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