C ha pt er Five

Lesson One

To ring-fence
another purpose)

Examples:
• Treasury Minister:
Just because we have ring-fenced education and health against

within those departments.

• Parents are dismayed that the Headmaster has ring-fenced
£500,000 for a new science block rather than investing it in the
employment of better teachers. Surely, this is more crucial to the
success of the school if it wants to maintain its place at the cutting
edge of independent education.

To rise to the bait (To get angry with someone who is teasing and provoking
you with the sole purpose of getting you annoyed)

Examples:
• I’m not going to rise to the bait, so there’s no point in resorting
to nasty comments.Your unpleasant, silly behaviour will be your
downfall. Mark my words.
• Perhaps I shouldn’t have told him that if he were to step down as
managing director, nobody would mourn his loss. Fortunately, he
didn’t rise to the bait.

“I don’t/can’t blame you!” (“I understand why you think that way/did that
thing”)

Examples:
• A: I’m fed up with Peter taking liberties with me. I know
everyone thinks I have a big chip on my shoulder, but
I’ve had enough and I’m leaving him.
B: I don’t blame you!
• You can’t blame us
and had a spate of affairs with some of our female clients.

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To take the biscuit (To be the worst or most extreme example)--a light-hearted
negative expression,)

Examples:
• When it comes to whingeing,Tom takes the biscuit. He’s even
worse than your mother, who is also somewhat prone to making
an unnecessary fuss.
• A:
might have sparked debate amongst her partners, but
inviting him to meetings really does take the biscuit,
don’t you think?
B: Well, you can’t blame her really.Who else can she turn to?

To boycott, a boycott (To stop trading/having relations with a particular

company, shop or country; an agreement not to trade/have relations with a company/shop/
country etc.--usually as a punishment or way of making a protest,)

Examples:
• In my youth, I was proud to have convinced my parents to boycott
South African goods during its regime of apartheid, but now in
my old age, I have mellowed and can’t be bothered with half the
world’s problems.
• I’m not sure that there is such a gulf, as is claimed, between those
governments that believe in military intervention against Iran and
others that would prefer to implement a trade boycott
will lead to a satisfactory conclusion.

Role reversal (A situation where jobs or expected behaviour are swapped/reversed)

Examples:
• I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve had to correct my son’s
teacher on his poor grammar and non-existent punctuation, and
he’s always giving me handy tips on how to stop him bickering
with his sister. It’s a complete role reversal between teacher
and parent.
• It’s clear that Patricia, the younger one of the two sisters, acts a
lot more responsibly and is evidently more reliable when the family
have problems to sort out. Her elder sister Gillian, however, is
much more immature and can be vindictive towards Patricia. Gillian
clearly struggles with this role reversal, which has unfortunately
taken its toll on their relationship.

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Done and dusted (Finished, completed--describing a situation where action has
been taken and a problem has been resolved or a deal made)

Examples:
• A: That was a gruelling meeting which I wasn’t looking forward
to at all, but I’m glad we took the bull by the horns and
got to the bottom of the problem.
B: Yes, and it does feel great that it’s all done and dusted
and out of the way.
• The deal is done and dusted at last. I’m so happy about that.
It seemed we were just plodding on, getting nowhere.

“I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve had to correct my son’s teacher on his poor grammar
and non-existent punctuation, and he’s always giving me handy tips on how to stop him bickering
with his sister. It’s a complete role reversal between teacher and parent.” (see page 60)

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An ordeal
Examples:
• It has, to say the least, been a bit of an ordeal. I’m trying to
banish these unpleasant memories to the back of my mind. But
I no longer want to be in the limelight; I’m moving to Scotland.
• A: I wouldn’t like to go through that ordeal again; it left
me seething.
B:
the same counsellor next week.

To sneer at (To look at/speak to someone in a superior manner; to show that one
considers an idea below one’s social standing/capabilities)

Examples:
• When I suggested to my husband that we practise some role
reversal with him doing the housework and me watching the
television all evening, he simply sneered at me.Why should

• My mother and I rallied around my grandmother when she became

ill and incapacitated, but my sister, on the other hand, sneered
at the very idea of having to wash our grandmother’s clothes and
clean her house. She’s not renowned for being all that nice, my
sister.

Much of a muchness (Not really different; more or less the same--often negative)
Examples:
• I can’t really decide which of these guys will make a better mayor.
They’re much of a muchness to me.They both come out with

and see which one has the nicer smile on Election Day.
• A: She’s not my cup of tea. I prefer the doctor we had before,
don’t you?
B: Don’t ask me; they’re all much of a muchness.They
take liberties where they can and try to fob you off with
cheap medication.

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C ha pt er Five
Lesson Two

Gloomy, gloom (Dark and depressing; a state of darkness and depression--often

referring to the future)

Examples:
• It was all looking gloomy for the economy at the time of the
Government bailouts, but now the banks are making a killing once
again; quite a feat when you think how many of the smaller ones
were left in tatters by the credit crunch.
• The bad winter this year wreaked havoc on the livelihoods of many
local farmers, but it’s not all doom and gloom.Those who are not
so set in their ways have opened their minds to attracting other
means of income through tourism and selling their products online.

To sit through (To stay until the end of something very boring or of poor quality)

Examples:

you have
another three years of school concerts to sit through.
• A: I dread the thought of sitting through more dinner
parties with them, having to listen to their bickering.
B: It is rather a daunting prospect, isn’t it? Just turn a blind
eye to it.

Excruciating (Extremely painful--

bad or embarrassing)

Examples:
• I hope you never have to go through the very unpleasant ordeal
of kidney stones.The pain is excruciating.

Having to sit through it in the theatre for three hours was excruciating.

Corny (Unoriginal and unsophisticated; too sentimental)

Examples:
• I think Johnson was lured into the world of comedy writing by the
prospect of fame and fortune. But his scripts are corny, full of
clichés and in stark contrast to his earlier stunning historical dramas.

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 • Every year on our wedding anniversary my husband is prone to
making corny and fake declarations of love, but I don’t bat an
eyelid. I know he’s just trying to make up for a year of not pulling
his weight around the house.

To close ranks (To support colleagues/partners when they come under attack,
even if they are in the wrong--often used negatively as a way of criticising such support)

Examples:
• If you are thinking of complaining about the Finance Director to
the other members of the Board, you should be aware that you
will have your work cut out.They will simply close ranks and

Government ministers close ranks. It’s all a big cover-up of the

to the voting public before they came into power.

A: “I dread the thought of sitting through more dinner parties with them, having to listen to their
bickering.
B: It is rather a daunting prospect, isn’t it? Just turn a blind eye to it.”
(see page 63)

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To humour (To be nice to someone and pretend to take them seriously in order to
please them or keep them content; to say “yes” just for peace and quiet)

Examples:
• A: I know you think I’m being petty with half the things I
complain about, but I don’t think you take in a word I say.
You just humour me.
B: Yes, dear.
• Humouring
his work may have clinched the deal. Done and dusted!

To come to one’s senses (To become rational after a period of doubt and
uncertainty)

Examples:
• They tried to rope my son into joining their gang because they know

worried, but fortunately he has come to his senses and rejected

them.
• He has been lured away from the city by a beautiful woman renowned
for her temper tantrums. I don’t know what to do to make him come
to his senses.

To have a/the knack for (To have a special skill for doing something--
sometimes used humorously/sarcastically to describe a skill for doing something wrong--see 2nd
example below)

Examples:
• Pete’s sudden appearance with a bag of tools was a godsend. I don’t
really have the knack for
• She’s not vindictive; she just has a real knack for not thinking
about what she’s saying. But you can’t blame people for getting upset.

The penny has dropped (A situation or concept has been understood only
after a long period of not understanding)

Examples:
• For the last month she has had many strange cravings during the
night, but the penny doesn’t seem to have dropped with her
husband that she is pregnant. Maybe he has banished the idea of
his wife ever getting pregnant again after a spate of miscarriages.

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 • The reason why he’s looking so glum is that the penny has
dropped. He was wrong to stick to his guns; continuing

dead horse.

Detractor (A person who doesn’t like someone or their work/beliefs--generally used

in the plural)

Examples:
• She had a few detractors who tried to organise a boycott of
her concerts, but her friends and genuine fans closed ranks and
the show went ahead unhampered.
• Even though his detractors will claim he was a hardliner, he
never resorted to underhand tactics to get what he wanted.

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C ha pt er Five
Lesson Three

To rekindle (To relight or revive--usually refers to one’s passion for something or

someone)

Examples:
• I was right to be a little bit wary of taking up a new sport at my
age. I clearly didn’t have the knack for golf. Instead, I decided to
rekindle my passion for tennis, which I played as a youngster.
• Since my youngest son left home to go to university, my husband
and I have found time to rekindle our love for each other. I know
it sounds corny, but it has been an uplifting experience for us both.

(To annoy/upset)

Examples:
when you stole his thunder.
Mind you, there was no need for him to get on his high horse
about it.
• You clearly the Headmaster’s feathers by bringing up
the palaver of last year’s exams. Let’s hope he steps down soon
before he loses his marbles completely.

Red tape (Bureaucracy)

Examples:
• These two schemes the Government are considering implementing
red tape
which has hampered the smooth running of the recruitment industry
in recent years.The whole system needs overhauling.

his detractors have a point.There’s too much red tape in local

government administration.

To read between the lines (To understand that there are meanings which
don’t appear on the surface/are not explicitly stated)

Examples:
• Reading between the lines, he doesn’t seem to relish the
idea of rekindling their relationship. Perhaps letting her move back
in with him was not the shrewdest of decisions.
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 • Their true intention with the release of this statement is to fob
us off. Read between the lines and you’ll see what I mean.
But we must stick to our guns.

Uncanny (Unusual and inexplicable, mysterious--generally used to describe a situation,

often a coincidence, or someone’s ability, rather than an individual person. One would not say, for
example, “He is uncanny.”)

Examples:
• A: It’s uncanny how every person we’ve taken on in summer
interviews has not lived up to our expectations.
B: We’ll have our work cut out in July, then.
• He has the uncanny knack of clinching victory with a goal in
the dying seconds of the game.

To pass the buck (To refuse to take any responsibility when things go wrong and
to blame others for it--note the expression “the buck stops with me” which means “I accept
that I, and no one else, must take responsibility for anything that goes wrong”)

Examples:
• The England manager passed the buck, blaming many of his
players for not pulling their weight. His unwillingness to take
responsibility does not bode well for the future of the team, but

• I’d just like to chip in by saying that all the directors on the board
understand that the buck stops with us. If we’re not out of
the woods by this time next year, our jobs will be on the line.

To do away with (To get rid of)

Examples:
• Every in-coming politician, local or national, promises to do away
with red tape until it dawns on them that they are the red tape.
• Many parents at the school sneered at the Headmaster’s idea of
doing away with spelling correction. He said it might wreak

Reading between the lines, I think what he really means is that he

wants to reduce the workload for his staff. I despair!

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Rule of thumb (A principle based on experience rather than theory)

Examples:
• There is one rule of thumb
old relationships.
• Whatever problems come my mum’s way, she will always plod on
regardless. Being positive and cheerful at all times is a rule of
thumb which has stood her in good stead over the years.

To spur on (To encourage, to inspire; to make someone/a group of people try harder)

Examples:
• Even though we were clearly the underdogs, our supporters spurred
us on to victory.
• I have always strived for excellence in everything I do because I
was constantly spurred on by my parents, who believed in me.
This was in stark contrast to the way they were brought up themselves.
(see picture below)

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To peak
period of time)

Examples:
• We’re all on tenterhooks to see how he did in his exams. I do hope
he didn’t peak too early in his preparation and revision.
• As a young tennis star she peaked at fourteen. After that, I’m

progress in professional competitions. Great pity.

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C ha pt er Five in Us e

TWO MOTHERS HAVING A CHAT OUTSIDE THEIR CHILDREN’S SCHOOL

HELEN: Hello Alison, how are you? Haven’t seen you for ages.

ALISON:
been quite an ordeal, I can tell you

HELEN: Which one did you go for?

ALISON: Well, they’re all much of a muchness in the end.We’ve had to sit through so many parents’
evenings listening to boring head teacher speeches.

HELEN: …with their corny jokes?

ALISON: Absolutely! I can see you’ve been through the same thing.

HELEN: Oh yes, an excruciating experience, and one which I don’t relish having to go through again
for my youngest, Katherine.

ALISON:
excellent academic record and the boys are taught discipline. But I’ve been amazed at how many
parents at Josh’s current school -- mothers actually, more than fathers -- have sneered at my
husband and me because of our decision. One mother even told me that she thought religious
schools should be done away with.

HELEN: I can imagine who that was. Well, I don’t blame you at all. One rule of thumb I stick to is
that I don’t comment on what other people decide for their children.

ALISON: Mind you, I have to say there’s a lot of red tape you have to cut through to get into religious
schools. And some of the questions you have to answer, like “How many times do you pray a day?”
That really takes the biscuit. Anyway, it’s all done and dusted now. St. Dominic’s is where he’s
going…And what have you been up to? Sorry, it’s all been about me.

HELEN: rekindled his love for

tennis…he has a knack for racket sports. And I’ve taken up writing short stories while Gerry cooks
for the kids…a bit of role reversal there. My sister is a professional writer and her success has
spurred me on to have a go at it myself.

ALISON: And has she read any of your stuff?

HELEN: Bits and pieces…but I prefer her not to; she tends to humour me, and more to the point
has an uncanny habit of subtly telling me where my writing is just not good enough.This really gets

71
to me and I’m afraid I often rise to the bait.

ALISON: Oh, here come our kids, laughing together. How nice! Let’s continue this chat tomorrow. I’m
fascinated to hear more about your writing.

HELEN: Liar!

ALISON: Ha ha! OK …see you tomorrow.

ARTICLE IN A FINANCIAL MAGAZINE

The outlook for the British economy

gloomy when it comes to both the short

and long terms for the economy in the UK.

of Government, has his detractors, and, to be honest, it can be very hard to read between the lines
when assessing his statements.What is he really trying to tell us? He seems very ready to pass the
buck
And yet he has ring-fenced the budgets of certain departments from cutbacks to expenditure --
departments which have wasted huge amounts of money for many years. Does he realise this? Has
the penny dropped? One wonders.

It is time for him and the Prime Minister to come to their senses. It’s no good simply closing ranks
when Government policy is criticised or when a cabinet minister’s feathers have been .

optimistic and inspiring policies to promote economic growth in all parts of the country. Why, for
example, have so many multinational companies boycotted northern regions of England, where
rents are cheap and corporation tax low? Business, especially international business, is so focused
on London, a great business-friendly city, I agree…but one which has surely peaked.

I told you I was going to be gloomy.

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C ha pt er Five : Exe rc i s e
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD FROM THOSE IN GREEN
Answers on page 139

1. A: One a(detractor/rule of thumb/ordeal/boycott) I try to stick to is that if someone

consistently b(
feathers), I cut them out of my life. I don’t want anything to do with them.
B: That’s a bit over the top, don’t you think? You must admit, you do tend to c(rise to the bait/
sneer/pass the buck/take the biscuit) a bit too easily.

2. A: It was absolutely a(excruciating/gloomy/corny/done and dusted) having to listen to her

10-year-old son “play” the violin.
B: Oh yes…and it was even more b(a boycott/a detractor/of an ordeal/uncanny) watching
her daughter in the school play.
A: When she asks us what we thought of their performances, we will just have to c(rekindle/
) her and say how wonderfully talented both her children are.

3. The Prime Minister has said that there will be no cuts to the defence budget.This money
has been a(humoured/boycotted/ring-fenced/done away with). But b(reading between the
lines/reversing the roles/taking the biscuit/closing ranks), some members of his cabinet
regret this decision. It is clear to see that even at this early stage in his premiership, he has
his c(ordeals/red tape/rule of thumb/detractors).

4. I’ve always known that John has a a(rule of thumb/knack/peak/ring-fence) for saying the
wrong thing at the wrong time, but telling the boss that he didn’t like his b(corny/uncanny/
gloomy/rekindling) jokes was really c(reading between the lines/coming to his senses/taking
the biscuit/dropping the penny).

5. I dread having to a(rise to the bait/spur on/sit through/boycott) another board meeting, when
everyone knows all the directors are going to b(
fence/rise to the bait) and blame the state of the economy for the company’s misfortunes.
I ask myself, “When are they going to c(come to their senses/read between the lines/take
the biscuit/reverse the roles) and take some responsibility?”

6. A: In her retirement, my mum has a(peaked/rekindled/humoured/sneered at) her passion

for gardening. She was b(done and dusted/boycotted/spurred on/ring-fenced) by my dad,
who has offered to take over kitchen and housework duties.
B: How interesting! A bit of c(passing the buck/red tape/closing ranks/role reversal) there?

73
7. A: I’ve decided to a(boycott/ring-fence/sit through/spur on) my local so-called independent
baker, who keeps whingeing about people using supermarkets instead of individual shops.
He wants to charge me £4 for a loaf of bread. I’m not paying it.
B: I b( ). I have
told my butcher the very same thing many times, but I don’t think (it’s an ordeal/the penny
c

has dropped/it’s done and dusted/he has passed the buck).

8. It’s a(gloomy/much of a muchness/uncanny/corny) how every time I think there may be a

chance that at least one of my bosses is taking my side, they all b(close ranks/sneer/rise to
the bait/read between the lines) and c(rekindle/sneer at/sit through/do away with) me.

9. A: I still can’t decide who to vote for. All the parties are a(an ordeal/done and dusted/much
of a muchness/taking the biscuit).
B: I totally agree. If I had my way, I would b(pass the buck/humour/sneer at/ do away
with) all of them. I could sort out all of the country’s problems in ten minutes.There we are,
all c(done and dusted/boycotted/much of a muchness/the penny has dropped)!

10. A: a(ordeal/red tape/detractors/boycotts) which local businesses

have to comply with these days will contribute greatly to lifting the current b(rule of thumb/
ordeal/gloom/bait) surrounding local enterprise.
B: Oh, it would indeed. And it’s such a shame to see good businesses struggling to survive
through no fault of their own. Many of them should be c(sneering/peaking/spurring on/rising
to the bait

74