Idioms and Phrases Worksheet

Vocabulary lesson 22: Idioms and phrases · Set 92 · 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 “once bitten, twice shy” mean? (a) very shy (b) careful after a bad time (c) bitten by a dog (d) brave again
2. 2.Complete the idiom: Could you lend me a ___ with these heavy bags? (a) hand (b) foot (c) leg (d) head
3. 3.What does the idiom “a storm in a teacup” mean? (a) big fuss over little (b) spilt tea (c) bad weather (d) a broken cup
4. 4.What does the idiom “burn the midnight oil” mean? (a) work late into the night (b) cook at night (c) waste oil (d) light a lamp
5. 5.Complete the idiom: Riya visits the zoo once in a blue ___. (a) sky (b) sea (c) sun (d) moon
6. 6.What does the idiom “raining cats and dogs” mean? (a) animals are falling (b) pets are fighting (c) a light shower (d) raining very heavily
7. 7.What does the idiom “a fish out of water” mean? (a) uncomfortable in a place (b) a dying fish (c) a hungry cat (d) a good swimmer
8. 8.What does the idiom “let the cat out of the bag” mean? (a) free a pet (b) go shopping (c) tell a lie (d) tell a secret
9. 9.Complete the idiom: Stop beating around the ___ and tell me the truth. (a) house (b) bush (c) tree (d) garden
10. 10.What does the idiom “a piece of cake” mean? (a) very sweet (b) very tasty (c) very small (d) very easy
11. 11.Complete the idiom: Hold your ___! Wait for everyone to sit down. (a) dogs (b) horses (c) cows (d) goats
12. 12.Complete the idiom: The maths test was a piece of ___. (a) cake (b) paper (c) chalk (d) bread
13. 13.What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean? (a) at midnight (b) very quickly (c) every night (d) very rarely
14. 14.What does the idiom “cry over spilt milk” mean? (a) be very hungry (b) cry loudly (c) worry about the past (d) waste milk
15. 15.Complete the idiom: Our plan failed, so we were back to square ___. (a) ten (b) two (c) one (d) zero
16. 16.What does the idiom “over the moon” mean? (a) extremely happy (b) very far away (c) very tired (d) in outer space
17. 17.Complete the idiom: Their fight over a pencil was just a storm in a ___. (a) teacup (b) bottle (c) glass (d) bucket
18. 18.Complete the idiom: The news came out of the ___. (a) pink (b) red (c) blue (d) green
19. 19.Complete the idiom: Kavya is the apple of her grandfather’s ___. (a) heart (b) hand (c) tree (d) eye
20. 20.What does the idiom “all ears” mean? (a) having big ears (b) listening eagerly (c) hard of hearing (d) very noisy
21. 21.What does the idiom “beat around the bush” mean? (a) clean the garden (b) hit a plant (c) avoid the main point (d) run very fast
22. 22.What does the idiom “the apple of someone’s eye” mean? (a) a dearly loved person (b) an eye problem (c) a greedy person (d) a red fruit
23. 23.What does the idiom “in hot water” mean? (a) in trouble (b) feeling warm (c) very busy (d) taking a bath
24. 24.What does the idiom “break the ice” mean? (a) break something cold (b) feel very cold (c) get very angry (d) start a friendly talk
25. 25.Complete the idiom: We will finish this by hook or by ___. (a) look (b) book (c) cook (d) crook
26. 26.Complete the idiom: After winning the prize, Riya was on cloud ___. (a) seven (b) ten (c) five (d) nine
27. 27.What does the idiom “kill two birds with one stone” mean? (a) be very cruel (b) hunt birds (c) do two jobs at once (d) throw stones
28. 28.Complete the idiom: It is raining cats and ___. (a) dogs (b) mice (c) rats (d) cows
29. 29.Complete the idiom: Breaking the vase was the last ___; Mum was really upset. (a) stick (b) cup (c) straw (d) stone
30. 30.What does the idiom “hit the books” mean? (a) buy books (b) tear books (c) throw books (d) study hard
31. 31.What does the idiom “under the weather” mean? (a) out in the rain (b) feeling unwell (c) very happy (d) very busy
32. 32.Complete the idiom: Shouting at him will only add fuel to the ___. (a) fire (b) car (c) lamp (d) stove
33. 33.Complete the idiom: Don’t cry over spilt ___. (a) water (b) juice (c) milk (d) tea
34. 34.Complete the idiom: I had butterflies in my ___ before the race. (a) stomach (b) hands (c) shoes (d) head
35. 35.What does the idiom “a blessing in disguise” mean? (a) good luck that looks bad (b) a sad goodbye (c) a fancy dress (d) a secret prayer
36. 36.Complete the idiom: Stop pulling my ___; I know you are joking! (a) arm (b) ear (c) hair (d) leg
37. 37.What does the idiom “spill the beans” mean? (a) tell a lie (b) cook badly (c) waste food (d) tell a secret
38. 38.Complete the idiom: The two friends decided to bury the ___. (a) hatchet (b) box (c) treasure (d) bone
39. 39.Complete the idiom: Ananya was all ___ when Grandpa told the story. (a) ears (b) hands (c) feet (d) eyes
40. 40.What does the idiom “on cloud nine” mean? (a) very sleepy (b) on a plane (c) very happy (d) in the rain

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