Test incompl/inter-324, User's Answer 4

[Kati Svaby]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #324 "English Slang Idioms (45)", question 4

He didn't know why, but whenever there was a car show in town, all of the weird people came out of the ..........

(a) ground
(b) bridge
(c) woodwork
(d) closet

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #324 "English Slang Idioms (45)", answer 4

He didn't know why, but whenever there was a car show in town, all of the weird people came out of the woodwork.

Correct answer: (c) woodwork

Your answer was: correct
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...come / crawl out of the woodwork = does it mean it/ he/ she etc. has suddenly appeared in order to express opinion or to take an advantage of a situation.?
here: the weird people appeared unexpectedly.?
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Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

[Beeesneees]

Not quite, Kati, but you're on the right tracks.

This idiom is often seen as 'crawl out of the woodwork'. The expression alludes insects that suddenly come out from the interior wooden fittings of a building, such as under the boards in a house.

There is no indication in the idiom that they are going to take advantage of a situation - it simply means that they appeared unexpectedly.

It is often said about someone who is not invited or wanted - but this is not always the case.
negative: "People will be coming out of the woodwork to give you unwanted advice about that."
positive: "We've missed you! When did you decide to crawl out of the woodwork?"
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"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett