Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 52 · 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) goats (b) horses (c) dogs (d) cows
2. 2.Complete the idiom: The news came out of the ___. (a) pink (b) red (c) blue (d) green
3. 3.Complete the idiom: It is raining ___ and dogs outside. (a) cows (b) cats (c) mice (d) rats
4. 4.What does the idiom “a storm in a teacup” mean? (a) a broken cup (b) spilt tea (c) big fuss over little (d) bad weather
5. 5.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
6. 6.Complete the idiom: Aditya felt like a fish out of ___ at the new school. (a) milk (b) air (c) sand (d) water
7. 7.What does the idiom “give the cold shoulder” mean? (a) hug someone (b) feel very cold (c) hurt a shoulder (d) ignore someone
8. 8.Complete the idiom: The exam was so easy; it was a ___ of cake. (a) box (b) piece (c) bowl (d) plate
9. 9.What does the idiom “by hook or by crook” mean? (a) by fishing (b) by any means (c) very slowly (d) with help
10. 10.What does the idiom “throw in the towel” mean? (a) clean up (b) give up (c) win easily (d) dry your hands
11. 11.What does the idiom “a drop in the ocean” mean? (a) a sea journey (b) a big wave (c) a rain shower (d) a very small amount
12. 12.Complete the idiom: Could you lend me a ___ with these heavy bags? (a) head (b) hand (c) foot (d) leg
13. 13.What does the idiom “bite the bullet” mean? (a) break a tooth (b) bravely do a hard thing (c) eat something hard (d) get angry
14. 14.Complete the idiom: Breaking the vase was the last ___; Mum was really upset. (a) stick (b) cup (c) straw (d) stone
15. 15.Complete the idiom: Don’t cry over spilt ___. (a) juice (b) milk (c) water (d) tea
16. 16.Complete the idiom: The two friends decided to bury the ___. (a) bone (b) hatchet (c) treasure (d) box
17. 17.What does the idiom “pull someone’s leg” mean? (a) trip someone (b) help someone walk (c) tease someone (d) hurt someone
18. 18.What does the idiom “hit the books” mean? (a) study hard (b) buy books (c) tear books (d) throw books
19. 19.What does the idiom “on the same page” mean? (a) very busy (b) reading a book (c) far apart (d) in agreement
20. 20.What does the idiom “all ears” mean? (a) listening eagerly (b) hard of hearing (c) having big ears (d) very noisy
21. 21.What does the idiom “a red-letter day” mean? (a) a sad day (b) a special, happy day (c) a postal holiday (d) a day of danger
22. 22.What does the idiom “turn a deaf ear” mean? (a) lose hearing (b) whisper softly (c) refuse to listen (d) listen carefully
23. 23.Complete the idiom: The test was hard, but I had to bite the ___ and finish it. (a) apple (b) bullet (c) pencil (d) biscuit
24. 24.What does the idiom “break the ice” mean? (a) break something cold (b) start a friendly talk (c) feel very cold (d) get very angry
25. 25.What does the idiom “hold your horses” mean? (a) hurry up (b) feed the horses (c) ride a horse (d) wait, be patient
26. 26.What does the idiom “under the weather” mean? (a) very busy (b) out in the rain (c) very happy (d) feeling unwell
27. 27.What does the idiom “at the eleventh hour” mean? (a) at 11 o'clock (b) very early (c) at the last moment (d) every hour
28. 28.Complete the idiom: We will finish this by hook or by ___. (a) cook (b) book (c) crook (d) look
29. 29.What does the idiom “over the moon” mean? (a) in outer space (b) extremely happy (c) very far away (d) very tired
30. 30.What does the idiom “cry over spilt milk” mean? (a) worry about the past (b) be very hungry (c) cry loudly (d) waste milk
31. 31.What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean? (a) very easy (b) very small (c) very sweet (d) very tasty
32. 32.What does the idiom “call it a day” mean? (a) start a new day (b) stop working for now (c) name the day (d) phone a friend
33. 33.Complete the idiom: That shop sells sweets that cost an arm and a ___. (a) hand (b) foot (c) nose (d) leg
34. 34.What does the idiom “sit on the fence” mean? (a) fix a fence (b) rest outside (c) not take a side (d) fall down
35. 35.Complete the idiom: Riya visits the zoo once in a blue ___. (a) moon (b) sun (c) sea (d) sky
36. 36.What does the idiom “when pigs fly” mean? (a) in summer (b) very soon (c) every morning (d) never
37. 37.Complete the idiom: Don’t give up now; don’t throw in the ___! (a) book (b) ball (c) towel (d) bag
38. 38.What does the idiom “the apple of someone’s eye” mean? (a) an eye problem (b) a red fruit (c) a dearly loved person (d) a greedy person
39. 39.Complete the idiom: It is raining cats and ___. (a) rats (b) dogs (c) mice (d) cows
40. 40.Complete the idiom: Stop beating around the ___ and tell me the truth. (a) garden (b) bush (c) tree (d) house

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