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Worksheets

IDIOMS & PROVERBS

Total questions: 36

Worksheet time: 49mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth means...

a)

He was born to a rich family

b)

He was born hungry

c)

He was born with teeth

2.
Beggars can't be choosers.
a)
If you're asking for a favor from someone else, you have to take whatever they give you.  
b)
Different people have different ideas about what's beautiful.
c)
If you try to help someone, but they don't take  your advice or offers, give up.  You can't force someone to accept your help.
d)
Wait until you've already succeeded, and then you can think about what comes next.
3.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
a)
If you're asking for a favor from someone else, you have to take whatever they give you.
b)
If someone's helping out out, be careful not to make them made.
c)
Different people have different ideas about what is beautiful
d)
Wait until you've already succeeded and then you can think about what to do next.
4.
Actions speak louder than words.
a)
People like to sped time with others who are similar to them.
b)
Don't criticize other people if you're not perfect yourself.
c)
Just saying that you will do something doesn't mean much.  Actually doing it is harder and more meaningful.
d)
When someone has done something bad to you, trying to get revenge will only made things worse.
5.
The pen is mightier than the sword. 
a)
Don't criticize other people if you're not perfect yourself. 
b)
Trying to convince people with ideas and words is more effective than trying to force people to do what you want.
c)
People like to spend time with others who are similar to them.
d)
When someone has done something bad to you, trying to to force people to do what you want.
6.
The early bird catches the worm
a)
Birds eat a lot of worms when they are hungry
b)
Accomplish two tasks by one action
c)
Whoever arrives first has the best chance for success
d)
None of the above
7.
Slow and steady wins the ______
a)
Ribbon
b)
Taste
c)
Race
d)
Apple
8.
Birds of a ________ flock together. 
a)
Clique
b)
Group
c)
Wing
d)
Feather
9.
There's no use crying over _______ milk.
a)
old
b)
spilt
c)
yummy
d)
gross
10.
No news is good _____
a)
Newspaper
b)
Because
c)
Pasta
d)
News
11.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away
a)
All other fruit is bad for you
b)
Doctors say to eat apples
c)
Eating healthy keeps you from getting sick
d)
Apple gummies do not count
12.
I'm like a fish out of water.
a)
Fish are always in water
b)
Fish in a Tree
c)
I am very comfortable
d)
I feel uncomfortable
13.
You're barking up the wrong tree
a)
You are asking the wrong person
b)
Trees have bark on them
c)
To tell your dog to stop barking
d)
Accomplish two tasks with one action
14.

Stephen hit the nail on the head when he said that what the company was lacking in was clear vision and focus.

What does this mean?

a)

Stephen was nailing in nails with a hammer.

b)

What Stephen said was exactly right.

c)

Stephen offended the company.

d)

Stephen desired to be CEO.

15.

You cannot leave the kitten because it was rude to you. Two wrongs don’t make a right. What does this mean?

a)

Just because the kitten did something bad doesn't mean you should also.

b)

It's okay to do something bad if it's done to you first.

c)

If the kitten had been nicer then you could be nice to it.

d)

It's always good to take care of kittens.

16.

Joe was very curious about where Sarah was getting all her money from, but all she said was that curiosity killed the cat. What does this mean?

a)

Joe needs to be careful - being too inquisitive could get him into trouble

b)

Joe's cat could die.

c)

Sarah is going to tell Joe where she gets her money.

d)

Joe should ask more questions to get to the bottom of this.

17.

The lawyers who attended the seminar were like birds of a feather flocking together. They have not even spoken to anyone outside their group. What does this mean?

a)

These lawyers share similar beliefs and experiences from the seminar so they are sticking together.

b)

These lawyers enjoy bird watching; the birds' feathers are beautiful to them.

c)

These lawyers love meeting new people.

d)

These lawyers can't wait to go to another seminar.

18.

The admissions in this college get filled in very early. If you really want to enroll your son here then you should remember that the early bird gets the worm. What does this mean?

a)

If they enroll their son early, he has a better chance of getting in.

b)

Birds get all of their worms to eat early in the morning.

c)

There are a lot of worms out in the early hours because of the dew on the ground.

d)

Their son doesn't have a good chance of getting into that college.

19.

He gave his old car as a gift; I know its not a great one, but I wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. What does this mean?

a)

the person who received the car should be grateful for what they got - even if it wasn't the best car.

b)

It would have been better had the man given away his horse instead of his car.

c)

It's best to not stare.

d)

It makes sense that they're not happy with the car - it's an old one.

20.

The issue of gun control is a political hot potato in the United States. What does this mean?

a)

Hot potatoes can be just as harmful as guns.

b)

Gun control is an issue that a lot of people can't agree on.

c)

Once people start talking about gun control, they can't stop.

d)

People usually like talking about gun control whenever they're eating food.

21.

I was already getting late for work stuck in the traffic, and to add insult to injury, I was stopped by the police for speeding. What does this mean?

a)

Your situation of being stuck in traffic was worsened when you got pulled over by the cops.

b)

When people insult us, it hurts.

c)

Because you were stuck in traffic, you got pulled over.

d)

When we get stuck in traffic, injuries occur.

22.

Dustin was always ready to go fishing at the drop of a hat.

What does this mean?

a)

Dustin is always ready to go fishing without hesitation.

b)

Dustin always drops his hat in the water when he fishes.

c)

Dustin is afraid of dropping his hat.

d)

Dustin always drops his hat when people mention fishing.

23.

You must visit that restaurant; the food is really good, and it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. What does this mean?

a)

The food is priced right - it's not too expensive.

b)

The food isn't that good.

c)

Not a lot of people eat at this restaurant.

d)

This restaurant has given people food poisoning before.

24.

My mom often had to cut corners when we were kids in order to feed all of us. What does this mean?

a)

Your mom had to do things in the cheapest way possible in order for everyone to eat.

b)

Your mom broke all the rules.

c)

Your mom didn't feed you.

d)

There were many days you didn't eat.

25.

I know that you job is not going well and you are stressed out, but don’t worry, things will be better soon. Every cloud has a silver lining. What does this mean?

a)

Something good is sure to come of this hard time.

b)

Don't worry. Be happy.

c)

It's normal to be stressed out.

d)

It looks like it's going to rain.

26.

Choose the correct meaning of each underlined proverb or adage.


Omar said, "Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Run a little each day, and soon you'll become a good runner."

a)

If you run slowly, you will win races.

b)

It is better to run slowly than to win a race.

c)

Slow workers have the most success.

d)

Patience and hard word bring success.

27.

Choose the correct meaning of each underlined proverb or adage.


I promised to run every day, but that was easier said than done.

a)

easily said

b)

easily done

c)

easier to talk about than to do

d)

easier to run than to promise

28.

Choose the correct meaning of each underlined proverb or adage.


Then I though, "If I want to be a good runner, I have to practive. I know that practice makes perfect!"

a)

Being perfect is important.

b)

You must practice perfectly.

c)

You must practive something every day.

d)

Practicing is the way to get good at something.

29.

Choose the correct meaning of each underlined idiom.


I was all ears when Mai shared her news.

a)

feeling my ears grow

b)

getting a headache

c)

listening carefuly

d)

unable to hear

30.

Choose the correct meaning of each underlined idiom.


Mai said, "I've just heard it from the horse's mouth. Our school is going to have an auction to raise oney."

a)

from a hrose trainer

b)

from an animal doctor

c)

from the mouth of a horse

d)

from a trustworthy person

31.

Choose the correct meaning of each underlined idiom.


Mai continued, "Let's put our heads together and think of something to contribute to the auction."

a)

whisper quietly

b)

sit next to one another

c)

work together to make a plan

d)

put our heads on the table

32.

Choose the correct meaning of each underlined idiom.


Mai is head and shoulders above me at cooking. I suggested taht she bake a cake to seel at the auction.

a)

much taller than I am

b)

much better than I am

c)

standing above me

d)

faster than I am

33.
What is the meaning of the proverb, stop and smell the roses?
a)
everyone should pick up a rose and smell it once in a while
b)
roses are meant to be smelled
c)
you should take time in life to enjoy the little things
d)
you need to slow down and smell a rose on your walks
34.
The pen is mightier than the sword. 
a)
Don't criticize other people if you're not perfect yourself. 
b)
Trying to convince people with ideas and words is more effective than trying to force people to do what you want.
c)
People like to spend time with others who are similar to them.
d)
When someone has done something bad to you, trying to to force people to do what you want.
35.

Dad said that while the rest of us are out grocery shopping, he's going to make hay while the sun shines and take a nap.

a)

Take advantage of an opportunity while you have chance to do so.

b)

The best place to take a nap is outside in the sun.

36.
"It was supposed to be a surprise party, but Ryley let the cat out of the bag", Jozelyn said. 
What does "let the cat out of the bag" mean?
a)
to refuse to speak
b)
to release someone's pet
c)
to tell a secret
d)
to be very angry