Phrases and idioms for relationships

1. Jo and I get on well with each other. [have a good relationship]

2. Adrian and Liz don't see eye to eye. [often argue/ disagree]

3. I've fallen out with my parents again. [had arguments]

4. Tony and Jane have broken up / split up. [ended their relationship]

5. George is having an affair with his boss. [a sexual relationship, usually secret]

6. Children should respect their elders. [adults/parents, etc.

7. Let's try and make it up. [be friends again after a row]

8. She's my junior I I'm her senior I I'm senior to her, so she does what she's told. [refers to position / length of service at work]

Some idiomatic expressions to help to characterize relationships:

1. Birds of a feather = if two people are birds of a feather, they are very similar in many ways.

2. Build bridges = help to cooperate and understand

3. Get on like a house on fire = have similar interests, support each other.

4. Play gooseberry = if you play gooseberry you join or accompany two people who have a romantic relationship and want to be alone.

5. Keep at arm’s length = do not allow becoming too friendly

Exercise № 28. Translate the following sentences in black and white using studied vocabulary.

Его мать была занятой 33-35 лет женщиной, которая предпочитала держать своих соседей и сослуживцев на дистанции. 2. Молодая семейная пара делала все возможное, чтобы наладить взаимоотношения и понимание с семьей дяди жены, но в конечном счете признали свое поражение. 3. Детям следует уважать старших и помогать им в повседневной жизни. 4. Его невеста терпеть не может телефонные звонки за полночь. 5. Джон и Екатерина прекратили свои отношения и теперь держатся на дистанции друг с другом.

Use words with the suffix -mate to resay or rewrite these sentences.

1 This is Jack. He and I share a flat.

2 My granddad still writes to his old friends he was at sea with.

3 We were in the same class together in 1978, weren’t we?

4 She’s not really a friend; she's just someone I work with.

Exercise № 29. Choose five or six adjectives from this chapter, which you think best describe either your own, or a friend’s character. How do you or your friend demonstrate these characteristics?

Example: Sociable - I am sociable because I love being with other people.

Exercise № 30. Use the adjectives listed below to complete the character descriptions.

honest, reserved, outgoing, frank, tactless, persuasive, trustworthy, fussy

1 Tina is a very ….. person. She is capable of convincing you to do almost anything she wants.

2 Sarah can be ………. on occasion. She often says things that offend people.

3 Jim is very …..; he always says exactly what he is thinking.

4 Stephanie is one of the most ….people I know; she would never consider doing anything illegal.

5 My little sister is very.… about what she eats; there are very few foods she likes.

6 Anna is a very ….. person who hardly ever lets her feelings show.

7 Mark is extremely ….; when it comes to keeping secrets, he will never tell a soul.

8 Annabel is a(n) …. person who loves meeting people and making new friends.