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