wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Idioms and Proverbs

Total questions: 41

Worksheet time: 38mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Luisa asks her cousin if he's going to come to her birthday party, and he says, "It's up in the air." What does he mean?
a)
He's decided that he's going to come. 
b)
He's decided that he's not going to come.
c)
He hasn't yet decided whether or not he's going to come. 
d)
Luisa's party is taking place in the sky.
2.
Complete the passage below with the correct idiom: 
Carla was very impressed by the firework show. It
a)
blew her away
b)
cut corners
c)
bit off more than it could chew
d)
killed two birds with one stone 
3.
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
4.
Which proverb has close to the same meaning as practice makes perfect?
a)
if at first you don't succeed, try again 
b)
a place for everything and everything in its place
c)
a penny saved is a penny earned
d)
don't cry over spilt milk
5.
What is the meaning of the idiom, on the same page?
a)
thinking alike or understanding something in the same way as others
b)
to start over, usually because something has failed
c)
to know nearly everything about a topic
d)
when real life events seem more unusual or harder to believe than the things people make up
6.
Complete the passage below with the correct idiom: 
I spent an hour trying to teach my grandpa how to send text messages, but
a)
you can't teach an old dog new tricks
b)
he was in the dog house
c)
I was the top dog 
d)
he was all bark no bite 
7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

"I can't get this door open, can you lend me a hand?" Kyle said.

What does "lend a hand" mean?

a)

to let someone borrow something

b)

to help someone out

c)

to spend time with someone

d)

to be in trouble

11.
Which idiom means you're nervous about something?
a)
cold turkey
b)
kill time
c)
cold feet
d)
all ears
12.
"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
13.
Which idiom describes something that will never happen? 
a)
when pigs fly
b)
lend a hand
c)
in a pickle
d)
lose your head
14.
_________________ killed the cat
a)
curiosity
b)
excitement
c)
worry
d)
clumsiness 
15.
"I dropped Spots at recess and he ran away!", said Alex.
"You're really in a pickle now!", said Makena. 
What does "in a pickle mean"?
a)
in the cafeteria
b)
in a good situation
c)
in need of something
d)
in trouble
16.
Don't ___________ the hand that feeds you. 
a)
smell
b)
look at
c)
hit
d)
bite
17.

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.

18.

I tried to apologize to my friend but have not heard back from them. The ball is in their court. What does this mean?

a)

You like to play sports with your friend.

b)

You got in an argument over sports.

c)

It is up to your friend to take the next step to fix your friendship.

d)

You need to do something to fix your friendship.

19.

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.

20.

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

21.
The boy "cried wolf" means...
a)
He asked for help when he didn't need it.
b)
He shouted very loudly.
c)
He complained all the time.
22.
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.
23.
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.
24.
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.
25.
There's no use crying over _______ milk.
a)
old
b)
spilt
c)
yummy
d)
gross
26.
No news is good _____
a)
Newspaper
b)
Because
c)
Pasta
d)
News
27.
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
28.

Rosa decided to hit the books to prepare for the test.

a)

getting revenge doesn't make a situation better

b)

to study

c)

lost confidence

d)

solve a problem now

29.

I was down in the dumps when my new bike broke.

a)

a person improves by trying

b)

a long time

c)

feeling bad

d)

a lot of money

e)

was really happy

30.

When Ivan fixed my bike, I was on cloud nine!

a)

a person improves by trying

b)

a lot of time

c)

feeling bad

d)

a lot of money

e)

was really happy

31.

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.

32.

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.

33.

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.

34.

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.

35.

Match the idiom with its real meaning.


Meaning: be quiet

Idiom: ___________________

a)

zip your pants

b)

zip your head

c)

zip your nails

d)

zip your lips

36.

Match the idiom with its real meaning.


Meaning: kind

Idiom: ___________________

a)

a heart of worms

b)

a heart of gold

c)

a heart of blues

d)

a heart of cheese

37.

Match the idiom with its real meaning.


Meaning: That's easy.

Idiom: ___________________

a)

That's a pea in a pod.

b)

That's a piece of cake.

c)

That's a fish in a tank.

d)

That's an egg in the basket.

38.

The expression "on the fence" is an idiom meaning:

a)

Broken-hearted

b)

I am overwhelmed.

c)

Undecided

d)

I have more shoes than I can count.

39.

What is the meaning of the following proverb? Actions speak louder than words.

a)

Your actions have a voice.

b)

What you do means more than what you say you are going to do.

c)

Be kind to others.

d)

Always be honest with what you say and do.

40.

"Get a kick" out of this means...

a)

to kick someone

b)

to be kicked by somebody

c)

to have a good time

d)

to have a bad time

41.

What does "better safe than sorry" mean?

a)

It's better to be nice to other people.

b)

It's better to do what you want.

c)

It's better to be safe than feeling sad.

d)

It's better to be too careful than to be careless and regret it later.