Idioms and Phrases — Practice

Question 1

Choose the meaning of the idiom: 'To beat around the bush'.
(a) To strike a plant repeatedly (b) To avoid the main point (c) To search thoroughly (d) To waste money

Accepted Answer

(b) To avoid the main point.

The literal option (a) is the trap; the idiom means to avoid coming to the point.

Question 2

Choose the meaning of the idiom: 'A blessing in disguise'.
(a) A hidden curse (b) A disguised person (c) A good thing that first seemed bad (d) A religious gift

Accepted Answer

(c) A good thing that first seemed bad.

Something initially unfortunate that turns out beneficial.

Question 3

Choose the meaning of the idiom: 'To burn the midnight oil'.
(a) To waste resources (b) To work or study late into the night (c) To light a lamp (d) To cause a fire

Accepted Answer

(b) To work or study late into the night.

From studying by oil lamp after midnight.

Question 4

Choose the meaning of the idiom: 'Once in a blue moon'.
(a) Very frequently (b) At night only (c) Very rarely (d) Never

Accepted Answer

(c) Very rarely.

A blue moon is a rare event, so the idiom means seldom.

Question 5

Choose the meaning of the idiom: 'To let the cat out of the bag'.
(a) To free an animal (b) To reveal a secret (c) To make a mistake (d) To start trouble

Accepted Answer

(b) To reveal a secret.

Same sense as 'spill the beans'.

Question 6

Choose the idiom that fits: 'The physics test was ___; I finished it in ten minutes.'
(a) in hot water (b) a piece of cake (c) a bolt from the blue (d) under the weather

Accepted Answer

(b) a piece of cake.

The sentence describes an easy task, which is exactly what 'a piece of cake' means.

Question 7

Choose the meaning of the idiom: 'To cost an arm and a leg'.
(a) To cause injury (b) To be very expensive (c) To work hard (d) To be worthless

Accepted Answer

(b) To be very expensive.

An extremely high price.

Question 8

Choose the meaning of the idiom: 'To turn a blind eye'.
(a) To lose one's sight (b) To look away in fear (c) To deliberately ignore (d) To be confused

Accepted Answer

(c) To deliberately ignore.

To pretend not to notice something, especially wrongdoing.

Question 9

Choose the idiom that fits: 'When the CEO suddenly resigned, it came as ___ to the employees.'
(a) a piece of cake (b) a bolt from the blue (c) the lion's share (d) cold feet

Accepted Answer

(b) a bolt from the blue.

The resignation was a sudden shock, which is precisely 'a bolt from the blue'.

Practice — Idioms and Phrases

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