This exercise tests your understanding of common idiomatic expressions. Fill in the blanks.
1Rahul is known for his ............... fuse. The other day, he yelled at the teacher for asking him to leave the class.
Wrong!
The idiom is "short fuse", meaning a tendency to get angry quickly.
2I had ............... in my stomach as I waited for the results to be announced.
Wrong!
The idiom is "butterflies in my stomach", meaning a nervous feeling.
3Peter made the national team by the skin of his ...............; you can tell that he has not fully recovered from his injuries.
Wrong!
The idiom is "by the skin of his teeth", meaning he only just succeeded.
4If you always cry ..............., no one will be there to help you when you actually need it.
Wrong!
The idiom is "cry wolf", meaning to ask for help when there is no real danger.
5Cut him some ...............; after all, he is only a child.
Wrong!
The idiom is "cut him some slack", meaning to judge him less harshly.
6I did not go to the party because I was down for the ............... after working all day in the garden.
Wrong!
The idiom is "down for the count", meaning too exhausted to continue.
7I know getting fired is no fun, but remember that every cloud has a ............... lining.
Wrong!
The idiom is "silver lining", meaning something good in a bad situation.
8Finding a good job these days is as hard as finding a ............... in a haystack.
Wrong!
The idiom is "needle in a haystack", meaning something very difficult to find.
9I felt like a ............... out of water at the party because I did not know anyone there.
Wrong!
The idiom is "fish out of water", meaning someone feels uncomfortable or out of place.
10I have to get this off my ...............: I was the person who reported you to the police.
Wrong!
The idiom is "get this off my chest", meaning to say something that has been worrying you.
11I have never gone scuba diving, but I am going to give it a ...............
Wrong!
The idiom is "give it a whirl", meaning to try something.
12Her career went down in ............... after she started taking drugs.
Wrong!
The idiom is "went down in flames", meaning failed suddenly and badly.
Answers
- Rahul is known for his short fuse. The other day, he yelled at the teacher for asking him to leave the class.
- I had butterflies in my stomach as I waited for the results to be announced.
- Peter made the national team by the skin of his teeth; you can tell that he has not fully recovered from his injuries.
- If you always cry wolf, no one will be there to help you when you actually need it.
- Cut him some slack; after all, he is only a child.
- I did not go to the party because I was down for the count after working all day in the garden.
- I know getting fired is no fun, but remember that every cloud has a silver lining.
- Finding a good job these days is as hard as finding a needle in a haystack.
- I felt like a fish out of water at the party because I did not know anyone there.
- I have to get this off my chest: I was the person who reported you to the police.
- I have never gone scuba diving, but I am going to give it a whirl.
- Her career went down in flames after she started taking drugs.