Idioms and Phrases Questions and Answers

Answer: A

The proverb 'Still waters run deep' means that people who are quiet and calm on the surface often have profound thoughts or strong feelings. Deep water often looks calm, which is the picture behind it. The second option takes the words literally, the third says that introverts have no friends, which the proverb does not claim, and the fourth is a literal remark about bathing. So the first option gives the meaning.

Answer: C

The idiom is "make heads or tails of", which means to understand something. The sentence then reads: I can't make heads or tails of what you are saying because the telephone connection is bad. It replaces the underlined word understand and keeps the meaning.

The other options, make hands or legs of, make front or back of, and make left or right of, are not idioms in English. They imitate the pattern of the real idiom with different body or position words but have no set meaning.

Answer: D

The idiom is hanging by a thread, which means to be in a very uncertain or dangerous position. His future at the company has been hanging by a thread for the last couple of months.

A jailbird is a person who is often in prison, high and dry means left in a helpless position, and off colours means unwell. High and dry is the closest wrong option but it speaks of being stranded, not of danger.

Answer: D

The proverb Fools rush in where angels fear to tread means that people who lack good sense will take rash decisions without much thought, in matters in which wise people are careful. It is a line from Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism.

The other options explain it as anger, blessings or the angels avoiding fools, but the proverb is about rash action in the face of risk.

Answer: C

The idiom is "a piece of cake", which means something very easy. The sentence reads: I thought that the task would be difficult but it was a piece of cake, which matches the underlined words very easy.

"A shot of ice-cream" is not an English idiom. "An olive branch" is a gesture of peace or reconciliation, and "a dead letter" is a rule or law that is no longer enforced or a letter that cannot be delivered. Neither means easy, so only "a piece of cake" suits the sentence.

Answer: B

‘Make hay while the sun shines’ means to take advantage of a favourable situation while it lasts, which is the underlined idea.

‘Knit one's brows’ means to frown, ‘make or mar’ means to be the cause of either success or ruin, and ‘make a clean breast’ means to confess, so these do not fit.

The idiom comes from haymaking, which can be done only when the sun shines, so it advises taking an opportunity while it lasts. The sentence says it is better to reap benefits of a favourable situation than to wander aimlessly, which matches the meaning.

Answer: C

'A piece of cake' means something very easy, so solving a Math paper is very easy for the sister. 'Burdensome', 'too difficult' and 'very tough' all give the opposite sense.

'A piece of cake' is an informal idiom used for a task that takes no effort, as in 'The test was a piece of cake'. The other three options all describe effort or hardship, which is the opposite meaning, so they cannot replace it.

Answer: B

'Get into hot water' means to get into trouble, so it replaces the underlined segment. 'Get into blood' is not an idiom, 'go to dogs' means to deteriorate or be ruined, and 'face the dark horse' is not a set expression ('dark horse' alone means an unexpected winner).

Answer: D

The idiom is 'a drop in the ocean', meaning a very small amount compared with what is needed. 'Drop in the sea' is not the established form of the idiom, and 'drop in the pond' and 'drop in the island' are not idioms at all.

The idiom 'a drop in the ocean' describes a quantity so small that it makes no noticeable difference to a much larger whole, as with a small donation against a very large need.

Answer: D

'To build castles in the air' means to make impractical dreams and plans, which fits a person who makes visionary schemes and does not succeed. 'To beat about the bush' is to avoid the main point, 'to break the ice' is to start a conversation or ease tension, and 'to bite the dust' is to fall or fail.