The document provides a series of idioms and their definitions through examples. It begins with a list of common idioms and their meanings, followed by example sentences using the idioms. The answers to the examples are then provided. Overall, the document is an exercise to familiarize the reader with common English idioms and their uses through short examples and their solutions.

1. Idioms Exercises

2. a blessing in disguise , a drop in the ocean, a piece of cake, actions speak louder
than words, an arm and a leg, chip on his shoulder, it’s a small world, jumping
the gun, once in a blue moon, over the moon.
 1. Getting my car fixed is going to cost me _________ as the engine has
completely blown, but I have no choice. I need it for work.
 2. The flu I had a few weeks ago which prevented me from going on holiday
with my friends was ____________ . They had a terrible time. Everything
went wrong and it cost them a lot of money.
 3. I was in a café in Italy and amazingly I saw Paul from down the road in
there _____________.
 4. Jan is finally getting a chance to go on her trip of a life time, a holiday to
Australia! She was__________ when I spoke to her.
 5. 3 pounds may seem like______________ but if everyone contributed that
much we'd have thousands.

3.  6. The government keeps talking about reducing poverty but
what do they ever do about it? Nothing! ___________ .
 7. I've got a promotion at work, but all John did was make a
joke about it. He has a real___________ . I think he is just
jealous.
 8. The interview for that new job was___________ . They asked
me really easy questions.
 9. The new Martin Scorsese film is out at the cinema. A film
that comes out that I really enjoy and want to see
happens___________ , so I'll definitely go and see it.
 10. He was __________ when he gave up his job to start
university. Now he has found out he can't get a grant.

4. Answers :
1. an arm and a leg
2. a blessing in disguise
3. it's a small world
4. over the moon
5. a drop in the ocean
6. actions speak louder than words
7. chip on his shoulder
8. a piece of cake
9. once in a blue moon
10. jumping the gun an arm and a leg

5.  Back to the drawing board, between the rock and a hard place,
biting my tongue, cut to the chase, every cloud has a silver lining,
find your feet, fixed in the ways, get up on the wrong side of the
bed, went the extra mile, put all your eggs in one basket.
 1. Can you __________ and tell us if we are going to lose our jobs
or not?
 2. Don't be so grumpy with me! Did you _________ ?
 3. He's very ___________ . He'll never vote Labor. He's voted for
the Conservative party his whole life.
 4. I know everything seems very bad at the moment but
__________ . I'm sure something good will come out of it.
 5. I know you shouldn’t __________ but I'm going to sell all my
stocks and shares and purchase an off-plan property in Spain.
I'm sure it will be fine.

6.  6. I was ________ in that meeting. I really wanted to tell him that
his idea was no good but you can't say that to the boss.
 7. It doesn't look like this strategy to improve the company's
profits is working, so it’s _________ !
 8. Jane really ________ yesterday. I only asked her to pick the
kids up from school, but she took them home, helped with their
homework and put them to bed.
 9. She’s _________ . Her marriage isn't working so she's very
unhappy at home, but if she moves out and leaves him her
family will blame her and won't talk to her.
 10. The job might seem confusing at first as there are a lot of
different departments you need to work with but you'll soon
____________ .

7.  Answers :
1. cut to the chase
2. get up on the wrong side of the bed
3. fixed in his ways
4. every cloud has a silver lining
5. put all your eggs in one basket
6. biting my tongue
7. back to the drawing board
8. went the extra mile
9. between a rock and a hard place
10. find your feet

8. bite the hand that feeds you, heat of the moment, hit the
nail on the head, if it’s not one thing, it’s the other, keep
an eye on, kick the bucket, let sleeping dogs lie, let the cat
out of the bag, over the top, sit on the fence.
1. I missed my bus this morning, then when I went for
a taxi I realized I'd left my wallet at home. Then when I
got back home I couldn't find my key. Now my
computer has crashed. Honestly, _________ .
2. I hope Joyce hasn’t ________ . She was in her 90s.
She got taken off to hospital the other day as she was
very unwell.

9. 3. I ________ as I accidentally mentioned that we are
all meeting for a drink tonight. Sorry, I know you
didn't want him to know.
4. I tend to _______ over most controversial issues. I'm
never sure which side of the argument to support.
5. The boss never disciplined John over the fact that
he came into work late twice last week. He must have
decided to ________ .
6. Try to keep up good relations with your boss. You
don't want to _________ .
7. He _________ when he said the reason we lost the
match is because of weakness in our defense. That's
definitely the reason.

10. 8.He doesn't really hate you. He just said it in
the _________ .
9. An IELTS examiner has to _________ the time in the
speaking test. It should not be more than 14 minutes.
10. Her angry response to your email was way
________ . You had every right to say what you did.

11.  Answers :
1. if it's not one thing, it's the other
2. kicked the bucket
3. let the cat out of the bag
4. sit on the fence
5. let sleeping dogs lie
6. bite the hand that feeds you
7. hit the nail on the head
8. heat of the moment
9. keep an eye on
10. over the top

12. practice makes perfect, pulling my leg, rue of thumb,
smell a rat, take a rain check, the ball’s in your court, the
spitting image, till the cows come home, tongue-in-check,
under the weather.
Wow – the painting is_________ of you. Who drew it?
2. I'm a bit busy so I’ll __________ , but thanks for
inviting me.
3. I've been a bit ______ since last night. I think it may
have been something I ate.

13. 4. Are you ________ ? I don't believe you really did
that.
5. The police ________ when he said he wasn't
involved in the crime. Someone fitting his description
had been seen in the area.
6. Don't worry if you can't do it yet. Keep trying.
___________ .
7. The _________ in our house is not to talk about
politics – it always ends in arguments!

14. 8. The TV programmed was a ________ look at
American culture. It wasn't that serious.
9. I've told him how angry I am, so _________ now.
We'll see what he does.
10. We'll be waiting __________ for England to win
the football World Cup again.

15.  Answers :
 1. the spitting image
 2. take a rain check
 3. under the weather
 4. pulling my leg
 5. smelt a rat
 6. practice makes perfect
 7. rule of thumb
 8. tongue-in-cheek
 9. the ball's in his court
 10. till the cows come home

16. bend over backwards, break a leg, drive someone up
the wall, flogging a dead horse, hold your horses,
playing devil’s advocate, water under the bridge,
working against the clock, you are what you eat, you
can’t judge a book by its cover.
1. We'll be _______ to get this finished. It's 4pm so
we only have an hour left.
2. ________ mate! I'm sure you'll do well. You're
easily the best team.
3. I agree with you really. I'm just ________ so you
know what those who disagree with you may say.

17. 4. Please, don't worry about what you said anymore.
It's all _________ . I know you were just feeling upset
at the time.
5. Stop trying to get back with your ex-girlfriend.
You’re _________ . There is no love between you
anymore.
6. I thought John was an idiot when I first saw him
just because of the way he dressed.
But _________ he's a really good bloke.
7. My doctor always says ___________ when I go to
see him about my weight. It's very true as I have a
poor diet.

18. 8. The government __________is before the election
to appear united. They know the electorate needs to
believe in them.
9. My younger brother really _________ . He argues
and disagrees with everything I say.
10. I think you should __________ ! You aren't
ready yet to quit and start your own business. You
need more experience.

19. Answers :
1. working against the clock
2. break a leg
3. playing devil's advocate
4. water under the bridge
5. flogging a dead horse
6. you can't judge a book by its cover
7. you are what you eat
8. bending over backwards
9. drives me up the wall
10. hold your horses

20. 1. He has the gift of the gab.
• He is gifted
• He is chatterbox
• He is a good conversationalist
2. Parental property has become a bone of contention
between the siblings.
• Unifying factor
• Cause of quarrel
• Cause of rivalry

21. 3. Once in a blue moon, we meet each other.
• Frequently
• Sometimes
• Very seldom Indeed
4. He has been jobless for several months, and it is
his wife who keeps the pot boiling.
• Keeps the fire burning
• Avoids starvation
• Keeps firing
• Gets angry

22. 5. In the end he had to eat the humble pie.
• Apologize humbly
• Defend himself vigorously
• Adopt an aggressive attitude
6. To be a good orator, you don’t have to play to the
galleries.
• Make a fool of yourself
• Offend the audience
• Appeal to the lower taste
• Appease select audience

23. 7. The officer took him to task.
• Praised him
• Reprimanded him severely
• Dismissed him
• Promoted him

24. Answers :
1. He is a good conversationalist.
2. something that causes a quarrel
3. very seldom indeed
4. avoids starvation
5. apologize humbly
6. to appeal to the lower taste
7. rebuked him

25. 1. Janet and Peter are getting married. I heard it
straight from the ....................... mouth.
• Elephant’s
• Horse’s
• Camel’s
2. I wanted the party to be a secret but my sister let
the ......................... out of the bag.
• Dog
• Brid
• cat

26. 3. The moment she started ....................... me up, I
knew that she wanted to gain a favor.
• Pampering
• Barking
• Buttering
4. The two brothers are always pulling each other's
.........................
• Ear
• Leg
• hand

27. 5. Don't trust him. He is a ........................ in sheep's
clothing.
• Wolf
• Fox
• Dog
6. He won the race ...................... down.
• Hands
• Legs
• Head

28. 7. By taking action against him for your failure you
are just .................. up the wrong tree.
• Cutting
• Peeling
• Barking
8. Don't try to make fun of him. He ...........................
off the handle pretty easily.
• Runs
• flies
• drives

29. 9. That laptop cost me ...................
• An arm and a leg
• An eye and a ear
• A finger and a toe
10. I hate having to tell him what I really think of
him but I have to ............................ the bullet now.
• Fire
• Bite
• dodge

30. 11. The indulgent mother turns a ...................... to
her son's faults.
• Blind eye
• Black eye
• Partial eye
12. The enemy was armed to the ....................; yet
our soldiers managed to beat them.
• Teeth
• Neck
• Nose

31. Answers :
1. Janet and Peter are getting married. I heard it
straight from the horse’s mouth.
2. I wanted the party to be a secret but my sister
let the cat out of the bag.
3. The moment she started buttering me up, I knew
that she wanted to gain a favor.
4. The two brothers are always pulling each other’s
leg.
5. Don’t trust him. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
6. He won the race hands down.

32. 7. By taking action against him for your failure you
are just barking up the wrong tree.
8. Don’t try to make fun of him. He flies off the
handle pretty easily.
9. That laptop cost me an arm and a leg.
10. I hate having to tell him what I really think of
him but I have to bite the bullet now.
11. The indulgent mother turns a blind eye to her
son’s faults.
12. The enemy was armed to the teeth; yet our
soldiers managed to beat them.

33. 1. A fair weather friend always tries to fish in troubled waters of
his friends and benefactors.
• A. To borrow money
• B. To steal belongings of
• C. To get benefit in bad situation.
• D. To extend a helping hand.
2. His arrogant behavior with others has left him high and dry.
• A. To be penniless
• B. To be very sick.
• C. To be very famous
• D. Isolated.

34. 3. All the residents of the colony painted the town redon the eve of
festival.
• A. To white wash buildings
• B. To renovate buildings
• C. To celebrate noisily in public places.
• D. To create nuisances.
4. The chairman pulled a long face when the house did not accept
the suggestions put forth by him.
• A. To look disappointed
• B. To get annoyed
• C. To be agitated
• D. To make a quarrel.

35. 5.The fair and square policy of the chairman of the
committee has made him very popular among the
residents of the town.
• A. Clever and Deceitful
• B. Honest
• C. Ambiguous
• D. Relevant and practical.
Answers :
1.C 2.D 3.C 4.A 5.B.

36. 1.Due his bad habit of borrowing money from others, he
will be in the mire one day.
• A. to be punished
• B. To be imprisoned
• C. To be insulted
• D. to be in trouble.
2.I do not like his habit of mincing matters.
• A. Not to speak plainly.
• B. To brag about
• C. To be talkative
• D. To show off.

37. 3. The chairman of the corporation plays a second fiddle to the
minister.
• A. To extend a helping hand
• B. To play a secondary role.
• C. To be guiding person.
• D. To be facilitator.
4. In order to become a successful administrator in the office, an
executive has to keep his ears to the ground.
• A. To be very polite
• B. To encourage backbiting
• C. To keep informed about happening in surrounding.
• D. To have a strict control over all.

38. 5. He had to go through the motion of starting with this
new project as he was least interested to take up it.
• A. To complete quickly.
• B. To do a work without enthusiasm
• C. To do without any interest.
• D. To work at a slow speed.
Answers :
1.D. 2.A 3.B 4.C 5.B.

39. 1. Rahul is known for his ................................. fuse.
The other day he yelled at the teacher for asking him
to leave the class.
• Quick
• Tight
• Short
2. I had ........................................ in my stomach as I
waited for the results to be announced.
• Dragons
• Spiders
• butterflies

40. 3. Peter made the national team by the skin of his
...................................; you can tell that he hasn't
fully recovered from his injuries.
• Face
• Nose
• Teeth
4. If you always cry ................................., no one will
be there to help you when you actually need it.
• Tiger
• Fox
• wolf

41. 5. Cut him some ................................ After all, he is
a mere child.
• Ice
• Space
• Slack
6. I didn't go to the party because I was down for the
.................................. after working all day in the
garden.
• moment
• Count
• Hell

42. 7. I know getting fired is no fun but remember that
every cloud has a ....................................... lining.
• White
• Silver
• Golden
8. Finding a good job these days is as hard as finding
a ............................................... in a haystack.
• Needle
• Knife
• pin

43. 9. I felt like a ...................................... out of water at
the party because I didn't know anyone there.
• Fish
• Frog
• Turtle
10. I have to get this off my ……………………………… -
I was the person who reported you to the police.
• Head
• Throat
• chest

44. 11. I have never gone scuba diving, but I am going to
give it a ....................................
• Swirl
• Whirl
• Twirl
12. Her career went down in ....................................
after she started doing drugs.
• Arms
• Smoke
• flames

45. Answers :
1. Rahul is known for his short fuse. The other day he yelled at
the teacher for asking him to leave the class.
2. I had butterflies in my stomach as I waited for the results to
be announced.
3. Peter made the national team by the skin of his teeth; you
can tell that he hasn’t fully recovered from his injuries.
4. If you always cry wolf, no one will be there to help you when
you actually need it.
5. Cut him some slack. After all, he is a mere child.
6. I didn’t go to the party because I was down for the count
after working all day in the garden.

46. 7. I know getting fired is no fun but remember that
ever cloud has a silver lining.
8. Finding a good job these days is as hard as finding
a needle in a haystack.
9. I felt like a fish out of water at the party because I
didn’t know anyone there.
10. I have to get this off my chest – I was the person
who reported you to the police.
11. I have never gone scuba diving, but I am going to
give it a whirl.
12. Her career went down in flames after she started
doing drugs.

47. 1. John, put a ........................................ in it! Can you not see
that I am listening to the radio?
• Plug
• Pin
• Switch
• Cork
2. She never missed even a single opportunity to put me
................................................ and that was the reason we
decided to part ways.
• Down
• Away
• Up out

48. 3. I wish you would not put your
................................................... in where it is not wanted.
• Mouth
• Nose
• Arm
• Toes
4. My neighbor likes to put ..................................................
in front of me.
• On the dog
• On the cat
• On the horse
• On the ass

49. 5. They put him .....................................................
for fourteen years but that did not reform him.
• Up
• On
• Away
• Off
6. Do not believe what she says. She is just putting
you ..................................................!
• Up
• Down
• On

50. 7. Feel free to call me if you cannot find a good hotel. I will put
you ..................................................
• Up
• Off
• Down
• In
8. I put ...................................................... on him but that
did not help because he was already broke.
• The plug
• The bite
• The nip
• The choice

51. 9. During the identification parade, the girl put
.................................................. on the man who killed her
mother.
• The hand
• The thumb
• The finger
• The arm
10. My girlfriend is putting ...................................................
on me to buy her a diamond necklace.
• The screws
• The lid
• The hammer
• The nails

52. 11. He suspected that his business partner was
putting ................................................. him, but he
had nothing to prove it.
• Something over
• Something on
• Something over on
12. The hostess really put
....................................................... to see that
everyone was comfortable.
• Herself in
• Herself across
• Herself out

53. Answers :
1. John, put a cork in it! Can you not see that I am
listening to the radio?
2. She never missed even a single opportunity to put
me down and that was the reason we decided to part
ways.
3. I wish you would not put your nose in where it is
not wanted.
4. My neighbor likes to put on the dog in front of me.
5. They put him away for fourteen years but that did
not reform him.
6. Do not believe what she says. She is just putting
you on!

54. 7. Feel free to call me if you cannot find a good hotel. I
will put you up.
8. I put the bite on him but that did not help because
he was already broke.
9. During the identification parade, the girl put the
finger on the man who killed her mother.
10. My girlfriend is putting the screws on me to buy
her a diamond necklace.
11. He suspected that his business partner
was putting something over on him, but he had
nothing to prove it.
12. The hostess really put herself out to see that
everyone was comfortable.

55. Refer to a dictionary and find out at least three
Idioms that contain the following words. The
word may occur anywhere in the expression.
• Full
• Leave
• Neck
• Pull
• order

56. Answers :
• Full
full to the brim – very busy/completely full
I have a lot of meetings and deadlines, my schedules are
full to the brim.
Full of it – not telling the truth; tending to exaggerate
things
“you’re so full of it!’ she retorted furiously.
To the full – to the greatest possible degree
I’ve always believed in living life to the full.

57. • Leave
Leave no stone turned – making all the efforts
I wanted some money, so I left one stone unturned and at
last I succeeded.
Take leave (of somebody) – to say goodbye
With a nod and smile, she took leave of her friends.
Leave somebody in the lurch – to fail to help somebody
when they are relying on you to do so
They trusted you a lot. Don’t leave them in the lurch.

58. • Neck
Neck and neck – extremely close together
The two athletes have been neck and neck for this entire
race.
Neck of the words – a particular place or area
He’s from your neck of the woods. (He’s from the area
where you live)
Be up to your neck in something – to be very busy with
something
She’s up to her neck in her work.

59. • Pull
Pull one’s leg – to tease or joke with someone.
When I pulled my friend’s leg, he became angry with me.
Pull your socks up – to improve your performance, work,
behaviour, etc.
You’re going to have to pull your socks up.
Pull the wool over somebody’s eyes – to try to trick
somebody.
She is very clever. You cannot pull the wool over her eyes.

60. • Order
Place an order – submit an order for something.
My mother placed an order for a new computer.
Out of order – not working correctly.
The phone is out of order.
In running order – working well (especially of
machines).
The engine is now in perfect running order.

61. Provide the meaning of the following Idioms
and use them in sentences of your own.
• Ride on
• As sound / clear as a bell
• Touch-and-go
• Be worlds apart
• A slip of the tongue

62. Answers :
• Ride on - to continue to travel
The bull stopped for a movement and it rode on till evening.
• As sound / clear as a bell – very easy to hear
Unfortunately our next door neighbours fight a lot and we can
hear them as clear as a bell.
• Touch and go – extremely uncertain as to the outcome of
something
It was a touch and go match from the beginning to the end.
• Be worlds apart – very difficult
The levels of quality of the two products are worlds apart.
• A slip of the tongue – something that is said by mistake.
I had no intention of saying that to her, it was a slip of the
tongue.

63. Use the Idioms from the box and complete the
sentences.
(bet my bottom dollar, Bring home the bacon, call the shots,
Out of the blue, Blow-to-blow)
• Who _______ in your family?
• I would ________ that we will not be able to win the
tournament.
• It is up to the boss to _______
• She was at the accident so she was able to give a
_______ description to the police.
• The sky seemed to be clear and when ______ it poured!

64. Answers :
• Brings home the bacon
• Bet my bottom dollar
• Call the shots
• Blow-to-blow
• Out of the blue

65. Look at some Idioms and find out their meanings and
use them in your own sentences.
• Once in a blue moon
• An arm and a leg
• A piece of cake
• A drop in the ocean
• Bite one’s tongue
• Go the extra mile
• Get ducks in a row
• Let the cat out of the bag
• Working against the clock

66. • Flogging a dead horse
• On cloud nine
• Bolt from the blue
• Storm in a tea cup
• Make hay while the sun shines
• Beat black and blue
• Fight and uphill battle
• Donkey’s years
• At the eleventh hour
• Bee in one’s bonnet

67. • Cook someone’s goose
• Feather in one’s cap
• Rags to riches
• In the blink of an eye
• In / by leaps and bounds
• Risk life and limb
• Save one’s neck/skin
• Birds of a feather flock together
• Keep at arm’s length
• Bite of more than you can chew
• Take the bull by the horns

68. • Leave no stone unturned
• No spring chicken
• Beyond wildest dreams
• Keep your nose to the grindstone
• Paddle your own canoe
• Have a bone to pick
• Give a tongue-lashing
• Dressed up the nines
• Make one’s ears burn
• Turn a deaf ear

69. • Back to the salt mines
• Nuts and bolts
• Step into someone’s shoes
• Catch-22
• At the drop of a hat
• Wild goose chase
• Taste of your own medicine
• Blow one’s horn
• Burn the midnight oil
• Thrilled to bits

70. Look at some Idioms and their meanings. Use them in
your own sentences.
• A hot potato - controversial and sensitive issue.
• Beat around the bush – avoid the main topic.
• Judge a book by its cover – judge something primarily
on appearance.
• Caught between two stools – find it difficult to choose
between two alternatives.
• Devil’s advocate – one who advocates an opposing or
unpopular cause for the sake of an argument.
• Put all your eggs in one basket – put all the resources
in one possibility.

71. • Every cloud has a silver lining – every misfortune has some
positive aspect.
• Hit the mail on the head – do or say something exactly right.
• Last straw – the final one in a series of problems.
• Steal someone’s thunder – to take the credit for something,
someone else did.
• Acid test – something that proves the effectiveness of
something.
• Chase your tails – spend a lot of time and energy but achieve
little.
• Explore all avenues – try out every possibility to get a result.
• Work line a charm – work very well.
• Waiting in the wings – waiting for an opportunity to take
action.

72. • A blessing in disguise – something good that isn’t recognized
at first.
• A chip on your shoulder – hold a grudge about something
that happened in the past.
• A slap on the wrist – a very mild punishment.
• All Greek to me – meaningless and incomprehensible.
• Apple of my eye – someone who is cherished above all others.
• Cross your fingers – to hope something happens the way you
want it to.
• Beat a dead horse – try to revive interest in a hopeless issue.
• Back to square one – having to start all over again.
• Dark horse – one who is previously unknown and is now
prominent.

73. • Elvis has left the building – the show has come to an
end.
• Hit the sack – got to bed.
• Hit the books – to study, especially for a test.
• Give him the slip – to escape.
• Haste makes waste – doing things hastily results in a
poor ending.
• Head over heels – madly in love.
• Get itchy feet – to become bored with the place or
situation that you are in.
• Make a mountain out of a mole hill – to make a small
problem seem big.

74. • Keep your powder dry – to be ready for a possible
emergency.
• From top to bottom – very thoroughly.
• Rap someone on the knuckles – criticize or punish
someone for doing something wrong.
• Tie the knot – to get married.
• A knight in shining armour – a man who rescues you
from danger.
• Keep the pot boiling – keep going on actively / keep a
controversy alive.
• You reap what you sow – what happens to you is the
result of things which you did in the past.

75. • The best of both worlds – all the benefits and advantages of
two different things.
• Dead to the world – sleeping very deeply.
• An old wives' tale – a common belief based on traditional
ideas.
• Whistle in the wind – try without success to solve a problem.
• Red tape – official rules that seem complicated and cause
delay.
• Lose your shirt – to lose all your money on a bad investment.
• A red letter day – a day when something very important
happens.
• Chase rainbows – to waste your time trying to get something
that you can’t.

76. • Part and parcel – an essential or basic element.
• Grease someone’s palm – to give money to an official for
an unfair advantage.
• Like oil and water – two people who are different from
each other.
• A night owl – someone who regularly prefers to work
late at night.
• Nickel and dine – not very important or functioning only
on a small scale.
• A square meal – a large, filling, nutritious meal.
• By fair means or foul – by any possible method.
• The lion’s share – the largest part of something.

77. • A labour of love – a task that you do for pleasure
without expecting payment.
• Horses for courses – different people are suitable
for different things.
• Teach your grandmother to suck eggs – to advise
someone who actually knows more about it than
you.
• Get a raw deal – to be treated badly.
• Out of the blue – unexpectedly.