Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 237 · 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 “cry over spilt milk” mean? (a) cry loudly (b) waste milk (c) be very hungry (d) worry about the past
2. 2.What does the idiom “a white elephant” mean? (a) costly but useless thing (b) a rare animal (c) a lucky charm (d) a big white toy
3. 3.Complete the idiom: It is raining ___ and dogs outside. (a) mice (b) rats (c) cats (d) cows
4. 4.Complete the idiom: Dev finished his project at the eleventh ___. (a) minute (b) month (c) hour (d) day
5. 5.Complete the idiom: Breaking the vase was the last ___; Mum was really upset. (a) stone (b) cup (c) stick (d) straw
6. 6.Complete the idiom: Kavya is the apple of her grandfather’s ___. (a) tree (b) eye (c) hand (d) heart
7. 7.What does the idiom “burn the midnight oil” mean? (a) light a lamp (b) work late into the night (c) waste oil (d) cook at night
8. 8.What does the idiom “out of the blue” mean? (a) from the sea (b) from the sky (c) very sad (d) suddenly, unexpectedly
9. 9.What does the idiom “cost an arm and a leg” mean? (a) be very expensive (b) hurt badly (c) be cheap (d) need a doctor
10. 10.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
11. 11.Complete the idiom: Riya visits the zoo once in a blue ___. (a) sun (b) sky (c) sea (d) moon
12. 12.What does the idiom “throw in the towel” mean? (a) give up (b) clean up (c) dry your hands (d) win easily
13. 13.What does the idiom “get cold feet” mean? (a) get nervous and back out (b) need new socks (c) feel very cold (d) walk on ice
14. 14.What does the idiom “call it a day” mean? (a) name the day (b) phone a friend (c) stop working for now (d) start a new day
15. 15.Complete the idiom: Aditya felt like a fish out of ___ at the new school. (a) air (b) milk (c) sand (d) water
16. 16.Complete the idiom: Hold your ___! Wait for everyone to sit down. (a) cows (b) goats (c) dogs (d) horses
17. 17.Complete the idiom: Ishaan let the cat out of the ___. (a) box (b) house (c) room (d) bag
18. 18.What does the idiom “all ears” mean? (a) having big ears (b) very noisy (c) hard of hearing (d) listening eagerly
19. 19.What does the idiom “the last straw” mean? (a) a small gift (b) a broken straw (c) the end of a drink (d) the final problem
20. 20.What does the idiom “when pigs fly” mean? (a) in summer (b) very soon (c) never (d) every morning
21. 21.Complete the idiom: After the argument, Zoya gave her brother the cold ___. (a) hand (b) shoulder (c) foot (d) water
22. 22.Complete the idiom: Our plan failed, so we were back to square ___. (a) ten (b) zero (c) two (d) one
23. 23.Complete the idiom: The exam was so easy; it was a ___ of cake. (a) plate (b) piece (c) bowl (d) box
24. 24.Complete the idiom: I had butterflies in my ___ before the race. (a) hands (b) stomach (c) head (d) shoes
25. 25.What does the idiom “over the moon” mean? (a) in outer space (b) very tired (c) very far away (d) extremely happy
26. 26.What does the idiom “a red-letter day” mean? (a) a day of danger (b) a sad day (c) a postal holiday (d) a special, happy day
27. 27.What does the idiom “hit the books” mean? (a) buy books (b) throw books (c) tear books (d) study hard
28. 28.Complete the idiom: It is raining cats and ___. (a) rats (b) dogs (c) cows (d) mice
29. 29.What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean? (a) good luck that looks bad (b) a secret prayer (c) a fancy dress (d) a sad goodbye
30. 30.What does the idiom “give the cold shoulder” mean? (a) ignore someone (b) feel very cold (c) hurt a shoulder (d) hug someone
31. 31.What does the idiom “kill two birds with one stone” mean? (a) throw stones (b) do two jobs at once (c) hunt birds (d) be very cruel
32. 32.What does the idiom “back to square one” mean? (a) starting all over again (b) going backwards (c) winning a game (d) a new square shape
33. 33.Complete the idiom: Don’t give up now; don’t throw in the ___! (a) ball (b) book (c) towel (d) bag
34. 34.Complete the idiom: Ananya was all ___ when Grandpa told the story. (a) hands (b) ears (c) eyes (d) feet
35. 35.What does the idiom “once bitten, twice shy” mean? (a) very shy (b) brave again (c) careful after a bad time (d) bitten by a dog
36. 36.Complete the idiom: The test was hard, but I had to bite the ___ and finish it. (a) pencil (b) apple (c) biscuit (d) bullet
37. 37.What does the idiom “at the eleventh hour” mean? (a) at 11 o'clock (b) at the last moment (c) every hour (d) very early
38. 38.Complete the idiom: Could you lend me a ___ with these heavy bags? (a) leg (b) head (c) hand (d) foot
39. 39.Complete the idiom: Yash burnt the midnight ___ before his exam. (a) candle (b) lamp (c) paper (d) oil
40. 40.Complete the idiom: Shouting at him will only add fuel to the ___. (a) car (b) fire (c) lamp (d) stove

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