Do You Know These Everyday Expressions?
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Question 1
When Someone Says “Break a Leg,” What Are They Really Wishing You?
Question 1
What Fills the Blank? “Hit the Nail on the _____. ”
Question 1
What Does “take It With a Grain of Salt” Imply?
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Someone "with a Chip on Their Shoulder" Is:
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Every Cloud Has a _____ Lining.
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What Does It Mean if Someone Is “throwing Shade”?
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If Someone Is "barking up the Wrong Tree," What Are They Doing?
Question 1
He’s the Black _____ of the Family.
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Which Expression Suggests Someone Is Very Enthusiastic?
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To "let the Cat Out of the Bag" Means:
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He Got Cold _____ Before the Wedding.
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If You're “caught Red-Handed,” What Happened?
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He’s Burning the Candle at Both _____.
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Which Idiom Describes Something That Happens Rarely?
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To “bite the Bullet” Means to:
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Complete the Phrase: “Let Sleeping Dogs _____. ”
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If You're “burning the Midnight Oil,” You're:
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When Pigs _____.
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“Throw in the Towel” Means to:
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Which Expression Is a Way of Saying “keep Something Secret”?
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What Does It Mean to “cry Wolf”?
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Someone Who “beats Around the Bush” Is:
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What Does “call It a Day” Mean?
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You’re Skating on Thin _____.
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If Someone Is “beating a Dead Horse,” They Are:
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If Someone “pulls Your Leg,” They Are:
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“On Cloud Nine” Describes Someone Who Is:
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What Does “back to the Drawing Board” Imply?
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What Does “jump the Gun” Mean?
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Finish This Phrase: “The Early Bird Gets the _____. ”
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A “blessing in Disguise” Is:
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That’s the Last _____.
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"The Ball Is in Your Court" Means:
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Which Idiom Means “you’re in Trouble”?
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If Someone Is “on the Fence,” They Are:
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To “cut Corners” Means:
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Which Saying Describes Avoiding Responsibility?
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If Someone “twists Your Arm,” What Are They Doing?
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Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One _____.
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If Someone “hits the Sack,” They Are:
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“Under the Weather” Means Someone Is:
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If Something Is a “piece of Cake,” It Is:
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“Cost an Arm and a Leg” Means Something Is:
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What Is Meant by “bite off More Than You Can Chew”?
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Don’t Judge a Book by Its _____.
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What Completes This Idiom? “Kill Two Birds With One _____. ”
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To “go the Extra Mile” Means:
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Which Idiom Describes Revealing Something Prematurely?
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To Be “ahead of the Curve” Means:
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He’s Not the Sharpest Tool in the _____.
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She Let Him off the _____.
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If You’re “walking on Eggshells,” You’re:
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“Hit the Ground Running” Means:
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“Throw Someone Under the Bus” Implies:
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We’ll Cross That Bridge When We Come to _____.
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To “miss the Boat” Means:
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Which Phrase Refers to Something Very Cheap or Common?
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What Does “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” Advise?
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“Like Pulling Teeth” Describes:
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What Does It Mean to “cut to the Chase”?
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You Can’t Have Your Cake and _____ It Too.
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What Does “the Whole Nine Yards” Refer to?
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What Does “jump on the Bandwagon” Mean?
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What’s Someone Doing if They “bend Over Backwards”?
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Which Phrase Means “fully Prepared”?
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What Does It Mean to “put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is”?
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“Spill the Beans” Means to:
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What Does It Mean to “have Skeletons in Your Closet”?
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“Hit the Books” Means:
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If Someone Is “full of Hot Air,” They Are:
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“Under Your Nose” Means:
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What Does It Mean if Someone “gets a Taste of Their Own Medicine”?
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To Be “in Over Your Head” Means:
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To “leave No Stone Unturned” Means:
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Which Idiom Describes Someone Who Is Easily Fooled?
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“Keep Your Eyes Peeled” Suggests:
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“In a Pickle” Means:
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If Someone “sits Tight,” What Are They Doing?
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To “have a Bun in the Oven” Means:
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If Someone Is “hitting the Jackpot,” What’s Happening?
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“Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk” Means:
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“To Play It by Ear” Means:
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Which Phrase Means “don’t Talk Yet”?
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“Break the Ice” Means:
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What Does “face the Music” Mean?
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“By the Skin of Your Teeth” Means:
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“Off the Cuff” Refers to Something That Is:
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“Throw Cold Water on Something” Means:
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“Get Cold Feet” Is Most Often Associated With:
Question 1
To “know the Ropes” Means:
1
A fast recovery
2
A hospital trip
3
Good luck
4
An embarrassing moment
When someone says “Break a leg,” they’re actually wishing you good luck—especially in the performing arts.
1
Thumb
2
Board
3
Wall
4
Head
The phrase “hit the nail on the head” means to describe something exactly right or to do something with precise accuracy.
1
Add seasoning
2
Reject entirely
3
Believe wholeheartedly
4
Don’t take it too seriously
To “take it with a grain of salt” means to view something with skepticism or not take it too literally.
1
Stuck in the past
2
Hungry
3
Carrying something heavy
4
Feeling resentful
Someone "with a chip on their shoulder" is feeling resentful, carrying a grudge, or feeling angry about something, often looking for a fight.
1
Shiny
2
Silver
3
Golden
4
Blue
“Every cloud has a silver lining” means that even in difficult or gloomy situations, there’s usually some positive aspect or hopeful outcome.
1
Blocking sunlight
2
Insulting subtly
3
Complimenting someone
4
Hiding under a tree
If someone is “throwing shade,” they’re subtly insulting or criticizing someone, often in a clever or indirect way.
1
Complaining for no reason
2
Talking too much
3
Being overly aggressive
4
Pursuing a false lead
If someone is “barking up the wrong tree,” they’re pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action.
1
Cat
2
Sheep
3
Swan
4
Cloud
“He’s the black sheep of the family” refers to someone who doesn’t fit in or who goes against the family’s norms or expectations.
1
Cold feet
2
Down in the dumps
3
Over the moon
4
On the fence
The phrase “over the moon” means someone is extremely happy, joyful, or enthusiastic about something.
1
Reveal a secret
2
Complain loudly
3
Cause a problem
4
Start a fight
To "let the cat out of the bag" means to accidentally reveal a secret or surprise.
1
Feet
2
Eyes
3
Thoughts
4
Shoulders
“He got cold feet before the wedding” means he experienced sudden doubt or nervousness, often about a big commitment.
1
You were caught in the act of doing something wrong
2
You’re helping someone
3
You’ve been praised
4
You’re hurt
If you're “caught red-handed,” it means you were caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal.
1
Ends
2
Flames
3
Wicks
4
Sides
“He’s burning the candle at both ends” means he’s overworking himself by staying up late and getting up early, often sacrificing rest.
1
Once in a blue moon
2
The whole nine yards
3
The tip of the iceberg
4
A dime a dozen
The idiom “once in a blue moon” describes something that happens very rarely or infrequently.
1
Speak too soon
2
Do something unpleasant
3
Refuse to act
4
Lose hope
To “bite the bullet” means to face something difficult or unpleasant with courage and determination.
1
Run
2
Eat
3
Lie
4
Bark
“Let sleeping dogs lie” means to avoid stirring up old conflicts or revisiting past problems that are better left alone.
1
Making a mess
2
Staying up late working
3
Wasting resources
4
Driving at night
If you’re “burning the midnight oil,” you’re staying up late working or studying. The phrase comes from the days before electricity.
1
Swim
2
Fly
3
Dance
4
Sneeze
“When pigs fly” is a sarcastic way of saying something will never happen.
1
Clean up
2
Argue
3
Start fresh
4
Admit defeat
To “throw in the towel” means to give up or admit defeat, often after trying hard.
1
Break the bank
2
Rock the boat
3
Bite the dust
4
Keep it under wraps
The phrase “keep it under wraps” means to keep something secret or hidden from others until it’s revealed.
1
To raise false alarms repeatedly
2
To call for help once
3
To howl in grief
4
To be brave
To “cry wolf” means to raise a false alarm so often that people stop believing you when it’s real.
1
Rushing into things
2
Lost in the woods
3
Going in circles
4
Avoiding the main topic
Someone who “beats around the bush” is avoiding the main point or delaying getting to the topic.
1
Complain
2
Celebrate
3
Take a nap
4
Stop working
To “call it a day” means to stop working or wrap up an activity, usually after a good amount of effort.
1
Patience
2
Ice
3
Blades
4
Luck
“You’re skating on thin ice” means you’re in a risky or dangerous situation, often pushing the limits of what's acceptable.
1
Practicing patience
2
Doing something dangerous
3
Training animals
4
Pointlessly continuing an issue
If someone is “beating a dead horse,” they’re wasting time by continuing to discuss or pursue a settled issue.
1
Helping you walk
2
Attacking you
3
Joking with you
4
Stealing from you
If someone “pulls your leg,” they’re joking or teasing you in a playful and lighthearted way.
1
Tired
2
Confused
3
Extremely happy
4
Dreaming
“On cloud nine” describes someone who is extremely happy, joyful, or in a blissful state of mind.
1
Going in reverse
2
Restarting after failure
3
Drawing something
4
Making progress
“Back to the drawing board” implies starting over with a new plan after a failure or unsuccessful attempt.
1
Skip steps
2
Finish quickly
3
Avoid a decision
4
Start too early
To “jump the gun” means to act too soon or start something before the proper time or signal.
1
Nap
2
Seed
3
Worm
4
Bug
“The early bird gets the worm” means that those who act quickly or show up first are more likely to succeed.
1
A costume
2
An obvious miracle
3
A religious ritual
4
Something good that seemed bad at first
A “blessing in disguise” is something that seems bad at first but ends up having a positive outcome.
1
Thread
2
Chance
3
Straw
4
Nail
“That’s the last straw” refers to the final minor annoyance or problem that makes a person lose their patience.
1
It's your turn to take action
2
You've lost control
3
It's someone else's problem
4
You're playing tennis
“The ball is in your court” means it’s now your responsibility to make a decision or take action.
1
In hot water
2
Off the hook
3
Over the hill
4
Out of the woods
The idiom “in hot water” means you’re in trouble or facing serious difficulty, often due to a mistake.
1
Sitting high
2
Avoiding a task
3
Undecided
4
Being nosy
If someone is “on the fence,” they’re undecided or unsure about which side or option to choose.
1
Take the scenic route
2
Get in shape
3
Decorate a room
4
Save time or money by doing something poorly
To “cut corners” means to do something poorly or cheaply by skipping important steps to save time or money.
1
Take the bull by the horns
2
Go out on a limb
3
Pass the buck
4
Get your act together
The phrase “pass the buck” means to avoid responsibility by shifting it onto someone else.
1
Practicing wrestling
2
Being affectionate
3
Pressuring you to do something
4
Giving advice
If someone “twists your arm,” they’re pressuring or persuading you to do something you may not want to do.
1
Nest
2
Basket
3
Crate
4
Carton
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a classic warning against relying too heavily on a single plan or investment.
1
Carrying something heavy
2
Going to bed
3
Starting a fight
4
Going to work
If someone “hits the sack,” they’re heading to bed to sleep. It’s a casual, slangy way of saying they’re turning in for the night.
1
Confused
2
Feeling sick
3
Outside
4
Cold
If someone is “under the weather,” they’re feeling sick or unwell. The phrase likely originated from maritime language.
1
Hard to achieve
2
Not very tasty
3
Financially rewarding
4
Very easy
If something is a “piece of cake,” it’s very easy to do or requires little effort.
1
Unique
2
Very expensive
3
Important
4
Dangerous
When something “costs an arm and a leg,” it’s so expensive that it feels like you’d have to give up your own limbs to afford it!
1
Eat fast
2
Be overconfident
3
Take on too much
4
Lose control
To “bite off more than you can chew” means to take on more tasks than you can handle effectively.
1
Length
2
Genre
3
Cover
4
Price
“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a reminder not to form opinions based solely on appearances.
1
Shot
2
Stone
3
Net
4
Idea
“Kill two birds with one stone” means to accomplish two goals with a single action.
1
Put in extra effort
2
Take a detour
3
Travel longer
4
Run a marathon
To “go the extra mile” means to put in more effort than expected to achieve something or help someone.
1
Let the cat out of the bag
2
Hold your horses
3
In the same boat
4
Raining cats and dogs
The idiom “let the cat out of the bag” describes accidentally or prematurely revealing a secret or surprise.
1
Not following instructions
2
Breaking a law
3
Being lost
4
Being innovative or early
To be “ahead of the curve” means to be more advanced, innovative, or successful than others in a particular field.
1
Shed
2
Garage
3
Toolbox
4
Chest
“He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed” is a humorous way to say someone might not be very smart or quick-witted.
1
Fence
2
Hook
3
Leash
4
Chain
“She let him off the hook” means she freed him from blame, responsibility, or punishment.
1
Being extremely cautious
2
Playing a game
3
Lost
4
Having breakfast
If you’re “walking on eggshells,” you’re being extremely cautious to avoid upsetting someone or causing conflict.
1
Leave a race
2
Fall hard
3
Start something with energy
4
Miss your chance
“Hit the ground running” means to start something energetically and effectively from the very beginning, without delay.
1
Ignoring them
2
Betraying them to protect yourself
3
Saving them
4
Helping them
“Throw someone under the bus” implies betraying or sacrificing someone to protect yourself or gain an advantage.
1
Trouble
2
Water
3
It
4
Town
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it” means there’s no need to worry about a potential problem until it actually happens.
1
Arrive early
2
Forget to swim
3
Plan a vacation
4
Miss an opportunity
To “miss the boat” means to miss an opportunity or be too late to take advantage of something.
1
Full of beans
2
Two peas in a pod
3
A needle in a haystack
4
A dime a dozen
The phrase “a dime a dozen” refers to something very cheap, common, or easily found everywhere.
1
Deal with everything now
2
Leave past issues alone
3
Wake up early
4
Train your pet
“Let sleeping dogs lie” advises leaving a situation alone to avoid stirring up old problems or creating new trouble.
1
Something very difficult
2
A secret
3
A reward
4
A dentist visit
“Like pulling teeth” describes something extremely difficult, frustrating, or unpleasant to do or get done.
1
End a movie
2
Get to the point quickly
3
Talk about running
4
Stop talking
To “cut to the chase” means to skip the small talk or details and get straight to the main point.
1
Buy
2
Share
3
Eat
4
Make
“You can’t have your cake and eat it too” means you can’t enjoy two conflicting benefits at once and need to choose between competing desires.
1
A short walk
2
A sewing kit
3
Everything possible
4
A football game
“The whole nine yards” refers to doing something completely or giving it your all, with maximum effort or detail.
1
Join a popular trend
2
Cheer for a team
3
Start a band
4
Lead the group
To “jump on the bandwagon” means to join or support something popular or trending, often to fit in or benefit.
1
Dodging a question
2
Falling down
3
Making a big effort to help
4
Practicing yoga
If someone “bends over backwards,” they’re making a great effort or going out of their way to help others.
1
Jump the gun
2
Bite your tongue
3
Drag your feet
4
Armed to the teeth
The phrase “armed to the teeth” means being fully prepared, usually with all necessary resources or equipment.
1
Talk about finances
2
Eat cash
3
Complain a lot
4
Support your words with actions
To “put your money where your mouth is” means to back up your words with actions or financial support.
1
Tell a secret
2
Waste food
3
Get angry
4
Cause confusion
“Spill the beans” means to reveal secret or confidential information—whether by accident or on purpose.
1
You’re organized
2
You love Halloween
3
You’re a collector
4
You have secrets
To “have skeletons in your closet” means to hide embarrassing, shameful, or secret past events you don’t want revealed.
1
Start studying
2
Quitting school
3
Reading for fun
4
Throwing them
“Hit the books” means to begin studying hard or seriously preparing for school or exams.
1
Angry
2
Excited
3
Gassy
4
Talking nonsense or exaggerating
If someone is “full of hot air,” they talk a lot without saying anything meaningful or making real contributions.
1
Happening right in front of you unnoticed
2
A joke
3
Literally beneath you
4
In your business
“Under your nose” means something is happening right in front of you, but you’re unaware or not noticing it.
1
They experience what they’ve done to others
2
They take pills
3
They become a doctor
4
They win a prize
If someone “gets a taste of their own medicine,” they experience the same bad treatment they’ve given others.
1
You’re underwater
2
You’re tall
3
You’re sneaky
4
You’re involved in something too difficult
To be “in over your head” means you're involved in a situation that’s too difficult or overwhelming to handle.
1
Search thoroughly
2
Skip tasks
3
Be careless
4
Avoid the truth
To “leave no stone unturned” means to make every possible effort in order to achieve something or find something.
1
The big cheese
2
A fly on the wall
3
A sitting duck
4
The top dog
The idiom “a sitting duck” describes someone who is easily fooled, targeted, or vulnerable to deception or harm.
1
Avoid danger
2
Stay alert
3
Protect your eyes
4
Take a nap
“Keep your eyes peeled” suggests staying alert and watchful, especially when looking out for something specific.
1
You’re in a difficult situation
2
You’re doing well
3
You're at a deli
4
You’re confused
“In a pickle” means being in a difficult, tricky, or troublesome situation with no easy solution.
1
Refusing help
2
Exercising
3
Waiting patiently
4
Sitting with tension
If someone “sits tight,” they’re staying in place and waiting patiently without taking action or making changes.
1
You’re hungry
2
Someone is pregnant
3
Baking bread
4
Planning dinner
To “have a bun in the oven” is a playful way of saying that someone is pregnant.
1
They’ve found something hidden
2
They’re gambling irresponsibly
3
They’ve lost everything
4
They’ve achieved great success or luck
If someone is “hitting the jackpot,” they’re experiencing great success or winning a large amount, often unexpectedly.
1
Buy more milk
2
Don’t be upset about past mistakes
3
Clean up quickly
4
Drink fast
“Don’t cry over spilled milk” means don’t waste time worrying about things that have already happened and can’t be changed.
1
Improvise or adapt as you go
2
Follow instructions
3
Play music
4
Listen closely
“To play it by ear” means to handle a situation spontaneously, without a fixed plan—adapting as things unfold.
1
Bite your tongue
2
Jump the gun
3
Beat a dead horse
4
Cry wolf
The phrase “bite your tongue” means to stop yourself from speaking, especially to avoid saying something inappropriate or premature.
1
Start a fight
2
Destroy a wall
3
Ruin something
4
Begin a conversation or ease tension
“Break the ice” means to initiate conversation or ease tension in a social setting, especially when people first meet.
1
Ignore a problem
2
Accept consequences
3
Dance in public
4
Go to a concert
To “face the music” means to confront the consequences of your actions, especially when they’re unpleasant or difficult.
1
With effort
2
Something painful
3
With a smile
4
Barely managing to do something
“By the skin of your teeth” means narrowly escaping or just barely succeeding in a difficult or risky situation.
1
Hard to wear
2
Unplanned or spontaneous
3
Expensive
4
Overwhelming
“Off the cuff” refers to something that is spontaneous, unplanned, or said without preparation.
1
Calm down
2
To ruin a surprise
3
Discourage an idea or enthusiasm
4
Be wasteful
“Throw cold water on something” means to discourage enthusiasm or reduce excitement about an idea or proposal.
1
Last-minute nerves or hesitation
2
Standing on ice
3
Regret after a decision
4
Going barefoot
“Get cold feet” is most often associated with suddenly feeling nervous or backing out of a big decision or commitment.
1
Understand how things work
2
Be a sailor
3
Tie knots well
4
Follow rules
To “know the ropes” means to be familiar with how something works, especially a job, task, or system.
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