Question 1

What does 'Break the ice' mean?

Accepted Answer

To initiate conversation in a social setting, often to ease tension.

Question 2

What does 'Bite the bullet' mean?

Accepted Answer

To endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable.

Question 3

What does 'Kick the bucket' mean?

Accepted Answer

To die (often used humorously).

Question 4

What does 'Burn the midnight oil' mean?

Accepted Answer

To work late into the night.

Question 5

What does 'Let the cat out of the bag' mean?

Accepted Answer

To reveal a secret or a surprise by accident.

Question 6

What does 'Under the weather' mean?

Accepted Answer

Feeling ill or unwell.

Question 7

What does 'Hit the nail on the head' mean?

Accepted Answer

To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.

Question 8

What does 'The ball is in your court' mean?

Accepted Answer

It's your turn to take action or make a decision.

Question 9

What does 'Piece of cake' mean?

Accepted Answer

Something that is very easy to do.

Question 10

What does 'Spill the beans' mean?

Accepted Answer

To disclose a secret or reveal information prematurely.

Question 11

What does 'Barking up the wrong tree' mean?

Accepted Answer

To make a wrong assumption or pursue a mistaken course.

Question 12

What does 'Beating around the bush' mean?

Accepted Answer

To avoid talking about what is important.

Question 13

What does 'Caught between a rock and a hard place' mean?

Accepted Answer

In a difficult situation where there is no good option.

Question 14

What does 'Once in a blue moon' mean?

Accepted Answer

Something that happens very rarely.

Question 15

What does 'The best of both worlds' mean?

Accepted Answer

A situation where one can enjoy the advantages of two different things.

Question 16

What does 'In the same boat' mean?

Accepted Answer

In the same difficult situation as someone else.

Question 17

What does 'Throw in the towel' mean?

Accepted Answer

To give up or admit defeat.

Question 18

What does 'A blessing in disguise' mean?

Accepted Answer

An apparent misfortune that results in something good.

Question 19

What does 'Burning the candle at both ends' mean?

Accepted Answer

To exhaust oneself by doing too much work.

Question 20

What does 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' mean?

Accepted Answer

Don't assume success until it actually happens.

Question 21

What does 'Every cloud has a silver lining' mean?

Accepted Answer

There's something good in every bad situation.

Question 22

What does 'Hit the ground running' mean?

Accepted Answer

To start a new activity with enthusiasm and energy.

Question 23

What does 'Let sleeping dogs lie' mean?

Accepted Answer

To avoid interfering in a situation that could cause trouble.

Question 24

What does 'Make a mountain out of a molehill' mean?

Accepted Answer

To exaggerate a minor issue into a big problem.

Question 25

What does 'No pain, no gain' mean?

Accepted Answer

You have to work hard for something you want.

Question 26

What does 'On the ball' mean?

Accepted Answer

To be alert, competent, and able to understand things quickly.

Question 27

What does 'Raining cats and dogs' mean?

Accepted Answer

To rain very heavily.

Question 28

What does 'The early bird catches the worm' mean?

Accepted Answer

Someone who takes action early will have an advantage.

Question 29

What does 'There's no such thing as a free lunch' mean?

Accepted Answer

You always pay for what you get, even if it seems free.

Question 30

What does 'To be in hot water' mean?

Accepted Answer

To be in trouble.

Question 31

What does 'To burn bridges' mean?

Accepted Answer

To cut off all future opportunities.

Question 32

What does 'To go out on a limb' mean?

Accepted Answer

To put oneself in a risky situation.

Question 33

What does 'To steal someone's thunder' mean?

Accepted Answer

To take credit for someone else's idea.

Question 34

What does 'To add insult to injury' mean?

Accepted Answer

To make a bad situation worse.

Question 35

What does 'Caught red-handed' mean?

Accepted Answer

To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong.

Question 36

What does 'Actions speak louder than words' mean?

Accepted Answer

What someone actually does is more important than what they say.

Question 37

What does 'An arm and a leg' mean?

Accepted Answer

Something that is very expensive.

Question 38

What does 'Bite off more than you can chew' mean?

Accepted Answer

To take on a task that is way too big or difficult.

Question 39

What does 'To cross that bridge when you come to it' mean?

Accepted Answer

To deal with a problem only when it arises.

Question 40

What does 'To feel under the weather' mean?

Accepted Answer

To feel ill or sick.

Question 41

What does 'To get a second wind' mean?

Accepted Answer

To regain energy after a period of fatigue.

Question 42

What does 'To go back to the drawing board' mean?

Accepted Answer

To start over because the initial plan did not work.

Question 43

What does 'To kick the can down the road' mean?

Accepted Answer

To postpone making a decision or taking action.

Question 44

What does 'To lend a hand' mean?

Accepted Answer

To help someone.

Question 45

What does 'To miss the boat' mean?

Accepted Answer

To miss an opportunity.

Question 46

What does 'To pull someone's leg' mean?

Accepted Answer

To joke or tease someone.

Question 47

What does 'To read between the lines' mean?

Accepted Answer

To understand the hidden meaning of something.

Question 48

What does 'To see eye to eye' mean?

Accepted Answer

To agree with someone.

Question 49

What does 'To sit on the fence' mean?

Accepted Answer

To avoid making a decision or taking sides.

Question 50

What does 'To take with a grain of salt' mean?

Accepted Answer

To view something with skepticism.

Question 51

What does 'To throw caution to the wind' mean?

Accepted Answer

To take a risk.

Question 52

What does 'When pigs fly' mean?

Accepted Answer

Something that will never happen.

Question 53

What does 'To weather the storm' mean?

Accepted Answer

To endure a difficult situation.

Question 54

What does 'To go down in flames' mean?

Accepted Answer

To fail spectacularly.

Question 55

What does 'To have a chip on your shoulder' mean?

Accepted Answer

To be angry or resentful about something.

Question 56

What does 'To hit the jackpot' mean?

Accepted Answer

To achieve great success or fortune.

Question 57

What does 'To bite the hand that feeds you' mean?

Accepted Answer

To harm someone who helps you.

Question 58

What does 'To throw in the towel' mean?

Accepted Answer

To give up or admit defeat.

Question 59

What does 'To put all your eggs in one basket' mean?

Accepted Answer

To risk everything on a single venture.

Question 60

What does 'To have your head in the clouds' mean?

Accepted Answer

To be unrealistic or lost in thought.

Question 61

What does 'To steal someone's thunder' mean?

Accepted Answer

To take attention away from someone else's achievement.

Question 62

What does 'To run around in circles' mean?

Accepted Answer

To waste time by doing things ineffectively.

Question 63

What does 'To have a skeleton in the closet' mean?

Accepted Answer

To have a hidden secret that could be damaging.

Question 64

What does 'To break the bank' mean?

Accepted Answer

To spend all your money.

English Idioms Flashcard Quiz

Hint: Tap the flashcard to see the answer

What does 'Break the ice' mean?