Common English Idioms (Part 2)

An idiom is a word or phrase with a meaning that is different from the actual words. Read the example sentences in the quiz and then choose the best answer for the meaning of each idiom. Good luck!

Common English Idioms Quiz 2

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Question 1
Sharon's really on the ball - she knows all the latest news about the industry.

on the ball = ____________________________

A
dedicated
B
well-informed and up-to-date
C
smart and quick
Question 2
Dave didn't have an easy childhood; he grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.

on the wrong side of the tracks = _______________________

A
in a violent home
B
in a bad neighborhood
C
without any toys to play with
Question 3
My colleague hasn't responded to my e-mails for months, so I'm ignoring his phone calls - giving him a taste of his own medicine.

giving (him/her) a taste of (his/her) own medicine = ________________________

A
not speaking to a person
B
doing something bad to another person because they did something bad to you
C
losing a friendship with a person because they don't stay in contact
Question 4
"Did John tell you he broke up with his girlfriend?"

"No, but I heard it on the grapevine."

heard it on the grapevine =   _______________________

A
heard it indirectly or through other people
B
heard it on the news
C
heard it through the telephone
Question 5
I didn't go out over the weekend because I was feeling under the weather.

feeling under the weather = ________________________

A
thinking it's going to rain
B
feeling anti-social
C
feeling a little sick
Question 6
In the movie, James Bond deactivated the bomb in the nick of time!

in the nick of time = ______________________

A
at the very last moment
B
very quickly
C
at the end of the movie
Question 7
Those "I love NY" T-shirts are a dime a dozen in New York City.

a dime a dozen = _______________

A
very typical of a certain place
B
very cheap
C
very common, easy to find
Question 8
I live in California, where I can go hiking in the mountains or spend the day at the beach. I have the best of both worlds!

the best of both worlds = ______________________________

A
all the advantages
B
many different activities to enjoy
C
a house in a great location
Question 9
I don't know which presidential candidate I'm going to vote for; I'm still sitting on the fence.

sitting on the fence = ____________________

A
when a person wants to run for president
B
when a person doesn't want to vote in an election
C
when a person doesn't want to make a decision
Question 10
I don't mind doing volunteer work once in a while, but I draw the line at giving a week-long workshop for free.

draw the line = _____________________________

A
establish a limit
B
don't want to do
C
don't think it's fair
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There are 10 questions to complete.

 

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