Common English Idioms (Part 3)

Have you ever “missed the boat”?

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 3

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Question 1

"Of course we can drive to New York - we just need to get your brother to lend us his car for the weekend."

"Easier said than done! He doesn't even let his wife drive it."

easier said than done = ____________________

A	not as easy as it appears to be
B	easier to do something than to explain it
C	this person is difficult to get along with

Question 2

Last semester, I was taking 10 classes, working part-time, playing on the volleyball team, and volunteering at the animal shelter. I think I bit off more than I could chew.

bite off more than you can chew = ____________________

A	feel very stressed
B	take responsibility for more than you can manage
C	eat more than you should

Question 3

"Are you sure Brad is leaving the company?"

"I know it's true! I heard it straight from the horse's mouth!"

hear it straight from the horse's mouth = ____________________

A	to discover that a person has been fired from his/her job
B	to find out a person loves animals
C	to get information from a reliable source

Question 4

The furniture from that store costs an arm and a leg! $10,000 for a couch is ridiculous!

costs an arm and a leg = ____________________

A	is very heavy
B	is difficult to put together
C	is very expensive

Question 5

My husband worked a 16-hour day. He's down for the count.

down for the count = ____________________

A	counting the hours
B	completely exhausted
C	downstairs

Question 5 Explanation:

This expression comes from boxing. If one boxer stays down on the floor while the official counts up to 10, he loses the match.

Question 6

I should have gone to the optional training session - everyone who went said it was really useful for their jobs! I sure missed the boat on that one.

miss the boat = ____________________

A	lose a good opportunity
B	be too late for something
C	not understand something

Question 7

Can I borrow $20 for gas money? I'm broke.

broke = ____________________

A	to have no gas
B	to have a broken car
C	to have no money

Question 8

"So, are you going to take the new job or not?"

"I'm not sure. I'll have to sleep on it."

sleep on it = ____________________

A	fall asleep on the job
B	think about something for a while before making a decision
C	get enough rest before starting something new

Question 9

This morning, I hit a car in the company parking lot. To add insult to injury, it was my boss' car. to add insult to injury = ____________________