Fill in the blanks with a word or phrase that will complete the idiom used in the sentence.
1The supervisor was fired because he had sticky ............... .
Wrong!
The idiom "sticky fingers" means a tendency to steal.
2He really gave me a ............... for my money when we played poker yesterday.
Wrong!
The idiom "run" in "a run for my money" means a strong challenge or competition.
3Why are you being so ...............? You don't even pay for your drinks.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
The idioms "close-fisted" and "hard-fisted" mean unwilling to spend money.
4Whenever I eat out with my friends, I prefer to go ............... .
Wrong!
The idiom "Dutch" in "go Dutch" means that each person pays for their own meal or drink.
5He had to ............... over a lot of money last month for violating traffic rules.
Wrong!
The phrasal idiom "fork" in "fork over" means to pay money, often unwillingly.
6"Do you think you could lend me some money?" "No, I am in the ............... this month."
Wrong!
The idiom "red" in "in the red" means owing money or having a financial loss.
7The corrupt cops receive ............... for ignoring certain crimes.
Wrong!
The word "kickbacks" means illegal payments made in return for special treatment.
8We have been living hand to ............... since I lost my job.
Wrong!
The idiom "mouth" in "hand to mouth" means living with only enough money for basic needs.
9I don't earn much from my job as a freelance writer, but I can make ends ............... .
Wrong!
The idiom "meet" in "make ends meet" means to have enough money for basic expenses.
10Why are you looking upset? Keep your ............... up.
Wrong!
The idiom "chin" in "keep your chin up" means to stay positive in a difficult situation.
11"How are you doing in Singapore?" "I'm still finding my ............... ."
Wrong!
The idiom "feet" in "finding my feet" means becoming comfortable in a new situation.
12I thought the interview would be difficult, but it was a piece of ............... .
Wrong!
The idiom "cake" in "a piece of cake" means something very easy.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The supervisor was fired because he had sticky fingers .
- He really gave me a run for my money when we played poker yesterday.
- Why are you being so close-fisted / hard-fisted? You don’t even pay for your drinks.
- Whenever I eat out with my friends, I prefer to go Dutch .
- He had to fork over a lot of money last month for violating traffic rules.
- “Do you think you could lend me some money?” “No, I am in the red this month.”
- The corrupt cops receive kickbacks for ignoring certain crimes.
- We have been living hand to mouth since I lost my job.
- I don’t earn much from my job as a freelance writer, but I can make ends meet .
- Why are you looking upset? Keep your chin up.
- “How are you doing in Singapore?” “I’m still finding my feet .”
- I thought the interview would be difficult, but it was a piece of cake .

