Idioms and Phrases Quiz

Study Notes

Common Idioms and Their Meanings

Jump on the bandwagon: Indicates joining a popular trend or activity; often implies following the crowd.
Keep something at bay: Refers to the act of preventing a situation or problem from getting closer or worsening.
Kill two birds with one stone: Achieving two objectives simultaneously; marks efficiency in actions.
Last straw: The ultimate issue in a sequence of issues that leads to a breaking point.
Let sleeping dogs lie: Advises against intervening in situations that might cause complications or trouble.
Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal a secret or information that was meant to be kept hidden.
Make a long story short: A phrase used to summarize information by omitting unnecessary details.
Method to my madness: Suggests there is a logical plan in what appears to be chaotic behavior.
Miss the boat: Signifies losing an opportunity or failing to take advantage of a situation.
Not a spark of decency: Indicates a complete lack of manners or courtesy.
Not playing with a full deck: A description of someone who lacks intelligence or sound judgment.
Off one's rocker: A colloquial term used to describe someone as crazy or irrational.
On the ball: Implies someone is alert, aware, and competent in a situation.
Once in a blue moon: Denotes an event that occurs very infrequently.
Picture paints a thousand words: Illustrates that images can convey complex ideas more effectively than verbal descriptions.
Piece of cake: Refers to a task that is simple or easy to accomplish.
Put wool over other people's eyes: Describes the act of misleading someone; deceiving others about one's true nature.
See eye to eye: Indicates mutual agreement between individuals on a particular issue.
Whole nine yards: Represents the entirety of something; everything included.
Wouldn't be caught dead: Used to express a strong aversion to a particular action or situation.
Your guess is as good as mine: Acknowledges uncertainty; indicates lack of knowledge on a subject.

Additional Idiomatic Expressions

A bitter pill: Refers to uncomfortable truths or situations that must be accepted despite being unpleasant.
A dime a dozen: Describes something that is very common and lacks distinctive value or rarity.
All ears: Indicates that someone is eagerly listening and receptive to information.
Bed of roses: Suggests an easy, comfortable situation or lifestyle, often implying a carefree existence.
Call it a day: A phrase used to signal the end of an activity or work session.
Cat nap: A brief period of light sleep, often taken during the day.
Couch potato: A term for a person who is lazy and enjoys spending time in inactivity, often watching television.
Have a blast: Expresses the idea of enjoying oneself greatly or having a fantastic time.
Hit the road: Refers to beginning a journey or leaving a place.
Off the hook: Describes being relieved from a responsibility or difficult situation.
Pushing up daisies: Euphemistically refers to being dead.
He/She’s a big fish: Denotes someone in a position of power or importance, often a leader.
Spill the beans: To disclose secret information or reveal something prematurely.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence: A reminder to appreciate what one has instead of wishing for something that seems better.
Strike while the iron is hot: Encourages taking advantage of favorable circumstances at the right moment.
Too many cooks spoil the broth: States that excessive input can complicate or ruin a project or task.
You can't have your cake and eat it too: Asserts that one cannot enjoy the advantages of two contradictory things at the same time.
Many hands make light work: Suggests that collaboration makes tasks easier and quicker to complete.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do: Advises to adapt to the customs and behavior of the local culture or environment when traveling.
Don't cross the bridge until you come to it: Warns against worrying over potential problems before they actually occur.
Honesty is the best policy: Promotes the belief that honesty leads to the best outcomes in life.
Practice makes perfect: Emphasizes that consistent rehearsal or practice leads to improvement and mastery.
Where there's a will, there's a way: Suggests that determination will help overcome obstacles.
Look before you leap: Advises careful consideration of a situation before taking action.
Beggars can't be choosers: Suggests that when one is in need, they should accept what is offered without being picky.