Hello there! We are glad to present our e-book to you 🙂

CHAPTER 1. The idioms with “leg”

CHAPTER 2. A funny fairy tale

CHAPTER 3. Let’s answer some questions about the text!

CHAPTER 4. Learning the expressions: exercises to improve

Enjoy!

With love,

Team 2

CHAPTER 1:  The idioms with “leg”

Break a leg!

To wish someone good luck

“Break a leg!” one of the actors called to the lead actor.

To pull someone’s leg

To tease or joke with someone in a playful way

Nathan is fond of playing tricks on people and he is always pulling my leg when he sees me.

Shake a leg!

To ask someone to hurry up

Please shake a leg if you want to be in time for the lecture.

To have a leg up on

To have an advantage in something on someone

Rita knows two foreign languages and she has a leg up on the other applicants for the job.

On the last leg

When something is in the end of existence or on the last stage

My phone is on its last legs, so I am going to buy a new one soon.

CHAPTER 2. A funny fairy tale

In the lively village of Cheerfulburg, there lived a determined young chef named Mia. Mia had always dreamed of participating in the annual Cooking Extravaganza, where locals showcased their culinary talents.

As the big day approached, Mia’s excitement reached new heights. Her friends, aware of her culinary aspirations, wished her the best, telling her to “break a leg” with genuine smiles. Little did Mia know, her mischievous cousin, Max, loved to pull pranks.

On the eve of the Cooking Extravaganza, Max decided to play a trick on Mia. Sneaking into the kitchen, he whispered, “You’ll stand out if you cook with one hand behind your back and shake a leg to finish faster.” Mia, unsuspecting of Max’s mischief, took his advice to heart, adding a lively dance to her unique cooking approach to speed things up.

The day of the extravaganza arrived, and Mia was ready to compete. Cooking with one hand behind her back and shaking a leg to keep up the pace was quite hard for her. There was a moment when she thought she was on the last leg. She was one step away from giving up, but despite it Mia kept going. The judges were astonished, and Mia’s dishes were a hit. The audience applauded, enjoying the unexpected culinary performance.

Backstage, Max congratulated Mia, revealing his mischievous involvement. “I couldn’t resist pulling your leg,” Max admitted, chuckling at the success of his prank. Mia, in good spirits, playfully swatted Max on the arm, grateful for the unexpected culinary adventure.

The judges praised her creativity, saying, “You truly had a leg up on the competition with that one-handed technique”

Mia, now known as the chef who could both dance and cook up a storm, smiled with pride as she embraced the cheers from the crowd.

CHAPTER 3. Let’s answer some questions about the text!

1. How would you explain the meaning of this sentence “if you cook with one hand behind your back and shake a leg to finish faster”?

2. What is the meaning of the idiom “to have a leg up on” in the text?

3. Who is the main character of the story?

4. Describe Max’s prank on Mia.

5. Can Max be considered a good friend if he pranked Mia like that?

6. Was Max’s prank successful or not?

7. What nickname did Mia receive after her successful performance at the competition?

CHAPTER 4. Learning the expressions: exercises to improve

EXERCISE 1. Match the expressions with the correct meaning:

Definitions:
a. an expression used to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance or event.
b. nearing the end of something, often referring to physical exhaustion.
c. to hurry up and move quickly.
d. to tease or joke with someone in a playful way.
e. to have an advantage over others in a particular situation.

Words:
1. break a leg
2. on the last leg
3. have a leg up on something
4. pull someone’s leg
5. shake a leg

EXERCISE 2. Fill in the gaps:

1) I just wanted to say “______” to you before the competition.
2) Is it really your car or are you _______?
3) We must always be looking for ways ______ the competition if we want to succeed in business.
4) We’d been out walking all day and I was ______ when we reached the hotel.
5) Come on, Nick, ______ or we’ll never be ready in time.