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This video is devoted to some idioms related to hand gestures given in context. These are very common phrases on both sides of the Atlantic, and a must-know if you want your speech to sound natural. What’s more, these idioms show how closely verbal and nonverbal means of expression are interconnected. A tip. Write new idioms in a special place in your vocabulary notebook. Record them in context and add your own examples. I mean, try to personalise them so that they talk about you, and not about some fictional characters that you don’t really care about or some information that you don’t have to remember. Using the units, make sure it’s the right situation and the exact words. These are fixed expressions and all grammatical features, such as articles and prepositions, cannot be randomly changed, added or omitted. 1. The teacher looked angrily at Steven and told him to hand it over. He reluctantly gave her the note he had been trying to pass to Joshua. 2. Steve’s desk is so tidy – she has everything she needs right at his fingertips. 3. Peter and Susan must be in love. Whenever I see them, they are walking hand in hand. 4. Aaron wants me to lie about the accident, but I don’t want to stick my neck out for him. Why should I lie for him? 5. Mrs. Dexter’s class is so boring. We just sit there and twiddle our thumbs. 6. Ever since Mary found out that David had gone out with another girl, she’s been giving him a cold shoulder. I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t talk to him either. 7. I’m going over to Mike’s tomorrow to give him a hand moving. He has so much stuff he can’t possibly do it all by himself. 8. I’ve never learned how to fish, so I thought I’d try my hand at it. Do you want to come with me? 9. Al went looking for a new mobile all day yesterday, but he came home empty handed. He was so disappointed. I guess he’ll have to look again next week. 10. Mary asked William to go to the dance with her next week. I guess she doesn’t know he has two left feet. I hope she doesn’t wear new shoes! 11. A simple rule of thumb is to give an honest answer to any question. That kind of common-sense approach will save you a lot of trouble later on. 12. I hate to see Alison and Tom together. She has him wrapped around her little finger. It makes me sick to see him do every little thing she wants. 13. At the car accident, this big guy gave the other driver the finger It made me so mad to see him use a disgusting, nasty gesture, especially since the accident was his fault. 14. People are not allowed to hitchhike on the New York State Thruway, but I saw two people thumbing rides there yesterday. 15. I have to hand it to him. He wasn’t good in calculus, but he studied every day and got an A in the course. He deserves to be complimented. 16. That jerk! He told Donald that he loved his new suit. Then he asked, “Where did you get it – at the new discount store?” What a backhanded compliment! 17. I dropped three things today. Boy, do I have butterfingers!
