IDIOM

Question 1

a people person

Answer 1

• someone sociable and good with others
• Sarah is such a people person.

Question 2

to hit the road /hɪt ðə rəʊd/

Answer 2

to hit the road /hɪt ðə rəʊd/

• to begin a journey
• It’s time to hit the road; it’s a long drive.
• to leave a place :
• I’d love to stay longer but it’s really time to hit the road.

Question 3

not one’s cup of tea /nɒt wʌnz kʌp əv tiː/

Answer 3

not one’s cup of tea /nɒt wʌnz kʌp əv tiː/

• not something you enjoy

*Action movies are just not my cup of tea.

Question 4

in shape /ɪn ʃeɪp/

Answer 4

in shape /ɪn ʃeɪp/

• in good physical condition
• Swimming helped him get in shape.

Question 5

to hit the books /hɪt ðə bʊks/

Answer 5

to hit the books /hɪt ðə bʊks/

• to study hard
• We hit the books before the final exam

Question 6

to break the bank /breɪk ðə bæŋk/

Answer 6

to break the bank /breɪk ðə bæŋk/

• to cost too much
• Buying a new TV won’t break the bank.

Question 7

it cost an arm and a leg

Answer 7

(=expensive)

Question 8

tip of the iceberg /tɪp əv ðə ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/

Answer 8

tip of the iceberg /tɪp əv ðə ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/

• a small part of a larger issue
• Plastic waste is just the tip of the iceberg.

Question 9

dress to impress /dres tə ɪmˈpres/

Answer 9

dress to impress /dres tə ɪmˈpres/

• to wear clothes to make a good impression
• Always dress to impress in a job interview!

Question 10

child’s play /tʃaɪldz pleɪ/

Answer 10

child’s play /tʃaɪldz pleɪ/

• something very easy or simple
• Learning to play the guitar was child’s
  play for her.
• Video editing for me is a child’s play

Question 11

It’s not rocket science

Answer 11

= It’s simple

Question 12

be over the moon

Answer 12

be over the moon

• to be very pleased
• She was over the moon about/with her new bike.

Question 13

full of beans /fʊl əv biːnz/

Answer 13

full of beans /fʊl əv biːnz/

• very energetic or lively
• After his morning coffee, he is always full of beans.

Question 14

over the top

Answer 14

over the top

• too extreme and not suitable, or demanding too much attention or effort, especially in an uncontrolled way
• I thought the decorations were way (= very) over the top.
• The speech was a bit OTT.
• He realized he’d gone over the top with the seating arrangements.

Question 15

to be back on one’s feet /biː bæk ɒn wʌnz fiːt/

Answer 15

to be back on one’s feet /biː bæk ɒn wʌnz fiːt/

• to return to a normal or healthy state after an illness or a troubled time
• Kai was ill, but he’s back on his feet now.

Question 16

a breath of fresh air

Answer 16

• something new and refreshing that brings new energy and enthusiasm
• My trip was a breath of fresh air.

Question 17

make a house a home /meɪk ə haʊs ə
həʊm/

Answer 17

make a house a home /meɪk ə haʊs ə
həʊm/

• turn a residence into a comfortable, safe space
• Decorating can make a house a home.

Question 18

be swimming in something

Answer 18

to have too much of something:

This salad was swimming in oil.

The company is swimming in cash and trying to figure out what to do with it.

Question 19

I’ve no more ideas, (I have run out of steam)

Answer 19

(= lost all energy and enthusiasm)

Question 20

every once in a while

Answer 20

sometimes, but not regularly

You meet some really interesting people every once in a while.

Question 21

like wildfire

Answer 21

quickly in a way that cannot be controlled

Ex: News of the layoffs spread like wildfire through the company.

Question 22

under your belt

Answer 22

learned or succeeded in, and now a part of your experience

Ex: Now that you’ve got the required courses under your belt, you can take some electives.

Question 23

• to my mind
• to my way of thinking
• I’m in two minds about this (on the one hand .. on the other hand)
• I’m on the fence (on the one hand .. on the other hand)