Idioms 1

February 8, 2010

Idioms iconIdioms are an important part of daily informal communication. Remember to avoid idioms in formal communications such as school papers and formal settings such as work.

Below are 10 questions on idioms. Answers and explanations are at the bottom.

1. Whenever you go on vacation you should leave word with a neighbour.
a. visit
b. notify
c. ignore
d. question

2. They avoided a jail term by greasing a few palms.
a. putting oil on their hands
b. lubricating the machinery
c. bribing people
d. cutting down some trees.

3. This country's food grows on you after a while.
a. becomes easy to grow
b. becomes easy to find
c. rots
d. becomes normal to your taste

4. Why is it that all of our employees are wet behind the ears?
a. clean
b. uneducated
c. inexperienced
d. sick

5. Video games were a drug on the market this Christmas.
a. a depressive force
b. in great supply
c. unavailable
d. a stimulating force

6. Michael always has his head in the clouds and _____
a. isn't aware of his surroundings.
b. can't wake up in the morning.
c. you'll feel really upset all day.
d. the room will smell bad.

7. ______ and you'll get the hang of this.
a. Buy some new clothes
b. Just listen to me
c. I'll listen to you
d. All you have to do is practise

8. ______, he buys only the cream of the crop.
a. Because he likes milk
b. When he's short of money
c. Because he wants the best
d. When he has a lot of money

9. ______ and I'll get the last laugh.
a. We'll watch a movie
b. Let's go eat dinner
c. All I have to do is be patient
d. Someday she'll make a mistake

10. All we have to do is ______ and we can jazz this up.
a. add some interesting spices
b. change some money
c. get some exciting furniture
d. see what the weather is like

Answers

  1.  b
    leave word with someone: to leave a message with someone
  2. c
    to grease someone's palm: to bribe someone
  3. d
    to grow on someone: to become normal to a person
  4. c
    wet behind the ears: young and immature
  5. b
    drug on the market: something available in the market in great abundance.
  6. a, d
    to have one's head in the clouds: to be unaware of what's going on
  7. c, d
    to get the hang of something: to learn how to do something or how it works
  8. c, d
    the cream of the crop: the best of the best
  9. c, d
    to have the last laugh: to beat someone who has beaten you
  10. a, c