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TOEFL Vocab: English Idioms

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. New
see the joke
part and parcel
run its course
up-to-the-minute

2. Suddenly understanding something
to see light
fight like cats and dogs
someone drops the ball
cry buckets

3. Remembering the past nostalgically
be given/ get his marching order
sink like a stone
the good old days
take the cake

4. Surprise them with something difficult or unpleasant to deal with
feather one's own nest
the good old days
throw someone a curveball
is fresh out of

5. Dishonestly use your position to get money for yourself

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6. Do something careless or stupid
prick ones ears up
the good old days
someone drops the ball
know your place

7. Sleep (informal)

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8. Used informally to describe something the speaker finds very annoying
take a shine to
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
take the cake
catch some z's

9. Become famous or respected for
is fresh out of
be beyond the pale
make a name for
to get/ take flak

10. Cry a lot (informal)
be given/ get his marching order
up-to-the-minute
run its course
cry buckets

11. A necessary part of an event or experience which cannot be avoided
curl your lip
be given/ get his marching order
part and parcel
take the cake

12. To limit someone's freedom

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13. Something that makes a good thing even better
the frosting on the cake
to see reason
is fresh out of
to see light

14. To immediately like something/someone
take a shine to
to se the point
be given/ get his marching order
prick ones ears up

15. Immediately
grunt work
to see light
right of the bat
fight like cats and dogs

16. To be the most important or noticeable thing or person
to take center stage
feather one's own nest
be beyond the pale
cold cash

17. Argue violently all the time
to get/ take flak
a flash in a pan
sit on the fence
fight like cats and dogs

18. Has just finished or sold all its supply
be given/ get his marching order
is fresh out of
make a name for
someone drops the ball

19. Take action to get something into a good condition
cry buckets
knock into shape
sink like a stone
to get/ take flak

20. Come to a natural end
catch some z's
run its course
sink like a stone
fight like cats and dogs

21. Give something a new start
make a name for
open the door to
someone is batting a thousand
curl your lip

22. People that you don't know or think are not important
to take center stage
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
not worth a dime
catch some z's

23. Very angry
hopping mad
to clip someone's wings
get the sack
up-to-the-minute

24. Understand something
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
grunt work
see the joke
to see light

25. Start to listen carefully
like the cat that ate the canary
put your foot in it
catch some z's
prick ones ears up

26. Doing something extremely well - better than they had hoped
someone is batting a thousand
see the joke
the good old days
to take center stage

27. Very pleased with oneself (informal - usually collocates with 'look' - 'grin' or 'smile')
catch some z's
know no bounds
to clip someone's wings
like the cat that ate the canary

28. A debt that one owes someone for moral rather than financial reason
sit on the fence
debt of honour
a flash in a pan
the frosting on the cake

29. Enthusiasm for adventurous activities
spirit of adventure
cold cash
part and parcel
open the door to

30. Control something firmly and effectively
run a tight ship
up-to-the-minute
cry buckets
see the joke

31. Has little or no value
to see light
not worth a dime
get off your backside
sit on the fence

32. Recieve strong criticism
going up in the world
cold cash
to get/ take flak
take the cake

33. Become sensible/ reasonable
to see reason
open the door to
run its course
take a shine to

34. Money in form of cash or notes - not a cheque or credit card
to get/ take flak
take a shine to
cold cash
get off your backside

35. Accept your low position within society without trying to improve it
take a shine to
like the cat that ate the canary
right of the bat
know your place

36. Be extreme
someone is batting a thousand
catch some z's
right of the bat
know no bounds

37. Use the power his (manager) position gives him to make them (employees) do something
right of the bat
not worth a dime
to clip someone's wings
to pull rank

38. Be dismissed from your job
get off your backside
to se the point
going up in the world
get the sack

39. Stop being lazy (very informal)
get off your backside
sink like a stone
run its course
up-to-the-minute

40. Gained a better position - or more money - than before
curl your lip
throw someone a curveball
to clip someone's wings
going up in the world

41. Say something accidentally which upsets or embarrasses someone
put your foot in it
hopping mad
cold cash
run its course

42. Delay making a decision when they have to choose between two different options in a dispute
throw someone a curveball
cold cash
put your foot in it
sit on the fence

43. Hard - boring work
fight like cats and dogs
grunt work
like the cat that ate the canary
be given/ get his marching order

44. Failed completely
be beyond the pale
curl your lip
sink like a stone
get the sack

45. Lose his job
sit on the fence
catch some z's
be given/ get his marching order
run its course

46. To sneer; show disrespect
like the cat that ate the canary
curl your lip
to take center stage
sink like a stone

47. Pretend to be in a weaker or stronger position than is really the case
to take center stage
someone is batting a thousand
to clip someone's wings
bluff your way

48. Something that happens only once
to see reason
every Tom - Dick and/or Harry
a flash in a pan
someone drops the ball

49. Understanding the importance of something
to se the point
to take center stage
prick ones ears up
see the joke

50. Be unacceptable
be beyond the pale
to take center stage
debt of honour
be given/ get his marching order