bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

John Millen

Arm candy

 Your arms are the two limbs on the upper part of your body, but what is/are ...?

1 arm candy

a. a handsome man or a beautiful girl that a person takes to a public event in order to impress others and enhance his or her status

b. a brightly coloured, short-sleeved top that you think makes you look good

2 strong arm tactics

a. behaviour that involves using violence and threats to get people to do what you want

b. putting a plastic shield around a broken arm to help it mend

3 a list as long as your arm

a. a short list of jobs you have to do at home

b. a very long list of things you have to do or buy

4 a shot in the arm

a. something that gives you a sudden burst of energy or enthusiasm

b. a bad mosquito bite that itches a lot

Right choice

Choose the correct phrase so these sentences make sense.

1 My salary increase has given me (a list as long as your arm / a shot in the arm) at work.

2 My boss has started to use (strong arm tactics / arm candy) to get me to do what he wants. But he's wasting his time.

3 My sister always chooses her boyfriends for their (strong arm tactics / arm candy) value.

4 I've got (a list as long as my  arm / a shot in the arm) of things I've got to do before we move to Shanghai.

Phrases using your arm

What do these useful verbal phrases mean?

1 to cost an arm and a leg

a. to cost a large amount of money

b. to cost a tiny amount of money and be good value

2 to give your right arm (for + noun, to + verb)

a. to want something very much and be willing to do anything to get it

b. to refuse to do something even though you are asked repeatedly to do it

3 to twist somebody's arm

a. to use a lot of persuasion to get someone to do what you want them to do

b. to tell someone what you think of them even thought it will hurt their feelings

4 to be able to do something with one arm tied behind your back

a. to do something easily  when others think it is difficult

b. to have no chance of finishing what you have started

Finish the sentence  

Which are the correct words to finish off these bits of dialogue?

1 No problem! Just watch me! .........................

a. I can do that with one hand tied behind my back.

b. It cost an arm and a leg.

2 I would .................. to be good at maths, but I know I never will be. So, why worry?

a. give my right arm

b. twist my teacher's arm

 3 I'm sure that if you ................ a bit, he will go hiking with you on Sunday.

a. give your right arm

b. twist his arm

 4 Our new flat ..................... but it's worth every dollar. It has a spectacular sea view.

a. cost an arm and a leg

b. twists his arm

Answers:

 Arm candy: 1. a, 2. a, 3. b, 4. a 

 Right choice: 1. a shot in the arm, 2. strong arm tactics, 3. arm candy, 4. a list as long as my arm 

 Phrases: 1. a, 2. a, 3. a, 4. a 

 Finish the sentence: 1. a, 2. a, 3. b, 4. a



Strong arm tactics