Learn these four English idioms: drive up the wall, wouldn’t hurt a fly, never in my wildest dreams and throw in the towel. 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 wouldn’t hurt a fly,
• I am kind and gentle.
• If I drive you up the wall,
• I admit failure and quit doing something.
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

9. • If I , I am kind
and gentle.
Answer

10. • Someone admitting failure and quitting
• is an example of never in my wildest dreams.
• Someone that makes people angry or upset
• is an example of throwing in the towel.
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

11. • Someone admitting failure and
quitting is an example of
Answer

12. • because she is kind and gentle.
• because something happened that she didn’t
expect.
• Mary said, “Never in my wildest dreams”
• Jane threw in the towel
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

13. • Mary said, “
” because something
happened that she didn’t expect.
Answer

14. • If someone throws in the towel,
• they are making you angry or upset.
• they never quit.
• If someone is driving you up the wall,
Choose two phrases to make a good sentence

15. • If someone is
, they are making you angry or
upset.
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. • This computer is making me really angry. It keeps turning itself off and
erasing my work.
• I started an engineering degree, but I had to admit failure and quit
because it was too difficult for me.
• The school headmistress looks very tough and strict, but she is kind and
gentle.
• Interviewer: As a child, did you imagine being a famous singer?
Singer: No, I didn’t expect it to happen!
Sentences with normal phrases
Replace the phrases in bold with an idiom from this section

18. Answers
• This computer is driving me up the wall. It keeps turning itself off and
erasing my work.
• I started an engineering degree, but I had to throw in the towel
because it was too difficult for me.
• The school headmistress looks very tough and strict, but she wouldn’t
hurt a fly.
• Interviewer: As a child, did you imagine being a famous singer?
Singer: No, never in my wildest dreams!
Sentences with idioms

19. Example Sentences
drive up the wall
to make someone angry or upset
wouldn’t hurt a fly
to say that someone is kind and gentle
never in my wildest dreams
to say that you didn’t expect something to happen
throw in the towel
to admit failure and quit doing something
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. Riding my motorcycle through this bad traffic
every morning drives me up the wall. I think
it’s time to start taking the train to work.

21. Harry isn’t the type of person to get involved
in any kind argument or fight. He wouldn’t
hurt a fly.

22. Linda: Never in my wildest dreams did I
imagine you could ride that rollercoaster.
Vicky: It was terrifying. I’d never do it again.

23. I’m going to try one more acting audition and
if I don’t get a part, I’m going to throw in the
towel on my acting career.

24. My flatmate’s awful singing every morning
drives me up the wall, but I can’t tell him how
bad he sings because he believes he’s
amazing.

25. The lady was sure that the police had made a
mistake in arresting her husband for violence.
She insisted that he wouldn’t hurt a fly, and
that he’d never committed a crime before.

26. I thought we might do well, but never in my
wildest dreams did I think we could win the
cup final. This is incredible!

27. Oscar: You’re really good at chess! I don’t
think there’s any way for me to win this game.
Frank: Yep, I think it’s time for you to throw in
the towel.

28. My husband redecorated the house while I
was away. Never in my wildest dreams did I
expect it to look so impressive. He did a great
job.

29. Kate: That exam was so difficult. I almost
threw in the towel and walked out of the hall.
Cathy: I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who felt
like that.

30. I had to quit my job and start a business. If I
had stayed at that company any longer with
that horrible boss, it would have driven me up
the wall.

31. The sumo wrestler is very aggressive and
strong in the ring, but outside it in his day-to-
day life, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.

32. My daughter drives her brother up the wall.
She always takes his toys and hides them from
him.

33. Will: The guy over there seems really angry
the whole time. He’s making me worried.
Oliver: Oh, that’s Jim. Don’t worry, his
character is like that, but he wouldn’t hurt a
fly.

34. She threatened to leave me many times
throughout our relationship, but never in my
wildest dreams did I expect her to actually
go.

35. Even though training is tough and this diet is
difficult to follow, I’m not going to throw in
the towel on my dream of becoming an
Olympian.

36. Idioms in Use Set Ten
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 professional boxer is talking about life in the sport.
Being a professional boxer is extremely tough, but very rewarding. Ever
since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a boxer and win the world
championship, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would
happen. There were a number of times during my boxing journey when
I thought I would throw in the towel, but I kept on going and I’m glad
that I did. It drives me up the wall when people say boxers are mean,
horrible people. Boxing teaches discipline and respect, and the vast
majority of boxers wouldn’t hurt a fly.