Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 287 · 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: After the argument, Zoya gave her brother the cold ___. (a) water (b) hand (c) foot (d) shoulder
2. 2.What does the idiom “feel blue” mean? (a) feel cold (b) turn blue (c) feel lucky (d) feel sad
3. 3.Complete the idiom: The test was hard, but I had to bite the ___ and finish it. (a) pencil (b) biscuit (c) apple (d) bullet
4. 4.What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean? (a) good luck that looks bad (b) a secret prayer (c) a sad goodbye (d) a fancy dress
5. 5.Complete the idiom: The exam was so easy; it was a ___ of cake. (a) bowl (b) box (c) plate (d) piece
6. 6.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
7. 7.What does the idiom “beat around the bush” mean? (a) hit a plant (b) run very fast (c) clean the garden (d) avoid the main point
8. 8.What does the idiom “a red-letter day” mean? (a) a postal holiday (b) a day of danger (c) a sad day (d) a special, happy day
9. 9.Complete the idiom: Stop beating around the ___ and tell me the truth. (a) garden (b) bush (c) house (d) tree
10. 10.What does the idiom “zip your lips” mean? (a) close a bag (b) smile widely (c) keep quiet (d) eat quickly
11. 11.Complete the idiom: Can you keep an ___ on my bag for a minute? (a) hand (b) arm (c) eye (d) ear
12. 12.What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean? (a) very easy (b) very small (c) very tasty (d) very sweet
13. 13.What does the idiom “all ears” mean? (a) having big ears (b) listening eagerly (c) very noisy (d) hard of hearing
14. 14.What does the idiom “give the cold shoulder” mean? (a) feel very cold (b) hug someone (c) hurt a shoulder (d) ignore someone
15. 15.What does the idiom “bury the hatchet” mean? (a) hide a weapon (b) dig a hole (c) make peace (d) start a fight
16. 16.Complete the idiom: The maths test was a piece of ___. (a) paper (b) chalk (c) cake (d) bread
17. 17.Complete the idiom: That shop sells sweets that cost an arm and a ___. (a) hand (b) nose (c) foot (d) leg
18. 18.Complete the idiom: I had butterflies in my ___ before the race. (a) shoes (b) hands (c) stomach (d) head
19. 19.Complete the idiom: Kavya is the apple of her grandfather’s ___. (a) tree (b) hand (c) eye (d) heart
20. 20.What does the idiom “let the cat out of the bag” mean? (a) tell a lie (b) tell a secret (c) free a pet (d) go shopping
21. 21.Complete the idiom: Hold your ___! Wait for everyone to sit down. (a) horses (b) goats (c) dogs (d) cows
22. 22.What does the idiom “out of the blue” mean? (a) from the sky (b) from the sea (c) very sad (d) suddenly, unexpectedly
23. 23.Complete the idiom: We will finish this by hook or by ___. (a) look (b) cook (c) book (d) crook
24. 24.Complete the idiom: Our plan failed, so we were back to square ___. (a) one (b) zero (c) ten (d) two
25. 25.What does the idiom “in hot water” mean? (a) taking a bath (b) very busy (c) feeling warm (d) in trouble
26. 26.Complete the idiom: The news came out of the ___. (a) green (b) red (c) pink (d) blue
27. 27.What does the idiom “at the eleventh hour” mean? (a) very early (b) every hour (c) at 11 o'clock (d) at the last moment
28. 28.What does the idiom “pull someone’s leg” mean? (a) help someone walk (b) trip someone (c) hurt someone (d) tease someone
29. 29.What does the idiom “on cloud nine” mean? (a) in the rain (b) very happy (c) very sleepy (d) on a plane
30. 30.What does the idiom “the last straw” mean? (a) a broken straw (b) the final problem (c) a small gift (d) the end of a drink
31. 31.What does the idiom “add fuel to the fire” mean? (a) put out a fire (b) cook food (c) make things worse (d) fill a car
32. 32.What does the idiom “a storm in a teacup” mean? (a) big fuss over little (b) bad weather (c) a broken cup (d) spilt tea
33. 33.What does the idiom “sit on the fence” mean? (a) fall down (b) not take a side (c) fix a fence (d) rest outside
34. 34.Complete the idiom: The two friends decided to bury the ___. (a) box (b) treasure (c) bone (d) hatchet
35. 35.What does the idiom “hit the books” mean? (a) buy books (b) study hard (c) throw books (d) tear books
36. 36.What does the idiom “the tip of the iceberg” mean? (a) a melting ice block (b) only a small part (c) the top of a hill (d) a cold place
37. 37.Complete the idiom: Ananya was all ___ when Grandpa told the story. (a) hands (b) feet (c) eyes (d) ears
38. 38.Complete the idiom: Riya visits the zoo once in a blue ___. (a) sea (b) sky (c) moon (d) sun
39. 39.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
40. 40.What does the idiom “lend a hand” mean? (a) shake hands (b) borrow money (c) help someone (d) give a hand away

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