Idioms & Phrases: Practice Questions with Answers

The meaning of common English idioms. Try each question first: tap an option to check it, and the explanation appears below.

1. Question 1Medium

   What does the idiom “A bolt from the blue” mean?

   A.A complete surpriseB.A bad dreamC.A bright ideaD.A sudden storm
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   ✅ A. A complete surprise

   The idiom “A bolt from the blue” means “a complete surprise”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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2. Question 2Hard

   What does the idiom “Keep someone at arm's length” mean?

   A.To protect someoneB.To stand close to someoneC.To avoid becoming close to someoneD.To help someone
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   ✅ C. To avoid becoming close to someone

   The idiom “Keep someone at arm's length” means “to avoid becoming close to someone”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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3. Question 3Easy

   What does the idiom “Under the weather” mean?

   A.Being very busyB.Feeling very happyC.Feeling unwellD.Staying indoors
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   ✅ C. Feeling unwell

   The idiom “Under the weather” means “feeling unwell”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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4. Question 4Medium

   What does the idiom “Cry over spilt milk” mean?

   A.To spend money carelesslyB.To waste something usefulC.To feel sorry about something that cannot be changedD.To be very careless
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   ✅ C. To feel sorry about something that cannot be changed

   The idiom “Cry over spilt milk” means “to feel sorry about something that cannot be changed”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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5. Question 5Easy

   What does the idiom “On cloud nine” mean?

   A.Daydreaming in classB.Very far awayC.Extremely happyD.Very confused
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   ✅ C. Extremely happy

   The idiom “On cloud nine” means “extremely happy”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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6. Question 6Medium

   What does the idiom “Add fuel to the fire” mean?

   A.To make a bad situation worseB.To give someone energyC.To solve a problem quicklyD.To cook a meal
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   ✅ A. To make a bad situation worse

   The idiom “Add fuel to the fire” means “to make a bad situation worse”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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7. Question 7Medium

   What does the idiom “Put all one's eggs in one basket” mean?

   A.To save money carefullyB.To carry too muchC.To share everything equallyD.To risk everything on a single plan
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   ✅ D. To risk everything on a single plan

   The idiom “Put all one's eggs in one basket” means “to risk everything on a single plan”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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8. Question 8Medium

   What does the idiom “Make ends meet” mean?

   A.To join two things togetherB.To finish a taskC.To meet old friendsD.To earn just enough money to live on
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   ✅ D. To earn just enough money to live on

   The idiom “Make ends meet” means “to earn just enough money to live on”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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9. Question 9Medium

   What does the idiom “Bury the hatchet” mean?

   A.To start a fightB.To hide something valuableC.To forget a promiseD.To end a quarrel and make peace
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   ✅ D. To end a quarrel and make peace

   The idiom “Bury the hatchet” means “to end a quarrel and make peace”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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10. Question 10Medium

    What does the idiom “Read between the lines” mean?

    A.To read aloudB.To skip parts of a textC.To understand the hidden meaningD.To read very fast
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    ✅ C. To understand the hidden meaning

    The idiom “Read between the lines” means “to understand the hidden meaning”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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11. Question 11Medium

    What does the idiom “The ball is in your court” mean?

    A.It is your turn to act or decideB.You have won the gameC.You are in troubleD.You must leave now
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    ✅ A. It is your turn to act or decide

    The idiom “The ball is in your court” means “it is your turn to act or decide”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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12. Question 12Easy

    What does the idiom “Call it a day” mean?

    A.To start a new jobB.To stop working for the dayC.To celebrate a special dayD.To fix a date
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    ✅ B. To stop working for the day

    The idiom “Call it a day” means “to stop working for the day”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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13. Question 13Medium

    What does the idiom “By leaps and bounds” mean?

    A.With great difficultyB.Step by stepC.Very carefullyD.Very quickly
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    ✅ D. Very quickly

    The idiom “By leaps and bounds” means “very quickly”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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14. Question 14Medium

    What does the idiom “A blessing in disguise” mean?

    A.A hidden dangerB.A gift given secretlyC.A false friendD.Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good
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    ✅ D. Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good

    The idiom “A blessing in disguise” means “something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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15. Question 15Medium

    What does the idiom “Leave no stone unturned” mean?

    A.To try every possible wayB.To build something newC.To clean everythingD.To give up easily
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    ✅ A. To try every possible way

    The idiom “Leave no stone unturned” means “to try every possible way”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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16. Question 16Medium

    What does the idiom “Up in the air” mean?

    A.Not yet decidedB.Completely finishedC.Very happyD.On a flight
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    ✅ A. Not yet decided

    The idiom “Up in the air” means “not yet decided”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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17. Question 17Hard

    What does the idiom “A white elephant” mean?

    A.A costly possession that is of little useB.A large and useful giftC.A rare animalD.A peaceful person
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    ✅ A. A costly possession that is of little use

    The idiom “A white elephant” means “a costly possession that is of little use”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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18. Question 18Medium

    What does the idiom “See eye to eye” mean?

    A.To agree fullyB.To meet face to faceC.To argue stronglyD.To look closely
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    ✅ A. To agree fully

    The idiom “See eye to eye” means “to agree fully”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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19. Question 19Hard

    What does the idiom “The tip of the iceberg” mean?

    A.The final resultB.The highest pointC.A cold replyD.A small visible part of a much bigger problem
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    ✅ D. A small visible part of a much bigger problem

    The idiom “The tip of the iceberg” means “a small visible part of a much bigger problem”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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20. Question 20Easy

    What does the idiom “In the dark” mean?

    A.Working at nightB.Being afraidC.Not knowing about somethingD.Feeling sad
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    ✅ C. Not knowing about something

    The idiom “In the dark” means “not knowing about something”. An idiom's meaning is not the same as the meaning of its separate words, so read it as a whole phrase.

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