Head in the clouds. Idioms story

CHAPTER 1

Off the top of one’s head 

to say something off the top of your head means that you are giving an immediate reaction, and not a carefully considered opinion, so it might not be correct.

How much do you think it will cost? Off the top of my head I’d say around $1000.

Head is in the clouds

to be not a practically minded person.

He doesn’t listen еo the teacher – he’s got his head in the clouds all the time!

(a) head start

if you have a head start, you have an advantage that enables you to make progress more quickly and have a greater chance of success.

They gave me a five-minute head start.

Bury one’s head in the sand

ignoring the problem

You’ve got to face facts here – you can’t just bury your head in the sand.

One’s head is buzzing

got a lot on his mind.

Harry went to bed with his head buzzing with the same question.

CHAPTER 2

Once in the office

It was an ordinary work day in an ordinary work week, but Ben was in a good mood for no reason. Today’s gonna be a wonderful day he thought. Little did he know what was about to happen. 

Ben’s head started buzzing as soon as he entered the office. The problem he left unresolved yesterday was too big for his subordinates to handle. Now they stood there empty-handed and waited for the boss’s verdict. Ban must have had his head in the clouds when he thought he could maintain a positive attitude for the rest of the day. He walked over to the window and reflected on his irritating surroundings. 

Instead of asking for help, they found nothing better than bury their heads in the sand and hope for the better. What should he do with these incompetent workers? He started listening music in headphones to relax. This was his off the top of the head reaction – not a very helpful one we must say. Ben called the captain of the creative team over. “I’m going to throw you out of this window now, but being a fair man, I’ll give you a 5-minute head start” – he said and started to count. “1…2…3… …”

Answer the questions:

​​​​​​​1. Why did Ben’s good mood change when he entered the office?
2. How did he try to relax?

3.Why did surroundings irritate Ben?

4. Why did Ben start listening to music in headphones?

5. Did Ben give the chance to the subordinates to solve the problem?

6. How does Ban feel about his surroundings?

7. Do you think Ban is a good boss?

CHAPTER 3

Match idioms with their meanings:

1.Bury one’s head in the sand

2. One’s head is buzzing

3.Head is in the clouds

4. A head start

5. Off the top of your head

a) give an immediate reaction, and not a carefully considered opinion, so it might not be correct

b) having an advantage that enables you to make progress more quickly and have a greater chance of success.

c) to be not a practically minded person, to not pay attention to anything

d) got a lot on your mind.

e) ignore the problem

Fill in the gaps with idioms 1-5 above:

1) “How much do you think it will cost?” “_________ I’d say around $1000.”

2) They gave me a five-minute ________.

3) Harry went to bed with his _________ with the same question.

4) He doesn’t listen еo the teacher – he’s got his _________ all the time!

5) You’ve got to face facts here – you can’t just _________ in the sand.