Watch the Birdie! Related vocabulary. Step 2

proceed to step 3

 


1. [Match]

See if this exercise matching vocabulary and phrases helps!

(Watch the birdie! Look at the camera!
This is a phrase which goes back to the early days of photography, when people had to stay still for some time to allow for enough light to filter through to the film. There was a small bulb in the photographer’s hand to focus on which was about the size of a small bird, hence the phrase!
change your tune – to alter your story or attitude, particularly if you foresee an advantage in doing so
(‘She’s changed her tune’ = that is not what she was saying earlier.)
be streetwise – have the skills and knowledge necessary for dealing with modern urban life
Pull the other one! informal = Very funny! (I know you are teasing me / I know you are joking).
You may sometimes hear ‘Pull the other leg, it’s got bells on!’ meaning the same. In this phrase the speaker is saying something completely ridiculous to let the other person realise he / she can joke too!
to pull someone’s leg – to deceive someone playfully, to tease somebody
tone-deaf – unable to perceive differences of musical pitch accurately
rustic – characteristic of life in the country, having a simplicity and charm considered typical of country life
a city-slicker – a person with the sophisticated tastes or values associated with city dwellers
a country bumpkin – an unsophisticated country person
Birds of a feather flock together – a saying used of people who have similar characters or interests, especially ones of which you disapprove, and who tend to spend time with each other
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Answers for Quiz [1].

  • 1. Look at the camera! (correct)
  • 2. alter your story or attitude, particularly if you foresee an advantage in doing so (correct)
  • 3. have the skills and knowledge necessary for dealing with modern urban life (correct)
  • 4. Very funny! (I know you are teasing me / I know you are joking). (correct)
  • 5. unable to perceive differences of musical pitch accurately (correct)
  • 6. to deceive playfully, to tease (correct)
  • 7. characteristic of life in the country, having a simplicity and charm considered typical of country life (correct)
  • 8. a person with the sophisticated tastes or values associated with city dwellers (correct)
  • 9. an unsophisticated country person (correct)
  • 10. a saying used of people who have similar characters or interests, especially ones of which you disapprove, and who tend to spend time with each other (correct)
  • 11. birds (correct)
  • 12. accelerate (correct)