Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 161 · 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.Complete the idiom: Kabir spilled the ___ about the surprise party. (a) milk (b) beans (c) tea (d) rice
2. 2.Complete the idiom: The money we raised is just a drop in the ___. (a) glass (b) pond (c) river (d) ocean
3. 3.What does the idiom “a red-letter day” mean? (a) a sad day (b) a day of danger (c) a postal holiday (d) a special, happy day
4. 4.What does the idiom “get cold feet” mean? (a) need new socks (b) walk on ice (c) feel very cold (d) get nervous and back out
5. 5.Complete the idiom: Riya visits the zoo once in a blue ___. (a) sun (b) moon (c) sky (d) sea
6. 6.What does the idiom “call it a day” mean? (a) stop working for now (b) phone a friend (c) start a new day (d) name the day
7. 7.Complete the idiom: After winning the prize, Riya was on cloud ___. (a) ten (b) seven (c) nine (d) five
8. 8.What does the idiom “feel blue” mean? (a) feel lucky (b) feel cold (c) turn blue (d) feel sad
9. 9.Complete the idiom: Could you lend me a ___ with these heavy bags? (a) hand (b) foot (c) leg (d) head
10. 10.What does the idiom “turn a deaf ear” mean? (a) whisper softly (b) lose hearing (c) listen carefully (d) refuse to listen
11. 11.Complete the idiom: We will finish this by hook or by ___. (a) book (b) crook (c) look (d) cook
12. 12.What does the idiom “a fish out of water” mean? (a) a good swimmer (b) a hungry cat (c) a dying fish (d) uncomfortable in a place
13. 13.What does the idiom “throw in the towel” mean? (a) give up (b) win easily (c) dry your hands (d) clean up
14. 14.What does the idiom “back to square one” mean? (a) starting all over again (b) winning a game (c) a new square shape (d) going backwards
15. 15.Complete the idiom: Ishaan let the cat out of the ___. (a) house (b) bag (c) box (d) room
16. 16.What does the idiom “bury the hatchet” mean? (a) start a fight (b) hide a weapon (c) make peace (d) dig a hole
17. 17.What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean? (a) a secret prayer (b) good luck that looks bad (c) a fancy dress (d) a sad goodbye
18. 18.Complete the idiom: The test was hard, but I had to bite the ___ and finish it. (a) apple (b) biscuit (c) pencil (d) bullet
19. 19.What does the idiom “keep an eye on” mean? (a) watch carefully (b) stare rudely (c) close one eye (d) wear glasses
20. 20.What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean? (a) every night (b) very quickly (c) very rarely (d) at midnight
21. 21.What does the idiom “under the weather” mean? (a) out in the rain (b) very busy (c) very happy (d) feeling unwell
22. 22.Complete the idiom: The maths test was a piece of ___. (a) chalk (b) paper (c) cake (d) bread
23. 23.Complete the idiom: Shouting at him will only add fuel to the ___. (a) car (b) stove (c) lamp (d) fire
24. 24.What does the idiom “once bitten, twice shy” mean? (a) brave again (b) bitten by a dog (c) careful after a bad time (d) very shy
25. 25.What does the idiom “a storm in a teacup” mean? (a) a broken cup (b) spilt tea (c) bad weather (d) big fuss over little
26. 26.Complete the idiom: The news came out of the ___. (a) blue (b) pink (c) red (d) green
27. 27.What does the idiom “in the same boat” mean? (a) on a holiday (b) in the same trouble (c) in a ship (d) very rich
28. 28.What does the idiom “out of the blue” mean? (a) from the sky (b) very sad (c) suddenly, unexpectedly (d) from the sea
29. 29.Complete the idiom: Dev finished his project at the eleventh ___. (a) minute (b) day (c) hour (d) month
30. 30.Complete the idiom: I had butterflies in my ___ before the race. (a) shoes (b) hands (c) stomach (d) head
31. 31.Complete the idiom: Stop pulling my ___; I know you are joking! (a) leg (b) hair (c) ear (d) arm
32. 32.Complete the idiom: Stop beating around the ___ and tell me the truth. (a) garden (b) tree (c) bush (d) house
33. 33.What does the idiom “add fuel to the fire” mean? (a) put out a fire (b) cook food (c) fill a car (d) make things worse
34. 34.What does the idiom “lend a hand” mean? (a) give a hand away (b) borrow money (c) help someone (d) shake hands
35. 35.What does the idiom “the apple of someone’s eye” mean? (a) an eye problem (b) a red fruit (c) a greedy person (d) a dearly loved person
36. 36.What does the idiom “hold your horses” mean? (a) ride a horse (b) hurry up (c) wait, be patient (d) feed the horses
37. 37.Complete the idiom: Their fight over a pencil was just a storm in a ___. (a) glass (b) bottle (c) teacup (d) bucket
38. 38.What does the idiom “all ears” mean? (a) having big ears (b) very noisy (c) listening eagerly (d) hard of hearing
39. 39.What does the idiom “by hook or by crook” mean? (a) by any means (b) by fishing (c) with help (d) very slowly
40. 40.What does the idiom “when pigs fly” mean? (a) in summer (b) never (c) very soon (d) every morning

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