Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the phrase 'to cry wolf' mean?
What does the phrase 'to cry wolf' mean?
- To make a genuine call for help
- To complain about minor problems
- To ignore serious issues
- To give a false alarm (correct)
Which phrase means to agree with someone or something?
Which phrase means to agree with someone or something?
- To come to blows
- To cut a sorry figure
- To come to terms with (correct)
- To dawn on
What does the expression 'to cast pearls before swine' signify?
What does the expression 'to cast pearls before swine' signify?
- To spoil a good opportunity
- To show off wealth
- To waste precious things (correct)
- To share valuable knowledge
What does the phrase 'to come down hard on someone' imply?
What does the phrase 'to come down hard on someone' imply?
Which phrase describes superficial sympathy?
Which phrase describes superficial sympathy?
What does 'a black sheep' mean?
What does 'a black sheep' mean?
Which idiom describes a situation full of difficulties?
Which idiom describes a situation full of difficulties?
What is the meaning of 'a blessing in disguise'?
What is the meaning of 'a blessing in disguise'?
Which idiom implies that a situation is unproductive?
Which idiom implies that a situation is unproductive?
What does 'a cat's paw' refer to?
What does 'a cat's paw' refer to?
Which idiom signifies an unexpected shock or surprise?
Which idiom signifies an unexpected shock or surprise?
What is meant by 'a man of letters'?
What is meant by 'a man of letters'?
Which idiom captures the idea of being in an uncomfortable situation?
Which idiom captures the idea of being in an uncomfortable situation?
What does the phrase 'a wild goose chase' mean?
What does the phrase 'a wild goose chase' mean?
What is meant by the phrase 'add fuel to fire'?
What is meant by the phrase 'add fuel to fire'?
If someone is described as 'all at sea', what does that imply?
If someone is described as 'all at sea', what does that imply?
What does 'a royal road' refer to?
What does 'a royal road' refer to?
What does the expression 'at large' indicate?
What does the expression 'at large' indicate?
Which of the following best describes 'an axe to grind'?
Which of the following best describes 'an axe to grind'?
The phrase 'add insult to injury' is used when someone:
The phrase 'add insult to injury' is used when someone:
What does 'as cool as a cucumber' imply about a person?
What does 'as cool as a cucumber' imply about a person?
What does the phrase 'at stake' imply in relation to risk?
What does the phrase 'at stake' imply in relation to risk?
Which phrase means being attentive and eager to listen?
Which phrase means being attentive and eager to listen?
What does the expression 'bear fruit' signify?
What does the expression 'bear fruit' signify?
What does 'belling the cat' mean within a challenging context?
What does 'belling the cat' mean within a challenging context?
What does the phrase 'to bear the brunt of something' mean?
What does the phrase 'to bear the brunt of something' mean?
What does 'burn the midnight oil' indicate about someone's work habits?
What does 'burn the midnight oil' indicate about someone's work habits?
What does 'bitter pill to swallow' refer to?
What does 'bitter pill to swallow' refer to?
What is the meaning of 'to build castles in the air'?
What is the meaning of 'to build castles in the air'?
What is meant by the phrase 'between two fires'?
What is meant by the phrase 'between two fires'?
Which phrase suggests a significant issue that needs attention?
Which phrase suggests a significant issue that needs attention?
What does 'to blow one's own horn/trumpet' imply?
What does 'to blow one's own horn/trumpet' imply?
What does the expression 'blow hot and cold' describe about a person's behavior?
What does the expression 'blow hot and cold' describe about a person's behavior?
What does 'blue blood' indicate about a person?
What does 'blue blood' indicate about a person?
What does it mean to 'burn the midnight oil'?
What does it mean to 'burn the midnight oil'?
What does it mean to 'call into question'?
What does it mean to 'call into question'?
What does 'by leaps and bounds' imply about progression?
What does 'by leaps and bounds' imply about progression?
Flashcards
Black sheep
Black sheep
Someone who is considered a disgrace or an outsider within a family or group.
Red-letter day
Red-letter day
A day that is very special and memorable, often because of a happy event.
Bed of thorns
Bed of thorns
A situation that is full of difficulties and challenges.
Bee in one's bonnet
Bee in one's bonnet
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Bird's eye view
Bird's eye view
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Blessing in disguise
Blessing in disguise
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Blind alley
Blind alley
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Bolt from the blue
Bolt from the blue
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A rolling stone
A rolling stone
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A rotten egg
A rotten egg
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A royal road
A royal road
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A slip of the tongue
A slip of the tongue
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A wet blanket
A wet blanket
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A white elephant
A white elephant
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A wild goose chase
A wild goose chase
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Above board
Above board
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By fits and starts
By fits and starts
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By hook or by crook
By hook or by crook
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To bank on something
To bank on something
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Bear the brunt
Bear the brunt
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Before long
Before long
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Beside oneself
Beside oneself
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Bitter pill to swallow
Bitter pill to swallow
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Blow one's own horn
Blow one's own horn
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At hand
At hand
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At length
At length
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At (someone's) beck and call
At (someone's) beck and call
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At stake
At stake
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All ears
All ears
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All of a sudden
All of a sudden
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Around the clock
Around the clock
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At sixes and sevens
At sixes and sevens
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Come of age
Come of age
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Crocodile tears
Crocodile tears
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Cry for the moon
Cry for the moon
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Cut a sorry figure
Cut a sorry figure
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Casting vote
Casting vote
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Study Notes
Idioms and Their Meanings
- Black sheep: A disgrace
- Red-letter day: A happy occasion
- Bed of thorns: Full of difficulties
- Bee in one's bonnet: Obsessed with
- Bird's eye view: An overview
- Blessing in disguise: A hidden favour, unexpected good outcome from a bad situation
- Blind alley: To be unproductive
- Bolt from the blue: Complete surprise, unexpected shock
- Bone of contention: Disagreement
- Cat's paw: Agent
- Child's play: Easy task
- Close-fisted man: Penny-pinching
- Dark horse: Previously unknown
- Dead letter: Ineffective, a situation offers no progress
- Dead end: A situation offers no progress
- Dog in the manger: Mean
- Drawn game: Undecided, upright conduct
- A fair play: Upright conduct, in uncomfortable situation
- Fish out of water: Doubtful story, unannounced absence
- Fishy story: Doubtful story, unannounced absence
- French leave: Determined person, day of happiness
- Gala day: Day of happiness
- Man of iron: Determined person
- Man of letters: Male scholar or author
- Man of parts: Talented man
- Narrow escape: Escape
Additional Idioms and Meanings
- Oily tongue: Flattering words
- Apple pie order: Perfect order
- Apple of one's eyes: Very dear
- Cool as a cucumber: Calm
- At a stone's throw: Very close
- At dagger's drawn: To be enemies
- At eleventh hour: In the nick of time
- At home in: Proficient
- At large: Free
- At one's wits' end: Upset
- At a loss: Filled with confusion
- At a stretch: Continuously or without any interruptions
- At any cost: At any rate
- At cross-purposes: To be at different ends
- At hand: Quite near
- At length: For a long time
- At stake: At risk
- All ears: Attentive
- All of a sudden: Abruptly
- By hook or by crook: By all means
- To bank on: Depend on something
- To bear the brunt of: To receive the main part of something bad
- Before long: In the near future
- Beside oneself: To be overwhelmed
- Bitter pill to swallow: To accept a bad situation
- To blow one's own horn/trumpet: To praise one's own merits
- Blue blood: To come of a noble family
- Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth: Born in good circumstances
- Bring (something) into question: To ask the credibility
- Build castles in the air/in Spain: To make inapplicable plans
- Burn the midnight oil: To spend resources extravagantly
- Burst into tears: To weep abruptly
- Butter (someone) up: To show flattery
- By all means: To all possible ways
- By virtue of (something): With respect to/through/with the help of
- To burn one's fingers: To harm oneself rapidly
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Description
Test your knowledge of common idioms and their meanings with this engaging quiz. Explore phrases that are frequently used in everyday language and discover the depth of their expressions. Each idiom reflects unique cultural significance and storytelling. Can you match them all correctly?
