idiom - quiz

Idioms in English

What is an idiom? According to the Oxford Dictionary of American English, it is “an expression

with a meaning that you cannot guess from the meanings of the separate words.” See if you can

match the idiom with its meaning.

1. Breathing down his/her neck

2. Right up one’s alley

3. Get off on the right foot

4. A piece of the action

5. A bang for your buck

6. Bite your tongue

7. Pig out

8. Spill the beans

9. Wild goose chase

10. Pull strings

11. Not one’s cup of tea

12. Knock one’s socks off

13 On a roll

14. What makes someone tick

15. Out of the blue

16. It’s not rocket science

17. Make no bones about it

18. On the up and up

19. Wash your hands of someone (or something)

21. Up a creek (without a paddle)

22. Go bananas

23. Go with the flow

24. See red

A. What makes someone behave in a particular way

B. Exert influence to get what you want

C. A worthless hunt for someone or something

D. Having repeated success

E. Honest or legal

F. Something not difficult to understand or do

G. Stop saying something you shouldn’t

H. To end all involvement with someone/something

I. In a very difficult situation

J. To greatly surprise someone

K. Become very excited or behave in a crazy way

L. Not something one enjoys very much

M. To say clearly what you think or feel

N. Happening suddenly and unexpectedly

O. Eat a lot

P. Get good value in exchange for money or effort

Q. A share in an activity or in its profits

R. To become very angry

S. Reveal a secret

T. To accept a situation without trying to change it

U. Keeping close watch on someone

V. Perfectly matched to one’s interests

W. Start correctly