Idioms 01

Question 1

Scrape the surface

Answer 1

Only begun to explore or start/begin

Question 2

Brick and mortar store

Answer 2

Physical location/shop

Question 3

Hone the skill

Answer 3

To make the skill better

Question 4

Tie the knot

Answer 4

To get married

Question 5

Sow your wild oats

Answer 5

Live your young life

Enjoy your young life

Question 6

Break a leg!

Answer 6

Good luck

Question 7

Kill two birds with one stone

Answer 7

To accomplish two different tasks at the same time by doing one action

Question 8

Hit the hay

Answer 8

To be very tired,

To go to sleep

Question 9

Up in the air

Answer 9

Means that the situation being planned is still undecided, and that everything is still uncertain/unsure.

Question 10

Stabbed in the back

Answer 10

Being betrayed by someone you thought you can trust them.

Question 11

It takes two to tango!

Answer 11

Means that if there’s a suspicious situation, then there’s more than one culprit. They couldn’t have done it by themselves.
+ David couldn’t have done it by himself. After all, it takes two to tango. (someone must have helped him)

Question 12

Piece of cake

Answer 12

When something is a piece of cake, it’s so easy as eating one

Question 13

It costs an arm and a leg

Answer 13

It’s very expensive

Question 14

Rule of the thumb

Answer 14

A rule of thumb is a “rule” that’s not totally precise. It’s based off common experience and common sense.

Question 15

Blow some steam

Answer 15

It means doing something to get rid of the stress, when you’re angry.

Question 16

Make light of

Answer 16

To act as something or someone isn’t important or serious; especially when they are.
Ex.: They’ve both had knee injuries, but the two friends make light of their weaknesses.

Question 17

Bowels turn to water

Answer 17

to become very frightened

Question 18

Cross off the list

Answer 18

when you have done something, you can cross that off the list
Ex.: I’ve done the report so I can cross that one off the list.
Ex.: I have many things to do which I hope to cross off the list by the new year.

Question 19

Once-in-a-lifetime

Answer 19

A once-in-a-lifetime experience is a unique and rare opportunity
Ex.: The movie role was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Ex.: This is a one-in-a-lifetime experience

once in a lifetime = adverb phrase
once-in-a-lifetime = adjective

Question 20

Strapped for somthing

Ex.: Strapped for time

Answer 20

lack of something

Question 21

a foot in the door

Answer 21

Getting a foot in the door means getting an opportunity or taking the first step.
Ex.: She has to know a manager to get a foot in the door there.
Ex.: Good references will help him get a foot in the door at work.

Question 22

Underground movement

Answer 22

Underground movements are secret operations that work outside the establishment. Notice the following:

Ex.: The underground movement was instrumental in Paris during the World War.
Ex.: She joined the underground movement because she was a rebel.

Question 23

break sth down

Answer 23

To break something down means to analyze it and separate it into its parts.

Ex.: When you break it down, diamonds are just dust.
Ex.: Let’s break it down and find where it went wrong.

Question 24

Seep in

Answer 24

to flow in something gradually but steadily

Ex.: I realized there was a fire downstairs when I noticed smoke seeping into our bedroom