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