Idioms & Phrases

idiom or phrase

QUESTION 51

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.

QUESTION 52

A person who is 'the salt of the earth' is:

C A person who works with minerals
B A fundamentally good, honest, and reliable person
D A skeptical and cynical person
A A common and ordinary person

Answer: This expression is a high compliment, describing someone of great worth and character.

QUESTION 53

What does it mean 'to get a taste of your own medicine'?

B To experience the same negative treatment that one has given to others
A To finally find a cure for an illness
D To become a doctor
C To share medication with someone

Answer: This idiom means that someone is receiving the same kind of unpleasantness that they have been inflicting on others.

QUESTION 54

To 'throw caution to the wind' is to:

C Give up on a plan due to potential dangers
D Enjoy a windy day
B Behave recklessly and take a risk
A Act in a very careful and considered way

Answer: It means to stop being careful and to do something without worrying about the negative consequences.

QUESTION 55

In the context of idioms, a 'sacred cow' is:

D A stubborn and unchangeable person
B A literal cow that is worshipped
C A very rare and valuable item
A An idea, institution, or person held to be above criticism

Answer: The term refers to something that is so revered or established that people are unwilling to question or criticize it.

QUESTION 56

What does it mean 'to jump on the bandwagon'?

D To get on a parade float
B To oppose a popular trend
A To start a musical career
C To join a popular activity or trend to share in its success

Answer: This idiom means to adopt a particular cause or activity simply because it has become fashionable or popular.

QUESTION 57

If you have 'bigger fish to fry', you:

D Are dealing with a very large problem
B Are going on a fishing trip
A Are preparing a large meal
C Have more important or pressing matters to attend to

Answer: This expression is used to say that one is not interested in a particular matter because it is not as important as other things one has to do.

QUESTION 58

To 'go down in flames' means:

D To be a victim of a fire
C To fail in a spectacular and dramatic way
B To become a firefighter
A To succeed brilliantly against all odds

Answer: This idiom describes a complete and disastrous failure, often in a public manner.

QUESTION 59

What does it mean to 'harp on the same string'?

B To be persistent in achieving a goal
D To find the perfect solution to a problem
C To dwell on or talk about the same subject repeatedly and tediously
A To be a skilled musician

Answer: This phrase means to continually bring up the same topic, often to the annoyance of others.

QUESTION 60

To 'read between the lines' means to:

B Understand the implicit or hidden meaning in what is said or written
A Read a text very carefully and slowly
C Be suspicious of everyone's intentions
D Edit a document for errors

Answer: It refers to the skill of inferring the real meaning or intention behind someone's words, which are not explicitly stated.

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