26. The idiom 'to kick the bucket' is a colloquialism for:
- B. To give up on a project
- C. To die
- A. To become extremely angry
- D. To spill something accidentally
Answer: This is an informal and somewhat humorous idiom that means to die.
27. A 'blessing in disguise' refers to something that:
- D. Is an outright miracle
- B. Seems bad at first but results in something good
- C. Is deceptive and harmful
- A. Is secretly valuable
Answer: This describes an apparent misfortune that ultimately has a positive outcome.
28. To 'let the cat out of the bag' means:
- B. To create a chaotic situation
- C. To finish a difficult task successfully
- A. To release a pet from its carrier
- D. To reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake
Answer: This idiom means to disclose information that was supposed to be kept secret.
29. What is the meaning of 'to rub salt in the wound'?
- A. To offer a painful remedy
- D. To clean an injury
- B. To make a bad or painful situation even worse for someone
- C. To offer comfort and sympathy
Answer: It means to worsen someone's feelings of embarrassment, grief, or pain by reminding them of their misfortune.
30. Someone who 'sits on the fence' is:
- D. Observing a situation from a distance
- B. In a precarious or dangerous position
- A. Taking a rest in the countryside
- C. Avoiding making a decision or choosing a side in a dispute
Answer: This idiom describes a person who remains neutral and uncommitted, refusing to support either side of an argument.
31. To 'turn a blind eye' means:
- A. To suddenly lose one's vision
- D. To look in the opposite direction
- C. To be unable to understand a situation
- B. To deliberately ignore something that you know is wrong
Answer: It means to pretend not to notice something, especially when it is something one should act upon.
32. What does it mean if something is 'all Greek to me'?
- D. It is spoken in a foreign language
- A. It is related to ancient history
- B. It is very easy to understand
- C. It is completely incomprehensible or unintelligible
Answer: This idiom is used to express that one cannot understand something at all, as if it were in a foreign language like Greek.
33. A 'flash in the pan' is:
- C. An explosion during cooking
- B. A sudden but brief success that is not repeated
- A. A brilliant idea that leads to long-term success
- D. A reflection of light from a metal object
Answer: It refers to something or someone that shows promise or success initially but then fails to deliver or continue.
34. To 'have cold feet' means:
- D. To walk barefoot on a cold surface
- A. To feel physically cold
- B. To be very brave and daring
- C. To become too nervous or frightened to do something planned
Answer: This idiom describes a loss of nerve or confidence, often just before a significant event like a wedding or a performance.
35. What does 'the elephant in the room' refer to?
- D. A topic that everyone is eagerly discussing
- C. A very quiet and shy person in a group
- B. An oversized piece of furniture
- A. A large and obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed
Answer: This refers to a significant and obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss.
36. To 'play devil's advocate' means:
- C. To trick someone into an argument
- B. To argue against a position for the sake of debate, not because you disagree with it
- D. To act as a lawyer for a criminal
- A. To support an evil or unpopular cause
Answer: A person playing devil's advocate presents a counter-argument to test the validity of the original argument and stimulate discussion.
37. What does it mean 'to cut corners'?
- C. To do something in the easiest, cheapest, or fastest way, often by sacrificing quality
- A. To do something meticulously and with great care
- B. To take the shortest route when travelling
- D. To be precise and accurate
Answer: This phrase means to save money or effort by finding an easier or cheaper way to do something, which often results in a lower standard of work.
38. The saying 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' advises against:
- D. Acting without a proper plan
- A. Being overly pessimistic about the future
- C. Investing in poultry farming
- B. Being too confident in planning for a future success that is not yet certain
Answer: This proverb warns you not to be too sure that something good you hope for will happen, because it may not.
39. To 'hear it on the grapevine' means:
- C. To hear rumors or gossip passed from one person to another
- D. To get news from a reliable source
- B. To overhear a conversation while in a vineyard
- A. To receive information through official channels
Answer: This idiom refers to the circulation of rumors and unofficial information.
40. What does it mean 'to leave no stone unturned'?
- D. To work as an archaeologist
- A. To be very lazy and avoid work
- B. To be destructive and messy
- C. To try every possible course of action in order to achieve something
Answer: This means to do everything possible, to look in every conceivable place to find something or to achieve a goal.
41. If a situation is 'at sixes and sevens', it is:
- D. Involving the numbers 6 and 7
- A. Perfectly organized and in order
- C. A matter of luck and chance
- B. In a state of confusion or disarray
Answer: This idiom is used to describe a state of total confusion, muddle, or disagreement.
42. What does 'to have an axe to grind' imply?
- C. To be looking for a physical fight
- B. To have a private, often selfish, reason for being involved in something
- D. To be prepared for a difficult task
- A. To have a tool that needs sharpening
Answer: It means to have a hidden motive or a personal grievance that fuels your actions or words.
43. To 'wash one's dirty linen in public' means:
- A. To be very open and honest about one's life
- C. To discuss or argue about private, embarrassing matters in front of others
- D. To publicly confess to a crime
- B. To do one's laundry in a public laundromat
Answer: This idiom means to reveal personal or family secrets and disputes in public, which is considered inappropriate.
44. What is the meaning of the idiom 'to go against the grain'?
- B. To do something contrary to the natural tendency or usual practice
- A. To follow the established rules and customs
- D. To work with wood incorrectly
- C. To choose a difficult path in life
Answer: It means to act in a way that is different from what is normal or expected, which can cause friction or difficulty.
45. To 'live from hand to mouth' means to:
- D. Be dependent on others for food
- C. Eat without using utensils
- B. Have just enough money for basic necessities with nothing left over
- A. Live a life of extreme luxury
Answer: This phrase describes a state of poverty where a person spends all their money on essentials like food and shelter as soon as they earn it.
46. What does 'to make a mountain out of a molehill' mean?
- B. To exaggerate the importance of a small problem
- C. To be very thorough and detailed
- A. To successfully complete a very difficult task
- D. To underestimate a serious issue
Answer: This idiom means to make a minor issue seem like a major one; to overreact.
47. To 'pull the wool over someone's eyes' is to:
- B. Help someone to see the truth
- C. Deceive or fool someone
- D. Give someone a haircut
- A. Protect someone from a harsh reality
Answer: This means to trick or mislead someone into believing something that is not true.
48. A 'drop in the ocean' refers to:
- A. A significant and important contribution
- B. A very small and insignificant amount compared to what is needed
- D. A single cause of a massive problem
- C. The beginning of a major event
Answer: This idiom is used to describe an amount that is so small that it has little or no effect on the whole.
49. What is the meaning of 'to put all one's eggs in one basket'?
- D. To carry groceries carefully
- C. To prepare for a single, large event
- B. To take a very big risk by depending on only one plan or course of action
- A. To be very organized and efficient
Answer: This proverb advises against risking everything on the success of one venture, as failure would lead to total loss.
50. To 'steal someone's thunder' means:
- C. To frighten someone with a loud noise
- A. To make a louder noise than someone else
- D. To ruin someone's big moment with bad news
- B. To take credit for someone else's idea or achievement
Answer: It means to upstage someone by revealing their news or using their ideas before they can, thereby drawing the attention to oneself.
