Idioms That Strike a Chord

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Tune in to musical expressions like "face the music," "change your tune," and "it rings a bell," and pick what each one really means in everyday conversation.

1.
When someone tells you to "face the music," what are they asking you to do?
A
Accept the consequences of your actions
B
Turn up the volume on the radio
C
Pay attention at a concert
D
Learn to read sheet music
2.
If a friend says, "That name rings a bell," what do they mean?
A
The name sounds very loud
B
The name sounds vaguely familiar
C
The name belongs to a musician
D
The name is very unusual
3.
What does it mean when someone says they will "call the tune"?
A
Sing a song at a party
B
Request a song on the radio
C
Be the one in charge and making decisions
D
Teach others how to sing
4.
If someone has "changed their tune," what has happened?
A
They switched to a new radio station
B
They started singing a different song
C
They have shifted their opinion or attitude
D
They bought a new musical instrument
5.
When you say something "strikes a chord" with you, what do you mean?
A
It sounds unpleasant to your ears
B
It touches your emotions or resonates with your feelings
C
It reminds you of a famous piece of music
D
It is very difficult to understand
6.
What does it mean to "blow your own trumpet"?
A
To make a very loud noise
B
To lose your temper in public
C
To boast or brag about your own achievements
D
To start a new hobby in retirement
7.
If someone is talking "like a broken record," what is happening?
A
They are making perfect sense
B
They keep repeating the same thing over and over
C
They are getting upset very quickly
D
They are bringing back an old memory
8.
What does it mean to "drum something into someone"?
A
To teach them to play the drums
B
To repeat something so many times that it is firmly learned
C
To surprise someone with unexpected news
D
To persuade someone to join a group
9.
When a project is said to be "in full swing," what does that describe?
A
It is nearly finished and winding down
B
It is at its most active and lively stage
C
It is stuck and not making progress
D
It has been cancelled altogether
10.
If someone tells you to "fiddle while Rome burns," what are they accusing you of?
A
Playing music when you should be resting
B
Wasting time on trivial things during a serious crisis
C
Spending too much money on entertainment
D
Refusing to help with household chores
11.
What does it mean if someone is described as "second fiddle"?
A
They are an exceptionally talented musician
B
They play a supporting or less important role
C
They prefer classical music to popular songs
D
They have recently learned a new skill
12.
When someone says a decision was made "to the beat of a different drum," what does it suggest?
A
The decision involved a lot of noise and argument
B
The person followed their own unconventional path
C
The decision was made very quickly
D
The person copied someone else's idea
13.
If someone says the meeting ended on a "good note," what do they mean?
A
Someone sang a song before leaving
B
Everyone received a written summary
C
It concluded in a positive and pleasant manner
D
The meeting lasted exactly one hour
14.
What does it mean to "pull out all the stops"?
A
To cancel a performance at the last minute
B
To make every possible effort without holding anything back
C
To ask everyone to be quiet
D
To remove all the furniture from a room
15.
What is the meaning of the phrase "to pipe down"?
A
To install new plumbing in your home
B
To play a musical instrument more softly
C
To be quiet or stop making so much noise
D
To leave a place quickly and quietly

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