Match the items with the idioms from Ex.1.
Read the extract from a letter and try to explain the idioms in bold.
… a few months ago we decided to by some new computers for the office as we’d had the old ones for a while and they were 1) on their last legs. Because of the cost, however, it was something we’d been keeping 2) on the back burner for a while. Then last month we lost a lot of valuable data because many of them were 3) on the blink, so we agreed we couldn’t postpone things any longer.
I really hadn’t realized what a big job it was going to be! The old computers 4) weighed a ton – it took two of s to carry each one downstairs – and we had to rip out all the old wiring. However, we had been thinking of rearranging the office layout for some time, so in fact, we managed to 5) kill two birds with one stone.
We had quite a few 6) teething troubles with the new computers, but this was mainly my fault. The company that sold them to us sent a man round to explain the 7) nuts and bolts of the new system to me so that we could go 8) on line. His instructions on how to operate the new computers seemed 9) as clear as a bell when he explained everything to me, but of course, I got totally confused when trying to pass on the information to the rest of the staff! As a result, had to ask him to come back to go through it all again – rather embarrassing i must say!
Anyway, everything’s working properly now and l’m amazed ad how much better they are than or old ones. I’ve ad great fun 10) surfing the Net and sending E-mail to everyone …
| a | to be very heavy | g | about to fail due to age/exhaustion/poor health, etc |
| b | basic practical details | h | to fulfil two purposes with one single action |
| c | to look up information on the Internet to see what is available | i | into a central computer network |
| d | not working properly | j | very easy to hear/understand |
| e | difficulties that occur in the early stages of sth | ||
| f | Postponed till a later time |
3 Fill in the gaps with phrases from the list:
nuts and bolts, on the blink, weighed a ton, the back burner, last legs
| It took four people to carry to desk because it ……………….. | |
| Mr Keen explained the …………..of his political campaign to supported. | |
| This typewriter is so old it hardly works. It’s on its ………………… | |
| My washing-machine’s ……………….again – I’ll have to call the repair man. | |
| We’ll have to pt this issue on……………….for the moment as we’ve got more pressing matters to deal with. |
| I had to browse for information on the Internet for hours before I finally found what I was looking for surf………………………………………………………………………………………….….. | |
| Te library computers are connected to a central computer, so you have access to lot of information. line…………………………………………………………………………………………….. | |
| Te construction of Wickway sopping centre had a few problems in the early stages, but they were eventually sorted out. teething…………………………………………………………………………….…………… | |
| The instructions on the side of the fax machine were very easily understood. bell …………………………………………………………………………………………….. | |
| I wanted to brighten up the flat and reduce the draught from the windows, so I did both at once by hanging up curtains. birds…………………………………………………………………………………………… |