Unit 7: cultures
Page 68:
A. complete the idioms in the sentences below with the words in the box.
End eye eye fire foot Ice water water
1. Small talk is one way to break the ice, when meeting someone for the first time.
2. I was thrown in at the deep end, when my company sent me to run the German office. I was
only given two days’ notice to get everyday ready.
3. We don’t see eye to eye, with our US parent company about punctuality. We have very
different ideas about what being ‘on time’ means. It’s a question of culture.
4. I got into hot water with my boss for wearing casual clothes to the meeting with the
potential Japanese customers.
5. I really put my foot in it when I met our Spanish partner. Because I was nervous, I said ‘Who
are you?’ rather than ‘How are you?’.
6. I get on like a house on fire, with our Polish agent; we like the same things and have the
same sense of humour.
7. When I visited China for the first time, I was like a fish out of water. Everything was so
different, and I couldn’t read any of the signs!
8. My first meeting with our overseas clients was a real eye-opener. I hadn’t seen that style of
negotiation before.
D. match the idioms in exercise A (1-8) to the correct meanings (a-h).
To break the ice Make someone you have just met less nervous and more willing to talk
Thrown in at the Given a difficult job to do without preparation
deep end
We don’t see eye to Disagree with someone
eye
Got into hot water Get into trouble
Put my foot in it Say or do something without thinking carefully, so that you embarrass or
upset someone
I get on like a house Quickly have a friendly relationship with someone
on fire
Like a fish out of Feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
water
A real eye-opener An experience where you learn something surprising or something you did
not know before
Page 70:
A. Choose the most appropriate verb. There are some situations where both verbs
are possible. Can you say why?
1. If you are invited to a Brazilian’s house for dinner, you must/ should arrive at least 30
minutes after the time mentioned.
2. You mustn’t/ don’t have to give purple flowers as a gift in many countries.
3. All personnel should/must read the health and safety notices in the building.
4. Staff don’t have to/mustn’t disclose information on the project unless authorised.
5. I think you should/must encourage the team to develop interpersonal skills. (beide)
6. Simone doesn’t have to/shouldn’t work so hard – she is looking very tired.
Page 68:
A. complete the idioms in the sentences below with the words in the box.
End eye eye fire foot Ice water water
1. Small talk is one way to break the ice, when meeting someone for the first time.
2. I was thrown in at the deep end, when my company sent me to run the German office. I was
only given two days’ notice to get everyday ready.
3. We don’t see eye to eye, with our US parent company about punctuality. We have very
different ideas about what being ‘on time’ means. It’s a question of culture.
4. I got into hot water with my boss for wearing casual clothes to the meeting with the
potential Japanese customers.
5. I really put my foot in it when I met our Spanish partner. Because I was nervous, I said ‘Who
are you?’ rather than ‘How are you?’.
6. I get on like a house on fire, with our Polish agent; we like the same things and have the
same sense of humour.
7. When I visited China for the first time, I was like a fish out of water. Everything was so
different, and I couldn’t read any of the signs!
8. My first meeting with our overseas clients was a real eye-opener. I hadn’t seen that style of
negotiation before.
D. match the idioms in exercise A (1-8) to the correct meanings (a-h).
To break the ice Make someone you have just met less nervous and more willing to talk
Thrown in at the Given a difficult job to do without preparation
deep end
We don’t see eye to Disagree with someone
eye
Got into hot water Get into trouble
Put my foot in it Say or do something without thinking carefully, so that you embarrass or
upset someone
I get on like a house Quickly have a friendly relationship with someone
on fire
Like a fish out of Feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
water
A real eye-opener An experience where you learn something surprising or something you did
not know before
Page 70:
A. Choose the most appropriate verb. There are some situations where both verbs
are possible. Can you say why?
1. If you are invited to a Brazilian’s house for dinner, you must/ should arrive at least 30
minutes after the time mentioned.
2. You mustn’t/ don’t have to give purple flowers as a gift in many countries.
3. All personnel should/must read the health and safety notices in the building.
4. Staff don’t have to/mustn’t disclose information on the project unless authorised.
5. I think you should/must encourage the team to develop interpersonal skills. (beide)
6. Simone doesn’t have to/shouldn’t work so hard – she is looking very tired.
