Idioms Exercise
Each sentence given below contains an idiomatic expression. From the given options, you
have to identify that word which will complete the expression.
1. I am sure he will never set the ……………………. on fire.
Mississippi
Thames
Danube
To set the Thames on fire is to do something remarkable.
2. The police suspect that he had a …………………….. in the plot.
hand
nose
teeth
To have a hand in something is to be involved in it.
3. Please do not take failure to ……………………..
brain
mind
heart
When you take something to heart, you are deeply affected by it.
4. I am afraid you are burning the …………………….. at both ends.
wick
log
candle
To burn the candle at both ends is to exhaust your energies.
5. As a writer, Bernard Shaw was head and ………………………….. above his
contemporaries.
shoulders
neck
chest
When you are head and shoulders above others, you are much better than them.
6. The foolish man made ducks and ……………………… of his wealth.
geese
rats
drakes
To make ducks and drakes of one’s wealth is to squander it.
7. Although I have known her for a long time, she always gives me the cold
…………………..
hand
head
shoulder
To give someone the cold shoulder is to show unfriendliness.
8. He is quite fond of blowing his own ……………………..
whistle
trumpet
flute
To blow one’s own trumpet is to praise oneself.
9. A spirit of unrest is in the ………………………….
wind
sky
air
If something is in the air it is prevalent.
10. I don’t think that you should accept that job. You already have too
many ………………………. in the fire.
logs
irons
knives
To have too many irons in the fire is to be engaged in too many activities at the same time.
11. I have a …………………… to pick with you.
bone
screw
nail
When you have a bone to pick with somebody, you have a reason to quarrel with them.
12. All of his projects ended in …………………..
smoke
fire
fog
To end in smoke is to come to nothing.
PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. I am sure he will never set the Thames on fire.
2. The police suspect that he had a hand in the plot.
3. Please do not take failure to heart.
4. I am afraid you are burning the candle at both ends.
5. As a writer, Bernard Shaw was head and shoulders above his contemporaries.
6. The foolish man made ducks and drakes of his wealth.
7. Although I have known her for a long time, she always gives me the cold shoulder.
8. He is quite fond of blowing his own trumpet.
9. A spirit of unrest is in the air.
10. I don’t think that you should accept that job. You already have too many irons in the fire.
11. I have a bone to pick with you.
12. All of his projects ended in smoke.