Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 1 · 40 questions

Word tip (Not what the words say): Do not picture the words literally. Think of the situation where people use the idiom: “The test was a piece of cake” = it was very easy. Idioms are fixed — learn them whole, word for word.

1. 1.What does the idiom “the last straw” mean? (a) the end of a drink (b) a broken straw (c) a small gift (d) the final problem
2. 2.What does the idiom “back to square one” mean? (a) a new square shape (b) starting all over again (c) winning a game (d) going backwards
3. 3.Complete the idiom: I had butterflies in my ___ before the race. (a) stomach (b) shoes (c) hands (d) head
4. 4.Complete the idiom: Aditya felt like a fish out of ___ at the new school. (a) air (b) sand (c) water (d) milk
5. 5.What does the idiom “once bitten, twice shy” mean? (a) careful after a bad time (b) very shy (c) brave again (d) bitten by a dog
6. 6.What does the idiom “by hook or by crook” mean? (a) very slowly (b) by fishing (c) with help (d) by any means
7. 7.What does the idiom “bite the bullet” mean? (a) eat something hard (b) break a tooth (c) get angry (d) bravely do a hard thing
8. 8.What does the idiom “under the weather” mean? (a) very happy (b) very busy (c) out in the rain (d) feeling unwell
9. 9.What does the idiom “call it a day” mean? (a) start a new day (b) name the day (c) phone a friend (d) stop working for now
10. 10.What does the idiom “when pigs fly” mean? (a) every morning (b) in summer (c) never (d) very soon
11. 11.Complete the idiom: It is raining cats and ___. (a) rats (b) cows (c) dogs (d) mice
12. 12.What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean? (a) very small (b) very tasty (c) very sweet (d) very easy
13. 13.What does the idiom “get cold feet” mean? (a) need new socks (b) feel very cold (c) walk on ice (d) get nervous and back out
14. 14.Complete the idiom: Rohan was over the ___ when he won the prize. (a) stars (b) sun (c) hill (d) moon
15. 15.What does the idiom “pull someone’s leg” mean? (a) trip someone (b) help someone walk (c) tease someone (d) hurt someone
16. 16.What does the idiom “add fuel to the fire” mean? (a) put out a fire (b) make things worse (c) cook food (d) fill a car
17. 17.What does the idiom “at the eleventh hour” mean? (a) at the last moment (b) at 11 o'clock (c) very early (d) every hour
18. 18.Complete the idiom: Ishaan let the cat out of the ___. (a) house (b) box (c) bag (d) room
19. 19.Complete the idiom: Don’t cry over spilt ___. (a) juice (b) milk (c) water (d) tea
20. 20.What does the idiom “a storm in a teacup” mean? (a) a broken cup (b) spilt tea (c) big fuss over little (d) bad weather
21. 21.Complete the idiom: Riya visits the zoo once in a blue ___. (a) sea (b) sun (c) sky (d) moon
22. 22.What does the idiom “beat around the bush” mean? (a) clean the garden (b) avoid the main point (c) run very fast (d) hit a plant
23. 23.What does the idiom “spill the beans” mean? (a) tell a secret (b) tell a lie (c) waste food (d) cook badly
24. 24.Complete the idiom: Their fight over a pencil was just a storm in a ___. (a) bucket (b) glass (c) teacup (d) bottle
25. 25.What does the idiom “a white elephant” mean? (a) a lucky charm (b) costly but useless thing (c) a big white toy (d) a rare animal
26. 26.What does the idiom “out of the blue” mean? (a) very sad (b) from the sea (c) suddenly, unexpectedly (d) from the sky
27. 27.What does the idiom “a fish out of water” mean? (a) a dying fish (b) a good swimmer (c) a hungry cat (d) uncomfortable in a place
28. 28.What does the idiom “hit the books” mean? (a) tear books (b) throw books (c) study hard (d) buy books
29. 29.What does the idiom “turn a deaf ear” mean? (a) refuse to listen (b) lose hearing (c) listen carefully (d) whisper softly
30. 30.What does the idiom “the apple of someone’s eye” mean? (a) a red fruit (b) a dearly loved person (c) a greedy person (d) an eye problem
31. 31.What does the idiom “in hot water” mean? (a) in trouble (b) feeling warm (c) taking a bath (d) very busy
32. 32.What does the idiom “on cloud nine” mean? (a) very happy (b) in the rain (c) very sleepy (d) on a plane
33. 33.Complete the idiom: Ananya was all ___ when Grandpa told the story. (a) feet (b) hands (c) eyes (d) ears
34. 34.Complete the idiom: Could you lend me a ___ with these heavy bags? (a) hand (b) foot (c) leg (d) head
35. 35.What does the idiom “a red-letter day” mean? (a) a day of danger (b) a postal holiday (c) a special, happy day (d) a sad day
36. 36.What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean? (a) every night (b) very rarely (c) very quickly (d) at midnight
37. 37.Complete the idiom: The test was hard, but I had to bite the ___ and finish it. (a) biscuit (b) apple (c) pencil (d) bullet
38. 38.What does the idiom “in the same boat” mean? (a) on a holiday (b) very rich (c) in a ship (d) in the same trouble
39. 39.What does the idiom “give the cold shoulder” mean? (a) hurt a shoulder (b) ignore someone (c) feel very cold (d) hug someone
40. 40.What does the idiom “face the music” mean? (a) enjoy a song (b) accept the punishment (c) dance well (d) sing on stage

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