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