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 6 of 15
- A. Disagree
- B. Agree
- C. Meet
- D. Dislike
Explanation: To see eye to eye means to agree with someone or share the same opinion.
Correct answer: Agree- A. Repeating our request
- B. Making him see reason.
- C. Beating about the bush.
- D. Wasting time in useless effort
Explanation: Flogging a dead horse means wasting effort on something that can no longer succeed or change.
Correct answer: Wasting time in useless effort- A. Show goodwill to someone
- B. Become happy or confident
- C. Know or sense something
- D. Move along very carefully
Explanation: To feel good means to become happy, positive, or confident. It describes an emotional state, not showing goodwill or sensing something.
Correct answer: Become happy or confident- A. A pleasant dream
- B. A bad dream
- C. An impracticable plan
- D. None of these
Explanation: A pipe dream is an attractive idea or ambition that is unlikely to be achieved, so it is an impracticable plan.
Correct answer: An impracticable plan- A. keep something in hand
- B. To evade responsibility
- C. To Warn
- D. Come to know someone's secrets
Explanation: To “pass the buck” is to shift blame or responsibility to someone else. It does not mean keeping something in hand or revealing secrets.
Correct answer: To evade responsibility- A. Interested
- B. Involved
- C. Puzzled
- D. None of these
Explanation: To have a finger in the pie means to be involved in or share an interest in an activity or matter.
Correct answer: Involved- A. Performing a task with exactness
- B. Hurting someone without letting them know
- C. Taking a very dangerous risk
- D. Scold someone for their mistake
Explanation: To hit the nail on the head means to identify or do something with exact accuracy. It is not about physical harm or taking a risk.
Correct answer: Performing a task with exactness- A. Excavate
- B. Haphazardly
- C. Methodical
- D. None of these
Explanation: Willy-nilly means without order, planning, or deliberate choice, so haphazardly is the closest option.
Correct answer: Haphazardly- A. Late
- B. Once
- C. Sometime
- D. Repeat
Explanation: Better late than never means that doing something late is preferable to not doing it at all.
Correct answer: Late- A. Good news
- B. Unexpected misfortune
- C. Expected misfortune
- D. Sudden News
Explanation: A “bolt from the blue” is a sudden, wholly unexpected event, usually an unpleasant one.
Correct answer: Unexpected misfortune- A. Often
- B. Rarely
- C. Rapidly
- D. Slowly
Explanation: The standard expression is “once in a blue moon,” meaning very rarely. The phrase in the question omits “in,” but its intended meaning is…
Correct answer: Rarely- A. Specific
- B. Everyone
- C. Experienced
- D. Relevant
Explanation: “All and sundry” refers to everyone or all kinds of people without distinction.
Correct answer: Everyone- A. Clever
- B. Over confidence
- C. Honest
- D. Moral
Explanation: “Above-board” means open, honest, and not secret or deceitful. “Moral” is related in meaning but is less precise than “honest” here.
Correct answer: Honest- A. Discourage
- B. Encourage
- C. To be calm
- D. Deceive
Explanation: To pour cold water on an idea or plan means to discourage it or reduce enthusiasm for it.
Correct answer: Discourage- A. Always
- B. Rarely
- C. Never
- D. Impossibly
Explanation: “Once in a blue moon” describes something that happens very rarely. It does not mean never, because the event may still occur occasionally.
Correct answer: Rarely- A. Between two lovers
- B. Between two dangers/evils
- C. Between two parties
- D. Between two Happy Moments
Explanation: “Between Scylla and Charybdis” comes from a Greek myth in which sailors faced danger on either side.
Correct answer: Between two dangers/evils- A. To Suspect
- B. To Grasp the hidden meaning
- C. To concentrate
- D. To read carefully
Explanation: To read between the lines means to infer a message that is suggested but not directly stated.
Correct answer: To Grasp the hidden meaning- A. Friendly with everyone
- B. Master of huge wealth
- C. benefits of two things and none of the disadvantages.
- D. None of these
Explanation: “The best of both worlds” means enjoying the advantages of two different situations without suffering their disadvantages.
Correct answer: benefits of two things and none of the disadvantages.- A. At the top level
- B. Hide something
- C. Without any hesitation
- D. Feeling proud
Explanation: “At the drop of a hat” means immediately or without hesitation. It suggests readiness to act at the slightest signal, not pride or…
Correct answer: Without any hesitation120. "Nod off" means?
- A. take rest
- B. Fall asleep
- C. sitting down
- D. turn off something
Explanation: To “nod off” means to fall asleep, usually briefly or unintentionally. The word nod refers to the head dropping as sleep begins.
Correct answer: Fall asleep