A businessman and his family recently relocated to Dubai for his new job. There was a lot of stress involved in selling their house in England, buying a new one in Dubai, and finding a school for their children. Now that they have settled in, they are extremely happy ("on cloud nine") because Dubai has great weather and beaches. In England, they only went to the beach very rarely ("once in a blue moon"), but in Dubai they go daily. They are taking a few weeks to rest and feel re-energized ("recharging their batteries") before the businessman begins his new job. He is certainly ("you bet") going to enjoy living in Dubai for the next few years.

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 recharge my batteries,
• I rest after working hard to feel energetic again.
• If do something once in a blue moon,
• I do something very often.
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

9. • If I , I rest
after working hard to feel
energetic again.
Answer

10. • Someone feeling extremely happy
• is an example of recharging your batteries.
• Someone working hard for a long time
• is an example of being on cloud nine.
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

11. • Someone feeling extremely happy
is an example of being
.
Answer

12. • because I wanted to say “certainly” or “of course”.
• because he plays it often.
• I responded to my friend with “You bet”
• My friend plays soccer once in a blue moon
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

13. • I responded to my friend with
“ ” because I wanted to say
“certainly” or “of course”.
Answer

14. • If someone recharges their batteries,
• he or she does something very rarely.
• he or she feels extremely happy.
• If someone is on cloud nine,
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

15. • If someone is , he or
she feels extremely happy.
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. • I normally consume news online, but very rarely I buy a traditional
newspaper.
• Paul: “Are you going to be at my wedding next month?”
• When Beth got the job promotion, she was extremely happy.
• Marie took a month-long trip to India to rest after working hard.
Fred: “Of course I’m going to be there!”
Sentences with normal phrases
Replace the phrases in bold with an idiom from this section

18. Answers
• I normally consume news online, but once in a blue moon I buy a
traditional newspaper.
• Paul: “Are you going to be at my wedding next month?”
• When Beth got the job promotion, she was on cloud nine.
• Marie took a month-long trip to India to recharge her batteries.
Fred: “You bet I’m going to be there!”
Sentences with idioms

19. Example Sentences
on cloud nine
to be extremely happy
once in a blue moon
very rarely
recharge your batteries
to rest after working hard in order to feel energetic again
you bet
certainly or of course
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. Robert has just bought his first car, and he’s
on cloud nine. He’s been driving it nonstop
for the last four hours!

21. I don’t go to the cinema very often. Only once
in a blue moon when there’s a must-see
movie.

22. Colin: What do you do to recharge your
batteries?
Neil: I usually just go for a nice walk in the
forest. The peace and quiet really helps me.

23. The boss has just offered me a job promotion.
You bet I’m going to accept it! I think it’s
celebration time tonight.

24. After the beautiful woman accepted his offer
for a date, Daniel was on cloud nine for days.

25. As an athlete, I have to eat extremely healthy
food all the time. I eat fast food and junk food
only once in a blue moon when the season
ends.

26. Sally, you’ve been working extremely hard for
the company over the last few months. I think
you deserve a nice break so that you can
recharge your batteries.

27. Ryan: Would you like to come to the music
festival with us next month?
Andrew: You bet! One of my favourite artists
is performing there.

28. It is recommended that you visit your doctor
and dentist regularly for a check-up. I only go
once in a blue moon. Perhaps I should book
an appointment.

29. Ed: Did you watch the World Cup Final
yesterday?
Simon: You bet! It was one of the most
exciting matches I’ve seen for a long time.

30. Buying this record player was a waste of
money. We only use it once in a blue moon
around Christmas and New Year’s Day.

31. I booked a two-day spa visit for mum so that
she can relax and recharge her batteries.
She’s had a hard time recently.

32. The tennis player was on cloud nine for weeks
and weeks after he won the prestigious
Wimbledon Tennis Championship.

33. Wendy: How does it feel to have bought your
first house?
Brenda: I’m on cloud nine. I’ve been saving for
years and years for this moment.

34. Are there going to be challenges ahead for
this company? You bet. But I love a challenge
and never run away from hard work.

35. School summer holidays aren’t just for the
children to have a break. It’s also a chance for
the teachers to recharge their batteries after
the year.

36. Idioms in Use Set Seven
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 businessman is talking about having to relocate to a new
country.
It’s been an exhausting few months for me and my family. We recently
relocated to Dubai for my job. There were so many stressful things to
do: sell our house in England, buy a new house in Dubai, find a school
for the children and so on. But now that we’ve settled in, we’re on
cloud nine because Dubai has fantastic weather and wonderful
beaches. In England, we went to the beach once in a blue moon, but
here we go daily! We’re recharging our batteries for a few weeks
before I begin my new job. You bet I’m going to enjoy living here for the
next few years!