Number Expressions

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Date:

Instructions: How well do you know phrases and idioms involving numbers? From 'the whole nine yards' to 'at sixes and sevens'!

1.
What does 'the whole nine yards' mean?
A
A football play
B
Everything possible or the full extent
C
A short distance
D
Exactly nine of something
2.
If you are 'at sixes and sevens,' how are you feeling?
A
Mathematically inclined
B
Between ages six and seven
C
Lucky
D
Confused or in a state of disarray
3.
What does 'a stitch in time saves nine' mean?
A
Time heals all wounds
B
Nine stitches are needed for every repair
C
Sewing is an important skill
D
Fixing a problem early prevents bigger problems later
4.
If someone has 'nine lives,' what quality do they have?
A
They are very cautious
B
They live in nine different places
C
They are very old
D
They repeatedly survive dangerous situations
5.
What does 'back to square one' mean?
A
Living at your first home
B
Returning to the very beginning after a setback
C
Going back to work on Monday
D
Playing a board game
6.
If something is 'a dime a dozen,' what does that mean?
A
It is sold in groups of twelve
B
It is a bargain
C
It is very common and not particularly valuable
D
It costs exactly ten cents
7.
What does 'two heads are better than one' mean?
A
Two people can eat faster
B
Double-headed coins are valuable
C
Collaboration produces better results
D
Having two leaders is best
8.
If you 'put two and two together,' what are you doing?
A
Adding numbers
B
Pairing socks
C
Drawing an obvious conclusion from available evidence
D
Making a simple calculation
9.
What does 'dressed to the nines' mean?
A
Dressed in very fancy or elegant clothing
B
Having nine outfits
C
Wearing the number nine
D
Wearing a uniform
10.
If someone is a 'ten-percenter,' what are they traditionally known as?
A
An agent who takes a 10% commission
B
A tithe payer
C
A discount shopper
D
A tax collector
11.
What does 'catch-22' refer to?
A
Catching 22 fish
B
A baseball play
C
A paradoxical situation with no easy escape
D
A fishing technique
12.
If you take 'forty winks,' what are you doing?
A
Blinking rapidly
B
Counting to forty
C
Taking a short nap
D
Winking at forty people
13.
What does 'one in a million' describe?
A
Something or someone exceptionally rare or special
B
A lottery ticket
C
Very bad odds
D
A population statistic
14.
If something happens 'once in a blue moon,' how often does it occur?
A
Once a month
B
Every full moon
C
Only at night
D
Very rarely
15.
What does 'the third degree' mean when given to someone?
A
A Masonic rank
B
A university qualification
C
A type of burn
D
Intense, prolonged questioning

Answer Key

Question 1

B. Everything possible or the full extent

Question 2

D. Confused or in a state of disarray

Question 3

D. Fixing a problem early prevents bigger problems later

Question 4

D. They repeatedly survive dangerous situations

Question 5

B. Returning to the very beginning after a setback

Question 6

C. It is very common and not particularly valuable

Question 7

C. Collaboration produces better results

Question 8

C. Drawing an obvious conclusion from available evidence

Question 9

A. Dressed in very fancy or elegant clothing

Question 10

A. An agent who takes a 10% commission

Question 11

C. A paradoxical situation with no easy escape

Question 12

C. Taking a short nap

Question 13

A. Something or someone exceptionally rare or special

Question 14

D. Very rarely

Question 15

D. Intense, prolonged questioning

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