English Idioms & Phrases — Practice Set

Question 1

'A bolt from the blue' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Something unexpected — A bolt from the blue = something completely unexpected, a surprise.‌​‍

Answer

Lightning strike

Answer

A blue colour

Answer

A type of tool

Question 2

'Burn the midnight oil' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Work/study late at night — To burn the midnight oil = to study or work late into the night.‌​‍

Answer

Waste fuel

Answer

Start a fire

Answer

Cook at midnight

Question 3

'Break the ice' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Start a conversation in an awkward situation — Break the ice = initiate conversation to relieve social tension.‌​‍

Answer

Destroy something

Answer

Cool down

Answer

Break frozen water

Question 4

'A white elephant' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

A costly but useless possession — White elephant = expensive possession that is a burden and hard to maintain.‌​‍

Answer

A rare animal

Answer

Good luck

Answer

A government scheme

Question 5

'Hit the nail on the head' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Say exactly the right thing — Hit the nail on the head = describe something exactly right.‌​‍

Answer

Use a hammer

Answer

Make a mistake

Answer

Start building

Question 6

'Let the cat out of the bag' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Reveal a secret — Let the cat out of the bag = accidentally reveal a secret.‌​‍

Answer

Free an animal

Answer

Go shopping

Answer

Start a fight

Question 7

'By hook or by crook' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

By any means necessary — By hook or by crook = by any means, whether fair or foul.‌​‍

Answer

Using tools

Answer

Legally only

Answer

By fishing

Question 8

'Cry over spilt milk' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Regret something that's already done — Cry over spilt milk = waste time regretting something that cannot be undone.‌​‍

Answer

Clean up

Answer

Be sad about dairy

Answer

Waste food

Question 9

'Rain cats and dogs' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Rain very heavily — Rain cats and dogs = rain very heavily.‌​‍

Answer

Animals falling

Answer

Unusual weather

Answer

Mild drizzle

Question 10

'Turn over a new leaf' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Make a fresh start, change behaviour — Turn over a new leaf = start behaving better, make a fresh start.‌​‍

Answer

Read a book

Answer

Turn a page

Answer

Plant a tree

Question 11

'At the eleventh hour' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

At the last possible moment — At the eleventh hour = at the very last minute, just in time.‌​‍

Answer

At 11 AM

Answer

Very early

Answer

During lunch

Question 12

'Call a spade a spade' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Speak frankly and directly — Call a spade a spade = speak plainly and truthfully without euphemism.‌​‍

Answer

Use gardening tools

Answer

Insult someone

Answer

Dig a hole

Question 13

'See eye to eye' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Agree completely — See eye to eye = agree with someone, share the same view.‌​‍

Answer

Look at someone

Answer

Have good vision

Answer

Face each other

Question 14

'Cut corners' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Do something in a cheap/quick way, sacrificing quality — Cut corners = do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often sacrificing quality.‌​‍

Answer

Shape something

Answer

Turn sharply

Answer

Reduce waste

Question 15

'In the nick of time' means:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Just in time, at the critical moment — In the nick of time = just in time, at the very last moment before it's too late.‌​‍

Answer

Very late

Answer

Never

Answer

During winter

English Idioms & Phrases — Practice Set