Q1. The idiom “to bite the bullet” means:
(a) to chew food quickly
(b) to endure a painful or unpleasant situation with courage
(c) to avoid responsibility
(d) to take a short break
Answer: (b)
Explanation: “Bite the bullet” originates from soldiers biting a bullet during surgery without anaesthesia, symbolizing facing pain bravely.
Q2. “Kick the bucket” is an idiom meaning:
(a) to start a new project
(b) to die
(c) to clean a floor
(d) to play a game
Answer: (b)
Explanation: It is a colloquial expression for dying, likely derived from the image of a person kicking away a bucket used as a support while hanging.
Q3. “Spill the beans” means:
(a) to cook beans
(b) to reveal a secret
(c) to waste food
(d) to plant beans
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The phrase refers to unintentionally disclosing confidential information.
Q4. “Under the weather” indicates that someone is:
(a) feeling happy
(b) feeling ill or unwell
(c) enjoying outdoor activities
(d) preparing for a storm
Answer: (b)
Explanation: It originally described sailors feeling sick due to bad weather; now it means feeling unwell.
Q5. “Break the ice” means:
(a) to literally crack frozen water
(b) to initiate conversation in a tense or awkward situation
(c) to damage property
(d) to win a competition
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The idiom refers to relieving initial shyness or tension, often at the start of a meeting or social gathering.
Q6. “Hit the nail on the head” means:
(a) to miss the target
(b) to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem
(c) to injure oneself while working
(d) to ignore an issue
Answer: (b)
Explanation: It signifies making a precise, accurate statement or action.
Q7. “Let the cat out of the bag” means:
(a) to adopt a pet
(b) to reveal a secret unintentionally
(c) to release an animal
(d) to hide something
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Historically, dishonest sellers would substitute a cat for a piglet in a bag; letting the cat out exposed the fraud.
Q8. “Burn the midnight oil” refers to:
(a) sleeping early
(b) working late into the night
(c) extinguishing a fire
(d) traveling at night
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Before electric light, people used oil lamps; burning them late meant studying or working late.
Q9. “Piece of cake” means something that is:
(a) very difficult
(b) very easy
(c) expensive
(d) unhealthy
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The idiom likens a simple task to eating a sweet, effortless dessert.
Q10. “Cost an arm and a leg” indicates that something is:
(a) free of charge
(b) moderately priced
(c) very expensive
(d) worthless
Answer: (c)
Explanation: It hyperbolically suggests the price is so high one would have to sacrifice limbs to afford it.
Q11. “When pigs fly” is used to express that something will:
(a) happen soon
(b) happen rarely
(c) never happen
(d) happen only in dreams
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Since pigs cannot fly, the phrase denotes an impossibility.
Q12. “The ball is in your court” means:
(a) you are playing a sport
(b) it is your turn to take action or make a decision
(c) you are being judged
(d) you are out of options
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Originating from tennis, it indicates responsibility for the next move lies with the person addressed.
Q13. “Barking up the wrong tree” suggests that someone is:
(a) pursuing a mistaken or misguided line of thought
(b) training a dog
(c) cutting down trees
(d) looking for shelter
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The idiom comes from hunting dogs that bark at the base of a tree where they think prey is, but the prey has actually escaped elsewhere.
Q14. “Hit the sack” means:
(a) to go to bed
(b) to punch a bag
(c) to start a fight
(d) to lift heavy weights
Answer: (a)
Explanation: “Sack” historically referred to a bed made of a sack filled with straw; hitting it meant going to sleep.
Q15. “A blessing in disguise” refers to:
(a) an obvious advantage
(b) a misfortune that later brings good results
(c) a hidden danger
(d) a fake gift
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Something that initially seems bad or unfortunate turns out to be beneficial.
Q16. “Cut corners” means to:
(a) take a shorter route
(b) do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often sacrificing quality
(c) trim paper neatly
(d) avoid responsibilities
Answer: (b)
Explanation: It originates from the practice of cutting a diagonal path across a field to save time, implying a shortcut that may reduce quality.
Q17. “Pull someone’s leg” means to:
(a) assist someone in walking
(b) tease or joke with someone
(c) trip someone intentionally
(d) give someone a gift
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The idiom denotes light-hearted teasing or making fun of someone in a playful way.
Q18. “Face the music” means:
(a) to listen to a concert
(b) to accept the consequences of one’s actions
(c) to start a band
(d) to avoid responsibility
Answer: (b)
Explanation: It likely comes from theatrical performers having to face the orchestra (the music) when receiving criticism or applause.
Q19. “Let sleeping dogs lie” advises one to:
(a) wake up pets
(b) avoid interfering in a situation that is currently peaceful
(c) train dogs to sleep
(d) ignore all problems
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Disturbing a sleeping dog may provoke it; similarly, bringing up old issues can cause trouble.
Q20. “Once in a blue moon” means something happens:
(a) every day
(b) very rarely
(c) monthly
(d) during a full moon
Answer: (b)
Explanation: A “blue moon” is the second full moon in a calendar month, a relatively rare event.
Q21. “Throw in the towel” means to:
(a) start a new workout
(b) give up or admit defeat
(c) clean a surface
(d) win a match
Answer: (b)
Explanation: In boxing, a trainer throws a towel into the ring to signal that their fighter should stop the match.
Q22. “The whole nine yards” refers to:
(a) a measurement of fabric
(b) everything possible; the full extent
(c) a football field length
(d) a type of rope
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Its origin is uncertain, but it idiomatically means giving all that one has or doing something completely.
Q23. “Burning the candle at both ends” describes someone who is:
(a) conserving energy
(b) working excessively and getting little rest
(c) making candles
(d) saving money
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Lighting both ends of a candle makes it burn out faster, symbolizing exhausting oneself.
Q24. “Hit the books” means to:
(a) throw books away
(b) study hard
(c) repair damaged books
(d) sell books
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The idiom encourages diligent studying, as if physically striking the books to absorb knowledge.
Q25. “A penny for your thoughts” is used to:
(a) offer money for ideas
(b) ask someone what they are thinking
(c) buy inexpensive items
(d) criticize someone’s opinion
Answer: (b)
Explanation: It is a polite way to inquire about another person’s thoughts or concerns.
