idioms

Question 1

If someone doesn’t want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.

Answer 1

A little bird told me

Question 2

This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about

Answer 2

A penny for your thoughts

Question 3

Something or someone that can be compared to something or someone else, but is not as good is a poor man’s version;
a writer who uses lots of puns but isn’t very funny would be a poor man’s Oscar Wilde.

Answer 3

A poor man’s something

Question 4

if something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive.

Answer 4

A pretty penny

Question 5

This idiom, coined by John F Kennedy, describes the idea that when an economy is performing well, all people will
benefit from it.

Answer 5

A rising tide lifts all boats

Question 6

People say this to mean that that a go-getter type person is more successful than a person not doing any thing.

Answer 6

A rolling stone gathers no moss

Question 7

If something is A1, it is the very best or finest.

Answer 7

A1

Question 8

If someone changes their mind completely, this is an about face. It can be used when companies, governments, etc,
change their position on an issue.

Answer 8

About face

Question 9

If things are done above board, they are carried out in a legal and proper manner.

Answer 9

Above board

Question 10

If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something that will give you an advantage that other people don’t know
about

Answer 10

Ace up your sleeve

Question 11

A person’s weak spot

Answer 11

Achilles’ heel

Question 12

When people add insult to injury, they make a bad situation even worse.

Answer 12

Add insult to injury

Question 13

you are rushed and have very little time to do it

Answer 13

Against the clock

Question 14

you’re unwilling to do it because it contradicts what you believe in, but you
have no real choice.

Answer 14

Against the grain

Question 15

if something happens ahead of time, it happens early or before the set time.

Answer 15

Ahead of time

Question 16

If someone says they’re all ears, they are very interested in hearing about something.

Answer 16

All ears

Question 17

you are too excited or clumsy to do something properly that requires manual dexterity.

Answer 17

All fingers and thumbs

Question 18

there is chaos, confusion and trouble.

Answer 18

All hell broke loose
When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.

Question 19

If something is completely disorganised or confused, it is all over the place

Answer 19

All over the place

Question 20

this means that there can be many different ways of doing something.

Answer 20

All roads lead to Rome

Question 21

it is very popular or fashionable at the moment.

Answer 21

All the rage

Question 22

they won’t do it no matter how much money they are offered.

Answer 22

All the tea in China

Question 23

This idiom is used to say that where there is conflict, people can be expected to behave in a more vicious way.

Answer 23

All’s fair in love and war

Question 24

is a very close and intimate friend. It is a Latin phrase that literally means ‘other self’

Answer 24

Alter ego

Question 25

they never manage to fulfill their ambition- they get close, but never
manage the recognition, etc, they crave.

Answer 25

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride

Question 26

is a person that somebody has had an emotional, usually passionate, relationship with, who is still looked
on fondly and with affection.

Answer 26

An old flame

Question 27

they are agitated or excited about something and can’t keep still.

Answer 27

Ants in your pants

Question 28

This means that in an emergency any solution will do, even one that would normally be unacceptable.

Answer 28

Any port in a storm

Question 29

Something or, more often, someone that is very special to you

Answer 29

Apple of your eye

Question 30

A man who is tied to a woman’s apron strings is excessively dependent on her, especially when it is his mother’s apron
strings.

Answer 30

Apron strings

Question 31

is someone who offers advice but never shows that they could actually do any better.

Answer 31

Armchair critic

Question 32

is a strategy or option that could be used to achieve your objective

Answer 32

Arrow in the quiver

Question 33

they don’t get worried by anything

Answer 33

As cool as a cucumber

Question 34

This simile means that someone is crazy or behaves very strangely. In the past many people who made hats went
insane because they had a lot of contact with mercury.

Answer 34

As mad as a hatter

Question 35

This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places.

Answer 35

As the crow flies

Question 36

you have spare time but don’t know what to do with it.

Answer 36

At a loose end

Question 37

it is going or happening as fast or as hard as possible.

Answer 37

At full tilt

Question 38

they are arguing and can’t agree on anything

Answer 38

At loggerheads

Question 39

you deal with the real problems and issues, rather than sitting in a office discussing things in
a detached way.

Answer 39

At the coalface

Question 40

you really don’t know what you should do about something, no matter how hard you think
about it

Answer 40

At your wit’s end

Question 41

amazes people in a slightly frightening but positive way.

Answer 41

Awe inspiring

Question 42

you have a grievance, a resentment and you want to get
revenge or sort it out.

Answer 42

Axe to grind

Question 43

it is being given low priority.

Answer 43

Back burner
I

Question 44

they have to return to work.

Answer 44

Back to the salt mine

Question 45

is 13 rather than 12.

Answer 45

Baker’s dozen

Question 46

it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong

Answer 46

Barking up the wrong tree