Dont take it literally!   
  


    ,     :         ,               .     . ,   ,    ,     .     ,     .     ,            .





 

Dont take it literally!   





 1


  ,      .



THE LAWYER AND THE HORSE



A man was charged with stealing a horse, and after a long trial the jury acquitted him. Later in the day the man came back to see the judge.

Judge, he said, I want you to arrest that dirty lawyer of mine. He is___________________.

Whats the matter? asked the judge. He won your case, didnt he? What do you want your lawyer arrested for?

Well, its this way, Sir, answered the man. You see, I didnt have the money to pay him, so he went and took the horse I stole.



lawyer ; charge  (with sth   -); steal (stole; stolen) ; trial  ; jury ; acquit ; judge ; dirty: ; Whats the matter?   ?; win (won; won) ; case:  (  ); well  ,  ; well, itsthisway ,   



:

1. as honest as the day is long

2. as crooked as the dogs hind legs

3. drunk as a piper

4. sober as a judge



honest ; crooked ; hind legs  ; piper ; ; sober 



: 

     .  : He is as crooked as the dogs hind legs.    :   ,    .      crooked:    ,   . A crook   , ,   ,     .

  :

1. as honest as the day is long   

3. drunk as a piper     (:  )

4. sober as a judge     (:  )




 2


   ,      ,  ,         , -      ,  .       ?








:

   ,  : It is raining cats and dogs.      it is raining pigs and dogs.       .




 3


   ,      .



THE SHEIKH AND HIS TWO WIVES



There was a sheikh who had two wives. One day, he went to the market and bought two gold necklaces. When he gave each woman her necklace, he told her not to mention the gift to the other.

After some time had gone by, the wives, who were jealous of each other, fell upon him with questions:

"Tell us, our dear husband, which of us do you love more?"

______________! I have told you many times that I love you both equally," answered the sheikh.

But the women were not satisfied with this answer.

"We want to know which of us you love the greatest," they insisted.

"My beloved ones, I can't see why you're quarrelling. My heart belongs to the both of you."

But the women were unrelenting. "You can't shake us off that easily. Well keep at it until you reveal to us the mistress of your heart."

Finally, the sheikh gave in.

"Alright," he said. "I will tell you the truth. My heart belongs to the one I gave a gold necklace."

The women looked at each other, each thinking that she had won. The peace in the house was restored.

:

1. Here goes!

2. There you go again!

3. Heres to my beautiful wives!

4. Here you are.



sheikh ; necklace ; mention ; go by ; be jealous  (of sb   -); fall:  (upon sb   -); equally ; satisfied ; greatest:  ; insist ; beloved ; quarrel ; belong ; unrelenting , ; shake off  ( -); keep at it:  ,  ; reveal ,  (.); mistress: ; give in , ; restore 



:

 : There you go again!   ,  !.   ,      -  . : I just told you not to slam the door, and there you go again!      ,     ,    !

  :

1. Here goes!   ,    ,     .     : ,   !

3. Heres to my beautiful wives!      !

4. Here you are! ,    .




 4




 ,   . ,         , ,        ;            .         ,    Good luck!     . ?

1. Go jump in the lake!

2. Go climb a tree!

3. Break a leg!

4. Ill break your neck!








: 

       Break a leg!     ,  ,      .       , ,           .




 5


,    .   ,  .      .



FIVE FROGS



JOHNNY: Five frogs were sitting on a log (). One decided to go for a walk. How many frogs stayed on the log?

TOMMY: Four.

JOHNNY: No. The right answer is three. Another frog ____________.



:

1. jumped on all fours

2. took the high jump

3. followed suit

4. split the log



:

   : Another frog followed suit.      . Follow suit    -. ,   ,   -.;  -.       ,  suit [sju:t]       ,  follow suit    .

  :

1. jump on all fours     .  all fours   ;

2. take the high jump     ;

4. split the log   -. : Ill split the log for you.    ,   . (:      .)




 6


     ,      .



A quack doctor was lecturing about his famous herb tonic to a rural audience.

Yes, gentlemen, he said, I have sold this tonic for twenty-five years and never heard a word of complaint. Now, what does that prove?

It proves that ________________, came from the crowd.

:

1. man does not live by bread alone;

2. there is no fool like an old fool;

3. dead men tell no tales;

4. murder will out.



quack -; lecture  ; herb  ,  ; rural ; audience ; complaint ; now; prove ; crowd 



:

   : Dead men tell no tales.   ;      . Tell tales    , .

  :

1. Man does not live by bread alone.     .

2. There is no fool like an old fool.     ;      .

4. Murder will out.      ;     .











 7


   ,      .



THE ABSENTMINDED ADMIRAL



An old admiral was famous in the navy for his bad temper, so everyone tried hard not to annoy him. One week, his ships were going to take part in a big international exercise, so he came on board in the evening, had his dinner and then went to bed. In the morning he had his breakfast early, came up to the bridge and examined the ships in his group carefully. Then he said angrily, There should be two cruisers in this group, but I can only see one. Wheres the other?

No one dared to answer, and this made the admiral even angrier. His face became redder and redder.

Well? he shouted. What are you fools hiding from me? Wheres the second cruiser? Whats happened to it? Answer me!

At last, a young sailor __________ and said:

Please, Sir, you are on it.



:

1. put his foot down

2. hung out his shingle

3. turned tail

4. plucked up his courage



navy - ; temper , ; try hard  ; annoy , ; exercise: ; cruiser: ; well?: ? ( )



:

 : plucked up his courage    ,  .

  :

1. put ones foot down    ;   ;   -. : He put his foot down and didnt let her go out on a date.          .

2. hang out ones shingle     (   ); shingle  ,   ;

3. turn tail    , ,   ( ,   . .)




 8


     ,      .



Benjamin had been single for a long time. One day, he tells his mother that hes fallen in love at last and he is going to get married. She is very pleased.

Benjamin then tells his mother, "Just for fun, Mom, Im going to bring over three women, and you try and guess which one I'm going to marry."

His mother agrees.

The next day, Benjamin brings three beautiful women into the house and sits them down on the couch and they all chat for a while. Then Benjamin turns to his mother and says, "Okay, Mom. Guess which one Im going to marry?"

She immediately replies, "The redhead in the middle."

"Thats amazing, Mom. You're right. How did you know?"

"I dont like her."



:

1. out of the saddle

2. at her wits end

3. over the moon

4. over the counter



single ; fall in love ; just for fun   ; bring over:  ; amazing 



:

 : over the moon    ,  .

  :

1. (be) out of the saddle    ,   (saddle  );

2. (be) at ones wits end     ,  ,  ,  ;

4. over the counter    (:  )




 9


,         ,    .      ,    .








: 

    a grass widow: GLASS + WINDOW.    ,       ,  ,    ,   .




 10


   ?     .



THEOTHERDAY



1.  

2.  

3. 

4. 



:

The other day  ,  .      , ,       ,       (    ),     (   ),   :         . : I saw him the other day.       (= ).        one of these days.




 11


 



            .      : -  , - .  59-         ,      ,  .     , ,     ,  ,     .         ,    ,       .        . ?

        .      .

:

1. He died a beggar.

2. He died with his boots off.

3. He died a heros death.

4. He lived and let live.



:

          .  : He died with his boots off   ,     .    ,    ,    , with his boots on   ,  ,  .

  :

1. die a beggar   ;

3. die a heros death    ;

4. Live and let live.       .











 12


  ,         ,   ,    .     ?



       :

DRINK AT PLEASURE, EAT BY MEASURE.



:

  : Eat at pleasure, drink by measure.  ,    .    :  ,    .




 13


       .         ?










:

         . Bottoms up!     !       bottom:   ,        .




 14


   ?     ,   .



1.   ,      - ,   . .?

2.    ,  ?

3.   , ,  ?

4.   ,   ,   . .?

5.       ?

______________________

a wet blanket; astuffed shirt; ahatchet man; astick-in-the mud; ajoker in the pack



:

1. a hatchet man (   ,  ,     - . Hatchet   .)

2. a joker in the pack (   );

3. a stick-in-the mud;

4. a wet blanket (           (wet blanket)   .)

5. a stuffed shirt ( )











 15


    ?



A red-faced judge convened court after a long lunch. The first case involved a man charged with drunk driving[1 - the first case involved a man charged with drunk driving      ,       ] who claimed it simply wasnt true.

Im as sober as you are, Your Honour, the man said.

The judge replied, Clerk, please enter a guilty plea.[2 - enter a guilty plea  ,     ] The defendant is sentenced to 30 days.



judge ; court ; convene court   ; charge  ; claim ; sober ; Your Honor   (); clerk:  ; defendant , ; sentence  ()



:

    sober as a judge    , :   .          ,     30  .




 16


  ?     ,    .



FROM THE LIFE OF HENRY VIII



Teacher: Johnny, who was Anne Boleyn?[3 -  ,        VIII    .]

Johnny: Anne Boleyn was a flatiron.

Teacher: What on earth do you mean?[4 - What on earth do you mean? ,   ,    ? ( on earth     .)]

Johnny: Well, it says here[5 - it says here   ] in the history book: Henry, having disposed of Catherine, pressed his suit with Anne Boleyn.



flatiron ,   ; dispose  ( -)



:

 , ,   ,        : press    (), suit  .    ,          .   ,  press     ,     -,  suit    ,   , .      press your suit with somebody   - ,   .   :   [6 -  ,    VIII.],       .

  ,             ,    .











 17


    ,      .



CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE



This story happened some two hundred years ago. A physician took his apprentice with him to the bedside of his Irish patient. The patients face was red and his temperature was high. The physician slapped him on the back.

Get up and eat some corned beef and cabbage, he said.

The next day the Irishman was able to go to work.

The apprentice made a note in his book: Red face, high temperature. Give corned beef and cabbage.

Shortly afterwards, in the absence of the physician, the apprentice himself was called to the bedside of a German. The patients face was red and his temperature was high. The apprentice prescribed corned beef and cabbage. The next day they notified him that the patient was dead. He at once entered in his record book: Corned beef and cabbage good for Irishmen. Kills Dutchmen.

:

1. There are more ways than one to skin a cat.

2. Hell is paved with good intentions.

3. Death is the grand leveler.

4. One mans meat is another mans poison.



corned beef    , ; cabbage ; physician ; apprentice ; bedside:  ; slap , ; be able   ; make a note  , ; shortly afterwards   ; prescribe ; notify ; enter:  ; Dutchman  ()



: 

   one mans meat is another mans poison.   ,   . (:   ,   .)

  :

1. There are more ways than one to skin a cat.     . (.:    .)

2. Hell is paved with good intentions.    .

3. Death is the grand leveler.     ;   .




 18


   ,    ?      .








:

,    ,      money for jam: MONKEY + FORK + JAM.




 19


   ?     .



HE SPENDS MONEY LIKE NOBODYS BUSINESS



1.   ,   .

2.   .

3.     .

4.       .



:

He spends money like nobodys business ,      .  ,     .  like nobodys business    ,   ,  ,   ,  ,   黠    . :

He ate like nobodys business but never put on any weight.    ,    .

A lot of jazz cats are blind, but they can play the piano like nobodys business.    ,       ,   .

I can keep a secret like nobodys business, because it is nobodys business.       ,           .




 20


   ,      .



THESCORPION AND THE TORTOISE



One day, a scorpion wanted to cross a pond. As you may know, scorpions cant swim. He found a rather unsuspecting tortoiseand asked if the tortoise would give him a lift.

The tortoise exclaimed, Are you joking? Youll sting me while Im swimming and Ill drown.

My dear tortoise, laughed the scorpion, If I were to sting you, you would drown and Id go down with you! Now, where is logic in that?

__________, reasoned the tortoise. Hop on.

The scorpion climbed aboard and the tortoise set off into the water. Halfway across the pond, the scorpion carefully aimed his powerful stinger and stung the tortoise.

As they both sank to the bottom, the tortoise turned to the scorpion and said, Do you mind if I ask you something? You said there was no logic in you stinging me. So why did you do it?

It has nothing to do with logic,the drowning scorpion replied.Its just my nature!



:

1. Youve got a point there.

2. Your guess is as good as mine.

3. Youd be late for your own funeral!

4. Dont bite off more than you can chew.



tortoise ; cross , ; pond ; rather , ; unsuspecting ; lift:, , -?give sb a lift ; sting (stung; stung) ; drown ; if I were    ; godown   , ; reason  ; hop  ?hop on!    ; climb ; aboard  ; setoff  (); aim ; stinger ; sink (sank; sunk)  (); bottom ; it has nothing to do with logic       ; nature , , 



:

 : Youve got a point there.  ,   ,   .  point   ,   .

  :

2. Your guess is as good as mine.      ,   .

3. Youd be late for your own funeral!      . (  ,    .)

4. Dont bite off more than you can chew.    ;      . (:    ,   .)




 21


     ?








:

A safe bet  , ,  ;  .




 22


  .     .



1. A: Does she see him often?

B: ____________. Nearly every day.

2. A: Jack and I are going to get married.

B: ____________

3. A: No news is good news.

B: _____________

4. A: Money is the last thing I need.

B: ____________

5. A: Im not given the flight of imagination. (   .)

B: ____________



______________________

Ill say!; You can say that again; You dont say!; Thats what you say; Thats what they say.



:

      :

1. A: Does she see him often?

B: Ill say! Nearly every day. ( ! .)

2. A: Jack and I are going to get married.

B: You dont say! (   ! .)

3. A: No news is good news.

B: Thats what they say. ( .)

4. A: Money is the last thing I need.

B: Thats what you say. (   .)

5. A: Im not given the flight of imagination.

B: You can say that again. ( ,  .)




 23


  - ?



A woman telephoned a local newspaper to let them know that she had just given birth () to seven children. The reporter didnt quite hear the message and said, Would you repeat that? Not if I can help it, replied the woman.



:

1.    ,      .

2.   .

3.   !

4.   .



:

  ,      ,  :   !          . ,     , ,      ,   ,        .

  help     -,  -   -,         :  ,    .




 24


   ?     . ,  pickle    ,    .



BEINAPICKLE



1.    

2.     ( )

3.     ,    

4.   



:

Be in a pickle     ,   . :

Look, I know youre busy, but Im in a pickle. ,  ,  ,      .

 : be in a pretty pickle; be in a sad pickle.




 25


       ,  , ,  .  ?








: 

 .    Let the cat out of the bag.     ,  .  :   ?   ,  ,      ,   ,     ,       ,   .        ,  ,   .        :               ,      .      .

     ,  . A pig in a poke   ,         .     :    .      ,      ,       . To sell a pig in a poke     ,       .

    produce the rabbit out of the hat     ,     .




 26


   ,      .



APPOINTMENT IN SAMARRA[7 - Samarra  ,    .]



There was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to the market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the marketplace I was jostled by a woman in the crowd, and when I turned, I saw that it was Death that had jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture. Please lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra, and there Death will not find me.



appointment  ; merchant ; servant ; jostle ; gesture ; lend (lent; lent) ; avoid ; fate 



The merchant lent him his horse. The servant mounted it and galloped away.

After some time, the merchant went down to the marketplace and saw Death standing in the crowd, and he came up to her and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning?

That was not a threatening gesture, Death said, it was a start of surprise. I was surprised to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.



mount  ( , ); start   ,  ,   , : ; for:  



:

1. There is no time like the present.

2. There is no flying from fate.

3. Where there is a will, there is a way.

4. The more haste, he less speed.



:

 : There is no flying from fate.    .

  :

1. There is no time like the present.     ,    ;  .

3. Where there is a will, there is a way.   ,   .

4. The more haste, he less speed.    . (:   ,   .)




 27


   ,      .



A _________ musician was playing his harmonica in the middle of a busy shopping mall. Striding over, a policeman asked, May I please see your permit?

I dont have one, confessed the musician.

In that case, youll have to accompany me.

Splendid! exclaimed the musician. What shall we sing?



strideover ,   ; permit ; confess ; accompany 1.  2. ; splendid 



:

1. up and coming

2. down and out

3. back and forth

4. wet behind the ears



:

  down and out  , ;    , , .

  :

1. up and coming   .        ,   .

3. back and forth    

4. wet behind the ears  , ; ;     




 28


   ,    ,  .



A RUSE

Fred was a young soldier in a big camp. During the week they always worked very hard, but it was Saturday, and all the young soldiers were free, so their officer said to them, You can go into the town this afternoon, but first Im going to inspect you.

Fred came to the officer, and the officer said to him, Your hairs very long. Go to the barber and then come back to me again.

Fred ran to the barbers shop, but it was closed because it was Saturday. Fred was at a loss what to do, but not for long. Suddenly, he smiled and went back to the officer.

Are my boots clean now, Sir? he asked.

The officer did not look at Freds hair. He looked at his boots and said, Yes, theyre much better now. You can go out. And next week, first clean your boots, and then come to me!



ruse , ; barber  , ; barbers shop ; be at a loss what to do ,  ,  ; go out:   



:

1. Welsh rabbit

2. fighting cock

3. red herring

4. bird in the bush



:

    Red herring.     ( , ) ,     :       ,      .

  :

1. Welsh rabbit (:  )     ;

2. fighting cock  , ;

4. bird in the bush   , ;   




 29


   ?



BACK-SEATDRIVER



1.  ,       ;

2. ,     ,    ;

3.  ;

4.  



:

 :  .      ,        ,   .             . :

I dont like back-seat drivers.     .




 30


      . ?








: 

      a mares nest   , ,  ,  ,     , ,  .       , 껠              . ,     .

     .  a dark horse ( )    ,    ,      .   ,         .

The joker in the pack (   )   ,      .        .




 31


         .             .



At a family gathering, the husband began teasing () his wife about how she always ____________.

"Honey," she said to her husband, "when I _________, thats a compromise."

"What is it when I ___________?" he was quick to ask (   ).

She replied, "Thats a miracle ()!"



:

1. stick your nose into other peoples business

2. blow your nose

3. be in the family way

4. get your way



:

        :

At a family gathering, the husband began teasing his wife about how she always gets her way.

Honey, she said to her husband, when I get my way, thats a compromise.

What is it when I get my way? he was quick to ask.

She replied, Thats a miracle!

Get your way    ;   .

  :

1. stick your nose into other peoples business       ;

2. blow your nose  ;

3. be in the family way     ,  .




 32


  ,    ,  .



An English professor wrote the words, Woman without her man is nothing on the blackboard and directed his students to punctuate it correctly (      ).

The men wrote: Woman, without her man, is nothing.

The women wrote: Woman: Without her, man is nothing.



:

1. By hook or by crook.

2. All the difference in the world.

3. A stitch in time saves nine.

4. One fire drives out the other.



:

 : All the difference in the world.  .

  :

1. By hook or by crook     ;  .

3. A stitch in time saves nine.  ,  ,  . ,     ,  ,   ,    .

4. One fire drives out the other.   .




 33


  .     .



1.A: Everything all right?

B: _____________

2. A: Im afraid I cant let you in.

B: ______________

3.PICKERING: What is his trade, Eliza?

LIZA: Aint (= arent) you going to call me Miss Doolittle any more?

PICKERING: I beg your pardon, Miss Doolittle. ______________.

4.A: Itll be a smack in the eye for me.[8 - a smack in the eye  ; ;  ]

B: ___________

5.A: I forgot to bill the city for the trip.[9 - bill the city for the trip         ] Ill have to do that first thing tomorrow morning.

B: _____________

6.A: Come and lunch with me, all of you.

B: Can you afford it?

A: Thomsons company will pay. They have a standing account ( ) at the Ritz. Over five thousand a year, it comes to.

B: Right. _______________.

_____________________________

You can take it; Let us spoil the Egyptians; Just peachy; It was a slip of the tongue; No soap. It wont wash; Oh, here we go again!



:

      :

1. A: Everything all right?

B: Just peachy. ( .)

2. A: Im afraid I cant let you in.

B: Oh, here we go again! (   !;   !)

3. PICKERING: What is his trade, Eliza?

LIZA: Aint you going to call me Miss Doolittle any more?

PICKERING: I beg your pardon, Miss Doolittle. It was a slip of the tongue. (   .)

4. A: Itll be a smack in the eye for me.

B: You can take it. ( - .)

5. A: I forgot to bill the city for the trip. Ill have to do that the first thing tomorrow morning.

B: No soap. It wont wash. (   .     .)

6. A: Come and lunch with me, all of you.

B: Can you afford it?

A: Thomsons company will pay. They have a standing account at the Ritz. Over five thousand a year, it comes to.

B: Right. Let us spoil the Egyptians. (  .  spoil   ,  ; . : the spoils of war   .)




 34


     ?








: 

A stool pigeon  ,  (,   ),  ,  : (STOOL + PIG + SURGEON)











 35


  ,    ,  .



Doctor Sawbones speaking.

Oh, doctor, my girlfriends just dislocated her jaw ( ). Can you come over (  ) in, say, three or four weeks time?



:

1. All in good time.

2. Your time is up!

3. Take your time!

4. Other times, other manners.



:

   :      , , - ?       Take your time!   !

  :

1. All in good time.   .

2. Your time is up!   .

4. Other times, other manners.  ,  .




 36


   ?     .



CATNAP

1.  

2.  ,  

3.   

4.  



:

Cat nap     .   , ,   . Take a cat nap   .




 37


   ,      .



THE MISER AND HIS GOLD



A miser hid his gold at the foot of a tree in his garden. Every week he would dig it up and look at it for hours. One day a thief dug up the gold and made off with it. When the miser next came to gaze upon his treasure all he found was an empty hole.

The man was desperate. He howled so loudly that his neighbours came running to find out what the trouble was. When he told them, one of them asked, Did you use any of the gold?

No, said the miser. I only looked at it every week.

Well, then, said the neighbour, you might ___________ come every week and gaze upon the hole.



miser , ; would, ; dig (dug; dug)  ?dig up ; for hours ; makeoff with smth, , , ,    -; gaze ; desperate ,   ; howl , 



:

1. as a matter of fact

2. as yet

3. just as well

4. well enough



:

 : just as well     .   ,  ,            .

  :

1. as a matter of fact  ,   

2. as yet   ,   

4. well enough   




 38


     ,    .     ,     .    , ,       .         .   ?








: 

   .    :

1. Every dog has his day.

     ,     :     ;      . : Every dog has his day; and I have had mine, I cannot complain.       .     .     .

2. A good dog deserves a good bone.

    ,  ,   :    .

3. The hair of the dog that bit you    ; ,  ,   ,   .

   19    ,        ,   ,      .

      , ,      ,       ,    .  ,  ,   .

4. A bone of contention   ,    ,  .




 39


, -,   ?



SHE GAVE ME AN OLD-FASHIONED LOOK.

1.      .

2.      .

3.      .

4.        .



:

  :      .    -,     - .




 40


       . ,   -   :   ,   ,       . -  .    1772 .     .  -      .

   ?

        .      .

:

1. It was a lean year.

2. It was an off year.

3. It was a leap year.

4. It was the turn of the century.



:

  ,      a leap year.

  :

1. a lean year   ;

2. an off year      .  off    -     :    ,       ;       .

4. the turn of the century    ,  




 41


   ,      .



NOT A CHANCE

Judge, cried the prisoner in the dock, have I got to be tried by a woman jury?

Be quiet," whispered his counsel.

I wont be quiet! Judge, I cant fool even my own wife, ________ twelve strange women. Im guilty.



dock  ; try:  ;    ?Have I got to be tried by a woman jury?       ,     ?; counsel ; fool ; guilty 

:

1. not at all

2. just as well

3. let alone

4. right enough



:

   let alone (   ): I cant fool even my own wife, let alone twelve strange women.        ,       .

  :

1. not at all  ;

2. just as well    ;   ;

4. right enough  ; 




 42


   ?     ,   .



1.    ,   ?

2.   ,       ?

3.   ,    ?

4.    ?

5.




  .


   .

   ,     (https://www.litres.ru/pages/biblio_book/?art=67642692)  .

      Visa, MasterCard, Maestro,    ,   ,     ,  PayPal, WebMoney, ., QIWI ,       .



notes








1


the first case involved a man charged with drunk driving      ,       




2


enter a guilty plea  ,     




3


 ,        VIII    .




4


What on earth do you mean? ,   ,    ? ( on earth     .)




5


it says here   




6


 ,    VIII.




7


Samarra  ,    .




8


a smack in the eye  ; ;  




9


bill the city for the trip         


