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