action vs act

[Min Kin]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #58 "Lots of Pieces", question 5

The burglar also had an assistant with him who clearly didn't want to get involved and have a piece of the ......... and fled.

(a) activity
(b) action
(c) act
(d) acting

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #58 "Lots of Pieces", answer 5

The burglar also had an assistant with him who clearly didn't want to get involved and have a piece of the action and fled.

Correct answer: (b) action

Your answer was: incorrect
The burglar also had an assistant with him who clearly didn't want to get involved and have a piece of the act and fled.
_________________________

I didn`t understand the meaning ot this sentence and usage of action - why not act?

Min Kin

[Mister Micawber]

.
The idiom is 'a piece of the action' = (Informal) a share of the proceeds or profits: 'Cut me in for a piece of the action'.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Saneta]

Dear Mister Micawber!
I don't know the plural noun: proceeds or a singular noun: proceed. So what does it mean: a share of the proceeds?
Could you also explain: Cut me in for a piece of the action?
thanks:)

[Alan]

Please activate Javascript and Adobe Flash for view MP3 player

14 views

Download mp3	Click to listen

Hi Saneta,

There is a verb 'proceed' meaning go forward or progress but the word is usually used in the plural as a noun 'proceeds'. ''Proceeds' means the money derived from the sale of something.

'Cut me in for a piece of the action' means include me in the profits or benefits from (in this case) the burglary. The assistant didn't want to get any profit or gain from the money that would have come from the burglary.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Relative Pronoun

[Saneta]

Dear Alan, thanks a lot for your help, for your explanation. I wanted to listen to your voice message and pressed:play, but it's not working...could anybody help me? where is the problem? it's not working when I'm logged in.