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