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