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Idioms and Phrases questions

Common idioms used in tests.

1. What does the idiom "Break the ice" mean?

  1. End a friendship
  2. Start a conversation in an awkward situation
  3. Damage something cold
  4. Win easily
Answer

B. Start a conversation in an awkward situation "Break the ice" means: start a conversation in an awkward situation.

2. What does the idiom "A blessing in disguise" mean?

  1. A false promise
  2. A secret gift
  3. A hidden enemy
  4. Something good that first seemed bad
Answer

D. Something good that first seemed bad "A blessing in disguise" means: something good that first seemed bad.

3. What does the idiom "Hit the nail on the head" mean?

  1. Make a loud noise
  2. Work very hard
  3. Describe exactly what is causing a problem
  4. Hurt yourself by mistake
Answer

C. Describe exactly what is causing a problem "Hit the nail on the head" means: describe exactly what is causing a problem.

4. What does the idiom "Once in a blue moon" mean?

  1. During a festival
  2. At midnight
  3. Very rarely
  4. Every night
Answer

C. Very rarely "Once in a blue moon" means: very rarely.

5. What does the idiom "Spill the beans" mean?

  1. Waste food
  2. Make a mess
  3. Reveal a secret
  4. Cook badly
Answer

C. Reveal a secret "Spill the beans" means: reveal a secret.

6. What does the idiom "Burn the midnight oil" mean?

  1. Work or study late into the night
  2. Start a fire
  3. Waste money
  4. Sleep early
Answer

A. Work or study late into the night "Burn the midnight oil" means: work or study late into the night.

7. What does the idiom "Cost an arm and a leg" mean?

  1. Cause an injury
  2. Be very cheap
  3. Be very expensive
  4. Take a long time
Answer

C. Be very expensive "Cost an arm and a leg" means: be very expensive.

8. What does the idiom "Under the weather" mean?

  1. Outdoors in rain
  2. Feeling ill
  3. Very happy
  4. Under pressure
Answer

B. Feeling ill "Under the weather" means: feeling ill.

9. What does the idiom "Bite off more than you can chew" mean?

  1. Take on more than you can handle
  2. Speak rudely
  3. Refuse help
  4. Eat too fast
Answer

A. Take on more than you can handle "Bite off more than you can chew" means: take on more than you can handle.

10. What does the idiom "The ball is in your court" mean?

  1. You are losing the game
  2. It is your decision or turn to act
  3. You have won
  4. You are being watched
Answer

B. It is your decision or turn to act "The ball is in your court" means: it is your decision or turn to act.

11. What does the idiom "Call it a day" mean?

  1. Stop working for the day
  2. Phone someone daily
  3. Start a new task
  4. Name a date
Answer

A. Stop working for the day "Call it a day" means: stop working for the day.

12. What does the idiom "Get cold feet" mean?

  1. Catch a cold
  2. Become nervous and back out
  3. Walk barefoot
  4. Feel relaxed
Answer

B. Become nervous and back out "Get cold feet" means: become nervous and back out.

13. What does the idiom "A piece of cake" mean?

  1. Something very easy
  2. A small reward
  3. A sweet dish
  4. A small share
Answer

A. Something very easy "A piece of cake" means: something very easy.

14. What does the idiom "Let the cat out of the bag" mean?

  1. Start an argument
  2. Lose something
  3. Reveal a secret by mistake
  4. Free an animal
Answer

C. Reveal a secret by mistake "Let the cat out of the bag" means: reveal a secret by mistake.

15. What does the idiom "Beat around the bush" mean?

  1. Avoid the main topic
  2. Search everywhere
  3. Win clearly
  4. Garden carefully
Answer

A. Avoid the main topic "Beat around the bush" means: avoid the main topic.

16. What does the idiom "In hot water" mean?

  1. In trouble
  2. Very angry
  3. Taking a bath
  4. Very busy
Answer

A. In trouble "In hot water" means: in trouble.

17. What does the idiom "Keep an eye on" mean?

  1. Watch carefully
  2. Close your eyes
  3. Stare rudely
  4. Ignore
Answer

A. Watch carefully "Keep an eye on" means: watch carefully.

18. What does the idiom "Pull someone's leg" mean?

  1. Trick someone into paying
  2. Hurt someone
  3. Help someone walk
  4. Joke with or tease someone
Answer

D. Joke with or tease someone "Pull someone's leg" means: joke with or tease someone.

19. What does the idiom "On the same page" mean?

  1. In agreement
  2. Reading together
  3. Confused
  4. Equally tired
Answer

A. In agreement "On the same page" means: in agreement.

20. What does the idiom "Back to square one" mean?

  1. Going home
  2. Starting again from the beginning
  3. Winning the game
  4. Moving forward
Answer

B. Starting again from the beginning "Back to square one" means: starting again from the beginning.

21. What does the idiom "Turn a blind eye" mean?

  1. Deliberately ignore something
  2. Lose eyesight
  3. Look carefully
  4. Wink at someone
Answer

A. Deliberately ignore something "Turn a blind eye" means: deliberately ignore something.

22. What does the idiom "Add fuel to the fire" mean?

  1. Save energy
  2. Calm things down
  3. Make a bad situation worse
  4. Cook faster
Answer

C. Make a bad situation worse "Add fuel to the fire" means: make a bad situation worse.

23. What does the idiom "Bite the bullet" mean?

  1. Eat quickly
  2. Start a fight
  3. Avoid a problem
  4. Face a difficult situation bravely
Answer

D. Face a difficult situation bravely "Bite the bullet" means: face a difficult situation bravely.

24. What does the idiom "Hit the sack" mean?

  1. Go to bed
  2. Punch something
  3. Lose a job
  4. Go shopping
Answer

A. Go to bed "Hit the sack" means: go to bed.

25. What does the idiom "Kill two birds with one stone" mean?

  1. Be cruel to animals
  2. Waste effort
  3. Achieve two things with one action
  4. Fail twice
Answer

C. Achieve two things with one action "Kill two birds with one stone" means: achieve two things with one action.

26. What does the idiom "Miss the boat" mean?

  1. Travel by sea
  2. Get seasick
  3. Forget a name
  4. Lose an opportunity by being too late
Answer

D. Lose an opportunity by being too late "Miss the boat" means: lose an opportunity by being too late.

27. What does the idiom "Cry over spilt milk" mean?

  1. Regret something that cannot be undone
  2. Waste food
  3. Complain about prices
  4. Cry loudly
Answer

A. Regret something that cannot be undone "Cry over spilt milk" means: regret something that cannot be undone.

28. What does the idiom "A hot potato" mean?

  1. An urgent meal
  2. A tasty snack
  3. A popular person
  4. A controversial issue that is hard to handle
Answer

D. A controversial issue that is hard to handle "A hot potato" means: a controversial issue that is hard to handle.

29. What does the idiom "Throw in the towel" mean?

  1. Give up
  2. Start a race
  3. Clean up
  4. Celebrate a win
Answer

A. Give up "Throw in the towel" means: give up.

30. What does the idiom "Steal the show" mean?

  1. Arrive late
  2. Cancel an event
  3. Rob a theatre
  4. Attract the most attention and praise
Answer

D. Attract the most attention and praise "Steal the show" means: attract the most attention and praise.

31. What does the idiom "See eye to eye" mean?

  1. Agree fully
  2. Argue openly
  3. Meet by chance
  4. Stare at someone
Answer

A. Agree fully "See eye to eye" means: agree fully.

32. What does the idiom "Go the extra mile" mean?

  1. Run a marathon
  2. Travel far
  3. Make more effort than expected
  4. Take a longer route
Answer

C. Make more effort than expected "Go the extra mile" means: make more effort than expected.

33. What does the idiom "Feel like a fish out of water" mean?

  1. Feel thirsty
  2. Swim badly
  3. Feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
  4. Feel very free
Answer

C. Feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation "Feel like a fish out of water" means: feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation.

34. What does the idiom "Make ends meet" mean?

  1. Tie a rope
  2. Finish a project
  3. Earn just enough to live on
  4. Meet old friends
Answer

C. Earn just enough to live on "Make ends meet" means: earn just enough to live on.

35. What does the idiom "Read between the lines" mean?

  1. Write neatly
  2. Skip some pages
  3. Read very fast
  4. Understand the hidden meaning
Answer

D. Understand the hidden meaning "Read between the lines" means: understand the hidden meaning.

36. What does the idiom "Sit on the fence" mean?

  1. Rest outdoors
  2. Avoid taking sides
  3. Guard a house
  4. Be lazy at work
Answer

B. Avoid taking sides "Sit on the fence" means: avoid taking sides.

37. What does the idiom "Face the music" mean?

  1. Accept the consequences of your actions
  2. Turn towards a sound
  3. Sing in public
  4. Enjoy a concert
Answer

A. Accept the consequences of your actions "Face the music" means: accept the consequences of your actions.

38. What does the idiom "A drop in the ocean" mean?

  1. A big loss
  2. A sudden change
  3. A very small amount compared to what is needed
  4. A heavy rain
Answer

C. A very small amount compared to what is needed "A drop in the ocean" means: a very small amount compared to what is needed.

39. What does the idiom "At the eleventh hour" mean?

  1. Late at night
  2. Very early
  3. At the last possible moment
  4. On time
Answer

C. At the last possible moment "At the eleventh hour" means: at the last possible moment.

40. What does the idiom "Cut corners" mean?

  1. Decorate a room
  2. Take a shortcut while driving
  3. Do something cheaply or carelessly to save time
  4. Reduce prices
Answer

C. Do something cheaply or carelessly to save time "Cut corners" means: do something cheaply or carelessly to save time.

41. What does the idiom "Get the ball rolling" mean?

  1. Finish a game
  2. Make a mistake
  3. Start something
  4. Play cricket
Answer

C. Start something "Get the ball rolling" means: start something.

42. What does the idiom "Hold your horses" mean?

  1. Wait and be patient
  2. Ride carefully
  3. Be stubborn
  4. Stop a race
Answer

A. Wait and be patient "Hold your horses" means: wait and be patient.

43. What does the idiom "Jump on the bandwagon" mean?

  1. Refuse to follow
  2. Start a band
  3. Join something because it is popular
  4. Travel by cart
Answer

C. Join something because it is popular "Jump on the bandwagon" means: join something because it is popular.

44. What does the idiom "Leave no stone unturned" mean?

  1. Try every possible way
  2. Clean the garden
  3. Give up early
  4. Build a wall
Answer

A. Try every possible way "Leave no stone unturned" means: try every possible way.

45. What does the idiom "Pay through the nose" mean?

  1. Pay in instalments
  2. Pay far too much
  3. Pay in cash
  4. Pay late
Answer

B. Pay far too much "Pay through the nose" means: pay far too much.

46. What does the idiom "Rain cats and dogs" mean?

  1. A noisy party
  2. A light drizzle
  3. Animals fighting
  4. Rain very heavily
Answer

D. Rain very heavily "Rain cats and dogs" means: rain very heavily.

47. What does the idiom "Smell a rat" mean?

  1. Feel hungry
  2. Find a pest
  3. Suspect that something is wrong
  4. Clean a room
Answer

C. Suspect that something is wrong "Smell a rat" means: suspect that something is wrong.

48. What does the idiom "Take with a pinch of salt" mean?

  1. Eat less
  2. Doubt that something is completely true
  3. Accept fully
  4. Add flavour
Answer

B. Doubt that something is completely true "Take with a pinch of salt" means: doubt that something is completely true.

49. What does the idiom "The tip of the iceberg" mean?

  1. A small visible part of a bigger problem
  2. The best part
  3. The coldest place
  4. A sharp object
Answer

A. A small visible part of a bigger problem "The tip of the iceberg" means: a small visible part of a bigger problem.

50. What does the idiom "Weather the storm" mean?

  1. Stay indoors
  2. Cause trouble
  3. Predict the weather
  4. Get through a difficult period
Answer

D. Get through a difficult period "Weather the storm" means: get through a difficult period.

51. What does the idiom "A wolf in sheep's clothing" mean?

  1. A dangerous person who appears harmless
  2. A well-dressed guest
  3. A shy person
  4. A clever animal
Answer

A. A dangerous person who appears harmless "A wolf in sheep's clothing" means: a dangerous person who appears harmless.

52. What does the idiom "Blow one's own trumpet" mean?

  1. Make an announcement
  2. Boast about oneself
  3. Complain loudly
  4. Play music
Answer

B. Boast about oneself "Blow one's own trumpet" means: boast about oneself.

Mock test

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