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Test your basic knowledge |
TOEFL Vocab: English Idioms
Start Test
Study First
Subjects
:
toefl
,
english
,
vocabulary
Instructions:
Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can
study here
.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.
This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Be dismissed from your job
get the sack
a flash in a pan
run its course
catch some z's
2. Very pleased with oneself (informal - usually collocates with 'look' - 'grin' or 'smile')
to take center stage
make a name for
to see light
like the cat that ate the canary
3. Gained a better position - or more money - than before
take a shine to
going up in the world
to see reason
right of the bat
4. Recieve strong criticism
to get/ take flak
someone drops the ball
be given/ get his marching order
sink like a stone
5. Lose his job
be given/ get his marching order
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
going up in the world
to take center stage
6. Dishonestly use your position to get money for yourself
7. Understand something
the frosting on the cake
right of the bat
to get/ take flak
see the joke
8. Start to listen carefully
the frosting on the cake
right of the bat
open the door to
prick ones ears up
9. Money in form of cash or notes - not a cheque or credit card
know your place
see the joke
grunt work
cold cash
10. Surprise them with something difficult or unpleasant to deal with
not worth a dime
curl your lip
to pull rank
throw someone a curveball
11. Understanding the importance of something
to se the point
is fresh out of
know no bounds
a flash in a pan
12. Remembering the past nostalgically
sink like a stone
the good old days
get the sack
be beyond the pale
13. Immediately
a flash in a pan
right of the bat
bluff your way
know your place
14. Say something accidentally which upsets or embarrasses someone
know your place
put your foot in it
get off your backside
to see reason
15. To sneer; show disrespect
curl your lip
prick ones ears up
like the cat that ate the canary
someone is batting a thousand
16. People that you don't know or think are not important
is fresh out of
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
take the cake
know no bounds
17. New
run its course
not worth a dime
feather one's own nest
up-to-the-minute
18. Sleep (informal)
19. Delay making a decision when they have to choose between two different options in a dispute
sit on the fence
know your place
catch some z's
knock into shape
20. To limit someone's freedom
21. Very angry
hopping mad
see the joke
to see reason
take the cake
22. Something that happens only once
be beyond the pale
know your place
a flash in a pan
take the cake
23. Argue violently all the time
fight like cats and dogs
hopping mad
cry buckets
part and parcel
24. Doing something extremely well - better than they had hoped
prick ones ears up
like the cat that ate the canary
someone is batting a thousand
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
25. Enthusiasm for adventurous activities
sink like a stone
to pull rank
sit on the fence
spirit of adventure
26. Be extreme
a flash in a pan
curl your lip
prick ones ears up
know no bounds
27. Has just finished or sold all its supply
is fresh out of
get the sack
like the cat that ate the canary
take a shine to
28. A necessary part of an event or experience which cannot be avoided
part and parcel
open the door to
make a name for
knock into shape
29. Has little or no value
not worth a dime
be given/ get his marching order
prick ones ears up
to see reason
30. Become famous or respected for
hopping mad
going up in the world
like the cat that ate the canary
make a name for
31. Use the power his (manager) position gives him to make them (employees) do something
cry buckets
the good old days
to pull rank
not worth a dime
32. Failed completely
sink like a stone
know no bounds
grunt work
spirit of adventure
33. Be unacceptable
someone drops the ball
be beyond the pale
feather one's own nest
to se the point
34. Cry a lot (informal)
cry buckets
throw someone a curveball
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
to clip someone's wings
35. Do something careless or stupid
take a shine to
to take center stage
someone drops the ball
take the cake
36. Pretend to be in a weaker or stronger position than is really the case
bluff your way
sit on the fence
know no bounds
be given/ get his marching order
37. Suddenly understanding something
run a tight ship
feather one's own nest
make a name for
to see light
38. Control something firmly and effectively
right of the bat
run a tight ship
knock into shape
sink like a stone
39. To be the most important or noticeable thing or person
to take center stage
right of the bat
not worth a dime
going up in the world
40. Take action to get something into a good condition
knock into shape
to see reason
open the door to
bluff your way
41. Something that makes a good thing even better
sit on the fence
part and parcel
the frosting on the cake
grunt work
42. Hard - boring work
sit on the fence
prick ones ears up
grunt work
sink like a stone
43. Stop being lazy (very informal)
be beyond the pale
to pull rank
get off your backside
sit on the fence
44. Used informally to describe something the speaker finds very annoying
to see light
take the cake
debt of honour
to take center stage
45. To immediately like something/someone
feather one's own nest
take a shine to
part and parcel
cold cash
46. Become sensible/ reasonable
open the door to
sink like a stone
to see reason
run its course
47. Accept your low position within society without trying to improve it
know your place
to see reason
to clip someone's wings
right of the bat
48. A debt that one owes someone for moral rather than financial reason
debt of honour
open the door to
take a shine to
someone drops the ball
49. Come to a natural end
take a shine to
take the cake
run its course
debt of honour
50. Give something a new start
to clip someone's wings
open the door to
part and parcel
get off your backside