Idioms

Question 1

To imitate / copy sth. good that someone does.

Answer 1

To take a leaf out of someone’s book.

You should take a leaf out of your brother’s book and go to the library to study on Saturday night.

Question 2

A request / task that is difficult to do

Answer 2

A tall order.

Passing your C2 Proficiency exam without preparation is a very tall order.

Question 3

a foolish, unrealistic plan

Answer 3

hare-brained

The government’s hare-brained scheme to lower pollution levels is bound to fail.

Question 4

The true value / quality of sth. can only be judged through experience.

Answer 4

The proof of the pudding.

Jane claims to be the fastest runner at school, but the proof of the pudding will be the race on Saturday.

Question 5

To misunderstand what someone has said.

Answer 5

Get the wrong end of the stick.

Sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick. I wasn’t disagreeing with you. On the contrary, I think you’re right.

Question 6

To admire someone greatly (as if they’re perfect.)

Answer 6

To put someone on a pedestal.

We shouldn’t put Instagram influencers on a pedestal. They have their faults and weaknesses like everyone else.

Question 7

To avoid / delay taking a decision.

Answer 7

To sit on the fence.

Question 8

to find it difficult to make a decision

Answer 8

to be on the fence

I’m on the fence about this, to be honest. I can see the pros and cons of both options.

Question 9

can’t decide between two options of a choice

Answer 9

to be torn between

I’m torn between pictures C and D. They both have their merits.

Question 10

to remove the bad feelings between people

Answer 10

to clear the air

“You guys need to clear the air.”

We really need to clear the air.

Question 11

a way of solving a problem by trying a number of different methods and learning from the mistakes that you make.

Answer 11

trial and error

We’ll figure out the experiment. It’s just a process of trial and error.

Question 12

to disagree or to be different from something

Answer 12

to be at odds over/with

I’m at odds with this version of the story.

My sisters and I are at odds over the family estate.

Question 13

expressing certainty that something is true

Answer 13

beyond a shadow of a doubt

I think it’s beyond a shadow of a doubt that the earth’s climate is changing.

Question 14

the argument presented show someone is guilty and must be accepted as fact

Answer 14

beyond a reasonable doubt (law)

We have shown the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Question 15

decide how to deal with a situation as it develops (~spontan) infr.

Answer 15

play it by ear

Let’s just play it by ear. We have a plan, but we can make changes if necessary.

Question 16

to do or to agree what other people are doing

Answer 16

go with the flow

Just relax and go with the flow.

Question 17

work or money being wasted

Answer 17

down the drain

All that work down the drain.

Question 18

to be critizised

Answer 18

to come under fire

The government has come under fire after the failed response.

Question 19

to guess the facts about a situation without enough information.

Answer 19

jump to conclusion / jump to the conclusion that

Let’s not jump to conclusions. (often used in the negative form)

Question 20

a result that is certain to happen

Answer 20

a foregone conclusion

The outcome of the vote is a foregone conclusion.

Question 21

not having the knowledge / skill with a particular situation or subject.

Answer 21

out of one’s depth

Look, you’re out of your depth

Question 22

to be accurate or faire by representing sth. as that the person or thing truly is.

Answer 22

do sb. / sth. justice (often in the negative form)

The book is so much better that the movie. The movie doesn’t do it justice.

Question 23

to expand your knowledge or experience

Answer 23

to broaden your horizon

Question 24

I have no idea

Answer 24

I haven’t got the faintest / foggiest idea.

I haven’t got the foggiest idea what’s happening in the photo, but it might be…

Question 25

to guess (risk)

Answer 25

To hazard a guess.

I haven’t got the foggiest idea, but if I had to hazard a guess, I would say…