Home

Shop idioms

Average: 5 (6 votes)
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 00:00 — Chris McCarthy

Here some idioms which use the word 'shop'.  When you have read the article below, see if you can match the right idiom to the right sentence.

to talk shop

To talk about your job when you are not in work. Usually to discuss business in your free time.

'Whenever I go out with my co-workers we always end up talking shop.'

to shop around

To compare the price of something in different shops before you buy it.

'I really shopped around before I bought my new TV. I must have visited about 15 shops.'

to be all over the shop

To be disorganised. We also use 'all over the shop' to mean untidy / messy.

'I tried to ask them about their plan but they couldn't answer me. They really are all over the shop.'
'My brother's room is a mess. He leaves his clothes all over the shop.'

to shut up shop

This casual expression means a business closes down forever.

'Because of the increase in fuel costs the airline was forced to shut up shop.'

to set up shop

This casual expression means to establish a business.

'Last year Quick Coffee started to set up shop in China. They opened 25 new cafes.'

to be like a bull in a china shop

To do things without care. To have rough movements.

'My young son runs around our house like a bull in a China shop. He's always breaking things.'

  • It's important to ___ in different stores so you can get the best price before you buy something expensive.





  • I went out with these doctors last night. It got a bit boring as they ___ all evening.





  • The small store had to ___ when a large department store moved in next door.





  • I need to tidy up this weekend. My stuff is ___.





  • The bank agreed my business loan so we'll be ___ next month. I'll finally have my own business!





  • That's the second plate you've broken! You are ___!










Bookmark/Search this post with:
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Yahoo

Comments

Thu, 09/25/2008 - 03:12 — eve1980

well done!

I did it perfect!

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 09:01 — delroy

Doubt

The bank agreed my business loan so we'll be ___ next month. I'll finally have my own business!
Please clear my doubt:
The bank agreed ...........
or
The bank approved........

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 10:48 — Chris McCarthy

agreed approved

'Approved' is also used in this context and has a more formal meaning.Thanks.Chris.

Fri, 09/26/2008 - 21:47 — joeweboy

Very educative and interesting

I love it very much, and i think should be alittle bit harder and tricky to need much thinking before answering.

Sat, 09/27/2008 - 04:26 — rejiraj

shop idioms

it was a wonderfull learning experience. i came across a group of new intersting usages which are very useful in the day to day dealings.

Tue, 07/07/2009 - 08:01 — Land scope

my coment

Very Interesting

Tue, 09/30/2008 - 10:40 — grivna

Some typos

It's important to ___ around in different stores so you can get the best price before you buy something expensive.

Please, remove extra "around" from the question.

From the lesson:
'My you son runs around our house like a bull in a China shop. He's always breaking things.'

"My you" should be replaced by "my young".

Very useful lesson, thanks, you are doing a great work!

Tue, 09/30/2008 - 11:55 — Chris McCarthy

Grivna

Thanks, as always, for your help Grivna. You have a great eye!

Tue, 09/30/2008 - 12:14 — grivna

Hi Chris,

What about your special lesson? Something like "Secrets of improving English"?

How can I (or anybody else) improve my English? My speaking is very poor, I must confess.

What is the best strategy for learning English without teacher? I hope your answer will be interesting for all of this site visitors.

Thanks in advance!

Mon, 10/13/2008 - 19:32 — miffoo l

thanks

100% perfect Applause

Mon, 05/11/2009 - 17:18 — Yura

THANKS

Excellent lesson as usual. I liked it. Thanks.

Mon, 08/24/2009 - 20:13 — öllős márta

idioms

öm
there are great! Now I understand lot of things. It is very usefull for foreigner. Tanks a lot. Öllős Márta