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Worksheets

Common Used Idioms

Total questions: 55

Worksheet time: 31mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

After taking a test, Maria said it was a piece of cake. All of her studying had paid off. How did Maria feel about the test?

a)

It took a long time.

b)

It was easy.

c)

She was worried.

d)

It made her hungry.

2.

"Your brother is already in a bad mood. Don't add fuel to the fire by laughing at him," said Mom. What did Mom mean?

a)

Don't make the situation worse.

b)

Don't start a fire.

c)

Don't make him laugh.

d)

Don't burn yourself.

3.

Michael was disappointed when his invention failed and he had to go back to square one. What did Michael have to do?

a)

work backwards

b)

give up

c)

ask for help

d)

start over from the beginning

4.

After an exhausting day of work on the farm, Mrs. Jackson decided to hit the hay earlier than usual. What was Mrs. Jackson going to do?

a)

go to bed

b)

wake up

c)

get some hay for her animals

d)

punch something

5.

The detective thought they had solved the case. It turned out they were barking up the wrong tree. What can you tell about the detectives?

a)

They looked for clues behind a tree.

b)

They were wrong about the case.

c)

They used a police dog.

d)

They solved the case.

6.

I asked my dad if I could have a dirt bike. He said I could have one when pigs fly. When will I be able to get a dirt bike?

a)

never

b)

when dad sees a flying pig

c)

soon

d)

when I teach my pig to fly

7.

Coach told me to sit tonight's game out because I'm feeling under the weather. Why won't Coach let me play?

a)

It is raining.

b)

I am in a bad mood.

c)

I am sick.

d)

I didn't go to practice.

8.

The skateboard my brother wants costs an arm and a leg. He wonders if someone will get it for his birthday. What can you tell about the skateboard?

a)

It is really fast.

b)

It is cheap.

c)

It is the best one.

d)

It is expensive.

9.

When my sister's favorite doll broke, she decided not to cry over spilt milk. She would just save money for a new one. Which statement describes my sister?

a)

She wasn't going to let herself get upset about the doll.

b)

She was angry that she had to save money for a new doll.

c)

She was glad the doll broke.

10.

Shark Eye shells are a dime a dozen. I see them all over the beach every time we go. What describes Shark Eye shells?

a)

beautiful and rare

b)

common and easy to find

c)

valuable

d)

found only where sharks live

11.

A solar eclipse happens once in a blue moon. We were lucky to be able to view it. How often does a solar eclipse happen?

a)

once a year

b)

never

c)

when the moon turns blue

d)

rarely

12.

The Greens have been married for 50 years. Mr. Green always calls Mrs. Green the apple of his eye. What does Mr. Green think of his wife?

a)

He thinks she's pretty.

b)

He loves her more than anyone else.

c)

He wishes she would buy apples.

d)

He doesn't like her anymore.

13.

Sara's surprise party was ruined because her sister let the cat out of the bag. What did Sara's sister do?

a)

She let the cat loose.

b)

She invited a cat to the party.

c)

She told her about the party.

d)

She forgot about the party.

14.

1. Susan gushed over the necklace in the jewellery shop, but Nathan thought that the craftsmanship was merely run of the mill.

a)

a. Something this is of exceptionally high quality

b)

b. Something marked by creativity or originality

c)

c. Something that is too expensive for the average person too afford

d)

d. Something that is low quality, common or ordinary

15.

Ravi chose Marco as his partner for the class project. Now that the project was due and the boys had nothing done, Ravi realized that he should have hitched his horse to a different wagon.

a)

a. When one wishes to have chosen different company than one is presently keeping

b)

b. When one accepts responsibility for one's own involvement in an unfortunate event

c)

c. When one understands that the only way to solve a problem is through hard work

d)

d. When one determines that the best course of action is to tell the truth

16.

Sam knew that if he wanted to get into college, he'd have to keep his nose to the grindstone all year for SPM.

a)

a. Sam would have to apply for college.

b)

b. Sam would have to work hard for a whole year.

c)

c. Sam would have to wait patiently for an opportunity

d)

d. Sam would have to stay out of trouble for a whole year.

17.

Ever since K-Pop band started wearing printed leotards, those leotards have been selling like hotcakes.

a)

a. This means that the leotards have been selling quickly

b)

b. This means those leotards have been selling slowly

c)

c. This means that the leotards have been selling at an average pace

d)

d. This means that the leotards have not been selling at all.

18.

If you take something with a pinch of salt,

a)

you don't completely believe something because you think it's probably not true

b)

you like your food to be salty

c)

you think something might bring you bad luck

19.
Cry over spilt milk
a)
Being Inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation.
b)
This idiom is used when something is very expensive.
c)
When you complain about a loss from the past.
d)
Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
20.
Barking up the wrong tree
a)
Something good that isn't recognized at first.
b)
Looking in the wrong place. Accusing the wrong person
c)
When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.
d)
This idiom is used when something is very expensive.
21.

What does "butterflies in my stomach" mean?

a)

I ate too much

b)

I swallowed some bugs

c)

to be nervous about something

d)

to be very hungry

22.

"Open a can of worms" means....

a)

share information that complicates the situation

b)

getting ready to go fishing

c)

openings up a can with stinky food

d)

having a difficult time

23.
What does “she has a green thumb” really mean?
a)
She is really good at gardening.
b)
She spilled green paint  on her thumb.
c)
Her fingernails are painted green.
24.

The needed to pull together. Then they could out on a great play.

a)

waited in line

b)

worked as a team

25.

A blessing in disguise means

a)

Not performing a task or duty correctly in order to save time or money

b)

Just barely making it

c)

A good thing that initially seemed bad

d)

You have to work hard in order to see results

26.

A dime a dozen means

a)

Something that is very common, not unique

b)

An issue, person, or problem that someone is trying to avoid

c)

Doing a good job, being prompt, or being responsible

d)

doing something that is pointless

27.

Getting a second wind means

a)

Something that is overpriced or very expensive

b)

Having energy again after being tired

c)

Something that is overpriced or very expensive

d)

A task or job that is easy to complete

28.
He is one tough cookie.
a)
He eats a lot of cookies
b)
He likes cookies
c)
He works hard
29.

If you say that something costs an arm and a leg,

a)

it is extremely cheap

b)

it is not worth the money

c)

it is very expensive

30.

If you feel under the weather,

a)

you feel frustrated

b)

you feel ill

c)

you feel sad

31.

If you hit the sack,

a)

you win the lottery

b)

you give up a sport because you feel you are not good enough

c)

you go to bed because you are very tired

32.

If you cut corners when doing something,

a)

you accomplish two different things at the same thing with very little effort

b)

you do it badly or cheaply at the expense of high standards

c)

you do it straightaway

33.

If you are over the moon,

a)

you become serious about something

b)

you are very pleased about something

c)

you are very angry with someone

34.

If I say “I’m going to hit the books now”,

a)

I am going to study

b)

I am going to take a short break from studying

c)

I am going to throw my books away

35.

If you say that something is a piece of cake,

a)

it is very good but very few people know it

b)

it is very easy to do

c)

it is very sweet

36.

If you speak/talk of the devil,

a)

you say something bad about someone

b)

you talk directly about a hot issue

c)

the person you are talking about unexpectedly appears

37.

If you go the extra mile,

a)

you are willing to make a special effort to achieve something

b)

you walk a bit more although you are tired just to prove that you can

c)

you put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone

38.
What does it mean to say: "It's raining cats and dogs!"?
a)
Cats and dogs are falling from the sky.
b)
It's raining very heavily.
c)
We are having a tornado.
d)
Animals have learned to fly.
39.
What is a couch potato?
a)
A person who likes to eat potatoes on the couch.
b)
A potato pillow.
c)
A person who likes to sit and watch tv on the couch.
d)
A person who likes to play hot potato.
40.
Why do author's use idioms?
a)
To make their writing more interesting.
b)
To confuse the audience.
c)
To be mean.
d)
To cause frustration in the reader.
41.
She has egg on her face.
a)
She was eating an egg and spilled it on herself. 
b)
She is friendly. 
c)
She is embarassed. 
42.
She gave me the cold shoulder. 
a)
Her shoulder felt freezing. 
b)
She ignored me. 
c)
She needed a sweater. 
43.
He's afraid of his own shadow. 
a)
He is easily frightened. 
b)
He thinks his shadow is another person. 
c)
He doesn't think he has a shadow. 
44.
It costs an arm and a leg. 
a)
You have to go to the doctor. 
b)
It's expensive. 
c)
It is cheap. 
45.
I'm green with envy. 
a)
I'm jealous. 
b)
I ate too many vegetables. 
c)
I am sick. 
46.
I'm feeling under the weather.
a)
I am getting rained on. 
b)
I'm feeling sick. 
c)
A cloud landed on me. 
47.
I'm all tied up!
a)
I'm very busy. 
b)
I'm stuck in a knot from a rope. 
c)
I'm wearing a tie. 
48.
It's a piece of cake. 
a)
It's a dessert.
b)
It's easy to do.
c)
It's something you bake. 
49.
He has butterflies in his stomach. 
a)
He has a colorful stomach. 
b)
There are bugs in his stomach. 
c)
He's nervous. 
50.
That knocked my socks off. 
a)
That hit me really hard. 
b)
 My socks were loose on my feet. 
c)
That was amazing. 
51.
He's a big cheese. 
a)
He loves to eat cheese.
b)
He's a very important person. 
c)
His is a big man. 
52.
Their in hot water. 
a)
Their in trouble. 
b)
They are burning up in water.
c)
Their in the desert. 
53.
Put on your thinking cap. 
a)
Try to solve a problem. 
b)
Put on your favorite baseball hat. 
c)
Think about hats. 
54.
Get off your high horse. 
a)
Come down from the ladder.
b)
Get down from the horse. 
c)
Stop acting conceited. 
55.
He's a barrel of laughs. 
a)
He's so funny. 
b)
He lives in a barrel. 
c)
He likes to laugh.