manderlyh Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) I need to collect some data on some English collocations and idioms. Meaning, I'm supposed to see how many peopel do and don't know particular sayings in the English language--American English in particular. Its easy, all you do is just fill in the blanks. I will post the form in the next post. Thanks, guys! Thanks a lot! Plus--it may be fun to see others' answers. If you do not want to post the stuff, you can PM it to me. Thanks! It's a fill in the blank. You do not have to do all of them, but if you do, you will have a special place in my and my linguistic professor's hearts. Edited April 1, 2008 by manderlyh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 is it a Yes/No thing, or do we put what we think the saying means? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) People's knowledge of collocations and idoms. Complete the second half of each phrase with the first word(s) that come to mind. Please let me know if English is NOT your first language. busy as flat as hard as sly as quick as fits as happy as poor as hungry as slow as old as dull as drink like work like live like sing like fight like swim like cool as pleased as quite as neat as sharp as strong as sober as clean as stubborn as good as blind as fat as sleep like eat like laugh like run like shake like watch (someone) like Edited April 1, 2008 by manderlyh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmc1973 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Oh boy, you know you're opening yourself up to a bunch of joke answers... example: "hard as a priest on a playground" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Yeah...guys, if you do this, please be somewhat serious. It's for school. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrophile Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 People's knowledge of collocations and idoms. Complete the second half of each phrase with the first word(s) that come to mind. Please let me know if English is NOT your first language. busy as a bee flat as a board hard as a rock sly as a fox quick as a bunny fit as a fiddle happy as a clam poor as hungry as slow as molasses in January old as Methuesalah dull as dishwater drink like a fish work like a dog live like a king sing like a canary fight like a tiger swim like a fish cool as a cucumber pleased as punch quiet as a church mouse neat as sharp as a tack strong as rope sober as a nun clean as stubborn as a mule good as gold blind as a bat fat as a hog sleep like a baby eat like a horse laugh like a hyena run like hell shake like a leaf watch (someone) like a hawk I bolded my answers. The ones left blank are ones I couldn't think of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pb Derigable Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) [People's knowledge of collocations and idioms. Complete the second half of each phrase with the first word(s) that come to mind. Please let me know if English is NOT your first language. busy as BEE flat as PANCAKE hard as ROCK sly as USED CAR SALESMAN quick as A FOX fits as SNUGLY AS A GLOVE happy as BABY poor as A DRUNK hungry as A WOLF slow as A TURTLE old as A ROCK dull as A BUTTER KNIFE drink like 21 YEAR OLD COED work like MULE live like YOU'RE DYING sing like BIRD fight like RETARD swim like A FISH cool as THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PILLOW pleased as A JOHN quite as AMOUSE neat as CAN BE sharp as TACK strong as MULE sober as A PIPE FITTER clean as A WHISTLE stubborn as MULE good as IT GETS blind as BAT fat as A ELEPHANT sleep like ALION eat like A HORSE laugh like A CLOWN run like THE WIND shake like A POLAROID PICTURE watch (someone) like A HAWK Lived in the southwest suburbs of chicago my whole life. Edited April 1, 2008 by Pb Derigable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 People's knowledge of collocations and idoms. Complete the second half of each phrase with the first word(s) that come to mind. Please let me know if English is NOT your first language. busy as a bee flat as a pancake hard as a rock sly as a fox quick as lightning fits as a fiddle happy as a clam poor as a churchmouse hungry as a bear slow as molasses old as methuseleh dull as dirt drink like a fish work like a dog (?) live like a king sing like a bird fight like cats and dogs swim like a fish cool as a cucumber pleased as punch quite as a mouse neat as a pin sharp as a tack strong as an ox sober as (?) clean as a whistle stubborn as a mule good as gold blind as a bat fat as a house sleep like a log eat like a pig laugh like crazy run like the dickens shake like jello (?) watch (someone) like a hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) So far, so good! Thanks a lot guys! I'll explain later, after I get some responses from real-life people and my friends and family--whom were also "invited to participate." LOL By the way, my friend Michelle sent me an email in response, "are you fucking nuts?" I replied, "Yes, I'm fucking nuts." LOL Edited April 1, 2008 by manderlyh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzfan715 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 busy as a bee flat as a board hard as nail sly as a fox quick as bird fits like a glove happy as a jaybird poor as hungry as a horse slow as turtle old as dirt dull as drink like work like a horse live like there's no tomorrow sing like fight like swim like cool as a cucumber pleased as pickle? quite as neat as pin sharp as pin strong as an ox sober as clean as stubborn as donkey good as it gets blind as a bat fat as sleep like a baby eat like pig laugh like run like the wind shake like a leaf in a tree watch (someone) like a hawk. Hope I helped. I didn't know all of them sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) Don't worry about not knowing all of them. That's the point to most of the project--to see how many everyone know. Edited April 1, 2008 by manderlyh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alinds Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 busy as a bee flat as a pancake hard as a rock sly as a fox quick as a racehorse fits as a fiddle happy as a clam poor as a bum hungry as a horse slow as molasses old as fuck dull as dilbert drink like a mule work like a hound live like a king sing like an angel fight like a boxer swim like a fish cool as a cucumber pleased as punch quite (I assume quiet) as a mouse neat as a neat freak sharp as a tack strong as a bull sober as a minister clean as can be stubborn as a mule good as gold blind as a bat fat as a cow sleep like an angel eat like a horse laugh like a pig run like hell shake like milk watch (someone) like an owl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 People's knowledge of collocations and idoms. Complete the second half of each phrase with the first word(s) that come to mind. Please let me know if English is NOT your first language. busy as a bee flat as a board hard as a rock sly as a fox quick as lightning fits as a hand in a glove happy as a clam poor as mud hungry as a bear slow as a turtle old as dirt dull as a doorknob drink like a fish work like a slave live like a king sing like a bird fight like a tiger swim like cool as a cucumber pleased as punch quite as right neat as sharp as a tack strong as an ox sober as clean as a whistle stubborn as a mule good as gold blind as a bat fat as a cat sleep like a log eat like a pig laugh like run like the wind shake like a willow tree watch (someone) like a hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Bill Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 busy as A BEE flat as A PANCAKE hard as A ROCK sly as A FOX quick as A RABBIT fits as A FIDDLE happy as A CLAM poor as A CHURCH MOUSE hungry as A HORSE slow as MOLASSES IN JANUARY old as DIRT dull as A BUTTER KNIFE drink like A FISH work like A DOG live like A KING sing like BIRD fight like CATS AND DOGS swim like A FISH cool as A CUCUMBER pleased as PUNCH quite as A MOUSE neat as A PIN sharp as A TACK strong as OX sober as A PRIEST clean as A WHISTLE stubborn as A MULE good as GOLD blind as A BAT fat as A PIG sleep like A LOG eat like A PIG laugh like CRAZY run like THE WIND shake like A BOWL FULL OF JELLO watch (someone) like a HAWK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleygirl Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) busy as a bee flat as a pancake hard as a rock sly as a fox quick as a flash fit as a fiddle ? fits like a glove happy as a lark poor as a church mouse hungry as a wolf slow as a snail as old as the hills dull as a brush drink like a fish work like a slave live like a king sing like a bird fight like a warrior swim like a fish cool as a cucumber pleased as punch quiet as a mouse as neat as a new pin sharp as nails stong as an ox sober as a judge clean as a whistle stubborn as a mule as good as gold blind as a bat fat as a pig sleep like a baby eat like a horse laugh like a hyena run like the wind shake like a leaf watch someone like a hawk Edited April 1, 2008 by valleygirl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Action Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 busy as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest flat as Twiggy's chest hard as a horny horse sly as a politician quick as a first orgasm fits as it should happy as a gopher with five dicks poor as dirt hungry as a starving bear slow as my great grandmother old as Keith Richards dull as Spats drink like a parched Irishman (I'm part Irish so that's OK) work like a slave live like a king sing like Robert Plant fight like a boardie swim like a fish cool as shit pleased as hell quite as good neat as a pin sharp as a knife strong as a bear sober as a pope clean as a new dollar bill stubborn as a fucking mule good as gold blind as Stevie Wonder fat as Rosie O'Donnell sleep like a baby eat like a pig laugh like hell run like hell shake like hell watch (someone) like a fucking hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footsteps of Dawn Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 busy as a bee flat as a pancake hard as a rock sly as a fox quick as a bunny fits as happy as a clam poor as dirt hungry as a horse slow as molasses in January old as dirt dull as dishwater drink like a fish work like a dog live like a king sing like a bird fight like swim like a fish cool as a cucumber pleased as punch quite as a mouse (if you mean quiet) neat as sharp as a tack strong as an ox sober as clean as a whistle stubborn as a mule good as new blind as a bat fat as a pig sleep like a baby eat like a horse laugh like run like the wind shake like watch (someone) like a hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Thanks guys! I think I've got a TON of data now! I'm soo excited! I'm wondering if I'm going to be on my linguistics teacher's "pets list" now. ROFL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 People's knowledge of collocations and idoms. Complete the second half of each phrase with the first word(s) that come to mind. Please let me know if English is NOT your first language. busy as a bee flat as a board hard as hell sly as weasel quick as a cat fits as snug as a bug in a rug happy as clam poor as dirt hungry as shit slow as molasses old as dirt dull as shit drink like a fish work like a dog live like kings sing like a bird fight like crazy swim like fish cool as a cucumber pleased as pie quiet as a mouse neat as a nickel sharp as a tack strong as an ox sober as a judge clean as a whistle stubborn as a mule good as gold blind as a bat fat as a pig sleep like a baby eat like a bird laugh like jackel run like hell shake like a leaf watch (someone) like a hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheZeppyWanderer Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) People's knowledge of collocations and idoms. Complete the second half of each phrase with the first word(s) that come to mind. Please let me know if English is NOT your first language. busy as A BEE flat as A PANCAKE hard as NAILS sly as A FOX quick as LIGHTNING fits as A FLEA happy as LARRY poor as A PAUPER hungry as A WOLF slow as A SNAIL old as THE HILLS dull as DITCHWATER drink like A FISH work like A DOG live like A KING sing like A CANARY fight like A DEMON swim like A DOLPHIN cool as A CUCUMBER pleased as PUNCH quite as A CHURCH MOUSE neat as sharp as A TACK strong as AN OX sober as A JUDGE clean as A WHISTLE stubborn as A MULE good as GOLD blind as A BAT fat as A PIG sleep like A BABY eat like A HORSE laugh like A HYENA run like THE WIND shake like A LEAF (ON A TREE) watch (someone) like A HAWK Edited April 1, 2008 by TheZeppyWanderer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Action Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Sorry if not all my answers seemed serious...but I swear I hear those expressions used! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) No--that's fine! I'm juust really happy that everyone is helping me out so fast! I thought I'd check it out later on tonight and have a few replies. I just didn't want to get the ones that Matt suggested, LOL. I put down a few cuss words with mine, LOL. Edited April 1, 2008 by manderlyh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Action Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Glad I could be of help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lake of Shadows Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) People's knowledge of collocations and idoms. Complete the second half of each phrase with the first word(s) that come to mind. Please let me know if English is NOT your first language. busy as a bee flat as a pancake hard as nails sly as a fox quick as fits as happy as a clam/ a pig in shit poor as churchmice hungry as slow as hell old as dirt dull as drink like a fish work like a dog live like kings sing like a bird fight like swim like a fish cool as hell pleased as punch quite as neat as a pin sharp as a tack strong as an ox sober as clean as a whistle stubborn as a mule good as gold blind as a bat fat as a pig sleep like a baby eat like a horse laugh like a hyena run like the wind shake like watch (someone) like a hawk I left some blank cuz nothing immediately came to mind with them. Edited April 2, 2008 by Lake of Shadows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragster Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 (edited) I'm watching this thread closely so you guys better get yer idioms right, hehehehehhehehe ! Edited April 2, 2008 by dragster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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