Learn these four English idioms: ring a bell, around the clock, let someone off the hook and mean the world to someone. Learn the meaning of these useful idioms and master them by studying and reading aloud the example sentences. Also read the Idioms in Use text, which contains all four target idioms in a natural context. Leave a comment below and practice the idioms that you learned. Learn more by visiting me at www.SirEnglish.com

7. Choose only two of the four phrases to make a good
sentence. Write down your answer before moving
ahead to check your answers.

8. • If I let someone off the hook,
• I let them escape punishment.
• If someone means the world to me,
• I think they sound familiar.
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

9. • If I , I let
them escape punishment.
Answer

10. • Someone working all day and all night
• is an example of ringing a bell.
• Someone that is extremely important to me
• is an example of doing something around the
clock.
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

11. • Someone working all day and all
night is an example of doing
something
Answer

12. • because he was extremely important to her.
• because it sounded familiar, although she couldn’t
remember the exact details.
• Mary let her son off the hook
• Jane said, “That name rings a bell”
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

13. • Jane said, “That name ”
because it sounded familiar,
although she couldn’t remember
the exact details.
Answer

14. • If something rings a bell,
• it is extremely important to you.
• it happens all day and all night.
• If something means the world to you,
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

15. • If something
, it is extremely important to
you.
Answer

16. Replace the phrases in bold with one of the idioms
from this section. Write down each sentence before
moving ahead to check your answers.

17. • Most students are studying all day and all night in order to prepare for
the final exam.
• Winning the gold medal is extremely important to me. I’ve dreamed of
this my whole life!
• That place sounds familiar, although I can’t remember the exact
details. Maybe I visited there a long time ago.
• Thanks for letting me escape a difficult situation or punishment. I
promise not to behave like that again.
Sentences with normal phrases
Replace the phrases in bold with an idiom from this section

18. Answers
Sentences with idioms
• Most students are studying around the clock in order to prepare for
the final exam.
• Winning the gold medal means the world to me. I’ve dreamed of this
my whole life!
• That place rings a bell. Maybe I visited there a long time ago.
• Thanks for letting me off the hook. I promise not to behave like that
again.

19. Example Sentences
ring a bell
to sound familiar, although you can’t remember the exact details
around the clock
all day and all night
let someone off the hook
to let someone escape punishment
mean the world to someone
to be extremely important to someone
Read the sentences containing the idioms that we studied. Think about the meaning of the idioms as
you read aloud. Train your brain to master these idioms.

20. Neil: I met someone from our school days
yesterday. Does the name ‘Robert May’ ring a
bell?
George: It rings a bell, but I can’t remember
him exactly. What does he look like?

21. Doctors and nurses are caring for the man
around the clock as they desperately try to
save his life.

22. Because she works so hard and is a woman of
great integrity, I want to let her off the hook
for this minor mistake. This is definitely not
the sort of thing she does often.

23. You know that my book collection meant the
world to me. Why did you throw all of them
away?

24. If the description of the criminal rings a bell
with anyone, please contact police as soon as
possible.

25. The public shouldn’t worry as police are on
patrol around the clock to make sure that the
area is safe and secure.

26. Billy, I’m going to let you off the hook this
time, but next time I’m going to be very cross
if you draw on the walls again.

27. Interviewer: How does it feel to win the Oscar
Award for best actor?
Actor: Oh, it means the world to me. This has
been my goal for a very long time.

28. I put too much trust in you before, so there’s
no chance I’m letting you off the hook this
time. I’m sorry.

29. Brenda: James spends a lot of time cleaning
and looking after his car.
Jane: I know. That thing means the world to
him. He spends more time with the car than
me!

30. You’re from Winchester Town? That name
rings a bell. Isn’t that up north near
Manchester?

31. The convenience store on the corner is open
around the clock, so it’s really handy if you
need something late at night.

32. Their grandchildren mean the world to them.
They always spend time with them and take
them on lovely trips.

33. Policeman: Does the name ‘Branden Murphy’
ring a bell with you?
Suspect: Nope, I’ve never heard that name in
my life. Now when can I leave?

34. Welcome to the resort. Activities take place
around the clock, so whenever you are
looking for something to do, just come and
ask one of our team members.

35. The authorities always let the company off
the hook because it provides thousands of
jobs and is so important to the economy.

36. Idioms in Use Set Fourteen
Read this short passage aloud. Think about the meanings of the idioms
as you read. This will train your brain to master these idioms.
Situation: A man is chatting to his friend about their school years.
Mr Peterson? The name rings a bell. Oh yes, I remember him now. He
was our science teacher at school. He was a really fun teacher, and he
always let us off the hook when we got into trouble! But the head
teacher was certainly not as nice. I remember that she punished me
and my friend one time, making us copy a boring history book from
start to finish! It took us so long that we had to work around the clock
to get it done. Anyway, my school years were fantastic. I have really
fond memories of those times and I’m still very close to all my school
friends. They mean the world to me because they’re like family. I don’t
know where I’d be without them.