Common English Idioms and Expressions Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What does the expression 'A blessing in disguise' mean?

  • A situation that is easy to handle
  • A common occurrence that is harmful
  • An unexpected turn of events that causes trouble
  • Something negative that turns out to be positive (correct)
  • Which phrase means to terminate the workday?

  • Make a long story short
  • Call it a day (correct)
  • Hit the sack
  • Get out of hand
  • What does the phrase 'Beat around the bush' imply?

  • To avoid discussing unpleasant topics (correct)
  • To speak directly without hesitation
  • To talk about something trivial
  • To express thoughts clearly
  • Which expression suggests the idea of helping someone lighten their burden?

    <p>Cut somebody some slack (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the meaning of 'Go back to the drawing board'?

    <p>To start over on a project or idea (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'Cutting corners' refer to?

    <p>Rushing a task at the expense of its quality (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'Get your act together' mean?

    <p>To organize and improve performance (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'Easy does it' suggest?

    <p>Take your time and approach carefully (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'a little learning is a dangerous thing' imply?

    <p>Limited understanding can lead to overconfidence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'a storm in a teacup' refer to?

    <p>An insignificant issue being blown out of proportion. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'curiosity killed the cat' mean?

    <p>Asking too many questions can lead to trouble. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'fit as a fiddle' describe?

    <p>Being in good physical health. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phrase 'fortune favours the bold' suggests that:

    <p>Risk-taking can lead to greater rewards. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'it takes two to tango' mean?

    <p>Both parties share responsibility in a situation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink' signify?

    <p>You can provide opportunities, but not force actions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The expression 'too many cooks spoil the broth' means:

    <p>Having too many people involved can ruin a project. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'a stitch in time saves nine' imply?

    <p>Efforts made early can prevent bigger problems later. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'waste not, want not' suggest?

    <p>Those who save will never lack. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'to get bent out of shape' mean?

    <p>To get angry (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which idiom suggests that you should not count on something until it is certain?

    <p>Don't count your chickens before they hatch (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the idiom 'to break the ice' mean?

    <p>To begin a conversation in a friendly way (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What would 'to add insult to injury' imply in a situation?

    <p>Making a bad situation worse (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'to kill two birds with one stone'?

    <p>To achieve two objectives at once (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'the elephant in the room' refer to?

    <p>An obvious problem that is ignored (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'to let the cat out of the bag' imply?

    <p>To reveal a secret (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which idiom suggests that appearances can be misleading?

    <p>You can't judge a book by its cover (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'play devil's advocate' mean?

    <p>To present a counterargument for discussion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the expression 'time flies when you're having fun' convey?

    <p>Time passes quickly during enjoyable moments (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which idiom advises not to trust things that seem too good to be true?

    <p>There's no such thing as a free lunch (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'your guess is as good as mine' indicate?

    <p>Equal uncertainty in knowledge (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which idiom would indicate the importance of caution and planning?

    <p>Look before you leap (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is implied by the expression 'spilling the beans'?

    <p>Revealing secrets or information (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    A blessing in disguise

    Something that seems bad at first, but turns out to be good in the end. It's like a surprise gift disguised as a problem.

    A dime a dozen

    Something that is very common and not special. It's like finding pennies on the ground – they're everywhere.

    Beat around the bush

    To avoid saying something directly because it's unpleasant or difficult. Like walking around a bush instead of going straight through.

    Better late than never

    It's better to do something late than not to do it at all. Even if you're behind, it's better than giving up.

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    Bite the bullet

    To do something unpleasant or difficult that you have to do. Like biting down on a bullet to endure the pain.

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    Break a leg

    A way of saying 'good luck' to someone, especially before a performance. It's a funny way of wishing them good luck.

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    Call it a day

    To stop working or doing something for the day. It's like closing your laptop and putting on your pajamas.

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    Cut somebody some slack

    To be more forgiving or lenient with someone. Like loosening the reins on a horse so it can relax.

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    A stitch in time saves nine

    Addressing a small issue early prevents a bigger problem later.

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    A storm in a teacup

    A situation that seems serious but is actually minor and easily resolved.

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    An apple a day keeps the doctor away

    Eating healthy foods can help prevent illness.

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    As right as rain

    Perfect, in excellent condition.

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    Bolt from the blue

    Something sudden and unexpected, often shocking.

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    Burn bridges

    To damage a relationship beyond repair and make reconciliation difficult.

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    Calm before the storm

    A period of peace and tranquility before a difficult or chaotic situation.

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    Come rain or shine

    No matter what happens, regardless of the circumstances.

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    Curiosity killed the cat

    Excessive curiosity can lead to trouble or harm.

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    Cut the mustard

    To succeed, perform well, meet expectations.

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    That's the last straw

    This means you've reached your limit and can't tolerate anything more. It's the point where you finally snap or lose your patience.

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    To get bent out of shape

    This means to become angry or upset about something, often overreacting to a situation.

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    To make matters worse

    This phrase is used to indicate that a situation has become even more difficult or unpleasant.

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    Under the weather

    This means to be ill or feeling unwell, usually with a mild illness.

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    A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

    This means it's better to have something certain and guaranteed than to hope for something better that might not happen.

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    A penny for your thoughts

    This phrase is used to ask someone what they are thinking about.

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    A penny saved is a penny earned

    This means that not spending money is the same as earning money, as you avoid losing it.

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    A perfect storm

    This refers to a situation where everything goes wrong at once, creating a highly unfavorable and difficult scenario.

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    A picture is worth 1000 words

    This means that a visual image can convey a lot of information more effectively and quickly than written or spoken words.

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    Actions speak louder than words

    This means that what people do is more important and informative than what they say.

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    Add insult to injury

    This means making a bad situation even worse by adding further offense or pain.

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    Barking up the wrong tree

    This means to be pursuing a mistaken course of action, looking for a solution in the wrong place.

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    Birds of a feather flock together

    This means people who are similar tend to be friends or associate with each other. It can imply negative judgments about those similar.

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    Bite off more than you can chew

    This means to take on more responsibility or work than you can handle effectively.

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    Break the ice

    This means to overcome awkwardness or shyness in a social situation, starting a conversation or interaction.

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    Study Notes

    Common English Idioms and Expressions

    • Common Expressions (High Frequency):

      • A blessing in disguise: A negative event that ultimately has a positive outcome.
      • A dime a dozen: Something common; readily available.
      • Beat around the bush: Avoid directly stating something unpleasant or difficult.
      • Better late than never: It's better to do something late than not do it at all.
      • Bite the bullet: To endure something unpleasant or painful.
      • Break a leg: Good luck!
      • Call it a day: End the workday.
      • Cut somebody some slack: Be lenient on someone; not criticize too harshly.
      • Cutting corners: Do something quickly at the expense of quality.
      • Easy does it: Carefully; proceed gently.
      • Get out of hand: To become uncontrolled or unruly.
      • Get something out of your system: Do something you want to do to get it out of your mind.
      • Get your act together: Improve one's behavior or performance.
      • Give someone the benefit of the doubt: Believe the person even if there is no clear proof.
      • Go back to the drawing board: Start over from the beginning.
      • Hang in there: Don't give up.
      • Hit the sack: Go to sleep.
      • It's not rocket science: It's not complicated.
      • Let someone off the hook: Avoid holding someone accountable for something.
      • Make a long story short: To summarize.
      • Miss the boat: Be too late.
      • No pain, no gain: Hard work is necessary to get rewards.
      • On the ball: Doing a good job; being efficient.
      • Pull someone's leg: To tease or trick someone.
      • Pull yourself together: Calm down.
      • So far so good: Until now, everything is fine.
      • Speak of the devil: (Literally) Speaking of the devil. Implies that the person mentioned arrives soon after the discussion.
      • That's the last straw: The final negative event or hardship.
      • The best of both worlds: An ideal situation combining the benefits of two different options.
      • Time flies when you're having fun: Time passes quickly when enjoying oneself.
      • To get bent out of shape: To become angry.
      • To make matters worse: To worsen a situation.
      • Under the weather: To be sick.
      • We'll cross that bridge when we come to it: We will deal with it later.
      • Wrap your head around something: To understand something complex.
      • You can say that again: I completely agree.
      • Your guess is as good as mine: I have no idea.
    • Intermediate Expressions (Used less frequently, but still understood):

      • A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: It's better to have something you're sure of than to risk getting something better.
      • A penny for your thoughts: What are you thinking?
      • A penny saved is a penny earned: Saving money is good.
      • A perfect storm: A combination of problems in a situation to make it even worse.
      • A picture is worth 1000 words: A picture conveys more information than spoken words.
      • Actions speak louder than words: One's actions are more meaningful than their words.
      • Add insult to injury: To worsen a bad situation through an additional insult or action.
      • Barking up the wrong tree: Searching in the wrong place.
      • Birds of a feather flock together: People with similar traits tend to group.
      • Bite off more than you can chew: To take on more than you can handle.
      • Break the ice: To relieve awkwardness or tension.
      • By the skin of your teeth: Barely.
      • Comparing apples to oranges: Comparing things that aren't comparable.
      • Costs an arm and a leg: Very expensive.
      • Do something at the drop of a hat: To do something spontaneously.

      (and so on, continuing the list of intermediate and less common idioms)

    Less Common Idioms

    • Less Common Expressions (For Advanced Learners):

      • A little learning is a dangerous thing: A superficial understanding of a subject can be problematic.
      • A snowball effect: A chain reaction; exponential growth.
      • A snowball's chance in hell: No chance at all.
      • A stitch in time saves nine: An early solution is better than a later one.
      • A storm in a teacup: A trivial disagreement or problem.
      • An apple a day keeps the doctor away: Preventive measures are good.
      • An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: Early prevention is better than treatment.
      • As right as rain: Perfectly fine.
      • Bolt from the blue: Suddenly; unexpectedly.
      • Burn bridges: To sever relationships permanently.
      • Calm before the storm: A period of peace or stillness before a difficult or intense event.

      (and so on, continuing the list of less common idioms)

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    Test your knowledge of common English idioms and expressions with this engaging quiz. Learn the meanings and usage of phrases that are frequently used in everyday conversation. Challenge yourself and enhance your understanding of these expressions!

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