Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 87 · 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 “the apple of someone’s eye” mean? (a) a greedy person (b) an eye problem (c) a dearly loved person (d) a red fruit
2. 2.Complete the idiom: Aditya felt like a fish out of ___ at the new school. (a) milk (b) air (c) water (d) sand
3. 3.Complete the idiom: Can you keep an ___ on my bag for a minute? (a) arm (b) ear (c) hand (d) eye
4. 4.Complete the idiom: Our plan failed, so we were back to square ___. (a) zero (b) one (c) two (d) ten
5. 5.What does the idiom “beat around the bush” mean? (a) run very fast (b) hit a plant (c) avoid the main point (d) clean the garden
6. 6.Complete the idiom: Kabir spilled the ___ about the surprise party. (a) beans (b) milk (c) rice (d) tea
7. 7.What does the idiom “cost an arm and a leg” mean? (a) need a doctor (b) be very expensive (c) be cheap (d) hurt badly
8. 8.What does the idiom “out of the blue” mean? (a) from the sky (b) very sad (c) suddenly, unexpectedly (d) from the sea
9. 9.What does the idiom “pull someone’s leg” mean? (a) tease someone (b) help someone walk (c) hurt someone (d) trip someone
10. 10.What does the idiom “burn the midnight oil” mean? (a) work late into the night (b) light a lamp (c) waste oil (d) cook at night
11. 11.What does the idiom “hold your horses” mean? (a) hurry up (b) ride a horse (c) wait, be patient (d) feed the horses
12. 12.What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean? (a) a fancy dress (b) good luck that looks bad (c) a secret prayer (d) a sad goodbye
13. 13.What does the idiom “raining cats and dogs” mean? (a) raining very heavily (b) pets are fighting (c) animals are falling (d) a light shower
14. 14.Complete the idiom: Ishaan let the cat out of the ___. (a) box (b) house (c) room (d) bag
15. 15.Complete the idiom: We will finish this by hook or by ___. (a) look (b) book (c) crook (d) cook
16. 16.Complete the idiom: That shop sells sweets that cost an arm and a ___. (a) hand (b) nose (c) leg (d) foot
17. 17.What does the idiom “cry over spilt milk” mean? (a) be very hungry (b) waste milk (c) worry about the past (d) cry loudly
18. 18.What does the idiom “on the same page” mean? (a) far apart (b) very busy (c) in agreement (d) reading a book
19. 19.Complete the idiom: Kavya is the apple of her grandfather’s ___. (a) tree (b) heart (c) eye (d) hand
20. 20.What does the idiom “butterflies in the stomach” mean? (a) a nervous feeling (b) a hungry feeling (c) a happy dance (d) a stomach ache
21. 21.What does the idiom “when pigs fly” mean? (a) very soon (b) every morning (c) never (d) in summer
22. 22.What does the idiom “a white elephant” mean? (a) costly but useless thing (b) a big white toy (c) a rare animal (d) a lucky charm
23. 23.Complete the idiom: Shouting at him will only add fuel to the ___. (a) fire (b) lamp (c) stove (d) car
24. 24.Complete the idiom: Could you lend me a ___ with these heavy bags? (a) foot (b) head (c) leg (d) hand
25. 25.What does the idiom “call it a day” mean? (a) phone a friend (b) stop working for now (c) name the day (d) start a new day
26. 26.What does the idiom “break the ice” mean? (a) break something cold (b) feel very cold (c) start a friendly talk (d) get very angry
27. 27.Complete the idiom: I had butterflies in my ___ before the race. (a) head (b) hands (c) shoes (d) stomach
28. 28.Complete the idiom: We are all in the same ___, so let us help each other. (a) car (b) house (c) boat (d) bus
29. 29.What does the idiom “turn a deaf ear” mean? (a) whisper softly (b) listen carefully (c) refuse to listen (d) lose hearing
30. 30.What does the idiom “under the weather” mean? (a) out in the rain (b) very happy (c) very busy (d) feeling unwell
31. 31.Complete the idiom: Hold your ___! Wait for everyone to sit down. (a) cows (b) horses (c) goats (d) dogs
32. 32.What does the idiom “back to square one” mean? (a) winning a game (b) going backwards (c) a new square shape (d) starting all over again
33. 33.What does the idiom “a storm in a teacup” mean? (a) big fuss over little (b) bad weather (c) spilt tea (d) a broken cup
34. 34.What does the idiom “give the cold shoulder” mean? (a) feel very cold (b) ignore someone (c) hug someone (d) hurt a shoulder
35. 35.What does the idiom “bury the hatchet” mean? (a) start a fight (b) dig a hole (c) make peace (d) hide a weapon
36. 36.Complete the idiom: Stop pulling my ___; I know you are joking! (a) arm (b) hair (c) leg (d) ear
37. 37.What does the idiom “in hot water” mean? (a) feeling warm (b) taking a bath (c) in trouble (d) very busy
38. 38.What does the idiom “a red-letter day” mean? (a) a sad day (b) a special, happy day (c) a day of danger (d) a postal holiday
39. 39.Complete the idiom: Breaking the vase was the last ___; Mum was really upset. (a) stick (b) stone (c) cup (d) straw
40. 40.What does the idiom “zip your lips” mean? (a) eat quickly (b) smile widely (c) keep quiet (d) close a bag

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