Understanding Common Idioms

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Questions and Answers

What does the idiom 'to eat like a horse' mean?

To eat very slowly

To be picky about food

To always eat a lot of food (correct)

To eat only healthy foods

Which idiom describes a person who is old-fashioned?

Behind the times (correct)

Goody-goody

Social butterfly

Couch potato

What does 'butterflies in one's stomach' indicate?

Hunger pangs

Feeling relaxed and calm

Anxiety and nervous feelings (correct)

A feeling of excitement and joy

Which idiom characterizes a person who avoids spending money?

Cheapskate Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to think outside the box' mean?

To come up with original ideas Signup and view all the answers

What is an armchair critic?

Someone who only observes from a distance Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'to let the cat out of the bag' mean?

To reveal hidden facts Signup and view all the answers

Which idiom signifies a practical and sensible individual?

Down-to-earth Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'to learn the hard way' mean?

To learn from one's own unpleasant experiences Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'to pass with flying colours' refers to which outcome?

Doing very well Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to take a load off my mind' imply?

To relieve someone of a problem or worry Signup and view all the answers

Which idiom conveys the idea of being unfamiliar with a subject?

To be out of mind Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'to speak his mind' mean?

To honestly say what you think Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'to jump out of one's skin'?

To be shocked Signup and view all the answers

What does 'to feel blue' signify?

To be depressed or miserable Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the idiom 'to set your mind on something'?

To try very hard to achieve something Signup and view all the answers

The idiom 'to go as red as a beetroot' is used to describe which feeling?

Being embarrassed or ashamed Signup and view all the answers

Which idiom means to experience shock over someone's behavior?

To raise eyebrows Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'time heals all wounds' imply?

Emotional suffering will diminish over time. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'read between the lines'?

To interpret underlying meanings or emotions. Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'to follow in someone's footsteps' mean?

To do something in the same manner as someone else. Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the idiom 'in the nick of time'?

Accomplishing something right at the last moment. Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'time is money' suggest?

Time wasted cannot be recovered, much like lost financial resources. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Idioms and Their Meanings

To eat like a horse: To always eat a lot of food
A leopard doesn't change its spots: It's impossible for one to change their character, even if they try very hard
Butterflies in one's stomach: Feeling anxious and nervous in one's stomach
Armchair critic: A person who makes comments and criticisms about a situation without actually doing anything to help fix it
A fish out of water: A person away from their usual environment or activities
A little bird told me: You are being told something but you do not know who told you
Goody-goody: A person who always acts good, sweet, or nice, and follows the rules perfectly
Cheapkate: A person who hates to spend much money, a stingy person
Let the cat out of the bag: To reveal facts previously hidden
Down-to-earth: A person who is practical, sensible, and realistic
Behind the times: A person who is old-fashioned and has not adopted certain modern customs
Man of his word: A person you can trust because they tell the truth and keep promises
Couch potato: A lazy person who spends a lot of time sitting down or lying down
Go-getter: A person who is active, energetic, and has the initiative to pursue the things they want
To think on your feet: To give an answer quickly, without having time to prepare for it
To think outside the box: To use your imagination to come up with original ideas
Social butterfly: An extroverted person who loves to socialize

Phrasal Verbs and Expressions

To be lost for words: To lose the ability to speak because of shock, surprise, etc.
Off by heart: A way of learning information so that it can be repeated from memory easily
To learn the hard way: Learn from one's own unpleasant experiences rather than from the advice of others
To know sth like the back of one's hand: To be very familiar with something
To learn to walk before you can run: To master a basic skill before doing something more difficult
To teach sb a lesson: To experience the negative effects of your actions so that you are less likely to act in that way again
At the back of my mind: To be aware of something, even though it is not what you are mainly thinking about.
Passed with flying colors: To do very well
To show the ropes: To teach someone how to do a specific job
To slip my mind: To forget something, or to forget to do something
To take a load off my mind: To relieve someone of a problem or worry
To raise eyebrows.: To cause sb to experience shock, amazement, or surprise
To put on brave face: To act as though a difficult situation does not bother you much.
On the tip of my tongue: Almost remembered, but not quite
To read between the lines: To understand what someone really means, or what is really happening in a situation
To get out of hand: To no longer be in control
To follow in sb's footsteps: To do the same thing that a family member, friend, etc., has done in the past.
Time is money: Your time is valuable
Waste of Time: Not a useful way to spend your time

More Idioms

In the nick of time: To arrive or finish something just before it's too late
To turn back the hands of time: To go back to the past
Time heals all wounds: Feelings of emotional hurt will leave us as time passes by
Spare Time: Free time
To cross my mind: To come into your mind as an idea
To make up one's mind: To make a decision
To set one's mind on sth: To try very hard to achieve something
To be out of one's mind: To be silly or crazy
To be fired up about sth/doing sth: To be enthusiastic, thrilled
To be scared to death: To be petrified
To be a pain in the neck: To be annoying
To be over the moon: To be delighted, pleased
To jump out of one's skin: To be shocked.
To pull someone's leg: To attempt to convince someone of something untrue as a joke
To go as red as a beetroot: To be ashamed
To speak one's mind: To honestly say what you think, even if it upsets someone

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Description

This quiz explores various idioms and their meanings, enhancing your comprehension of figurative language. Test your knowledge on how these expressions reflect human experiences and emotions. Perfect for language enthusiasts and students alike!