Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 233 · 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: Hold your ___! Wait for everyone to sit down. (a) dogs (b) goats (c) horses (d) cows
2. 2.What does the idiom “break the ice” mean? (a) get very angry (b) start a friendly talk (c) break something cold (d) feel very cold
3. 3.What does the idiom “the apple of someone’s eye” mean? (a) an eye problem (b) a dearly loved person (c) a red fruit (d) a greedy person
4. 4.What does the idiom “all ears” mean? (a) listening eagerly (b) very noisy (c) hard of hearing (d) having big ears
5. 5.Complete the idiom: We will finish this by hook or by ___. (a) book (b) cook (c) look (d) crook
6. 6.Complete the idiom: Stop beating around the ___ and tell me the truth. (a) tree (b) house (c) bush (d) garden
7. 7.Complete the idiom: After winning the prize, Riya was on cloud ___. (a) ten (b) five (c) nine (d) seven
8. 8.Complete the idiom: The money we raised is just a drop in the ___. (a) glass (b) ocean (c) river (d) pond
9. 9.What does the idiom “spill the beans” mean? (a) tell a secret (b) cook badly (c) waste food (d) tell a lie
10. 10.Complete the idiom: The exam was so easy; it was a ___ of cake. (a) box (b) plate (c) bowl (d) piece
11. 11.What does the idiom “once bitten, twice shy” mean? (a) bitten by a dog (b) brave again (c) very shy (d) careful after a bad time
12. 12.Complete the idiom: Breaking the vase was the last ___; Mum was really upset. (a) stick (b) straw (c) cup (d) stone
13. 13.What does the idiom “burn the midnight oil” mean? (a) light a lamp (b) waste oil (c) work late into the night (d) cook at night
14. 14.What does the idiom “keep an eye on” mean? (a) watch carefully (b) wear glasses (c) stare rudely (d) close one eye
15. 15.What does the idiom “face the music” mean? (a) enjoy a song (b) sing on stage (c) dance well (d) accept the punishment
16. 16.What does the idiom “in the same boat” mean? (a) in a ship (b) in the same trouble (c) very rich (d) on a holiday
17. 17.What does the idiom “zip your lips” mean? (a) smile widely (b) close a bag (c) eat quickly (d) keep quiet
18. 18.What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean? (a) very tasty (b) very easy (c) very sweet (d) very small
19. 19.Complete the idiom: The maths test was a piece of ___. (a) bread (b) cake (c) paper (d) chalk
20. 20.What does the idiom “a drop in the ocean” mean? (a) a rain shower (b) a sea journey (c) a very small amount (d) a big wave
21. 21.What does the idiom “hit the sack” mean? (a) go to bed (b) punch a bag (c) pack a bag (d) go shopping
22. 22.Complete the idiom: Our plan failed, so we were back to square ___. (a) zero (b) two (c) ten (d) one
23. 23.What does the idiom “see eye to eye” mean? (a) agree fully (b) look closely (c) see clearly (d) stare angrily
24. 24.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
25. 25.What does the idiom “a fish out of water” mean? (a) a dying fish (b) a good swimmer (c) uncomfortable in a place (d) a hungry cat
26. 26.What does the idiom “hit the books” mean? (a) tear books (b) study hard (c) throw books (d) buy books
27. 27.What does the idiom “the last straw” mean? (a) a broken straw (b) the end of a drink (c) a small gift (d) the final problem
28. 28.What does the idiom “pull someone’s leg” mean? (a) hurt someone (b) help someone walk (c) tease someone (d) trip someone
29. 29.What does the idiom “back to square one” mean? (a) a new square shape (b) winning a game (c) going backwards (d) starting all over again
30. 30.What does the idiom “under the weather” mean? (a) feeling unwell (b) very busy (c) out in the rain (d) very happy
31. 31.What does the idiom “beat around the bush” mean? (a) clean the garden (b) hit a plant (c) run very fast (d) avoid the main point
32. 32.Complete the idiom: Kabir spilled the ___ about the surprise party. (a) rice (b) beans (c) tea (d) milk
33. 33.Complete the idiom: Kavya is the apple of her grandfather’s ___. (a) eye (b) tree (c) hand (d) heart
34. 34.What does the idiom “turn a deaf ear” mean? (a) listen carefully (b) whisper softly (c) lose hearing (d) refuse to listen
35. 35.Complete the idiom: Could you lend me a ___ with these heavy bags? (a) foot (b) hand (c) head (d) leg
36. 36.What does the idiom “kill two birds with one stone” mean? (a) hunt birds (b) do two jobs at once (c) throw stones (d) be very cruel
37. 37.Complete the idiom: We are all in the same ___, so let us help each other. (a) boat (b) bus (c) house (d) car
38. 38.What does the idiom “add fuel to the fire” mean? (a) fill a car (b) cook food (c) make things worse (d) put out a fire
39. 39.What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean? (a) at midnight (b) very rarely (c) very quickly (d) every night
40. 40.Complete the idiom: Don’t cry over spilt ___. (a) milk (b) tea (c) water (d) juice

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