ARTICLES WITH IDIOMS EXERCISE 3 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
This third exercise in the articles-with-idioms series focuses on abstract nouns in fixed phrases — one of the trickiest areas of English article use. The grammar review below explains the patterns around abstract nouns and offers a practical tip for approaching unfamiliar idioms.
Grammar review
Articles in idioms — advanced patterns
At B1/B2 level, article use in idioms becomes more nuanced. Several patterns are worth understanding because they recur across many expressions.
Abstract nouns in idioms — often no article:
Many idiomatic expressions with abstract nouns take no article:
lose hope, take pride in, make room for, show respect, do justice to, give way to, take charge
But similar expressions sometimes use a:
give a chance, make a difference, have a word, take a seat, do a favour
The only reliable approach is to learn these as fixed forms.
Expressions with the:
on the contrary, out of the question, in the meantime, get the hang of, have the nerve to
Useful tip: Native speakers rarely think about articles in idioms — the whole expression is stored as one unit in the memory. The more you encounter idioms in context (reading, listening), the more naturally the correct article will come.
At B1/B2 level, article use in idioms becomes more nuanced. Several patterns are worth understanding because they recur across many expressions.
Abstract nouns in idioms — often no article:
Many idiomatic expressions with abstract nouns take no article:
lose hope, take pride in, make room for, show respect, do justice to, give way to, take charge
But similar expressions sometimes use a:
give a chance, make a difference, have a word, take a seat, do a favour
The only reliable approach is to learn these as fixed forms.
Expressions with the:
on the contrary, out of the question, in the meantime, get the hang of, have the nerve to
Useful tip: Native speakers rarely think about articles in idioms — the whole expression is stored as one unit in the memory. The more you encounter idioms in context (reading, listening), the more naturally the correct article will come.
Choose the correct article (a, an, the) or no article to complete each idiomatic expression.
1. I've gained a lot of weight in the past three months. I have to get back in _________________ shape soon!
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — get back in shape = become physically fit again — fixed idiom, no article before shape.
2. When something is certain, you can say it's "_________________ safe bet".
Correct answer: a — a safe bet = something very likely to happen or succeed — fixed idiom with the indefinite article a.
3. She didn't let him come too close. = She kept him at _________________ arm's length.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — keep someone at arm's length = avoid getting too close to someone — fixed idiom, no article before arm's length.
4. When you're "at _________________ odds" with someone, it means you don't agree with that person (about something).
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — at odds (with someone) = in disagreement — fixed idiom, no article before odds.
5. Don't let yourself be seen/heard too much. = Keep _________________ low profile.
Correct answer: a — keep a low profile = avoid being noticed — fixed idiom with the indefinite article a.
6. My business is on _________________ up and up. = My business is doing well (becoming successful).
Correct answer: the — on the up and up = steadily improving or becoming more successful — fixed idiom with the.
7. Hey, I'm not made of _________________ money! ( = I'm not so rich that I can buy anything I want)
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — (not) made of money = (not) extremely wealthy — money is uncountable and takes no article here.
8. To "turn _________________ blind eye" to something means to ignore it.
Correct answer: a — turn a blind eye (to something) = deliberately ignore something — fixed idiom with the indefinite article a.
9. Our noisy neighbors really put _________________ damper on our vacation. ( = they ruined it, made it less enjoyable, etc.)
Correct answer: a — put a damper on (something) = spoil or lessen the enjoyment of something — fixed idiom with the indefinite article a.
10. Don't keep me in _________________ dark. I want to know what's going on!
Correct answer: the — keep someone in the dark = withhold information from someone — fixed idiom with the.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER ARTICLE EXERCISES:
A or the? 1 (A1/A2)
A or the? 2 (A1/A2)
Article or no article? 1 (A2/B1)
Article or no article? 2 (A2/B2)
Article or no article? 3 (A2/B2)
Articles with idioms 1 (B1/B2)
Articles with idioms 2 (B1/B2)
Countable or uncountable nouns? 1 (A2/B1)
Countable or uncountable nouns? 2 (A2/B1)
A or the? 1 (A1/A2)
A or the? 2 (A1/A2)
Article or no article? 1 (A2/B1)
Article or no article? 2 (A2/B2)
Article or no article? 3 (A2/B2)
Articles with idioms 1 (B1/B2)
Articles with idioms 2 (B1/B2)
Countable or uncountable nouns? 1 (A2/B1)
Countable or uncountable nouns? 2 (A2/B1)
