Common Idioms
Fill in the blanks with a word or phrase that will complete the idiom used in the sentence.
1. I don’t have time to watch the match. I must ………………………….. the
books. I have an exam tomorrow.
grab
take
hit
To hit the books is to study.
2. I am so tired. I think I should hit the …………………………………
leather
sofa
sack
To hit the sack is to go to bed.
3. I really didn’t want to go to the party but Mary twisted my
…………………………………
neck
arm
hand
To twist someone’s arm is to convince them to do something they were not keen on doing.
4. My best friend stabbed me in the …………………………………….. when she
went on a date with my boyfriend.
neck
head
back
To stab someone in the back is to hurt someone who is close to us.
5. The train may be late by an hour so sit …………………………….. and wait.
up
tight
loose
To sit tight is to wait patiently.
6. Peter no longer smokes. He went …………………………….. turkey a few
months ago.
plane
hot
cold
To go cold turkey is to stop an addictive behavior suddenly.
7. If you keep coming late to work, you will have to face the
………………………………
song
reprimands
music
To face the music is to have to accept punishment.
8. Do you know Susie Richardson? ‘I am not sure, but that name certainly
rings a …………………………………………..’
phone
chord
bell
When something rings a bell, it sounds familiar.
9. I was frustrated, so I went for a swim to blow off ……………………………..
stress
heat
steam
To blow off steam is to do something to get rid of stress.
10. I am not sure when we will move to our new home. Things are still
…………………………… in the air.
off
above
up
When things are up in the air, they are uncertain.
11. Janet is really on the …………………………………. She finishes her
assignments several days ahead of the due date.
bell
ball
court
When you are on the ball, you are quite prepared for something.
12. Some of the most successful people in the world went from
………………………………………… to riches.
rag
rags
sewer
To go from rags to riches is to go from being poor to having a lot of money.
PLAY AGAIN !
Answers
1. I don’t have time to watch the match. I must hit the books. I have an exam tomorrow.
2. I am so tired. I think I should hit the sack.
3. I really didn’t want to go to the party but Mary twisted my arm.
4. My best friend stabbed me in the back when she went on a date with my boyfriend.
5. The train may be late by an hour so sit tight and wait.
6. Peter no longer smokes. He went cold turkey a few months ago.
7. If you keep coming late to work, you will have to face the music.
8. Do you know Susie Richardson? ‘I am not sure, but that name certainly rings a bell.’
9. I was frustrated, so I went for a swim to blow off steam.
10. I am not sure when we will move to our new home. Things are still up in the air.
11. Janet is really on the ball. She finishes her assignments several days ahead of the due
date.
12. Some of the most successful people in the world went from rags to riches.