Idioms and Their Meanings Quiz

Study Notes

Idioms and Their Meanings

Sit on the fence: Indicates indecision or reluctance to choose sides in a situation.
Speak of the devil: Used when the person just mentioned unexpectedly appears.
Steal someone's thunder: Refers to taking credit for another’s achievement or idea.
Take with a grain of salt: Suggests viewing statements with skepticism or caution.
Taste of your own medicine: Experiencing consequences similar to those you've inflicted on others.
Hear it straight from the horse's mouth: Receiving information from a reliable, direct source.
A hot potato: Describes a controversial or sensitive current issue that people discuss.
A penny for your thoughts: A phrase used to inquire what someone is thinking.
Actions speak louder than words: Suggests that behavior is more telling than verbal promises.
Add insult to injury: Means to make a bad situation worse through mockery or offense.
At the drop of a hat: Implies immediate action or response without hesitation.
Back to the drawing board: Indicates starting over after a failure.
Ball is in your court: Signifies that it is someone's turn to make a decision or take action.
Barking up the wrong tree: Accusing or searching in the wrong place or for the wrong reasons.
Be glad to see the back of: Feeling relieved when someone departs.
Beat around the bush: Avoiding addressing the core issue or topic directly.
Best of both worlds: Enjoying the advantages from two different situations.
Best thing since sliced bread: Highlights an excellent idea, innovation, or invention.
Bite off more than you can chew: Taking on an excessive task that is too overwhelming.
Blessing in disguise: An unexpected good outcome that initially seems negative.
Burn the midnight oil: Refers to working late into the night.
Can't judge a book by its cover: Advises against forming opinions based solely on appearances.
Caught between two stools: Struggling to choose between two different options.
Costs an arm and a leg: Indicates that something is very costly.
Cross that bridge when you come to it: Suggests addressing a problem only when it arises.
Cry over spilt milk: Complaining about something that cannot be changed or undone.
Curiosity killed the cat: Warns that excessive curiosity can lead to trouble.
Cut corners: Refers to doing something poorly to save time or money.
Cut the mustard: Means to meet expectations or standards.
Devil's advocate: Taking a contrary position to stimulate debate or discussion.
Don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched: Advises against assuming success prematurely.
Don't give up the day job: Suggests someone isn’t particularly skilled at a certain activity.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket: Warns against relying on a single plan or option.
Drastic times call for drastic measures: Urges extreme actions in desperate circumstances.
Elvis has left the building: Indicates that an event has concluded or is over.
Every cloud has a silver lining: Encourages optimism, suggesting that hardships can lead to good outcomes.
Far cry from: Describes a situation that is significantly different from another.
Feel a bit under the weather: Refers to feeling ill or unwell.
Give the benefit of the doubt: Accepting someone's story as true without proof.
Hear it on the grapevine: Refers to gathering information unofficially or through rumors.
Hit the nail on the head: Accurately identifying or addressing an issue.
Hit the sack/sheets/hay: Colloquial term for going to bed or sleeping.
In the heat of the moment: Acting impulsively under pressure or strong emotion.
It takes two to tango: Highlights the necessity of collaboration or mutual participation in interactions.