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