1. What does the idiom “barking up the wrong tree” mean?
a) To be overly confident
b) To be mistaken or looking in the wrong direction
c) To be talking too much
d) To be in a hurry
Answer: b) To be mistaken or looking in the wrong direction
2. When someone says they are “on cloud nine,” what do they mean?
a) Feeling confused
b) Feeling extremely happy and joyful
c) Feeling bored
d) Feeling sick
Answer: b) Feeling extremely happy and joyful
3. The idiom “raining cats and dogs” refers to:
a) A strong wind
b) A heavy rainstorm
c) A sunny day
d) A snowstorm
Answer: b) A heavy rainstorm
4. If someone is “biting the bullet,” what are they doing?
a) Avoiding a difficult situation
b) Trying to bite something hard
c) Facing a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
d) Being very talkative
Answer: c) Facing a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely
5. The idiom “hit the nail on the head” means:
a) To miss the target
b) To criticize someone
c) To hit something accidentally
d) To express exactly the right idea or action
Answer: d) To express exactly the right idea or action
6. What does the phrase “break the ice” mean?
a) To melt ice with heat
b) To create a barrier
c) To start a conversation or social interaction
d) To make a mess
Answer: c) To start a conversation or social interaction
7. When something is described as a “piece of cake,” what does it mean?
a) It’s made of cake
b) It’s easy to do
c) It’s a valuable item
d) It’s hard to accomplish
Answer: b) It’s easy to do
8. The idiom “let the cat out of the bag” means:
a) To reveal a secret
b) To chase after something
c) To release a cat from a bag
d) To steal something
Answer: a) To reveal a secret
9. What does it mean when someone is “burning the midnight oil”?
a) Lighting a lamp
b) Wasting time
c) Working or studying late into the night
d) Starting a fire
Answer: c) Working or studying late into the night
10. When someone says “actions speak louder than words,” they mean:
a) People talk too much
b) People should act before speaking
c) What someone does is more important than what they say
d) Actions and words have the same impact
Answer: c) What someone does is more important than what they say
11. The idiom “call it a day” means:
a) To end a day’s work
b) To schedule a meeting
c) To take a day off
d) To start a new project
Answer: a) To end a day’s work
12. If someone is “all ears,” what does that mean?
a) They have a problem with their ears
b) They are listening attentively
c) They are gossiping about others
d) They don’t want to hear anything
Answer: b) They are listening attentively
13. What does it mean when someone is “in hot water”?
a) Feeling very cold
b) In a difficult or troublesome situation
c) Drinking hot water
d) Taking a hot bath
Answer: b) In a difficult or troublesome situation
14. The phrase “hit the sack” means:
a) To punch a bag
b) To go to bed or sleep
c) To have a fight
d) To do laundry
Answer: b) To go to bed or sleep
15. When someone is “sick as a dog,” what are they?
a) Very ill
b) Like dogs
c) Tired
d) Happy
Answer: a) Very ill
16. What does the idiom “jumping the gun” mean?
a) To start a race without waiting for the signal
b) To fire a gun accidentally
c) To do something too soon or prematurely
d) To avoid an issue
Answer: c) To do something too soon or prematurely
17. If someone “pulls your leg,” what are they doing?
a) Trying to trip you
b) Making fun of you in a playful manner
c) Asking for help
d) Annoying you
Answer: b) Making fun of you in a playful manner
18. What does it mean when someone is “at the drop of a hat”?
a) They drop something often
b) They have a bad temper
c) They are very punctual
d) They are ready to do something immediately
Answer: d) They are ready to do something immediately
19. The idiom “back to the drawing board” means:
a) To draw a picture for fun
b) To start over after a failure
c) To complete a drawing
d) To criticize someone’s artwork
Answer: b) To start over after a failure
20. When something is “a dime a dozen,” it means:
a) It’s very rare and valuable
b) It costs ten dollars
c) It’s easily found and common
d) It’s a discount price
Answer: c) It’s easily found and common
21. What does the phrase “cutting corners” mean?
a) Taking a shortcut or using inferior methods to save time or money
b) Being a skilled craftsman
c) Being good at cooking
d) Reducing a document’s length
Answer: a) Taking a shortcut or using inferior methods to save time or money
22. If someone is “in the same boat” as you, what does that mean?
a) They are sitting near you
b) They are facing similar challenges or circumstances
c) They are against you
d) They are rowing a boat
Answer: b) They are facing similar challenges or circumstances
23. What does it mean when someone “turns a blind eye” to something?
a) They are physically unable to see
b) They ignore or pretend not to notice something
c) They are angry
d) They are confused
   Answer: b) They ignore or pretend not to notice something
24. What does it mean when someone is “butterfingers”?
a) They are very skilled at making butter
b) They are afraid of butterflies
c) They frequently drop things or are clumsy
d) They love to eat butter on everything
Answer: c) They frequently drop things or are clumsy
25. What does the idiom “the ball is in your court” mean?
a) It’s time to play a sport
b) It’s someone else’s responsibility
c) It’s your turn to take action or make a decision
d) It’s time to go home
Answer: c) It’s your turn to take action or make a decision
26. If someone is “in the limelight,” what does that mean?
a) They are standing in the sun
b) They are receiving a lot of public attention or fame
c) They are wearing bright clothing
d) They are a great dancer
Answer: b) They are receiving a lot of public attention or fame
27. The phrase “skeletons in the closet” refers to:
a) A secret collection of bones
b) A hidden treasure
c) Past secrets or embarrassing things that someone wants to keep hidden
d) An old wardrobe
Answer: c) Past secrets or embarrassing things that someone wants to keep hidden
28. What does the idiom “sitting on the fence” mean?
a) Being undecided or neutral about something
b) Sitting on a literal fence
c) Waiting for someone to make a decision
d) Being on top of a dangerous situation
Answer: a) Being undecided or neutral about something
29. When someone “reads between the lines,” what are they doing?
a) Analyzing a piece of literature
b) Making assumptions based on indirect information or hidden meanings
c) Reading quickly
d) Reading silently
Answer: b) Making assumptions based on indirect information or hidden meanings
30. What does it mean when someone is “playing devil’s advocate”?
a) They are being mischievous
b) They are supporting the devil’s actions
c) They are defending an unpopular or opposing viewpoint for the sake of debate
d) They are casting out demons
Answer: c) They are defending an unpopular or opposing viewpoint for the sake of debate
31. If someone is “on the same wavelength” as you, what does that mean?
a) They are thinking about the same topic as you
b) They are singing in tune with you
c) They are in a bad mood like you
d) They are having a bad day
Answer: a) They are thinking about the same topic as you
32. What does the phrase “the best of both worlds” mean?
a) Having the best grades in multiple subjects
b) Having the best opportunities in life
c) Enjoying the advantages of two different options at the same time
d) Having a successful career and a happy family life
Answer: c) Enjoying the advantages of two different options at the same time
33. The idiom “throw in the towel” means:
a) To clean up a mess
b) To surrender or give up in defeat
c) To start a new project
d) To wash dirty towels
Answer: b) To surrender or give up in defeat
34. When someone is “under the weather,” what are they?
a) Experiencing good luck
b) In a great mood
c) Feeling ill or sick
d) Enjoying a sunny day
Answer: c) Feeling ill or sick
35. The idiom “burn the midnight oil” means:
a) To light a fire during the night
b) To stay up all night partying
c) To work late into the night
d) To exercise late at night
Answer: c) To work late into the night
36. What does it mean when someone “hits the nail on the head”?
a) They accidentally hit a nail with a hammer
b) They criticize someone effectively
c) They make a precise and accurate statement
d) They injure their hand
Answer: c) They make a precise and accurate statement
37. If someone is “out of the woods,” what does that mean?
a) They are lost in the forest
b) They are in a safe and no longer in danger or difficulty
c) They are hiding from something
d) They are having a picnic in the woods
Answer: b) They are in a safe and no longer in danger or difficulty
38. The phrase “go the extra mile” means:
a) To walk a long distance
b) To exceed expectations or make additional effort
c) To travel to a new place
d) To take a long journey
Answer: b) To exceed expectations or make additional effort
39. What does it mean when someone “makes a mountain out of a molehill”?
a) They create a new hill in the garden
b) They exaggerate or overreact to a minor issue
c) They like gardening
d) They love mountains
Answer: b) They exaggerate or overreact to a minor issue
40. When someone is “buttering someone up,” what are they doing?
a) Giving someone butter as a gift
b) Complimenting or flattering someone to gain their favor
c) Offering to cook for someone
d) Pretending to be someone else
Answer: b) Complimenting or flattering someone to gain their favor
41. What does the idiom “once in a blue moon” mean?
a) Once every month
b) Very rarely or infrequently
c) Only on special occasions
d) Only on a full moon night
Answer: b) Very rarely or infrequently
42. If someone is “barking up the wrong tree,” what are they doing?
a) Trying to catch a squirrel
b) Making loud noises in a forest
c) Looking for something in the wrong place or pursuing the wrong course of action
d) Climbing a tree
Answer: c) Looking for something in the wrong place or pursuing the wrong course of action
43. What does the phrase “kick the bucket” mean?
a) To play a sport involving a bucket
b) To knock a bucket over accidentally
c) To die or pass away
d) To clean a bucket
Answer: c) To die or pass away
44. When someone is “in a nutshell,” what are they doing?
a) Hiding in a small space
b) Experiencing something new
c) Summarizing something concisely
d) Eating nuts
Answer: c) Summarizing something concisely
45. The idiom “pull someone’s leg” means:
a) Physically pulling someone
b) To joke or tease someone in a playful manner
c) To force someone to dance
d) To criticize someone
Answer: b) To joke or tease someone in a playful manner
47. The idiom “in the same boat” means:
a) Traveling together on a boat trip
b) Being in a difficult situation together with others
c) Enjoying a boat ride
d) Trying to navigate a river
Answer: b) Being in a difficult situation together with others
48. If someone is “on thin ice,” what are they doing?
a) Ice-skating
b) Standing on very thick ice
c) In a dangerous or risky situation
d) Criticizing others
Answer: c) In a dangerous or risky situation
49. What does the phrase “beat around the bush” mean?
a) To hit a bush while walking
b) To avoid the main topic and speak indirectly
c) To engage in a physical fight
d) To play a game with a ball in the bush
Answer: b) To avoid the main topic and speak indirectly
50. When someone says they “hit the nail on the head,” what do they mean?
a) They are very good at hammering nails
b) They are getting to the point accurately
c) They accidentally hit themselves with a hammer
d) They are good at playing darts
Answer: b) They are getting to the point accurately
51. The idiom “bite the bullet” means:
a) To chew on a bullet
b) To face a difficult situation bravely, despite the pain or discomfort
c) To be very aggressive
d) To avoid a problem entirely
Answer: b) To face a difficult situation bravely, despite the pain or discomfort
52. What does it mean when someone “takes the bull by the horns”?
a) They participate in a bullfight
b) They approach a situation boldly and take control
c) They ride a wild bull
d) They prefer horns over other musical instruments
Answer: b) They approach a situation boldly and take control
53. When someone “throws caution to the wind,” what are they doing?
a) Throwing objects in the air on a windy day
b) Being careless and taking risks without thinking about the consequences
c) Flying a kite
d) Getting caught in a storm
Answer: b) Being careless and taking risks without thinking about the consequences
54. The idiom “the ball is in your court” means:
a) It’s time to play a sport
b) It’s someone else’s responsibility
c) It’s your turn to take action or make a decision
d) It’s time to go home
Answer: c) It’s your turn to take action or make a decision
55. What does the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” mean?
a) Things that are not visible are easily forgotten
b) Things that are hidden are always on our minds
c) People who can’t see well are forgetful
d) People who are not visible are always on our minds
Answer: a) Things that are not visible are easily forgotten
56. If someone “throws in the towel,” what are they doing?
a) Starting a new sport
b) Giving up or surrendering
c) Cleaning the bathroom
d) Offering a towel to someone
Answer: b) Giving up or surrendering
57. What does it mean when someone is “beyond the pale”?
a) They are acting in an unacceptable or improper manner
b) They are very pale in complexion
c) They are inside the house
d) They are a professional athlete
Answer: a) They are acting in an unacceptable or improper manner
58. When something is “a drop in the bucket,” it means:
a) It’s a small amount compared to the total needed
b) It’s an excessive amount
c) It’s a waste of money
d) It’s a valuable resource
Answer: a) It’s a small amount compared to the total needed
59. The idiom “all thumbs” refers to someone who is:
a) Good at carpentry
b) Good at typing on a keyboard
c) Clumsy or awkward with their hands
d) Very patient
   Answer: c) Clumsy or awkward with their hands
