24 Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension

LESSON 4
DIALOGS WITH IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

On many TOEFL exams, up to half the dialogs in PartA contain idiomatic expressions. Many of the
idiomatic expressions are two- or three-word verbs, such as call off and look out for.

Sample Item
You will hear:
Fl: I wonder where Mike is.
Ml: He'll show up as soon as the work is done, I bet.
M2: What does the man say about Mike?
You will read:
(A) He probably won't arrive until the work is fInished.
(B) He went to a show instead of going to work.
(C) He can show them how to do the work.
(D) He'll probably work late today.

The idiom show up means "arrive." Choices (B) and (C) contain the word show, but it
is not used in the idiomatic sense.

In most dialogs, the second speaker uses the idiomatic expression. Most questions about this type of
dialog are questions about meaning ("What does the man mean?" for example), but some are
inference questions or other types of questions. The correct answer often contains a synonym for the
idiom (arrive for show up in choice (A) of the Sample Item). Incorrect choices often contain
references to the literal meaning of idioms, as in choices (B) and (C).
The Mini-Lessons for Section 1, at the end of the Listening Comprehension section (pages 81-
100), are intended to familiarize you with a large number of idioms. You should work on these
lessons and study these expressions as often as possible.
However, memorizing these phrases does not guarantee that you will recognize all the idiomatic
expressions that you will hear in the Listening Comprehension section. There are, after all,
thousands of these expressions in English. You must develop "a good ear" for guessing the meaning
of idioms. The context of the sentence will help you understand the expression, even if you're
unfamiliar with it.

Exercise 4.1

Focus: Recognizing synonyms for idiomatic expressions.

Directions: Listen to the spoken statements. Each contains an idiomatic or fIgurative expression
which is written out. First decide which of the two choices best answers the question and mark the
appropriate answer, (A) or (B). Then underline the phrase in the correct answer that has the same
meaning as the idiom. If necessary, rewind the audio and listen to the exercise again. The fIrst one has
been done as an example.
-4))) Now start the audio.
1. get into hot water
--1L- (A) She was in trouble.
_ _ _ (B) She took a warm bath.
 Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension 25

J r~,n into
(A) He met Caroline unexpectedly at the coffee shop.
__ (B) Caroline and I jogged to the coffee shop.
3. hit ,; ,)it"
. . . (A) He and Chuck argued as soon as they met.
~_v._ (B) He and Chuck quickly became friends.
4. a piece of cake
_ . _ (A) The exam was simple.
\ _ . . (B) She had a snack after the test.

5. at thl..' drop of a hat

__ .~ (A) He can't leave until he finds his hat.
___ (B) He's ready to leave immediately.

6. on edge
_ . __ (A) He walks back and forth when he's nervous.
_ _ (B) He likes to walk along the edge.
7. under the weather
_ _ (A) She didn't want to practice because of the bad weather.
_ ......_ (B) She ,vasn't there because she felt a little sick.
8. take after
_\.__ (A) He looks like his grandfather.
, _~\_'_ (B) He takes care of his grandfather.
9. for good
; ~. ___ (A) He doesn't want the professor to quit teaching permanently.
___ (B) He hopes Professor Holmes has a good reason for quitting.
10. give a hand with
___ (A) Hand her the box .
. ___ (B) Help her carry the box.
11. a stone's throw from
___ (A) He likes to throw rocks in the park.
\. ___ (8) He lives close to the park.
12. not think much of
___ (A) She didn't consider it.
'. ___ (B) She didn't like it.

Exercise 4.2

Focus: Understanding dialogs involving idiomatic and figurative expressions.

Directions: Look over the idiomatic expressions listed before each set of items. If you are unfamiliar
with any of the idioms, you may want to look them up in the Mini-Lessons for Section 1 that follow
the Listening Comprehension section of this book (pages 81-100). The dialogs each contain one of
the listed expressions. Listen to the dialogs and mark the one answer choice, (A) or (B), that best
answers the question. The first one has been done as an example.
I11III))) Now start the audio.
 26 Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension

Set A
clear llP get off the ground hours on end over one's head
push one's luck run of the mill short for turn in
~. ~ (A) He's not sure Max's business will succeed.
\/ _ _ (B) He doesn't know where Max has gone.
2 .. _"_ _ (A) Gary is lucky to have such a good car.
,\-/ _ _ (B) It's time for Gary to get some new tires.
3./_·_ _ (A) Go to bed.
,~ _ _ (B) Watch a different program.

\A. _ _ (A) She didn't understand all the jokes.

_ _ (B) She left before the performance was over.
0. - - (A) If the weather gets better.
_ _ (B) If she doesn't have any other plans.
\ft.. - - (A)Elizabeth is taller than Liz.
_ _ (B) People call Elizabeth "Liz."
\). _ _ (A) She's stopped listening to it.
_ _ _ (B) She listens to it constantly.

8. _ _ (A) The service is very fast there.

~. _ _ _ (B) It's just an average restaurant.

Set B
believe one's eyes a breeze chip in get in one's blood
lend a hand look who's talking music to one's ears what the doctor ordered
\.,.9:'/_- (A) Ice water sounds perfect.
_ _ (B) The doctor told her to drink a lot of water.
00. --- (A) Skiing can be a dangerous sport.
_ _ _ (B) It's easy to get into the habit of skiing.

J}:/_- (A) She enjoys the sound of nature.

_ _. (B) She wishes she'd brought a radio.
\J2. _ _ (A) She wants to talk to Norman.
_ _ (B) Norman doesn't study much himself.
\.,13": ___ (A) There's not enough wind to go sailing today.
___ (B) It won't be too hard to learn to sail.
\...,.l~ _ _ (A) Lend him some money.
_ _ (B) Give him some help.
rS'. __ (A) They'll all pay for the gasoline.
\/ _ _ (B) Gasoline is very inexpensive.

, 1f./ _ _ (A) She doesn't think the man is telling the truth.
V . --- (B) She was surprised to see the snow.