MACMILLAN

Part 1 Metaphors

Translate the following sentences from English into Russian. Use the ideas given in the explanation.

Trying to achieve something is like cooking a meal , and you can do this well or badly.

  • Can you give us your recipe for running a successful business? ♦
  • This plan is a recipe for disaster. ♦
  • Of all the half-baked ideas I’ve ever heard of, this is the craziest. ♦
  • I think we should put the whole question on the back burner for now. ♦
  • The proof of the pudding will lie in the deal he manages to strike. ♦
  • You know what they say about too many cooks : well, they certainly spoiled this particular broth! ♦
  • We’re not making much progress, so it’s time to throw something new into the mix . ♦
  • Unfortunately they overegged the pudding by adding a troupe of dancers and a jazz band. ♦
  • Now we’re really cooking !

An argument is like a fight or war , with people attacking each other’s opinions and defending their own.

  • She tried to defend herself against his attacks on her ideas. ♦
  • She shot down his argument. ♦
  • That is an indefensible point of view. ♦
  • I decided to pursue another line of attack . ♦
  • We had a big fight last night, and I went home early. ♦
  • There was a lot of conflict over what to do next. ♦
  • They clashed over who to appoint. ♦
  • It was a real battle of wits . ♦
  • We did battle with the council about the plans. ♦
  • I’ve crossed swords with them before. ♦
  • Tom is always the first to leap to her defence .

Enthusiasm and excitement are like heat and a lack of enthusiasm and excitement is like cold or wet .

  • I haven’t got any burning interest in modern art. ♦
  • It’s the hottest show in town. ♦
  • Things heated up / hotted up as soon as the music started. ♦
  • The audience was at fever pitch . ♦
  • The book was received warmly . ♦
  • He certainly has fire in his belly . ♦
  • She’s always very sparky . ♦
  • They seemed very lukewarm when I mentioned it to them. ♦
  • Her response to the suggestion was tepid . ♦
  • She poured cold water on all my suggestions. ♦
  • The party turned out to be a damp squib . ♦
  • He blows hot and cold all the time, and I never know where I am with him.

Feeling happy and hopeful is like being high up or like moving upwards . Feeling sad and unhappy is like being low down or like falling .

  • The news lifted her spirits. ♦
  • Things are looking up . ♦
  • Cheer up ! ♦
  • My spirits rose when I got her letter. ♦
  • I’ve been walking / floating on air ever since. ♦
  • I was over the moon when they told me. ♦
  • I felt as high as a kite . ♦
  • She’s on top of the world / on cloud nine . ♦
  • I was in seventh heaven . ♦
  • I feel really down / low about it all. ♦
  • He’s in very low spirits. ♦
  • He’s in the depths of despair. ♦
  • My heart sank when I saw him. ♦
  • They looked very down in the mouth / down in the dumps .

Happiness and hope are like bright light or bright colours . Sadness and lack of hope are like darkness or dark colours .

  • The future looks very bright / rosy . ♦
  • She brightened up when she heard the news. ♦
  • His face lit up when he saw them. ♦
  • They had shining eyes and beaming / dazzling smiles. ♦
  • The bride looked radiant . ♦
  • You have to look for the light at the end of the tunnel . ♦
  • He was in a black mood. ♦
  • I was feeling blue . ♦
  • There’s no point in having these dark thoughts. ♦
  • His face darkened . ♦
  • They led a grey empty existence. ♦
  • I’m afraid the outlook is very gloomy / bleak / dismal . ♦
  • The news cast a shadow over the evening.