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