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You are here: Home / Exercises / Commonly Misused Idioms Exercise

Commonly Misused Idioms Exercise

February 18, 2026 - pdf

Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.

Progress 0 of 12 answered
I missed the early train, but I managed to catch the next one at ...............
Wrong!
We say 'at the last minute' for something done just before it is too late.
I told her the truth, but she took it with ............... and didn’t believe me.
Wrong!
The idiom is 'a pinch of salt' meaning you doubt something a little.
He was so nervous before the interview that he had ............... in his stomach.
Wrong!
The natural idiom is 'butterflies in his stomach' for nervous feelings.
I don’t want to argue, so I’ll just ............... and move on.
Wrong!
We say 'let it go' when we decide not to continue a disagreement.
When she heard the good news, she was ...............
Wrong!
The idiom is 'over the moon' meaning very happy.
I can’t tell you the surprise yet, but I’ll give you a ...............
Wrong!
We say 'a hint' when we give a small clue.
I tried to explain, but it went in one ear and ...............
Wrong!
The fixed phrase is 'out the other' for not remembering what you heard.
We need to finish this today, so let’s get ...............
Wrong!
The common phrase is 'down to business' meaning start working seriously.
He promised to help, but when the time came he ...............
Wrong!
The idiom is 'backed out' meaning he withdrew from a promise or plan.
I don’t know the answer, so I’ll have to ...............
Wrong!
We say 'take a guess' when we answer without being sure.
Let’s ............... and see what happens instead of worrying now.
Wrong!
The idiom is 'cross that bridge' meaning deal with a problem later.
She’s very private, so don’t ............... about her personal life.
Wrong!
We say 'pry' when someone tries to find out private information.
Done.
Score: 0/12

Answers

  1. I missed the early train, but I managed to catch the next one at the last minute
  2. I told her the truth, but she took it with a pinch of salt and didn’t believe me.
  3. He was so nervous before the interview that he had butterflies in his stomach.
  4. I don’t want to argue, so I’ll just let it go and move on.
  5. When she heard the good news, she was over the moon
  6. I can’t tell you the surprise yet, but I’ll give you a hint
  7. I tried to explain, but it went in one ear and out the other
  8. We need to finish this today, so let’s get down to business
  9. He promised to help, but when the time came he backed out
  10. I don’t know the answer, so I’ll have to take a guess
  11. Let’s cross that bridge and see what happens instead of worrying now.
  12. She’s very private, so don’t pry about her personal life.
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