Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 173 · 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 “by hook or by crook” mean? (a) by fishing (b) very slowly (c) by any means (d) with help
2. 2.What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean? (a) very sweet (b) very small (c) very easy (d) very tasty
3. 3.What does the idiom “a fish out of water” mean? (a) uncomfortable in a place (b) a good swimmer (c) a dying fish (d) a hungry cat
4. 4.Complete the idiom: It is raining cats and ___. (a) dogs (b) mice (c) cows (d) rats
5. 5.What does the idiom “hold your horses” mean? (a) ride a horse (b) wait, be patient (c) feed the horses (d) hurry up
6. 6.What does the idiom “over the moon” mean? (a) in outer space (b) extremely happy (c) very far away (d) very tired
7. 7.What does the idiom “break the ice” mean? (a) get very angry (b) feel very cold (c) break something cold (d) start a friendly talk
8. 8.What does the idiom “a white elephant” mean? (a) a big white toy (b) a lucky charm (c) a rare animal (d) costly but useless thing
9. 9.Complete the idiom: Rohan was over the ___ when he won the prize. (a) hill (b) sun (c) stars (d) moon
10. 10.What does the idiom “butterflies in the stomach” mean? (a) a nervous feeling (b) a happy dance (c) a stomach ache (d) a hungry feeling
11. 11.What does the idiom “cost an arm and a leg” mean? (a) be very expensive (b) be cheap (c) need a doctor (d) hurt badly
12. 12.What does the idiom “turn a deaf ear” mean? (a) refuse to listen (b) whisper softly (c) listen carefully (d) lose hearing
13. 13.What does the idiom “feel blue” mean? (a) feel sad (b) feel lucky (c) turn blue (d) feel cold
14. 14.What does the idiom “throw in the towel” mean? (a) clean up (b) win easily (c) give up (d) dry your hands
15. 15.Complete the idiom: Hold your ___! Wait for everyone to sit down. (a) dogs (b) cows (c) goats (d) horses
16. 16.What does the idiom “pull someone’s leg” mean? (a) tease someone (b) hurt someone (c) help someone walk (d) trip someone
17. 17.Complete the idiom: That shop sells sweets that cost an arm and a ___. (a) hand (b) leg (c) foot (d) nose
18. 18.What does the idiom “once bitten, twice shy” mean? (a) very shy (b) careful after a bad time (c) bitten by a dog (d) brave again
19. 19.What does the idiom “a storm in a teacup” mean? (a) bad weather (b) a broken cup (c) spilt tea (d) big fuss over little
20. 20.Complete the idiom: Don’t cry over spilt ___. (a) milk (b) juice (c) tea (d) water
21. 21.Complete the idiom: The two friends decided to bury the ___. (a) treasure (b) box (c) bone (d) hatchet
22. 22.What does the idiom “a red-letter day” mean? (a) a special, happy day (b) a day of danger (c) a postal holiday (d) a sad day
23. 23.What does the idiom “zip your lips” mean? (a) eat quickly (b) keep quiet (c) smile widely (d) close a bag
24. 24.Complete the idiom: I had butterflies in my ___ before the race. (a) stomach (b) hands (c) shoes (d) head
25. 25.Complete the idiom: Rohan cannot decide; he is sitting on the ___. (a) fence (b) wall (c) bench (d) chair
26. 26.What does the idiom “burn the midnight oil” mean? (a) cook at night (b) light a lamp (c) work late into the night (d) waste oil
27. 27.What does the idiom “get cold feet” mean? (a) feel very cold (b) get nervous and back out (c) walk on ice (d) need new socks
28. 28.Complete the idiom: Kavya is the apple of her grandfather’s ___. (a) tree (b) hand (c) heart (d) eye
29. 29.What does the idiom “let the cat out of the bag” mean? (a) go shopping (b) tell a lie (c) free a pet (d) tell a secret
30. 30.What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean? (a) every night (b) very rarely (c) very quickly (d) at midnight
31. 31.Complete the idiom: The maths test was a piece of ___. (a) paper (b) cake (c) bread (d) chalk
32. 32.Complete the idiom: Breaking the vase was the last ___; Mum was really upset. (a) stone (b) stick (c) cup (d) straw
33. 33.Complete the idiom: It is raining ___ and dogs outside. (a) cats (b) rats (c) mice (d) cows
34. 34.What does the idiom “hit the books” mean? (a) tear books (b) throw books (c) buy books (d) study hard
35. 35.What does the idiom “when pigs fly” mean? (a) never (b) in summer (c) every morning (d) very soon
36. 36.Complete the idiom: Don’t give up now; don’t throw in the ___! (a) bag (b) book (c) towel (d) ball
37. 37.Complete the idiom: Stop beating around the ___ and tell me the truth. (a) garden (b) tree (c) bush (d) house
38. 38.What does the idiom “sit on the fence” mean? (a) rest outside (b) fall down (c) fix a fence (d) not take a side
39. 39.What does the idiom “add fuel to the fire” mean? (a) cook food (b) make things worse (c) fill a car (d) put out a fire
40. 40.Complete the idiom: We are all in the same ___, so let us help each other. (a) house (b) car (c) boat (d) bus

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