on cloud nine- very happy. After
Josie got a perfect score in math, she was on cloud nine.
number one- oneself, me. I have to decide what is best in
my life. I have to take care of number one.
to put two and two together- to figure something out. The
kitchen door was open and the cake was gone. I put two and two
together and realized Tom had eaten the cake.
two's company, three's a crowd- two people together are good,
but three people together cause problems. I don't want to go to the
movies with you and your boyfriend. Two's company and three's a
crowd.
forty winks- a short nap (sleep). I'm so sleepy. I think
I will have forty winks before I go shopping.
dressed to the nines- dressed very nicely. When Hillary
went to the dance, she was dressed to the nines.
the one and only- something unique, there is only one of
something. I want to introduce you to the one and only Tom
Cruise.
six to one, half a dozen to the other- (a dozen means twelve)
it doesn't matter, 6 is the same as half a dozen. Do you want
chocolate or vanilla ice cream? It doesn't matter, it's six to one,
half a dozen to the other.
Check Your Understanding
Multiple Choice- Choose the best idiom.
Check your answers below.
1. Jack's girlfriend was very busy
lately. When Jack saw another man's shoe in his girlfriend's apartment,
he ___ and realized she had another boyfriend.
a. dressed to the
nines
b. put two and two
together
c. number one
2. What is your favorite magazine? The ___ Time Magazine. There is
nothing else as good.
a. forty winks
b. cloud nine
c. one and only
3. I don't like Tom. He doesn't care about anybody. He only thinks
about ___.
a. put two and two
together
b. number one
c. two's company, three's
a crowd
4. Melissa and George were having a nice dinner at Melissa's house.
When Andy came to visit, Melissa was angry. She told George "___."
a. Two's company,
three's a crowd
b. Number one
c. Forty winks
5. When Terry was offered a job at General Hospital, he was so happy
he was ___.
a. on cloud nine
b. dressed to the nines
c. six to one, half a
dozen to the other
6. I'm not sure if we should visit the mountains or the sea. Both
are great. I guess it is ___.
a. six to one, half a
dozen to the other
b. put two and two
together
c. forty winks
7. Wow, all of the actresses looked great! They were all ___ for
the party.
a. the one and only
b. six to one, half a
dozen to the other
c. dressed to the nines
8. I'm going to go dancing all night tonight. I guess I should get
___ before I leave so I won't become tired.
