Grade 5 English – Idiomatic expressions Quiz

1. What does it mean by having an axe to grind?

have something to gain by action
having an axe in mind
have a small ace in the head
putting an axe on your head
Explanation:

2. What doeabit mean by ' sitting on the fence'?

refuse to take any side of a dispute
making a fence
standing on the boundary line
sitting on the neighbours fence
Explanation:

3. What does it mean to 'take a French leave'

go out to french
talk in French language
go without permission
go out with French people
Explanation:

4. What does it mean to 'let the cat out of the box'?

reveal a secret
allow the cat out of the house
put a cat in a box and remove it
play with a cat in abox
Explanation:

5. 'It is raining cats and dogs' what does it mean?

cats and dogs are outside in the rain
it is raining heavily
cats and dogs are falling from above
The sound of rain is like that of cats and dogs
Explanation:

6. 'I killed two bass with one stone' what does it mean?

I threw one stone and hit two birds to death
I killed two bass with the same stone
I killed two birds one at a time
I achieved two things at the same time
Explanation:

7. What does it mean to 'burn bridge'?

use the bridges as firewood
destroyed bridges
make fire along the bridges
destroy relationship or any connection.
Explanation:

8. What does it mean to 'hit the nail at its head' ?

say the truth as it is
hit the nail at its tip
hit the nail along the wood
use the hammer to hit the nail
Explanation:

9. 'Smelling a rat' means __

feeling the smell of a cooked rat
differentiate the smell of a rat from other smells
feeling the smell of a dead rat
being suspicious
Explanation:

10. What does it mean to' turn over a new leaf'?

to pluck new leaves
to start afresh
yo look for a new leaf
yo start a new day
Explanation:

11. What does the idiom 'raining cats and dogs' mean?

d) Snowing
a) Sunny weather
c) Heavy rain
b) Light drizzle
Explanation:

The correct choice is c) Heavy rain. The idiom 'raining cats and dogs' means that it is raining heavily.

12. What does the idiom 'piece of cake' mean?

It means something that is very easy to do
It means something delicious
It means a slice of cake
It means a difficult task
Explanation:

The idiom 'piece of cake' means something that is very easy to do.

13. What does the idiom 'cost an arm and a leg' mean?

It means something is affordable
It means something is very cheap
It means something is very expensive
It means something is free
Explanation:

The idiom 'cost an arm and a leg' means something is very expensive.

14. What does the idiom 'kick the bucket' mean?

It means to clean the house
It means to go for a walk
It means to literally kick a bucket
It means to die
Explanation:

The idiom 'kick the bucket' means to die.

15. What does the idiom 'hit the hay' mean?

It means to dance
It means to study
It means to sleep
It means to exercise
Explanation:

The idiom 'hit the hay' means to sleep.

16. What does the idiom 'burn the midnight oil' mean?

It means to waste time
It means to exercise intensely
It means to work late into the night
It means to sleep early
Explanation:

The idiom 'burn the midnight oil' means to work late into the night.

17. What does the idiom 'straight from the horse's mouth' mean?

It means to lie
It means to get information directly from the source
It means to talk about horses
It means to ignore the truth
Explanation:

The idiom 'straight from the horse's mouth' means to get information directly from the source.

18. What does the idiom 'bite the bullet' mean?

It means to avoid challenges
It means to face a difficult situation with courage
It means to eat something spicy
It means to run away from a problem
Explanation:

The idiom 'bite the bullet' means to face a difficult situation with courage.

19. What does the idiom 'break the ice' mean?

It means to freeze something
It means to drop something on the floor
It means to initiate a conversation or activity
It means to heat something up
Explanation:

The idiom 'break the ice' means to initiate a conversation or activity.

20. What does the idiom 'hit the nail on the head' mean?

It means to criticize someone
It means to say something accurate
It means to avoid a problem
It means to miss the target
Explanation:

The idiom 'hit the nail on the head' means to say something accurate.

21. What does the idiom 'once in a blue moon' mean?

It means every day
It means rarely
It means occasionally
It means frequently
Explanation:

The idiom 'once in a blue moon' means rarely.

22. What does the idiom 'hit the nail on the head' mean?

Take a break
Hit a nail with a hammer
Miss the nail
Make a correct guess
Explanation:

The idiom 'hit the nail on the head' means to make a correct guess or do something exactly right.

23. What does the idiom 'cost an arm and a leg' mean?

Cost a lot
Cost nothing
Cost a small amount
Cost one arm
Explanation:

The idiom 'cost an arm and a leg' means something is very expensive.

24. What does the idiom 'piece of cake' mean?

A difficult task
A delicious dessert
Something easy
A puzzle
Explanation:

The idiom 'piece of cake' means something that is very easy to do.

25. What does the idiom 'kick the bucket' mean?

Fall off a bucket
Jump for joy
Pass away
Kick a bucket
Explanation:

The idiom 'kick the bucket' is a euphemism for dying or passing away.

26. What does the idiom 'break a leg' mean?

Good luck
Injure yourself
Have bad luck
Break a bone
Explanation:

The idiom 'break a leg' is a way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.

27. What does the idiom 'raining cats and dogs' mean?

It is windy
Raining cats and dogs
It is pouring rain
Snowing heavily
Explanation:

The idiom 'raining cats and dogs' means that it is raining very heavily.

28. What does the idiom 'butterflies in my stomach' mean?

Feeling nervous
Hungry
Feeling happy
Having stomach pain
Explanation:

The idiom 'butterflies in my stomach' means feeling nervous, especially before a big event.

29. What does the idiom 'out of the blue' mean?

Suddenly and unexpectedly
Feeling blue
Out of colors
Raining blue
Explanation:

The idiom 'out of the blue' means something happens suddenly and unexpectedly.

30. What does the idiom 'burn the midnight oil' mean?

Stay up late working or studying
Light a candle
Sleep early
Cooking at night
Explanation:

The idiom 'burn the midnight oil' means to stay up late into the night working or studying.

31. What does the idiom 'speak of the devil' mean?

When you're talking about someone and they appear
Speaking the truth
Gossiping
Talking about the devil
Explanation:

The idiom 'speak of the devil' means when you're talking about someone and they appear unexpectedly.

32. What does the idiom 'up in the air' mean?

Jumping high
Not decided
Very tall
Flying in the sky
Explanation:

The idiom 'up in the air' means something is still undecided or uncertain.

33. What does the idiom 'break the ice' mean?

Breaking the rules
Shatter ice
Start a conversation
End a conversation
Explanation:

The idiom 'break the ice' means to start a conversation in a social setting to relieve tension.

34. What does the idiom 'head over heels' mean?

Running fast
Standing on your head
Hurting your head
Falling in love deeply
Explanation:

The idiom 'head over heels' means to be completely in love or infatuated with someone.

35. What does the idiom 'spill the beans' mean?

Spilling beans
Throw beans
Cooking beans
Tell a secret
Explanation:

The idiom 'spill the beans' means to reveal a secret or give away information.

36. What does the idiom 'let the cat out of the bag' mean?

Unleash a cat
Let the cat out of the house
Reveal a secret
Hide a cat
Explanation:

The idiom 'let the cat out of the bag' means to reveal a secret or disclose information that was supposed to be kept hidden.

37. What does the idiom 'cold feet' mean?

Having no shoes
Feeling cold on your feet
Dancing on cold ground
Nervousness before a big event
Explanation:

The idiom 'cold feet' refers to feeling nervous or hesitant before doing something important or making a decision.

38. What does the idiom 'like a fish out of water' mean?

Looking for water
Living underwater
Being in a situation that feels uncomfortable
Swimming like a fish
Explanation:

The idiom 'like a fish out of water' means being in a situation where you feel awkward or out of place.

39. What does the idiom 'apple of my eye' mean?

A lovely apple
A favorite person
A red apple
A delicious dessert
Explanation:

The idiom 'apple of my eye' means a person or thing that is greatly loved, cherished or adored.

40. What does the idiom 'pull someone's leg' mean?

Grab someone's leg
Pretend to believe something that is not true
Lift someone up by the leg
Trip someone
Explanation:

The idiom 'pull someone's leg' means to jokingly deceive someone or play a harmless prank on them.

41. What does the idiom 'bite the bullet' mean?

Shoot yourself with a bullet
Chew a bullet
Face a difficult situation with courage
Avoid a problem
Explanation:

The idiom 'bite the bullet' means to endure a painful or difficult situation with courage and resolve.

42. What does the idiom 'hit the hay' mean?

Go to bed
Swing at a ball of hay
Hit some hay
Cut hay
Explanation:

The idiom 'hit the hay' means to go to bed or go to sleep.

43. What does the idiom 'easy as pie' mean?

Have a piece of pie
Simple like pie
Difficult
Cooking pie
Explanation:

The idiom 'easy as pie' means something is very easy to do, just like eating a pie.

44. What does the idiom 'be all ears' mean?

Listening attentively
Have many ears
Listening with your ears
Be patient
Explanation:

The idiom 'be all ears' means to be fully focused and ready to listen intently to someone.

45. What does the idiom 'cry over spilled milk' mean?

Cry over a cow
Crying because of milk
Regret something that cannot be undone
Spill milk on the floor
Explanation:

The idiom 'cry over spilled milk' means to regret something that has already happened and cannot be changed.

46. What does the idiom 'once in a blue moon' mean?

Every full moon
During a blue moon
Only on Mondays
Rarely
Explanation:

The idiom 'once in a blue moon' means something happens very rarely or almost never.

47. What does the idiom 'the ball is in your court' mean?

End the game
You play basketball
A ball is on the court
You have control and need to make a decision
Explanation:

The idiom 'the ball is in your court' means you have the responsibility or opportunity to make a decision or take action.