WorksheetsList of Idioms and Phrases: A - B
Total questions: 150
Worksheet time: 1hrs 15mins
Which idiom means preferring a certain small gain over risking for more?
A blessing in disguise
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
A piece of cake
A slap on the wrist
Which idiom describes something good that isn’t recognized at first?
Actions speak louder than words
A dime a dozen
A blessing in disguise
Add fuel to the fire
If someone is upset about a past incident, which idiom applies?
Back seat driver
All bark and no bite
A house divided
A chip on your shoulder
Which idiom means something common and easy to get?
Apple of my eye
A dime a dozen
An arm and a leg
Against the clock
A skeptic who needs physical proof is often called what?
A doubting Thomas
A back seat driver
A blessing in disguise
A leopard can’t change his spots
Which idiom means a very small part of something big?
A piece of cake
A slap on the wrist
A drop in the bucket
A toss-up
Which idiom warns that disunity leads to failure?
All in the same boat
A house divided cannot stand
Against the clock
Add fuel to the fire
If a person’s character won’t change, which idiom fits?
A leopard can’t change his spots
A toss-up
Back to square one
A picture paints a thousand words
Which idiom teaches that saving small amounts accumulates wealth?
Beat a dead horse
Back to the drawing board
An arm and a leg
A penny saved is a penny earned
Which idiom claims visuals convey meaning better than words?
As high as a kite
Actions speak louder than words
All bark and no bite
A picture paints a thousand words
Which idiom means a mild punishment?
Add fuel to the fire
A slap on the wrist
Back seat driver
Baker’s dozen
If someone suffers the mistreatment they gave others, they get what?
A taste of your own medicine
A toss-up
All Greek to me
Against the clock
A result that is unclear and could go either way is a what?
A toss-up
A dime a dozen
An arm and a leg
Back to square one
Being rushed and short on time is described as what?
Back to square one
Against the clock
An axe to grind
All in the same boat
Threatening but unwilling to fight is which idiom?
Actions speak louder than words
A blessing in disguise
All bark and no bite
A chip on your shoulder
If something is incomprehensible, it is what?
All Greek to me
Apple of my eye
All in the same boat
Back to the drawing board
Which idiom means sharing the same challenges?
Barking up the wrong tree
As high as a kite
A house divided cannot stand
All in the same boat
Something very expensive costs what?
A penny saved
A drop in the bucket
A baker’s dozen
An arm and a leg
To have a longstanding grievance is to have what?
Beat a dead horse
Back seat driver
A chip on your shoulder
An axe to grind
Which idiom refers to someone cherished above all others?
Apple of my eye
A blessing in disguise
A piece of cake
All bark and no bite
As high as a kite can mean which feeling?
Very shy
Very tired
Very angry
Very happy
Willing to do something immediately is described as what?
Against the clock
At the drop of a hat
Add fuel to the fire
Back to square one
Who offers criticism from the sidelines, like giving unwanted advice to a driver?
Back seat driver
Doubting Thomas
Baker’s dozen
Apple of my eye
Which idiom means having to start all over again?
Add fuel to the fire
A toss-up
Back to square one
All bark and no bite
When an attempt fails and it’s time to restart, you go where?
Against the clock
All Greek to me
An arm and a leg
Back to the drawing board
Baker’s dozen equals which number?
Fourteen
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Which idiom means pursuing a mistaken goal?
Barking up the wrong tree
Beat a dead horse
Bend over backwards
A blessing in disguise
To push an issue that has already ended is to what?
Beat a dead horse
Add fuel to the fire
Back seat drive
A chip on your shoulder
Doing whatever it takes to help, willing to do anything, is to what?
All bark and no bite
Bend over backwards
Back to square one
A toss-up
Which idiom best describes being stuck between two very bad options?
Break a leg
Blue moon
Between a rock and a hard place
Down to the wire
What does the idiom Bite off more than you can chew mean?
Speak before thinking carefully
Complain about small problems
Take on a task that is too big
Eat more than is healthy
The note on toady explains the word’s modern meaning. What does toady most nearly mean today?
A trickster who fakes illnesses
A flatterer who does distasteful things
A person who swallows poison for shows
A doctor who treats animal bites
Which idiom means to avoid talking?
Crack someone up
Bite your tongue
Chew someone out
Chow down
Blood is thicker than water implies which idea?
Family bonds are strongest
Luck favors the bold
Honesty beats loyalty
Wealth overcomes hardship
A blue moon refers to what kind of event?
A rare occurrence
A sad evening
A cold winter night
A confusing moment
What is meant by Break a leg when said to a performer?
A cue to exit the stage
A superstitious way to wish good luck
A warning about possible injury
An insult about clumsiness
To buy a lemon means to:
Sell an old car for profit
Purchase a problem-prone vehicle
Choose a cheap but fine item
Invest in a reliable machine
Can't cut the mustard is used for someone who:
Boasts about success
Lacks basic manners
Overreacts to pressure
Is not adequate to compete
Which phrase describes someone who eats or drinks anything without ill effects?
Cash cow
Cast iron stomach
Couch potato
Cold shoulder
Charley horse most nearly refers to:
A leg cramp
An old saddle
A stubborn person
A fast runner
Having a chip on his shoulder suggests someone is:
Happy without reason
Eager to learn quickly
Angry about a past issue
Careless with money
Close but no cigar is used when someone:
Refuses an unfair prize
Wins easily without effort
Stops just before starting
Nearly achieves a goal but falls short
A cock and bull story is:
An unbelievable tale
A joke with animals
A true but odd account
A farmyard fable
Which idiom means to make someone laugh?
Cut to the chase
Cross your fingers
Cry wolf
Crack someone up
Cross your fingers expresses:
Hope for a desired result
Memory of a promise
Agreement to a deal
Fear of a bad omen
Crying over spilt milk involves:
Complaining about a past loss
Blaming someone without proof
Exaggerating a minor issue
Planning for future success
To cry wolf means to:
Warn of a real danger
Complain about unfair rules
Intentionally raise a false alarm
Express anger at betrayal
Cut to the chase advises speakers to:
Summarize with statistics
Use humor to distract
Change the topic politely
Skip details and reach the point
Devil's advocate is a person who:
Argues a position without believing it
Lies to protect a friend
Exposes others’ secrets in public
Supports extreme policies always
Don't put all your eggs in one basket advises you to:
Sell assets quickly for safety
Avoid risk completely forever
Spread your resources across options
Trust a single strong plan
Down to the wire describes something that:
Relies only on luck to succeed
Starts late but finishes early
Breaks rules to win quickly
Ends at the last possible moment
Drastic times call for drastic measures suggests:
Calm talk solves every problem
Compromise beats any risk
Extreme situations need extreme actions
Delay decisions until safe
To drive someone up the wall means to:
Excite with great news
Persuade to work harder
Irritate or annoy very much
Confuse with complex tasks
Which idiom best matches “a large number of people either falling ill or dying”?
Field day
Fuddy-duddy
Dropping like flies
Green room
Eighty-six most nearly means which of the following?
Delay for a short while
Start a secret plan
Give extra encouragement
Make unavailable or throw out
When a performance has ended completely, which idiom fits?
Everything but the kitchen sink
Elvis has left the building
Flash in the pan
Go down like a lead balloon
Which expression refers to mass killing of an ethnic or religious group?
Green room
Funny farm
Feeding frenzy
Ethnic cleansing
If almost everything has been included, which idiom applies?
Everything but the kitchen sink
Finding your feet
Give him the slip
Go out on a limb
An unbelievable tale is often called a what?
Flesh and blood
Good Samaritan
Brass tacks
Cock and bull story
Which expression names an aggressive group attack on someone?
Green room
Fuddy-duddy
Go for broke
Feeding frenzy
What idiom means an enjoyable day or circumstance?
Get your walking papers
Field day
Fool’s gold
Graveyard shift
Finding your feet most nearly means what?
Risking everything
Leaving abruptly
Becoming more comfortable
Judging harshly
Which phrase describes very tasty food or a meal?
Finger lickin’ good
Give him the slip
Go down like a lead balloon
From rags to riches
Fixed in your ways best matches which meaning?
Unwilling to change habits
Ready to practice again
Determined to take risks
Likely to help strangers
Which idiom names something that seems promising but quickly fails?
Flash in the pan
Go out on a limb
Good Samaritan
Green room
A place to buy and sell inexpensive goods is called a what?
Flea market
Graveyard shift
Funny farm
Full monty
Flesh and blood can refer to which idea?
One’s family or living material
A reckless gamble
Total public approval
A professional dressing room
To flip the bird means what action?
Tell an unbelievable tale
Work through the night
Raise the middle finger
Escape unnoticed
Foam at the mouth is closest to which behavior?
Practicing before debut
Making a kind donation
Showing visible rage
Shopping at a swap meet
Fool’s gold refers to what substance?
Cheap painted brass
Iron pyrites resembling gold
Shavings of real gold
Any polished yellow rock
From rags to riches describes which change?
Very poor to very wealthy
Invisible to widely famous
Unprepared to well practiced
Unhappy to deeply content
A fuddy-duddy is best described as what kind of person?
Old-fashioned and foolish
Secretive and cunning
Young and rebellious
Highly talented leader
Full monty can mean which of the following?
A minor error or small slip
A calm response to pressure
The whole thing or completely nude
A brief trend with quick fade
Funny farm informally refers to which place?
A summer training camp
A rural retreat lodge
A pet adoption center
A mental institution
Get over it most nearly means what action?
Move beyond what bothers you
Show obvious anger
Include almost everything
Take a reckless gamble
If someone gets up on the wrong side of the bed, what does it mean?
They became extremely wealthy
They are having a horrible day
They worked through the night
They practiced a performance
Get your walking papers means what outcome?
Graduating from training
Being assigned overtime
Receiving travel documents
Getting fired from a job
Give him the slip means what?
Escape or get away
Persuade or convince
Assist without reward
Argue very loudly
Go for broke means which choice?
Volunteer without reward
Gamble everything you have
Work from midnight to eight
Practice a brief rehearsal
To go out on a limb means to do what?
Complain about unfair rules
Support someone at personal risk
Avoid taking any strong stance
Spend all available savings
Go the extra mile most nearly means what?
Tell an exaggerated tale
Pretend to be pleased
Leave early from work
Do more than required
Who is a Good Samaritan in everyday usage?
A leader planning a fundraiser
A helper with no expectation of reward
A donor seeking public recognition
A traveler escaping a threat
Great minds think alike implies which idea?
Leaders always agree on policy
Intelligent people share similar ideas
Friends never disagree in public
Experts copy each other’s work
What does the idiom Haste makes waste caution against?
Rushing leads to poor results
Waiting causes missed chances
Saving creates future gains
Practice brings perfection
In sports slang, a hat trick most commonly means what?
Scoring three times in one game
Blocking five scoring attempts
Winning two games in a row
Recording one assist per period
Have an axe to grind most nearly means what?
Seek public approval
Defend a close friend
Prepare for manual work
Hold a personal dispute
To lose head describes someone who is what?
Overcome by anger
Short on time
Devoid of ideas
Lacking leadership
Which action defines a high five?
Bumping closed fists
Tapping shoulders twice
Slapping raised palms
Shaking both hands
Hocus pocus is generally associated with what?
Formal etiquette
Strict accounting
Careless driving
Magic or trickery
Hold your horses advises a person to do what?
Be patient
Act faster
Spend more
Speak louder
If it's not one thing, it's another expresses which idea?
Decisions are reversible
Rewards arrive in pairs
Habits form accidentally
Problems come sequentially
In like Flynn most nearly means what outcome?
Easily successful
Barely acceptable
Openly controversial
Partially complete
Which modern meaning aligns with nepotism today?
Hiring only by open lottery
Promoting critics for balance
Rewarding strangers for merit
Favoring relatives for jobs
In your face most closely characterizes which tone?
Playful curiosity
Quiet resignation
Gentle persuasion
Aggressive confrontation
It takes two to tango implies what about conflict?
Both sides share fault
External forces decide
A leader drives causes
One side bears blame
It's a small world suggests what experience?
Meeting same people elsewhere
Traveling to tiny nations
Learning local dialects
Seeing common landmarks
Joshing me most likely means what?
Following me
Tricking me
Teaching me
Ignoring me
Keep an eye on him instructs someone to do what?
Avoid him entirely
Argue with him
Assist him kindly
Watch him carefully
If two people decide to stop arguing and forget the conflict, which idiom fits best?
Out on a limb
Pedal to the metal
Over my dead body
Let bygones be bygones
A situation where neither side has an advantage is best called a what?
Level playing field
Off on the wrong foot
Over the top
New York minute
Acting in a frenzied, disorganized manner can be described using which idiom?
Like a chicken with its head cut off
On the fence
Pass the buck
Out on the town
Which idiom means there is an underlying plan behind seemingly chaotic actions?
No room to swing a cat
Method to my madness
Pass the buck
Out of the blue
Which idiom labels speech that is meaningless or nonsense?
Mumbo jumbo
Out on a limb
New York minute
Pedal to the metal
Savings set aside for future use are best described by which idiom?
No dice
Out on the town
Pass the buck
Nest egg
Which idiom warns against harming someone who supports you?
Never bite the hand that feeds you
Know the ropes
Out on a limb
Like a chicken with its head cut off
A very brief moment in a fast-paced setting is called a what?
New York minute
Level playing field
Out of the blue
On the same page
Which idiom communicates refusal or nonacceptance of a proposal?
No dice
Off the record
Out on the town
Pass the buck
An unusually small or confined space can be described by which idiom?
No room to swing a cat
Over the top
On pins and needles
Off the hook
Speaking confidentially and without attribution is referred to as what?
Over the top
Out on a limb
Like a chicken with its head cut off
Off the record
An event that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly is described as what?
Pass the buck
On the fence
Out of the blue
New kid on the block
Enjoying yourself by going out socially aligns with which idiom?
Off the record
No room to swing a cat
New York minute
Out on the town
Very excessive behavior or style is described as what?
On pins and needles
No dice
Over the top
Nest egg
Avoiding responsibility by shifting it to someone else is to do what?
Pass the buck
Out of the blue
Off the hook
New kid on the block
Driving at full speed is captured by which idiom?
Out on a limb
Pedal to the metal
Over my dead body
On the same page
What does the idiom raincheck mean?
A refund after a purchase
A harsh weather warning
An offer postponed for later
A last-minute excuse to leave
A written promise to pay
Choose the idiom that means a very noisy rainstorm.
Sixth sense
Smell a rat
Rise and shine
Raining cats and dogs
Saved by the bell
Rise and shine is used when it is time to do what?
Go to sleep for the night
Leave early from work
Take a short midday nap
Get out of bed for the day
Relax after finishing chores
Saved by the bell implies what timing?
Rescued at the last moment
Cancelled before starting
Warned well in advance
Delayed for several weeks
Approved after long debate
Scapegoat refers to which person?
One unfairly taking blame
One who forgives everyone
One who reports wrongdoing
One who avoids all effort
One who leads every team
Which idiom means to escape without paying a penalty?
Scot-free
Southpaw
Sixth sense
Spitting image
Skid row
Sitting shotgun identifies which seat?
Bench seat on a bus
Aisle seat on an airplane
Driver’s seat of the car
Back middle seat in a van
Front passenger seat in a car
Sixth sense in the list is defined as what?
A preference for silence
An instinct for technology
A paranormal ability to perceive
A habit of daydreaming
A talent for storytelling
Smell a rat suggests what about a situation?
Suspecting betrayal inside
Confirming a rumor publicly
Trusting a close friend
Celebrating a small win
Ignoring a clear risk
Start from scratch directs you to do what?
Reuse partially finished work
Skip to the final step
Outsource the hardest task
Begin again from the beginning
Wait until someone helps
The ball is in your court communicates what responsibility?
It is nobody’s concern here
It is the system’s default
It is the boss’s final call
It is the team’s duty now
It is your decision to make
Which idiom means enjoying two desirable options simultaneously?
Third time’s a charm
The best of both worlds
The whole nine yards
Tie the knot
The last straw
The bigger they are, the harder they fall conveys which idea?
Teams with stars always lose big
Heavier objects break more often
Tall people are clumsier in sports
Stronger opponents suffer bigger losses
Quieter rivals are harder to beat
The last straw is used when what happens?
A large reward motivates extra effort
A first warning signals potential risk
A secret plan becomes public
A final small burden makes it unbearable
A sudden storm disrupts an event
Third time’s a charm expresses which belief?
The third attempt brings luck
The fifth time ensures success
The first attempt is best
The second try proves skill
The fourth try shows patience
Tie the knot is an idiom meaning what event?
To begin a voyage
To repair equipment
To sign a contract
To get married
To end a project
If someone says pipe down, what are they asking you to do?
Speak louder and clearer
Be quiet or stop talking
Leave the room quickly
Write your ideas down
Explain your reasoning
Pick up your ears most nearly means what action?
Agree without question
Speak with confidence
Write detailed notes
Listen very carefully
Whisper secret messages
Pig in a poke warns against which mistake?
Waiting too long to purchase
Paying full price for quality
Buying a deal without examining
Negotiating too aggressively
Trusting only expert reviews
Pig out describes which behavior?
Eat a lot quickly
Leave food untouched
Cook for many guests
Eat slowly and politely
Diet for several weeks
Practice makes perfect conveys what approach to skill?
Shortcuts are always efficient
Consistent practice improves ability
One lesson creates mastery
Luck matters more than effort
Natural talent beats hard work
Put a sock in it is used to tell whom to do what?
A team to try harder
A noisy person to be quiet
A friend to leave early
A group to take notes
A guest to eat quickly
Queer the pitch most nearly means what?
Change the topic politely
Start negotiations early
Improve chances for success
Ask for extra resources
Ruin or sabotage a plan
"To steal someone's thunder" most nearly means
To undermine with loud criticism
To ruin a weather forecast
To take credit someone else earned
To predict a dramatic outcome
If a remark is described as "tongue in cheek," it is
Literal and solemn
Humorous and not serious
Angry and offensive
Confused and unclear
Going "up a blind alley" implies
Finding a shortcut to success
Choosing a path that goes nowhere
Following a bright opportunity
Avoiding unnecessary risks
"Use your loaf" is British slang telling someone to
Relax and take a break
Speak up more loudly
Use your head and think
Eat to regain energy
"Van Gogh's ear for music" humorously describes someone who is
Skilled with instruments
Fond of museum concerts
Tone deaf and off‑pitch
Highly trained in opera
"Variety is the spice of life" suggests that
Perseverance outweighs novelty
Predictability sustains joy
Routine builds character
Diverse experiences add excitement
"Water under the bridge" refers to
Small matters that will grow
Hidden dangers ahead
Past issues no longer important
Future problems to confront
"When it rains, it pours" is used because
One event rarely repeats twice
Good luck follows hard work
Problems tend to arrive together
Storms are usually brief
"When pigs fly" is said to mean
Never at all
After negotiations end
At a predictable time
Sooner than expected
"Wild and woolly" characterizes something
Quiet and restrained
Uncultured and lawless
Modern and efficient
Cultured and lawful
To "wine and dine" someone is to
Treat to an expensive meal
Offer a casual snack
Invite to a picnic
Teach culinary skills
"Without a doubt" most nearly means
Not quite sure
For certain
Possibly true
Likely but unproven
"X marks the spot" is exclaimed when
Misreading directions
Drawing a treasure symbol
Finding the sought location
Losing track of a map
