDS
c. they aren’t married

7. quick on the trigger | quick on the draw
In business, it’s often necessary to be quick on the draw, but sometimes it’s better to

a. think carefully before doing something
b. do something faster than others
c. be slow to understand what’s happening

8. read between the lines
If you read between the lines, you will

a. know what the writer really thinks
b. be able to read a lot quicker
c. make up the story for yourself

9. under wraps
The best way to keep something under wraps is to

a. put it into the refrigerator
b. stop thinking about it
c. let as few people as possible know about it

10. You can say that again!
If someone says “You can say that again!”, it means they

a. want you to repeat what you said
b. didn’t understand what you said
c. agree with what you said

The correct answers are:

1. a
2. b
3. a
4. c
5. c
6. b
7. a
8. a
9. c
10. c