5 Knowing and understanding

Knowing and not knowing

knowing I meaning
She knows the system inside out. She knows every detail of it.

When it comes to geography, he certainly knows He has a very good knowledge of it.
his stuff.
That book title has a familiar ring to it. I think It sounds familiar/ I think I've heard it before.
I read it a long time ago.

I'm not sure if I know her, but the name rings a I have a vague memory of someone with that
bell. (very commonly used with name) name, but can't remember exactly.

not knowing I meaning

I haven't (got)/ don't have a clue how to get to her I don't know at all.
house.

I haven't (got) / don't have the faintest idea where I really don't know at all.
she lives.

I haven't (got) / don't have the foggiest (idea) what I absolutely don't know at all.
this switch is for.

I can't for the life of me remember her first name. I can't remember at all.

I'm a bit out of touch with computers these days. I used to know about them, but don't know the
latest developments.

I'm sorry, that name doesn't ring any bells with me. I don 't think I've ever heard it before; it is
(very commonly used with name) unfamiliar.

Coming to conclusions
I didn't actually know where you were staying, but Mark said you were with a relative . So I put two
and two together and guessed it was that aunt of yours in Manchester. [concluded from the facts
I knew]
I'm sorry, I got (hold of) the wrong end of the stick. I thought you were complaining about
something. [came to the wrong conclusion]

'I think he 's got hold of the wrong end of the stick.'

14 English Idioms in Use Intermediate

 Exercises

5.1 Correct the mistakes in these idioms.

1 I don't have even a faint idea where he is today; you'll have to ask somebody else.
2 The title of the book has familiar rings to it, but I don't think I've ever read it.
3 My cousin knows the tax laws outside and in, so if you want advice on your tax, he'll help you.
4 I can't for life think what it was I came into the kitchen for.
5 I saw Tom and Lily together in a restaurant looking adoringly into each other's eyes.
I added up two and two, and decided they must be madly in love.

5.2 Use the corrected idioms from exercise 5.1 to rewrite the underlined parts of this paragraph.
Use each idiom once only.
I always thought I knew my computer in every detail, but the other day it started to crash every
time I opened a certain program. I could not in any way understand why it was doing this, and
I didn't have any idea at all about what to do to fix it. I rang the helpline which I had used in the
past, and after about 20 minutes I spoke to someone who said his name was Patrick, and that he
was there to help me. He gave me some advice which sounded quite familiar to me from previous
calls I had made to the same helpline. I thought about all this. put the facts together, and concluded
that they give the same advice to everybody, and that it's just a way of getting rid of you . The
computer still crashes every time I open the program .

5.3 Write sentences that mean the opposite of these sentences. Use idioms from this unit and make
any other necessary changes.
1 Yes, that name is very familiar to me. I think I've met her several times.
2 I'm really up to date with TV soap operas these days. I watch them every day.
3 She knows absolutely nothing when it comes to the history of this area.
4 I correctly interpreted what she was trying to tell me and it solved a big problem.
5 No, sorry, her name means nothing to me. I may have met her, I just can't remember.

5.4 Complete each sentence with ~ different idiom which refers to 'not knowing'.
1 ...................................................................................................... how to use the photocopier. Do you think you could help
me? (weakest of the three)
2 I ...................................................................................................... where I left that letter I brought for you. I'm really sorry.
(stronger than 1)
3 I ..... what she's talking about. She's crazy! (even stronger than 2)

Over to you
Look up the word know in your dictionary or in an on line dictionary and find idioms containing th is
word. Choose three idioms to learn, and make a note of them in your vocabulary notebook. Note
down examples of how they are used, too.

English Idioms in Use lmermediote 15

 7 Success and failure
When things go well

If something ... I then it ...

makes all the difference (to something) has a very good effect on a situation or a thing

works/goes/runs like a dream works/goes/runs very well indeed

works like magic works immediately and very well indeed

goes from strength to strength gets better and better

does the trick solves a problem very well

is the be-all-and-end-all (of something) is the most important thing (often used in the negative:
not the be-all-and-end-all)

is/ turns out to be a blessing in disguise has a good effect even though at first it seemed it would
be bad

... and when they don't

If ... I then ...

someone/something is a victim of their/its success has negative effects as well as or instead of
their/its own success positive ones

someone doesn't have the ghost of a they have no chance at all

chance (of doing something)

someone/something gives up the ghost they/it stop(s) working or they stop trying to succeed
because they know they will not

someone/something leaves their/its they have/ it has an effect (usually negative) that changes
mark (on someone/something) someone or something for ever

Other useful idioms connected with success and failure

I always knew Ahmed would go places. He's been an excellent athlete since he was a teenager.
[would be successful (go places is not used in the simple tense forms)]
He's a good writer, but he hasn't really ever hit the big time. [been successful nationally or
internationally and made lots of money]
He's really made a go of that restaurant he bought. He's extended it and he employs about ten
people now. [been very successful with]

If a dictionary or your teacher tells you an idiom is not used with a particular tense or has other
grammatical restrictions, e.g. go places in C above, always make a note about the grammar in
your notebook.

18 English Idioms in Use Intermediate

 Exercises

7 .1 Complete these idioms with prepositions.

1 His company has gone .... strength ................................ strength in the last six months. He's
making a lot of money now.
2 The flood ruined our old kitchen , but it was a blessing .................................. disguise, because the
insurance company paid for a completely new one.
3 This new model is not the be-all-and -end-all .................................. digital cameras, but it certainly has
many technical features that others do not have.
4 Your offer to drive us to the airport makes all the difference .................................. ou r travel plans.
5 Your plan to persuade Lela to join the committee worked .................................. magic.

7 .2 Use the idioms from exercise 7 .1 to rewrite the underlined parts of the sentences.
1 At first we thought the new road would spoil our village, but in fact it was a positive development
and the village shops are doing more business.
2 I sprayed the stain remover onto my jacket and it had an immediate positive result. (Give two
answers.)
3 This is not the absolute best and most complete cookery book, but it does have reci pes from
100 different countries.
4 The school has got better and better since the new head teacher took over.
5 Getting new curtains has changed my flat in a positive way. It feels like a new one.

7 .3 Who would be most likely to say these remarks? Choose the correct answer.
1 It left its mark on me.
a) someone who had just spilt red wine over themselves
b} someone who taught in a very bad school for ten years
c) someone who had a wonderful birthday party
2 I'm a victim of my own success.
a) someone who won a lot of money then spent it all
b) a student who always passes every exam they take
c) a popular teacher whose class everyone wants to be in
3 I don't think I'll ever hit the big time.
a) a rock musician who is popular in local clubs
b) an athlete who has just got a place in an Olympic team
c) a dentist with a very heavy schedule of appointments
4 Work isn't the be-all-and-end-all in my life.
a) someone who is unemployed
b) someone who has a lot of interesting hobbies
c) someone who never finishes a job they start

7 .4 Complete each of these idioms.

1 The photocopier has completely .................................................................. the ghost. We need a new one.
2 I didn't think I ...................... ......... ghost of a .................................. of passing the exam, but I did.
3 My new motorbike .................................................................. a dream; it's fast, but so smooth and quiet.

7 .5 Answer these questions.

1 If you make a go of something, do you succeed or fail?
2 What should you remember about the grammar of the idiom go places?
3 What could you write in your vocabulary notebook about the use of be-all-and-end-all?

English Idioms in Use Intermediate l9