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Idiom Origins & Meanings

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Instructions: Do you know what these common idioms really mean and where they come from?

  1. 1.

    What does the idiom 'break the ice' mean?

    A
    To initiate conversation in an awkward situation
    B
    To take a winter vacation
    C
    To cool down a heated argument
    D
    To cause damage
  2. 2.

    What does the idiom 'bite the bullet' mean?

    A
    To get into a fight
    B
    To eat something hard
    C
    To endure a painful situation with courage
    D
    To make a quick decision
  3. 3.

    What does the idiom 'burning the midnight oil' mean?

    A
    Wasting resources
    B
    Cooking a late dinner
    C
    Having trouble sleeping
    D
    Working or studying late into the night
  4. 4.

    What does the idiom 'cost an arm and a leg' mean?

    A
    To require surgery
    B
    To be extremely expensive
    C
    To cause physical pain
    D
    To lose something valuable
  5. 5.

    What does the idiom 'hit the nail on the head' mean?

    A
    To do carpentry work
    B
    To describe something exactly right
    C
    To start a new project
    D
    To hurt yourself accidentally
  6. 6.

    What does the idiom 'let the cat out of the bag' mean?

    A
    To free an animal
    B
    To reveal a secret accidentally
    C
    To start a new hobby
    D
    To make a mess
  7. 7.

    What does the idiom 'once in a blue moon' mean?

    A
    When feeling sad
    B
    Very rarely
    C
    Every full moon
    D
    During nighttime only
  8. 8.

    What does the idiom 'piece of cake' mean?

    A
    Something very easy to do
    B
    A birthday celebration
    C
    A small reward
    D
    A dessert portion
  9. 9.

    What does the idiom 'raining cats and dogs' mean?

    A
    A noisy neighborhood
    B
    Animals are falling from the sky
    C
    A pet adoption event
    D
    Raining very heavily
  10. 10.

    What does the idiom 'spill the beans' mean?

    A
    To make a mess while cooking
    B
    To reveal secret information
    C
    To waste food
    D
    To plant a garden
  11. 11.

    What does the idiom 'under the weather' mean?

    A
    Being pessimistic
    B
    Feeling ill or unwell
    C
    Hiding from a storm
    D
    Standing in the rain
  12. 12.

    What does the idiom 'barking up the wrong tree' mean?

    A
    Climbing the wrong ladder
    B
    Pursuing a mistaken course of action
    C
    Being loud and obnoxious
    D
    A dog is lost
  13. 13.

    What does the idiom 'a penny for your thoughts' mean?

    A
    Offering to buy something cheap
    B
    Asking someone what they are thinking about
    C
    Saying something is worthless
    D
    Requesting a small loan
  14. 14.

    What does the idiom 'the whole nine yards' mean?

    A
    Everything possible or the full extent
    B
    A large backyard
    C
    Nine items in total
    D
    A football field
  15. 15.

    What does the idiom 'kick the bucket' mean?

    A
    To give up a bad habit
    B
    To trip over something
    C
    To start a new project
    D
    To die

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