May, 26, 2020 Idioms related to success and failure	
Success	
idioms	example	
make all the difference to something/somebody-решать исход дела, определять все	Our team has a fine coach, and that makes all the difference …	
work/go/run like a dream-произойти наилучшим образом	The whole plan worked like a dream.	
work like magic- творить чудеса 	This new software works like magic. 
I barely had to do anything and the image is perfect.	
go from strength to strength-крепнуть с каждым днём, непрерывно улучшаться	You'll go from strength to strength, won't you, George? 
You'll be ashamed of being seen with your old friends.	
do the trick - достичь цели, добиться своего	The doctor always gave me those pills. They did the trick	
the be-all and end-all-венец, суть, наивысшее достижение (часто используется в негативном контексте: not the be-all and end-all)	He had learned... that personal connections were almost the be-all and the end-all in finance.	
blessing in disguise-нет худа без добра; не было бы счастья, да несчастье помогло	 Our missing the train was a blessing in disguise. 
It was involved in a crash.	
Failure	
idioms	example	
a victim of its own success-иметь проблемы из-за успеха, заложник собственного успеха	The school has become a victim of its own success, as parents with children who have special needs now actively seek it out.	
not have a ghost of a chance-не иметь ни малейшего шанса	Against competition like that, they didn t have the ghost of a 
chance of winning	
gives up the ghost-испустить дух, умереть; перестать работать, приказать долго жить
	After a long illness, the old woman gave up the ghost.	
leave its mark on-оставить неизгладимый след, не пройти даром, оставить отпечаток	 The five years since the Irish rebellion had left their mark on him	
Other idioms connected with success and failure	
idioms	example	
go places- иметь хорошее будущее, преуспеть в чем-либо (не употребляется во временных формах simple)	I always knew Ahmed would go places. He's been an excellent athlete since he was a teenager. 	
hit the big time- добиться славы и успеха	He's a good writer, but he hasn't really ever hit the big time.	
make a go of- добиться успеха, преуспеть (особенно в бизнесе или браке)	He's really made a go of that restaurant he bought. He's extended it and he employs about ten people now.	
Exercise 1. Complete these idioms with prepositions. 

1. His company has gone_______strength_______strength in the last six months. He's making a lot of money now.
2. The flood ruined our old kitchen, but it was blessing__________disguise, because the insurance company paid for a completely new one.
3. This new model is not the be-all-and-end-all________digital cameras, but it certainly has many technical features that others do not have.
4. Your offer to drive us to the airport makes all the difference________our travel plans.
5. Your plan to persuade Lela to join the committee worked __________magic.	
Exercise 2. Complete each of these idioms. 

1. The photocopier has completely ________  __________the ghost. We need a new one.
2. I didn't think I __________  ___________ghost of a___________of passing the exam, but I did.
3.My new motorbike ___________  ____________a dream; it's fast, but so smooth and quiet.	
Exercise 3. Answer these questions.
1. If you make a go of something, do you succeed or fail?
2. What should you remember about the grammar of the idiom go places?
3. What could you write in your vocabulary notebook about the use of be-all-and-end-all?	
Все материалы из  книги "English idioms in Use" by M. McCarthy, F. O'Dell.