Lockdown

As COVID-19 continues to force so much of the world’s population into lockdown (= a situation in which you are ordered to stay at home), I thought it might be interesting to look at the language that we use to describe what we are now doing with our days.
Holed up (= inside, in a safe place) for a long period, many people are finding new ways to while away the time (=spend the time). Some are learning a new language while others have taken up (= started) a new hobby. In some families, parents and children are now working out (=exercising) together in their living rooms.
Keen cooks are digging out (=finding) cookbooks that they haven’t used for years and trying out (=testing) recipes that they’ve never done. Of course, this assumes that they can find all the ingredients in their local supermarkets. At the start of the lockdown, there were shortages (=not enough) of particular products caused by people stockpiling them (=buying large supplies for future use).
Of course, the internet is providing a lot of people with occupation (=regular activity). Unable to meet people from different households, many are using it to get or stay in touch with friends and family. Some are enjoying virtual get-togethers online. For some people, this means getting to grips with (=trying to learn) technology that they have never used before.
Stir-crazy and climbing the walls (Life during lockdown)

In some parts of the world, it’s been reported that during the lockdown, people are fostering (=taking care of) rescue animals for the company and comfort that they provide. Many rescue centres (UK)/ rescue centers (US) are particularly busy at the moment, so this is quite helpful.
Not everyone has more time on their hands (=has more free time). In fact, some people have a lot less. With so many schools shut down, parents who are working from home are also having to homeschool (=teach at home) their children. When the children have finished their online assignments, parents are looking for new ways to occupy them (=keep them busy), while meeting their own work deadlines.
Of course, not everyone is enjoying spending so much time at home. Some have nothing – or a lot less than usual – to do. We might describe them as being at a loose end. Others are very bored and annoyed because they can’t go out and do what they usually do. Someone who feels like this may be said informally to be climbing the walls, or they may be described as stir-crazy.
I hope you found these words and phrases interesting and that you are not climbing the walls at home!

1) Holed up for a long period, many people are finding new ways to while away the time.
2) In some families, parents and children are now working out together in their living rooms.
3) At the start of the lockdown, there were shortages of particular products caused by people shoplifting from supermarkets.
4) Unable to meet people from different households, many are sending letters by post to get or stay in touch with friends and family.
5) In some parts of the world, it’s been reported that during the lockdown, people are fostering rescue animals for the money.
6) With so many schools shut down, parents are also having to place their children in boarding schools.
7) When the children have finished their online assignments, parents are looking for new ways to occupy them.
8) Some people are very bored and annoyed because they can’t go out and do what they usually do.
9) Someone who enjoys being on lockdown may be described as stir-crazy.
#1 Are these statements true or false? Correct the false sentences.

#2 Match the phrases and their definitions.

#3 Match the two parts of the collocations.

1) to stay ………………. home
2) to be holed …………………
3) to while ………………… the time (=spend the time)
4) to take ……………… a new hobby
5) to work ……………… together in their living rooms.
6) to dig …………………. cookbooks
7) to try ……………….. (=testing) recipes
8) to buy large supplies ……………….. future use
9) to get or stay ………………….. touch ……………………….. friends and family
10) to get ………………… grips ………………….. technology
11) to have more time …………………… their hands
12) to work ………………. home
13) to be ………………. a loose end
#4 Fill in the gaps with the appropriate prepositions.

As COVID-19 continues to force so much of the world’s population into 1) …………………., I thought it might be interesting to look at the language that we use to describe what we are now doing with our days.
2) ……………………….. for a long period, many people are finding new ways to while away the time. Some are learning a new language while others have 3) …………………. a new hobby. In some families, parents and children are now 4)………………………. together in their living rooms.
Keen cooks are 5) ………………………... cookbooks that they haven’t used for years and 6) …………………….. recipes that they’ve never done. Of course, this assumes that they can find all the ingredients in their local supermarkets. At the start of the lockdown, there were shortages of particular products caused by people stockpiling them.
Of course, the internet is 7)………………………. a lot of people with occupation. Unable to meet people from different households, many are using it to get or 8)………………………... with friends and family. Some are enjoying virtual 9) …………………………… online. For some people, this means 10) ………………………………..getting to grips with technology that they have never used before.
In some parts of the world, it’s been reported that during the lockdown, people are 11) ……………………… rescue animals for the company and comfort that they provide. Many rescue centres are particularly busy at the moment, so this is quite helpful.
Not everyone has more time on their hands. In fact, some people have a lot less. With so many schools shut down, parents who are 12) ……………………………… are also having to 13) ………………………………… homeschool their children. When the children have finished their online assignments, parents are looking for new ways to 14) ..…………………. them, while meeting their own work deadlines.
Of course, not everyone is enjoying spending so much time at home. Some have nothing – or a lot less than usual – to do. We might describe them as being 15) ……………………………. Others are very bored and annoyed because they can’t go out and do what they usually do. Someone who feels like this may be said informally to be 16) …………………………….., or they may be described as stir-crazy.
#5 Complete the gaps in the text using the words and expressions from the box.
digging out at a loose end taken up stay in touch holed up providing occupy working out get-togethers homeschool lockdown fostering trying out climbing the walls getting to grips working from home

As COVID-19 continues to force so much of the world’s population lockdown, I thought it might be interesting to look the language that we use to describe what we are now doing with our days.
Holed up for a long period, many people are finding new ways while away the time. Some are learning a new language others have taken up a new hobby. In some families, parents and children are now working out together their living rooms.
Keen cooks are digging out cookbooks that they haven’t used years and trying out recipes that they’ve never done. Of course, this assumes that they can find all the ingredients in their local supermarkets. The start of the lockdown, there were shortages of particular products caused people stockpiling them.
Of course, the internet is providing a lot of people occupation. Unable to meet people different households, many using it to get or stay in touch with friends and family. Some are enjoying virtual get-togethers online. Some people, this means getting to grips with technology that they have never used before.
In some parts of the world, it’s been reported that during the lockdown, people are fostering rescue animals the company and comfort that they provide. Many rescue centres (UK)/ rescue centers (US) are particularly busy the moment, so this is quite helpful.
Not everyone has more time on their hands. Fact, some people have a lot less. With so many schools shut down, parents who are working from home are also having homeschool their children. When the children have finished their online assignments, parents are looking new ways to occupy them, while meeting their own work deadlines.
Of course, not everyone is enjoying spending so much time at home. Some have nothing – or a lot less usual – to do. We might describe them as being at a loose end. Others are very bored and annoyed because they can’t go out and do they usually do. Someone who feels this may be said informally to be climbing the walls, or they may be described as stir-crazy.
#6

As COVID-19 ………….. to force so much of the world’s ……………. into lockdown, I thought it might be interesting to look at the language that we use to describe what we are now doing with our days.
Holed up for a long period, many …………... are finding new ways to while away the time (=spend the time). Some are learning a new language while others have taken up (= started) a new hobby. In some ………………, parents and …………….. are now working out (=exercising) together in their living rooms.
Keen cooks are digging out cookbooks that they …………………. for years and trying out recipes that they ………………….. Of course, this assumes that they can find all the ingredients in their local supermarkets. At the start of the lockdown, there ……..... shortages of particular products …………... by people stockpiling them (=buying large supplies for future use).
Of course, the internet is providing a lot of people with occupation (=regular activity). Unable to meet people from different households, many ……………… it to get or stay in touch with friends and family. Some are enjoying virtual get-togethers online. For some people, this means ……………….. to grips with (=trying to learn) technology that they have never used before.
to continue
to do
person
family child
to use
to (not) do
to be
to cause
to use
to get
populate
we
able
differ
#7 Complete the text with words from the blue box in the correct grammatical form.
Use the word given in the green box at the end of some lines to form a new word that fits in the space in the same line.

In some parts of the world, it’s been reported that during the lockdown, people are fostering (=taking care of) rescue animals for the company and comfort that they provide. Many rescue centres (UK)/ rescue centers (US) are ……………. busy at the moment, so this is quite ……………...
Not everyone has …………… time on their hands (=has more free time). In fact, some people have a lot …………... With so many schools shut down, parents who are working from home are also having to homeschool (=teach at home) their children. When the children have finished their online assignments, parents are looking for new ways to occupy them (=keep them busy), while meeting their own work deadlines.
Of course, not everyone is enjoying ……………. so much time at home. Some have nothing – or a lot less than usual – to do. We might describe them as being at a loose end. Others are very bored and annoyed because they can’t go out and do what they usually do. Someone who feels like this may be said ………………... to be climbing the walls, or they may be described as stir-crazy.
much
little
spend
particular
help
informal
Complete the text with words from the blue box in the correct grammatical form.
Use the word given in the green box at the end of some lines to form a new word that fits in the space in the same line.

Shut up for a long period, many people are finding new ways to put away the time (=spend the time). Some are learning a new language while others have taken up a new hobby. In some families, parents and children are now going out together in their living rooms.
Keen cooks are finding out cookbooks that they haven’t used for years and trying out recipes that they’ve never done. Of course, this assumes that they can find all the ingredients in their local supermarkets. At the start of the lockdown, there were shortages of particular products caused by people stockpiling them.
Of course, the internet is providing a lot of people with occupation (=regular activity). Unable to meet people from different households, many are using it to hold in touch with friends and family. Some are enjoying virtual get-togethers online. For some people, this means getting to grasps with technology that they have never used before.
In some parts of the world, it’s been reported that during the lockdown, people are fostering rescue animals for the company and comfort that they provide. Many rescue centres (UK)/ rescue centers (US) are particularly busy at the moment, so this is quite helpful.
Not everyone has more time on their hands. In fact, some people have a lot less. With so many schools shut down, parents who are working from home are also having to hometeach their children. When the children have finished their online assignments, parents are looking for new ways to occupy them, while meeting their own work deadlines.
Of course, not everyone is enjoying spending so much time at home. Some have nothing – or a lot less than usual – to do. We might describe them as being at a lose end. Others are very bored and annoyed because they can’t go out and do what they usually do. Someone who feels like this may be said informally to be climbing the walls, or they may be described as stir-crazy.
I hope you found these words and phrases interesting and that you are not climbing the walls at home!
#8 Correct the eight collocation errors.

#9 Describe the pictures using the words from the text.