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