Grade 6 Primary English – Idiomatic expressions Quiz

1. I can’t afford this Channel purse! It __________!

is a piece of cake
very few coins
arm arm and a leg
cat out of the dog
Explanation:

2. I can’t believe you _____. Now he knows about the surprise birthday party!Ā 

let the cat out of the box
allowed him to know
broke a leg
killed two birds with one stone
Explanation:

3. I don’t really like going out to the mall anymore. Not in this pandemic. I only go _______.

when pigs fly
When I feel like
when I speak of the devil
once in a blue moon
Explanation:

4. I’m sorry I can’t come into work today. I’m ________. I have a sore throat and runny nose.

breaking a leg
feeling under the weather
not going today
seeing him eye to eye
Explanation:

5. have been trying to figure this out for ages. Thanks so much, you’re right. You _______.

killed two birds with one stone
beat around the Bush
hit the nail on the head
cut corners
Explanation:

6. The science test was easier than some of the homework we had. Oh boy, it sure was a ______.

once in a blue moon
the best of both worlds
an arm and a leg
piece of cake
Explanation:

7. She may seem strict but underneath she hasĀ a heart of gold

She is kind to her friends and family
She is very good and kind to other people
hard heart
She is really mean
Explanation:

8. I can’t afford this purse! It __________. I won’t be able to pay my rent!

let the cat out of the bag
is the best of both worlds
is a piece of cake
costs an arm and a leg
Explanation:

9. His birthday was supposed to be a surprise! I can’t believe you _____. Now he knows!

let the cat out of the bag.
costs an arm and a leg
broke a leg
killed two birds with one stone
Explanation:

10. Ha! John has been promising to paint the house for five years…. Maybe when _______.

once in a blue moon
when pigs fly
broke a leg
he hit the nail on its head
Explanation:

11. Yeah, it’ll _______. I need to sign some papers at Jenny’s school anyway so i’ll pick her up for you too.

once in a blue moon
add insult to injury
kill two birds with one stone
feel under the weather
Explanation:

12. I don’t really like going out to bars anymore. I only go _______.

once in a blue moon
when I speak of the devil
add insult to injury
when pigs fly
Explanation:

13. They tried ________ when installing the pipes for the house and now we have leaks only one month after purchasing it!

to add insult to injury
to kill two birds with one stone
cut corners
breaking a leg
Explanation:

14. We missed our flight to Paris because the connecting flight was late and to ______, they made us pay for a new ticket as if it was our fault!

hit the nail on the head
arm arm and a leg
cut corners
add insult to injury
Explanation:

15. I can’t wait to see you perform on stage tonight! ______!

It's a piece of cake
Hit the nail on its head
break a leg
to add insult to injury
Explanation:

16. Jane is just never on time to work, it’s really annoying. O wow, ______ , here she comes.

let the cat out of the box
speak of the devil
it costs an arm and a leg
let the cat out of the bag
Explanation:

17. So we’re going to London, then Munich, then we will fly out of Athens, right? Great. I’m so glad to be traveling with someone I _______ with.

see eye to eye
don't judge a book by its cover
is a piece of cake
feel under the weather
Explanation:

18. Wow, she found her dream man and has now landed an amazing job. She really does have ______.

hit the nail on the head
the best of both worlds
very few coins
judged the book by its cover
Explanation:

19. OK, she might not be the most attractive but _________. I’m sure she is a sweetheart.

let the cat out of the box
don't kill two birds with one stone
don't judge the book by its cover
don't hit the nail on the head
Explanation:

20. I have been trying to figure this out for ages. Thanks so much, you’re right. You _______.

killed two birds with one stone
hit the nail on the head
very few coins
killed two birds with one stone
Explanation:

21. What does 'speak of the devil' mean?

To talk about the devil
To ignore someone
To talk about someone who is not present
To talk about someone who suddenly appears
Explanation:

The idiom 'speak of the devil' means to mention someone and then they appear shortly afterwards.

22. What does 'raining cats and dogs' mean?

Hailing
Sunny weather
Snowing heavily
Raining heavily
Explanation:

The idiom 'raining cats and dogs' means raining heavily.

23. What does 'hit the nail on the head' mean?

To avoid the target
To hit the target accurately
To be close to the target
To miss the target
Explanation:

The idiom 'hit the nail on the head' means to describe precisely or accurately.

24. What does 'once in a blue moon' mean?

Rarely
Every hour
Often
Every day
Explanation:

The idiom 'once in a blue moon' means something that happens very rarely.

25. What does 'cost an arm and a leg' mean?

Moderately priced
Affordable
Very cheap
Very expensive
Explanation:

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

26. What does 'kick the bucket' mean?

Traveling
Sleeping
Celebrating
Dying
Explanation:

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

27. What does 'by the skin of your teeth' mean?

Successfully
Barely
Easily
Accidentally
Explanation:

The idiom 'by the skin of your teeth' means to just barely succeed in doing something.

28. What does 'cost an arm and a leg' mean?

Very cheap
Very expensive
Affordable
Moderately priced
Explanation:

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

29. What does 'burn the midnight oil' mean?

To study all night
To wake up early
To skip studying
To sleep early
Explanation:

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

30. What does 'hold your horses' mean?

To hurry up
To be patient
To start running
To let go
Explanation:

The idiom 'hold your horses' means to be patient and wait.

31. What does 'piece of cake' mean?

Cooking activity
Difficult task
Easy task
Unnecessary task
Explanation:

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

32. What does 'best of both worlds' mean?

Having the best options from two different things
Having one option only
Having the worst options
Having no options
Explanation:

The idiom 'best of both worlds' means enjoying the advantages of two different choices simultaneously.

33. What does the idiom 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' mean?

It is better to have something small that is certain, than to have the possibility of something better but uncertain
Birds are valuable creatures
It is not wise to chase after birds
A bird in the bush is better than two in the hand
Explanation:

This idiom means that it is better to have something definite that is secure, rather than to risk losing it by trying to acquire something better.

34. What does the idiom 'don't count your chickens before they hatch' mean?

Don't trust chickens
Don't make plans that depend on something good happening before it actually happens
Count your eggs carefully
Counting chickens is bad luck
Explanation:

This idiom means that one should not rely on something that has not yet happened, as it may not come to fruition.

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

To do something well and accurately
Nail the head
To hurt someone intentionally
Hit nails with a hammer
Explanation:

This idiom means that someone has managed to describe a situation perfectly or to find the right solution to a problem.

36. What does the idiom 'barking up the wrong tree' mean?

Looking for something in the wrong place
Dogs barking loudly
Barking at trees is fun
Being on the right track
Explanation:

This idiom means that someone is pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action.

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

Oil is bad for the environment
Set fire to oil
Oil is valuable
Work late into the night
Explanation:

This idiom means to work late into the night, especially studying or working on a project.

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

Coming from the water
Blue skies are good
Out of options
Unexpectedly
Explanation:

This idiom means that something happens suddenly and unexpectedly, without any warning or preparation.

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

To be very expensive
To lose a limb
Arms and legs are expensive
To buy someone's arm and leg
Explanation:

This idiom means that something is very costly or expensive.

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

To rain heavily
Rain with cats and dogs
To go fishing in bad weather
To have pets in the rain
Explanation:

This idiom means that it is raining very heavily.

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

Cake is easy to bake
Something extremely difficult
Something very easy
To share cake
Explanation:

This idiom means that something is very easy to do.

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

Every full moon
Blues music events
Rarely or infrequently
Many moons
Explanation:

This idiom means that something happens very rarely or not often at all.

43. What does the idiom 'when pigs fly' mean?

Pigs can talk
Impossible or unlikely to happen
Pigs are good at flying
Flying pigs are real
Explanation:

This idiom means that something is impossible or extremely unlikely to happen.

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

To move a bucket
Kick a bucket
To die
To play a game with buckets
Explanation:

This idiom means to die or to pass away.

45. What does the idiom 'don't put all your eggs in one basket' mean?

Don't gather eggs in one basket
Eggs in baskets are safe
Eggs are valuable possessions
Don't risk everything on one plan or action
Explanation:

This idiom means that one should not put all their resources or hopes in one possibility, as there is a risk of losing everything.

46. What does the idiom 'skeletons in the closet' mean?

To be afraid of closets
Closets filled with skeletons
Closet organization
To have secrets or things from the past that are hidden and kept secret
Explanation:

This idiom means that someone has hidden secrets or embarrassing things from their past that they do not want others to know about.

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

To escape from an icy situation
To break ice cubes
To prevent ice from forming
To make a situation less tense or awkward by starting a conversation or social interaction
Explanation:

This idiom means to initiate a conversation or activity to make people feel more relaxed and comfortable.

48. What does the idiom 'silver lining' mean?

To have a good side or aspect to a bad situation
Clouds made of silver
To wear silver accessories
Lining made of silver
Explanation:

This idiom means that even in a difficult or unfortunate situation, there is a positive or hopeful element to be found.

49. What does the idiom 'jump on the bandwagon' mean?

Jumping on a moving bandwagon
To fall off a bandwagon
To join a popular trend or activity
To criticize a popular trend or activity
Explanation:

This idiom means to start doing something that is currently popular or fashionable, often without really thinking about it.

50. What does the idiom 'make a long story short' mean?

To make a story longer
To shorten a story
To summarize a lengthy story or explanation
To make a story more interesting
Explanation:

This idiom means to give only the most important parts of a long story or explanation.

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

Playing sports
To have control or responsibility in a situation
To give someone a ball
To play basketball
Explanation:

This idiom means that someone has the responsibility for making a decision or taking action in a particular situation.

52. What does the idiom 'needle in a haystack' mean?

Haystacks are full of needles
Poking needles in a haystack
Something that is very easy to find
Something that is very difficult or impossible to find
Explanation:

This idiom means that something is extremely hard to find or locate.

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

To be very quiet
To be able to hear very well
To listen attentively
To have many ears
Explanation:

This idiom means that someone is eager and willing to listen to what someone has to say.

54. What does the idiom 'keep your chin up' mean?

To keep looking down
To hold your chin up high
To remain cheerful in difficult circumstances
To keep your face clean
Explanation:

This idiom means to stay positive and optimistic in tough or challenging situations.

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

Release a cat from a bag
To keep secrets
To accidentally reveal a secret
To play with a cat
Explanation:

This idiom means to disclose a secret or reveal something that was meant to be kept hidden.

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

To go to bed or go to sleep
To dance on hay
To feed hay to animals
Hitting a pile of hay
Explanation:

This idiom means to go to bed or to go to sleep.

57. What does the idiom 'be on cloud nine' mean?

Being on a cloud
To be a cloud enthusiast
Being ninth in a competition
To feel extremely happy or joyful
Explanation:

This idiom means to be in a state of complete happiness or bliss.

58. What does the idiom 'wear your heart on your sleeve' mean?

To be very open and show your feelings to others easily
To keep your emotions hidden
Wearing clothes with hearts on them
To wear your emotions literally
Explanation:

This idiom means that someone makes their feelings or emotions apparent and does not hide them from others.

59. What does the idiom 'burn bridges' mean?

To build bridges
To destroy relationships or connections that could be important in the future
To walk across a burning bridge
Setting bridges on fire
Explanation:

This idiom means to do or say something that will make it impossible to return to a previous positive relationship or situation.