Idiom Origins & Meanings
1 / 15Do you know what these common idioms really mean and where they come from?
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What does the idiom 'break the ice' mean?
About Idiom Origins & Meanings
Give your memory a workout with Idiom Origins & Meanings: 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 6 medium, 5 easy, 4 hard questions, free to play right in your browser. Do you know what these common idioms really mean and where they come from? Expect to spend about 7 minutes; every question comes with an explanation, so you learn something even when you miss.
A few sample questions
1. What does the idiom 'break the ice' mean?
Answer: To initiate conversation in an awkward situation
'Break the ice' means to do something to relieve tension or get conversation going in an uncomfortable social situation.
2. What does the idiom 'bite the bullet' mean?
Answer: To endure a painful situation with courage
'Bite the bullet' means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely. It originates from the practice of having patients bite on a bullet during surgery before anesthesia.
3. What does the idiom 'burning the midnight oil' mean?
Answer: Working or studying late into the night
'Burning the midnight oil' means staying up late to work or study. It dates back to when oil lamps were used for light at night.
4. What does the idiom 'cost an arm and a leg' mean?
Answer: To be extremely expensive
'Cost an arm and a leg' means something is extremely expensive. The phrase emphasizes the high price by comparing it to losing body parts.
5. What does the idiom 'hit the nail on the head' mean?
Answer: To describe something exactly right
'Hit the nail on the head' means to be exactly right about something, just as a carpenter aims to strike the nail precisely.
Things you'll learn along the way
- 'Let the cat out of the bag' means to accidentally reveal a secret. It may originate from market fraud where a cat was substituted for a piglet in a bag.
- 'Once in a blue moon' means very rarely. A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month, which happens infrequently.
- 'Piece of cake' means something is very easy to accomplish. The phrase suggests that eating cake is an effortless, pleasant task.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Idiom Origins & Meanings take?
Most players finish Idiom Origins & Meanings in about 7 minutes. You can pause between questions, replay it as often as you like, and there is no penalty for taking your time — answers are explained after you submit them.
What's a good follow-up after Idiom Origins & Meanings?
If you enjoyed this word games quiz, try the Daily Challenge — five rotating questions, refreshed every 24 hours, that count toward your streak. You can also use the Surprise Me button on the homepage to land on a different game type for variety.
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Yes — use the Print button at the top of the page for a clean question sheet, or "Print with Answers" to make an answer key. Printed sheets work well for group play at home, in a classroom, or at a senior center.
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