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English: Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases MCQs — English (page 3)

111 multiple-choice questions on English: Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases from English, each with the correct answer and, where available, a teacher's explanation. Read through them to revise the chapter, then practise the same questions one by one to test yourself.

51. What does the idiom/phrase "to rise like a phoenix" mean?

  1. to fall
  2. to burn
  3. to fly high
  4. to recover after destruction

Answer: D) to recover after destruction

Explanation: Come back stronger after failure. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Advanced idioms & proverbs

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52. Getting a licence here involves a lot of .

  1. hue and cry
  2. red tape
  3. red-letter days
  4. bad blood

Answer: B) red tape

Explanation: Bureaucratic delay. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Idioms in sentences

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53. What does the idiom/phrase "All that glitters is not gold" mean?

  1. gold is rare
  2. shine is beautiful
  3. appearances can be deceptive
  4. gold is cheap

Answer: C) appearances can be deceptive

Explanation: Don't judge by appearance. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Advanced idioms & proverbs

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54. Students before exams.

  1. cry over spilt milk
  2. turn a deaf ear
  3. throw in the towel
  4. burn the midnight oil

Answer: D) burn the midnight oil

Explanation: Study late at night. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Idioms in sentences

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55. What does the idiom/phrase "a piece of cake" mean?

  1. a dessert
  2. a reward
  3. a small share
  4. something very easy

Answer: D) something very easy

Explanation: Very easy. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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56. What does the idiom/phrase "to cross the Rubicon" mean?

  1. to cross a river
  2. to cheat
  3. to win a war
  4. to take an irreversible step

Answer: D) to take an irreversible step

Explanation: Pass the point of no return. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Advanced idioms & proverbs

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57. What does the idiom/phrase "to make both ends meet" mean?

  1. to live within one's income
  2. to tie a rope
  3. to finish work
  4. to meet friends

Answer: A) to live within one's income

Explanation: Manage financially. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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58. What does the idiom/phrase "under the weather" mean?

  1. outdoors
  2. in danger
  3. very happy
  4. slightly ill

Answer: D) slightly ill

Explanation: Feeling unwell. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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59. What does the idiom/phrase "to turn a deaf ear" mean?

  1. listen carefully
  2. become deaf
  3. ignore
  4. shout

Answer: C) ignore

Explanation: Refuse to listen. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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60. What does the idiom/phrase "feather in one's cap" mean?

  1. a decoration
  2. a light task
  3. an achievement to be proud of
  4. a sign of weakness

Answer: C) an achievement to be proud of

Explanation: An honour. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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61. What does the idiom/phrase "to keep the wolf from the door" mean?

  1. to be brave
  2. to lock the house
  3. to avoid starvation
  4. to fight wolves

Answer: C) to avoid starvation

Explanation: Earn enough to survive. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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62. What does the idiom/phrase "to be all ears" mean?

  1. to gossip
  2. to be deaf
  3. to have big ears
  4. to listen attentively

Answer: D) to listen attentively

Explanation: Fully attentive. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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63. Winning the gold medal was for the young athlete.

  1. a feather in her cap
  2. a white elephant
  3. bad blood
  4. a wild goose chase

Answer: A) a feather in her cap

Explanation: An achievement to be proud of. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Idioms in sentences

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64. The police will to find the culprit.

  1. leave no stone unturned
  2. beat about the bush
  3. bury the hatchet
  4. play second fiddle

Answer: A) leave no stone unturned

Explanation: Make every possible effort. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Idioms in sentences

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65. What does the idiom/phrase "to bell the cat" mean?

  1. to own a cat
  2. to make noise
  3. to take a great risk for others
  4. to warn

Answer: C) to take a great risk for others

Explanation: Undertake a dangerous task. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Advanced idioms & proverbs

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66. What does the idiom/phrase "call a spade a spade" mean?

  1. dig a hole
  2. praise falsely
  3. tell lies
  4. speak frankly

Answer: D) speak frankly

Explanation: Speak plainly without hiding the truth. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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67. What does the idiom/phrase "to turn over a new leaf" mean?

  1. to read a new book
  2. to fail again
  3. to garden
  4. to change one's behaviour for the better

Answer: D) to change one's behaviour for the better

Explanation: Start afresh. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Advanced idioms & proverbs

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68. What does the idiom/phrase "a blessing in disguise" mean?

  1. a hidden enemy
  2. good that first seemed bad
  3. a secret gift
  4. a false friend

Answer: B) good that first seemed bad

Explanation: Apparent misfortune that turns out well. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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69. She when her friend asked about the surprise party.

  1. let the cat out of the bag
  2. sat on the fence
  3. turned a new leaf
  4. took the bull by the horns

Answer: A) let the cat out of the bag

Explanation: Revealed the secret. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Idioms in sentences

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70. What does the idiom/phrase "the last straw" mean?

  1. a small help
  2. the first sign
  3. the end of harvest
  4. the final problem that makes a situation unbearable

Answer: D) the final problem that makes a situation unbearable

Explanation: The last in a series of irritations. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Advanced idioms & proverbs

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71. What does the idiom/phrase "fish out of water" mean?

  1. a good swimmer
  2. very hungry
  3. uncomfortable in a situation
  4. very happy

Answer: C) uncomfortable in a situation

Explanation: Out of one's usual environment. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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72. The news of his death came as to the family.

  1. a red-letter day
  2. a bolt from the blue
  3. the lion's share
  4. a feather in his cap

Answer: B) a bolt from the blue

Explanation: Sudden shock. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Idioms in sentences

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73. What does the idiom/phrase "a white elephant" mean?

  1. a rare animal
  2. a costly but useless possession
  3. a large gift
  4. a peaceful person

Answer: B) a costly but useless possession

Explanation: Expensive to keep and of little use. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Common idioms

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74. What does the idiom/phrase "a Pyrrhic victory" mean?

  1. an easy victory
  2. a lucky win
  3. a victory won at too great a cost
  4. a defeat

Answer: C) a victory won at too great a cost

Explanation: The losses make it almost a defeat. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Advanced idioms & proverbs

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75. The new building turned out to be ; it costs a lot but nobody uses it.

  1. a blessing in disguise
  2. a white elephant
  3. a red-letter day
  4. apple of discord

Answer: B) a white elephant

Explanation: Costly and useless. Idioms & Idiomatic Phrases · Idioms in sentences

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