Idioms and Their Meanings Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does the expression 'burn the midnight oil' mean?

Take a break from work

Stay up very late working or studying (correct)

Sleep during the day

Reduce work hours

Which phrase describes a fresh start?

Clean slate (correct)

Cold feet

Caught red-handed

Crunch time

What does the term 'cold turkey' refer to?

Finding oneself in trouble

Feeling nervous about an upcoming event

Gradually reducing a bad habit

Immediately giving up a bad habit (correct)

In which situation would someone likely feel 'down in the dumps'?

Following a significant loss or sadness Signup and view all the answers

What does 'crunch time' refer to?

A period of high activity and urgency due to deadlines Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'drive one crazy'?

To annoy someone Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase describes a situation where one should be cautious?

Easy does it! Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fair-weather friend' imply?

A friend who is supportive only in good times Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'drag one’s feet'?

To be slow and unmotivated Signup and view all the answers

What situation is described by 'false alarm'?

Panic over a situation that wasn't serious Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'easier said than done'?

Doing something is more difficult than discussing it Signup and view all the answers

What does 'every cloud has a silver lining' suggest?

Even difficult situations have a positive aspect Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'hit the books' imply?

To study hard Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'hold your horses'?

To have patience Signup and view all the answers

In what context would 'jump the gun' typically be used?

When someone eagerly acts too soon Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'know the ropes'?

To be familiar with the necessary procedures Signup and view all the answers

What does 'make ends meet' mean?

To survive with a limited income Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'fall for it' mean?

To be tricked Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fly off the handle' refer to?

To get upset or angry Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'follow in the footsteps of' someone?

To imitate someone's actions or choices Signup and view all the answers

What does 'from scratch' imply?

To create from nothing Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'get a kick out of something'?

To find enjoyment or pleasure in something Signup and view all the answers

What does 'get with the program' suggest?

To be aware of what's important Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'give one's right arm'?

To give everything or a lot to someone Signup and view all the answers

What does 'go against the grain' mean?

To act in a way that is different from what is normal Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'go bananas'?

To become extremely excited Signup and view all the answers

What does 'have one's hands full' signify?

To feel overwhelmed with responsibilities Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Phrasal Expressions and Their Meanings

Burn the midnight oil: To stay up late working or studying, often until the early hours.
Call it a day: To stop working and go home after completing tasks, usually when one feels satisfied.
Catch some Z’s: A casual way to say going to sleep, particularly after a tiring day.
Caught red-handed: Being caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal.
Clean as a whistle: Describes something that is very clean; often used to emphasize tidiness.
Clean slate: Represents a fresh start or a new beginning, usually after a mistake has been rectified.
Cold feet: Refers to feelings of nervousness or anxiety, particularly before significant events like weddings.
Cold turkey: To quit a bad habit abruptly, without gradual reduction.
Cost an arm and a leg: Indicates something that is very expensive; emphasizes high cost.
Crunch time: A critical period when deadlines are imminent, necessitating hard work and focus.
Curiosity killed the cat: A proverb warning that excessive curiosity can lead to trouble.
Days are numbered: Suggests that someone's time in a situation is limited or may soon end.
Down in the dumps: A phrase describing a feeling of sadness or depression.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch: Advises against assuming success before it happens; wait for certain outcomes.
Drag one’s feet: To delay or procrastinate when completing a task or making progress.
Drive one crazy: Describes a behavior that is particularly irritating or annoying.
Drive one up the wall: Similar to "drive one crazy," it indicates significant annoyance.

Additional Expressions

Easier said than done: Describes a situation where talking about something is much simpler than actually doing it.
Easy does it!: A caution to proceed carefully and not rush.
Eating at someone: Describes a situation in which something bothers or disturbs someone.
Every cloud has a silver lining: Suggests that even negative situations contain hopeful or positive aspects.
Face-to-face: Refers to direct interaction between two people, in person.
Fair-weather friend: A friend who is only supportive during good times but not during difficulties.
False alarm: A situation where there is a mistaken panic or concern, often discovering that it wasn't necessary.
Fall for it: Means to be tricked or deceived by a lie or prank.
Fly off the handle: To become extremely angry suddenly or unexpectedly.
Follow in the footsteps of: To imitate or take inspiration from someone admired, often in a professional or personal context.
From scratch: To start something anew, particularly with no prior preparation or materials.

Experiencing and Managing Responsibilities

Get a kick out of something: To derive enjoyment or pleasure from a particular activity or experience.
Get with the program: To become aware of what is important and act accordingly.
Give one’s right arm: To be willing to sacrifice a lot for something or someone valued.
Give someone a hand: Can mean to help someone with a task or to applaud someone's efforts.
Go against the grain: To act contrary to what is generally accepted or expected.
Go bananas/Go crazy: To become extremely excited or agitated.
Grab a bite to eat: To obtain something to eat, often quickly.

Other Common Sayings

Green with envy: Describes a strong feeling of jealousy.
Have one’s hands full: Indicates being busy with numerous responsibilities at once.
Hit the books: A directive to study hard.
Hit the nail on the head: To describe a perfect or accurate assessment of a situation.
Hit the spot: Refers to something that perfectly satisfies a craving or need.
Hold your horses: A request for patience or to slow down.

Additional Insights on Challenges

In ages: Refers to a long duration, often used for time gone by without an event.
In over one’s head: Describes someone who has taken on responsibilities too complex or numerous to handle.
In the nick of time: Just barely in time to avoid a negative outcome.
It’s a piece of cake: Indicates that something is very easy to accomplish.
John Hancock: A colloquial term for a signature, referring to its uniqueness.
Jump the gun: To act too soon or prematurely.

Knowledge and Skills

Know by heart: Refers to memorizing something thoroughly.
Know the ropes: Describes familiarity with a process or situation.
Make ends meet: To manage one's finances so that income covers expenditures.
Scare the living daylights out of: To frighten someone significantly.
Sick as a dog: Describes someone feeling extremely ill.
Skeleton in the closet: A hidden, often embarrassing secret.

Sleep and Awareness

Sleeping like a baby: Refers to sleeping deeply and peacefully.
Sleeping like a log: Denotes deep sleep where one is hard to wake up.
Smell a rat: To suspect that something is not trustworthy.
Spick and span: Describes a clean and tidy condition.
Stab in the back: To betray someone, often unexpectedly.
Stick one’s neck out: To take a risk, often for someone else's benefit.
Sweet tooth: A strong desire or preference for sweet foods.

Communication and Reasoning

Talking in circles: Describes unclear and repetitive speech that fails to make a point.
That does not hold water: It signifies an argument does not stand up to scrutiny.
That is a bunch of baloney: Refers to a lie or nonsensical statement.

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Description

Test your understanding of common idioms and phrases in English. This quiz focuses on expressions related to working late, stopping work, and going to sleep. Discover the meanings and usage of these fun idioms.