Free Idioms and Phrases MCQs with Answers
292 Idioms and Phrases MCQs from English, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Idioms and phrases are fixed groups of words whose meaning may differ from the literal meanings of their individual words. Questions focus on interpreting expressions such as “spill the beans,” selecting suitable idioms for a situation, and distinguishing idioms from ordinary phrases, proverbs and phrasal verbs.
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292 questions · page 5 of 15
- A. Very Short period
- B. Very long period
- C. Both
- D. None
Explanation: “Donkey’s years” is an idiom meaning a very long period of time. Although the usual expression is plural “years,” the intended meaning of…
Correct answer: Very long period- A. To reveal secrets
- B. To suspect that something is wrong
- C. Talking nonsense
- D. To get momentum in a job
Explanation: To “smell a rat” means to suspect that something is wrong or dishonest.
Correct answer: To suspect that something is wrong- A. A wicked fellow
- B. An Unexpected winner
- C. A criminal Getting the water dirty
- D. None of these
Explanation: A dark horse is a person or competitor whose success is unexpected, especially an unforeseen winner.
Correct answer: An Unexpected winner- A. Gold
- B. Silver
- C. Money
- D. Copper
Explanation: “Money makes the mare go” means that money is necessary to achieve a result or motivate action.
Correct answer: Money- A. Desperate enterprise
- B. False hope
- C. Good initative
- D. None of these
Explanation: A forlorn hope is a desperate or nearly impossible undertaking, especially one with little chance of success.
Correct answer: Desperate enterprise86. For this act of indifference he will be taken to task by the authority; here taken to task means:
- A. Rewarded
- B. Tender his resignation
- C. Entrusted with an official job.
- D. Get an official reprimand
Explanation: To be taken to task means to be criticized or officially reprimanded for wrongdoing.
Correct answer: Get an official reprimand- A. no time
- B. a long time
- C. a special Sunday
- D. a short period
Explanation: “A month of Sundays” is an idiom for a very long time, since a literal month contains far fewer Sundays.
Correct answer: a long time- A. dirt
- B. alley
- C. lurch
- D. field
Explanation: To leave someone in the lurch means to abandon that person in a difficult or helpless situation.
Correct answer: lurch- A. To soothe
- B. To have an illness
- C. To give medicine
- D. To irritate
Explanation: “To get on someone’s nerves” means to annoy or irritate that person. It refers to emotional annoyance, not a physical illness.
Correct answer: To irritate- A. To conduct a game far from home and town.
- B. To conduct a game far from home.
- C. To have se*ual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner.
- D. To have se*ual relationship with someone who is your usual partner.History
Explanation: In informal British usage, to play away means to have a sexual relationship outside one’s usual partnership.
Correct answer: To have se*ual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner.91. A bed of roses.
- A. Many roses
- B. Tricky option
- C. Difficult option
- D. Easy Option
Explanation: A bed of roses is an idiom for an easy, pleasant, or trouble-free situation. It does not literally refer to a bed containing many roses.
Correct answer: Easy Option- A. Stop working on something
- B. To begin working
- C. To delay working
- D. To refuse working
Explanation: To call it a day means to stop working for the day, usually because enough work has been completed.
Correct answer: Stop working on something- A. Everyone
- B. Close Friends
- C. Many People
- D. None of these
Explanation: “All and sundry” means everyone or all kinds of people, often including people who were not specially invited.
Correct answer: Everyone- A. To be a sinner
- B. To have too many things to do
- C. To have plenty of wealth
- D. Something related to fighting
Explanation: To have one’s hands full means to be very busy or to have too many tasks and responsibilities to deal with.
Correct answer: To have too many things to do- A. Often
- B. Always
- C. Occasionally
- D. Every where
Explanation: “Every now and then” means occasionally, at irregular intervals. It suggests something happens from time to time rather than often or…
Correct answer: Occasionally- A. To hide
- B. To remove
- C. To publish
- D. To write down
Explanation: To take down notes means to write or record them, usually while listening to something.
Correct answer: To write down- A. An equal chance for every one
- B. Perfection
- C. Indifference in opinion
- D. Popularity
Explanation: “Fair field and no favor” means that everyone should receive an equal and impartial chance.
Correct answer: An equal chance for every one- A. Try to hide in the bush
- B. Making excuses
- C. To avid talking about what is important.
- D. To talk rubbish
Explanation: To beat around the bush means to avoid stating or discussing the main point directly.
Correct answer: To avid talking about what is important.- A. Either of the two poles
- B. Having nothing in common
- C. Leading position in a race
- D. Affect somebody greatly
Explanation: If two people or things are poles apart, they are completely different and have little or nothing in common.
Correct answer: Having nothing in common- A. Having long ears,
- B. Listen with interest,
- C. Suspect something,
- D. Being good listener
Explanation: To be all ears means to listen eagerly and with close attention. “Being a good listener” is related, but the idiom specifically emphasizes…
Correct answer: Listen with interest,