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TOEFL Vocab: English Idioms

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
grunt work
get the sack
a flash in a pan
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry

2. Pretend to be in a weaker or stronger position than is really the case
curl your lip
sit on the fence
bluff your way
make a name for

3. Sleep (informal)

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4. Come to a natural end
run its course
open the door to
like the cat that ate the canary
not worth a dime

5. Has little or no value
prick ones ears up
not worth a dime
to clip someone's wings
know your place

6. New
bluff your way
up-to-the-minute
grunt work
the frosting on the cake

7. Remembering the past nostalgically
to pull rank
run its course
to clip someone's wings
the good old days

8. Control something firmly and effectively
not worth a dime
the good old days
run a tight ship
like the cat that ate the canary

9. Say something accidentally which upsets or embarrasses someone
put your foot in it
cold cash
to clip someone's wings
knock into shape

10. Something that happens only once
spirit of adventure
cry buckets
a flash in a pan
going up in the world

11. Enthusiasm for adventurous activities
to clip someone's wings
hopping mad
spirit of adventure
make a name for

12. Argue violently all the time
someone is batting a thousand
put your foot in it
take a shine to
fight like cats and dogs

13. Hard - boring work
grunt work
to take center stage
is fresh out of
going up in the world

14. Cry a lot (informal)
up-to-the-minute
someone is batting a thousand
run its course
cry buckets

15. To be the most important or noticeable thing or person
to take center stage
to clip someone's wings
the good old days
to pull rank

16. Recieve strong criticism
bluff your way
to get/ take flak
to pull rank
get off your backside

17. Suddenly understanding something
be beyond the pale
to see light
spirit of adventure
is fresh out of

18. A debt that one owes someone for moral rather than financial reason
make a name for
debt of honour
take the cake
like the cat that ate the canary

19. Become sensible/ reasonable
is fresh out of
to see reason
knock into shape
a flash in a pan

20. Start to listen carefully
know no bounds
be given/ get his marching order
the good old days
prick ones ears up

21. People that you don't know or think are not important
take the cake
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
throw someone a curveball
to see reason

22. Delay making a decision when they have to choose between two different options in a dispute
sit on the fence
get off your backside
take a shine to
to get/ take flak

23. Money in form of cash or notes - not a cheque or credit card
cold cash
prick ones ears up
take the cake
put your foot in it

24. Do something careless or stupid
see the joke
someone drops the ball
prick ones ears up
is fresh out of

25. Surprise them with something difficult or unpleasant to deal with
to get/ take flak
throw someone a curveball
sink like a stone
to take center stage

26. Take action to get something into a good condition
knock into shape
sink like a stone
the good old days
is fresh out of

27. To limit someone's freedom

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28. To sneer; show disrespect
feather one's own nest
curl your lip
not worth a dime
someone drops the ball

29. Immediately
spirit of adventure
to pull rank
right of the bat
get off your backside

30. Understand something
curl your lip
someone drops the ball
see the joke
to pull rank

31. Used informally to describe something the speaker finds very annoying
take the cake
take a shine to
like the cat that ate the canary
run a tight ship

32. Give something a new start
feather one's own nest
curl your lip
open the door to
take a shine to

33. A necessary part of an event or experience which cannot be avoided
part and parcel
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
prick ones ears up
to see reason

34. Something that makes a good thing even better
hopping mad
throw someone a curveball
run a tight ship
the frosting on the cake

35. Understanding the importance of something
take the cake
to se the point
to pull rank
see the joke

36. Become famous or respected for
debt of honour
sit on the fence
make a name for
run a tight ship

37. Accept your low position within society without trying to improve it
knock into shape
not worth a dime
know your place
the good old days

38. Use the power his (manager) position gives him to make them (employees) do something
someone drops the ball
to pull rank
know your place
part and parcel

39. Stop being lazy (very informal)
throw someone a curveball
hopping mad
get off your backside
know your place

40. Lose his job
be given/ get his marching order
cold cash
a flash in a pan
to get/ take flak

41. Very pleased with oneself (informal - usually collocates with 'look' - 'grin' or 'smile')
cry buckets
get off your backside
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
like the cat that ate the canary

42. Be extreme
grunt work
know no bounds
up-to-the-minute
make a name for

43. Very angry
a flash in a pan
hopping mad
see the joke
know your place

44. To immediately like something/someone
take a shine to
catch some z's
throw someone a curveball
be beyond the pale

45. Gained a better position - or more money - than before
like the cat that ate the canary
going up in the world
to pull rank
run a tight ship

46. Doing something extremely well - better than they had hoped
to see reason
like the cat that ate the canary
someone is batting a thousand
fight like cats and dogs

47. Failed completely
sink like a stone
curl your lip
be beyond the pale
part and parcel

48. Dishonestly use your position to get money for yourself

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49. Be unacceptable
to take center stage
get the sack
be beyond the pale
a flash in a pan

50. Has just finished or sold all its supply
right of the bat
sit on the fence
open the door to
is fresh out of