a sporting chance neil mcmahon abs challenge your english sunday 25 th march 2012

A Sporting ChanceNeil McMahon

ABS Challenge Your EnglishSunday 25th March 2012

Let’s set sail:

A Sporting Chance

sail

overboard

ride

berth

ship

wind

rope

waves

bail

tack

sheet

Give that boy

a wide _____.

He’s bad news.Give that boy

a wide _____.

He’s bad news.

Let’s set sail:

A Sporting Chance

Laura always

runs a tight _____.Laura always

runs a tight _____.

He didn't get a

good evaluation.

It really took the_____

out of his _____.

He didn't get a

good evaluation.

It really took the_____

out of his _____.

 Don't go _____

on decorations

for the party. Don't go _____

on decorations

for the party.

The prime minister

decided to_____out

the scandal.The prime minister

decided to_____out

the scandal.

sail

overboard

ride

berth

ship

wind

berthberth

shipship

overboardoverboard

rideride

windwind

sailssails

Let’s set sail:

A Sporting Chance

He _____ through

that assignment.He _____ through

that assignment.

You'll soon learn the

_____of this job.You'll soon learn the

_____of this job.

Don't make ______

for the boss.

She is under pressure.Don't make ______

for the boss.

She is under pressure.

He's seven _____

to the _____. Who's the

designated driver?He's seven _____

to the _____. Who's the

designated driver?

Let's take a new _____

to the problem. We

aren't getting a solution.Let's take a new _____

to the problem. We

aren't getting a solution.

sail

rope

waves

bail

tack

sheet

wind

tacktack

sheetssheets

windwind

sailedsailed

ropesropes

waveswaves

The government is

______ out the

savings and

loan banks

The government is

______ out the

savings and

loan banksbailingbailing

BaseballA Sporting Chance

A Sporting Chance

 Let's play ball!

A Sporting Chance

 Let's play ball!

the platethe plateloaded basesloaded bases

a rain checka rain check

first basefirst base

the minor leaguesthe minor leagues

a ball park a ball park

a curve balla curve ball

a pitcha pitch

A Sporting Chance

 Let's play ball!

the platethe plateloaded basesloaded bases

a rain checka rain check

first basefirst base

the minor leaguesthe minor leagues

a ball park a ball park

a curve balla curve ball

a pitcha pitch

A Sporting Chance

He made a good pitch for the party at last night’s dinner.

A Sporting Chance

He threw me a curve ball when he asked me about the figures.

A Sporting Chance

I need a ball park figure on what it will cost.

A Sporting Chance

Go to the big boss; that bloke’s a minor leaguer

A Sporting Chance

I wish I could get to first base with her.

A Sporting Chance

We sure dropped the ball that time.

A Sporting Chance

We need to play hardball this time.

A Sporting Chance

Do you mind if we take a rain check on that dinner?

A Sporting Chance

 Our bases are loaded. We should win hands down.

A Sporting Chance

I need to touch base with the missus.

A Sporting Chance

We need someone to step up to the plate or we’re done for.

It’s just not cricketA Sporting Chance

It’s just not cricketA Sporting Chance

It’s just not cricketA Sporting Chance

1. To be bowled over

meaning: To be astonished, greatly surprised and excited, left speechless.

Example: I saw Morrissey live in concert last month and I was bowled over by his performance.

It’s just not cricketA Sporting Chance

2. To hit for six

Meaning: To be deeply shocked or hurt (by someone/thing)

Example: When my wife left me it really hit me for six.

It’s just not cricketA Sporting Chance

3. A sticky wicket

Meaning: A difficult situation

Example: 3. "If she carries on like this she won’t pass the year and will have to repeat","Yes, she’s really on a sticky wicket."

It’s just not cricketA Sporting Chance

4. It's not cricket

Meaning: to play unfairly or against the rules of fair play

Example: "In order to get the job he lied about his experience and criticised the other candidates,"“But that’s just not cricket"

It’s just not cricketA Sporting Chance

5. To stump (to be stumped)

Meaning: to have no idea, to be confronted by a problem you can't find the solution to.

Example: The exam was going well until they asked me a question about the Russian Revolution and I was completely stumped.

Play or Pass – Card playing idioms

A Sporting Chance

keep your cards close to

your chest

have the cards piled against

you

put your cards on the table

force someone’s

hand

follow trumpsan ace up your

sleeve on the cardswhen the cards

are down

hedge your bets above board

dealt a bad card

come up trumps

come within a joker of in spades up the ante

hold all the aces

Play or Pass – Card playing idioms

A Sporting Chance

keep your cards close to

your chest

have the cards piled against

you

put your cards on the table

force someone’s

hand

follow trumpsan ace up your

sleeve on the cardswhen the cards

are down

hedge your bets above board

dealt a bad card

come up trumps

come within a joker of in spades up the ante

hold all the aces

have the cards

stacked against

you

have the cards

stacked against

you

when the chips

are downwhen the chips

are down

dealt a bad

handdealt a bad

hand

come within an

ace ofcome within an

ace of

follow suitfollow suit

1.the ball is in your court

A Sporting Chance

tennistennis

2. you’re barking up the wrong tree

A Sporting Chance

huntinghunting

A Sporting Chance

3. she calls the shots

pool / billiardspool / billiards

A Sporting Chance

4. we all chipped in

cardscards

A Sporting Chance

5. it’s going down to the wire

horse racinghorse racing

A Sporting Chance

6. you’ll soon get into the swing of things

tennistennis

A Sporting Chance

7. he’s off the hook

fishingfishing

A Sporting Chance

8. they gave us a run for our money

horse racinghorse racing

A Sporting Chance

9. don’t jump the gun

tracktrack

A Sporting Chance

10. she’s just about keeping her head above water

swimmingswimming

A Sporting Chance

11. it’s never been a level playing field

field sportsfield sports

A Sporting Chance

12. he might not make the cut

golfgolf

A Sporting Chance

13. it’s neck and neck

horse racinghorse racing

A Sporting Chance

14. it’s no sweat off my nose

boxingboxing

A Sporting Chance

15. that sounds par for the course

golfgolf

A Sporting Chance

16. there’s plenty of other fish in the sea

fishingfishing

A Sporting Chance

17. it was a bit of a shot in the dark

huntinghunting

A Sporting Chance

18. he’s skating on thin ice if you ask me

skatingskating

A Sporting Chance

19. I’m never going to throw in the towel

boxingboxing

A Sporting Chance

20. she’ll win hands down, just you wait

cardscards

A Sporting Chance

ABS Challenge Your EnglishSunday 25th March 2012

Thanks for coming – keep in touch!

Thanks for coming – keep in touch!

Neil McMahon

@mcneilmahon

amuseamuses.wordpress.com

neil@ih-buenosaires.com