IDIOM CONNECTION

lesson 1

Time Idioms and a Busy Schedule

Introduction

1. Do you think that you have a busy schedule?

2. Why are you so busy?

Reading

The World Cup was coming and the construction company was working around the clock to finish the new stadium. At the beginning of the project, they had been ahead of schedule. Now, with each passing day, they were getting further behind schedule. The pressure to do something was increasing by the hour. They had to make sure that the stadium was ready for the first game. The only solution seemed to be for the government to take over management of the project. The government would then have to make up for lost time and quickly finish the stadium. If they could not finish, there would be very serious problems for the city.
further is used with time or quantity or degree while farther is used for distance

Reading Questions

Answer the following questions. The answers can easily be found in the reading above.

1. Who was working around the clock?

2. When was the construction company ahead of schedule?

3. What was happening with each passing day?

4. What was increasing by the hour?

5. What did they have to make sure about?

6. Who may take over management of the project?

7. Who would have to make up for lost time?

Making Connections and Idiom Meanings

Some of the idioms have another meaning or are connected to another meaning. Use this information to help you choose the correct meaning for each of the following idioms:

1. My science course is becoming more difficult with each passing day.
a)   some days
b)   earlier than planned
c)   after each day

2. I phoned the airline company to make sure that my schedule was correct.
a)   discuss the fact
b)   make certain

3. If you look at a clock, the hands move around the clock. When you work around the clock the hands of the clock may go around the clock twenty four times. What does around the clock mean in the following sentence?

I have been studying around the clock for my exam.
a)   sometimes
b)   all day and all night
c)   only at night

4. The young man must make up for lost time.
a)   do things quickly because he wasted much time before
b)   take his course again
c)   relax and not work so hard this year

5. The city will soon take over the operation of the zoo.
a)   begin to talk about
b)   take control of

6. I was becoming more tired by the hour.
a)   in the late evenings
b)   last evening
c)   with each passing hour

7. Behind can mean later than planned. You can be behind in finishing a job. What does behind schedule mean in the following sentence?

The construction of the new subway line is behind schedule.
a)   almost finished
b)   much earlier than planned
c)   later than planned

8. Ahead can mean before something or in advance of something. A schedule to do something can include a time that you want to finish something. What does ahead of schedule mean in the following sentence?

The new airport will be finished ahead of schedule.
a)   before the new building
b)   later than expected
c)   earlier than planned

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Correct or Incorrect

Which of these sentences uses the idiom correctly? Which uses it incorrectly? Why?

1. The construction of the bridge is behind schedule. Many people are not happy.
a)   Correct
b)   Incorrect

2. I will take over my colleague's job duties next month. I may have more work to do.
a)   Correct
b)   Incorrect

3. The construction workers are paid by the hour. They receive a monthly salary.
a)   Correct
b)   Incorrect

4. I am making up for lost time and studying hard for my exam. I have been studying hard from the beginning.
a)   Correct
b)   Incorrect

5. We worked around the clock to finish the project. We did not work very hard during that time.
a)   Correct
b)   Incorrect

6. The days should become warmer with each passing day. The temperature will probably stay the same.
a)   Correct
b)   Incorrect

7. I must make sure exactly what time the train leaves. I will check the schedule carefully.
a)  Correct
b)  Incorrect

8. The stadium will be finished ahead of schedule. Everybody is happy about that.
a)  Correct
b)  Incorrect

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Grammar Focus

Choose the word or expression that makes each of the following sentences correct:

1. With _______________ passing day I feel healthier after my illness.
a)   the
b)   each
c)   the other

2. The community center project is _______________ schedule.
a)   behind
b)   over
c)   under

3. The big company wants to take ______________ the small company.
a)   under
b)   up
c)   over

4. I plan to make ____________ for lost time and study for my exam.
a)   up
b)   over
c)   in

5. We worked ____________________ the clock to prepare for the festival.
a)   over
b)   under
c)   around

6. The workers are being paid _______________ the hour.
a)   for
b)   to
c)   by

7. The building project will be finished ahead _______________ schedule.
a)  in
b)  to
c)  of

8. I must _________________ sure that the train will arrive on time.
a)  made
b)  making
c)  make

Your score is: ___  out of 8




Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Have you ever studied around the clock for an exam?

2. Have you ever watched television around the clock on the weekend?

3. Are you ahead of schedule in anything now?

4. Do you know anyone who is always ahead of schedule with everything that he or she does?

5. Is your English improving with each passing day?

6. Are you improving in any other skill with each passing day?

7. What are you behind schedule with at the moment?

8. Are you often behind schedule when you have a project to finish?

9. Do you know any jobs where you get paid by the hour?

10. Have you ever been paid by the hour to do something?

11. Do you always make sure that you have enough money before you leave your house?

12. Do you always make sure that you finish your homework before you relax?

13. Do you know any large companies which have taken over a smaller company?

14. Did you ever have to take over the responsibility for doing something at work or at school?

15. Can you easily make up for lost time when you do not study hard?

16. Did you ever have to make up for lost time in order to finish something?

Role Play

Student A: You have been working around the clock with your friend on a school project. You are becoming further behind schedule with each passing day. You do not think that your friend is serious about the project.

Student B: You are a very relaxed person. You do not think that there is a problem. You think that your friend is too serious.

lesson 1