Metaphors

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

Andrew has decided to turn over a new leaf this year.

• Andrew turned over a new page in his book

• Andrew changed his behaviour for the better

• Andrew changed his behaviour for the worse

• Andrew turned over a leaf that had just fallen from a tree

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

She has half-baked ideas and nothing more.

• Her ideas are not thought out enough

• She likes cooking, but she isn't very good at it

• She doesn't bake very well

• She cooks better than she bakes

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

He's the apple of her eye.

• He's like an apple

• She would like to eat him because he looks like an apple

• She adores him

• She thinks he is evil

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

He lived his life in the fast lane.

• He lived in a car which he always drove fast

• He's a racing driver

• He drives fast

• He lived a life full of excitement and activity

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

Mary tried to pull the wool over my eyes.

• Mary tries to pull his woollen cap over his eyes

• Mary tried to cover his eyes with wool

• Mary is teasing him

• Mary tried to deceive him

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

Peter is all thumbs; he just spilt my drink.

• Peter has no fingers - only two thumbs

• Peter is clumsy

• Peter only uses his thumbs to pick things up

• Peter knocked the drink over with his thumb

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

'Necessity is the mother of invention.'

• Someone's mother is a good inventor

• Someone's mother has to invent something

• Mothers are good inventors

• If you really want to do something very much, you will think of a way to do it

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

My name is mud ever since I caused all that trouble at school.

• He has been shamed

• He has changed his name to mud

• He has changed his name to mud

• Mud is his nickname

Find the 'hidden' meaning of the given metaphor.

My boyfriend showered me with gifts.

• Her boyfriend made her take a shower with his gifts

• Her boyfriend threw gifts at her

• Her boyfriend gave her endless loads of gifts

• Her boyfriend took a shower with her gifts

'Bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft tea-cakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.'

What (or who) is described metaphorically in this passage from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

• The mules

• The men

• The collars

• The ladies