ANSWERS
1. A: What have you got me for my birthday? B: Your birthday’s not for another week. You’ll have to __________!
a) give and take – This phrase means to compromise. Try again!
b) wait and see – Right answer! It means to be patient and find out later.
c) come and go – This phrase means to randomly appear and disappear. Try again!
d) safe and sound – This phrase means to be safe and in good health. Try again!
2. Compromise is needed in any relationship. It’s really important to be able to __________.
a) give and take – This is correct! It means to compromise.
b) wait and see – This phrase means to be patient and find out later. Try again!
c) come and go – This phrase means to randomly appear and disappear. Try again!
d) safe and sound – This phrase means to be safe and in good health. Try again!
3. Only trained lawyers really know the __________ of the legal system. It’s very complex.
a) odds and ends – This phrase means a miscellaneous assortment of things. Try again!
b) pros and cons – This phrase means advantages and disadvantages. Try again!
c) ups and downs – This phrase means good times and bad times. Try again!
d) ins and outs – Well done! It means the exact details.
4. A: I saw Kerry eating a burger yesterday. I thought she was a vegetarian. B: She is most of the time but she does eat meat __________.
a) back to front – This phrase means the wrong way round. Try again!
b) by and large – This phrase means generally speaking. Try again!
c) now and then – Right answer! It means occasionally.
d) sooner or later – This phrase means eventually. Try again!
5. You can’t avoid that homework forever. __________ you’ll have to do it, otherwise, you’ll
fail the course.
a) More or less – This phrase means approximately. Try again!
b) By and large – This phrase means generally speaking. Try again!
c) Now and then – This phrase means occasionally. Try again!
d) Sooner or later – Correct. This phrase means eventually.
6. __________ my son is a very calm person, but this traffic jam is making him really frustrated! I don’t usually see him like this!
a) More or less – This phrase means approximately. Try again!
b) By and large – Right! This means generally speaking.
c) Ups and downs – This phrase means good times and bad times. Try again!
d) Ins and outs – This phrase means the exact details. Try again!
7. He can’t hear anything. He’s as deaf as a __________.
a) stone – ‘Stone’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
b) tree – ‘Tree’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
c) snake – ‘Snake’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
d) post – This is the correct answer. ‘A post’ is an upright piece of wood in a fence.
8. Usually my daughter’s very naughty at school but this week the teachers say she’s been as good as __________.
a) an angel – Although you can describe a well-behaved child as ‘an angel’, you can’t use ‘an angel’ to complete this.
b) gold – This is the correct answer.
c) a saint – Although you can describe a good person as ‘a saint’, you can’t use ‘a saint’ to complete this idiom.
d) a diamond – You can’t use ‘a diamond’ to complete the idiom.
9. My grandfather had a heart attack five years ago but he gave up smoking and started exercising and now he’s as fit as __________.
a) a fiddle – This is the correct answer. The idiom means very healthy. ‘Fiddle’ is another word for violin but the origin of the idiom is probably just because ‘fit’ and ‘fiddle’ both start with the letter ‘f’.
b) an athlete – ‘An athlete’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
c) an ox – ‘An ox’ doesn’t complete the idiom but you can say someone is ‘as strong as an ox’.
d) a fire-fighter – ‘A fire-fighter’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
10. Investing in the stock market is risky but if you put your money in a high interest account it’s as safe as __________.
a) your hands – ‘Your hands’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
b) a church – ‘A church’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
c) hospitals – ‘Hospitals’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
d) houses – This is the correct answer. This idiom can be used to talk about your physical safety or a safe financial investment.
11. I’m driving so I won’t have any alcohol. I’ll be as sober as a __________ all night.
a) lord – Although there is an idiom ‘as drunk as a lord’ to describe someone who has drunk too much alcohol, we don’t use ‘lord’ in an idiom about being sober.
b) judge – This is the correct answer.
c) police officer – ‘Police officer’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
d) politician – ‘Politician’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
12. He’s very kind and good-looking but he’s as thick as __________. I can’t marry someone so stupid!
a) a brick – ‘Brick’ doesn’t complete the idiom.
b) a piece of wood – ‘Piece of wood’ does not complete the idiom.
c) two short planks – This is the correct answer. A ‘plank’ is usually a long, thin piece of wood. The idiom ‘as thick as two short planks’ means someone who is very unintelligent.
d) pea soup – ‘Pea soup’ does not complete the idiom about being stupid but you can describe a very thick fog with ‘as thick as pea soup’.
13. The raised part of a shoe underneath the back of your foot is called the __________.
a) sole – The sole is the part of a shoe underneath the front of your foot.
b) instep – The instep is the part of a shoe in between the sole and the heel.
c) heel – This is the correct answer.
d) toe – The toe is the upper part of a shoe that covers the toes of your foot.
14. Sports shoes, or ‘trainers’ in British English, are called __________ in American English.
a) plimsolls – This is not the correct answer. ‘Plimsoll’ is a British English word which describes a canvas shoe with a rubber sole, used for games and sport.
b) sneakers – This is the correct answer. Well done!
c) sandals – This is not the correct answer. Sandals are light, warm weather shoes which usually have thin leather straps holding them to your feet.
d) slippers – This is not the correct answer. Slippers are comfortable, indoor shoes usually made of soft, warm material.
15. I haven’t got much to do at the moment; I’m just __________ until the new semester starts.
a) taking to my heels – This is not the correct answer. ‘To take to my (your/his/her/their) heels’ means to run away at once.
b) kicking my soles – This is not the correct answer. ‘Soles’ is the wrong word in this expression. You need a different part of the foot.
c) turning on my heels – This is not the correct answer. ‘To turn on my (your/his/her/their) heels’ means to turn away from someone or something very suddenly.
d) kicking my heels – This is the correct answer. Well done!
16. Wet weather footwear, ‘wellington boots’ (or ‘wellies’ for short) in British English, are called __________ in American English.
a) galoshes – This is the correct answer.
b) flip flops – This is not correct. Flip flops are a kind of sandal, but unlike sandals are usually made from rubber or plastic, are only held onto the foot by a strap over the toes and are open at the back. Some other varieties of English use ‘thong’ instead of ‘flip flop’.
c) clogs – This is not correct. Clogs are a kind of shoe which is usually open at the back and has athick wooden sole
d) ankle boots – This is not correct. Wellington boots are usually knee, not ankle, high.
17. Will anyone be able to __________ now that’s she’s left the company?
a) fill her steps – This is not the correct answer. Although ‘fill’ is right, ‘steps’ is not.
b) fill her shoes – This is the correct answer. ‘To fill someone’s shoes’ means to take the place and do the job of someone else.
c) tie her laces – This is not the correct answer. Try again!
d) polish her shoes – This is not the correct answer. Try again!
18. They __________ because she was always late, so now she needs a new job.
a) put the boot on the other foot – If the boot is on the other foot, the situation has changed and is the opposite of what it was originally. Try again.
b) gave her the boot – This is correct. Well done! If you get the boot, you lose your job or position.
c) got too big for their boots – This is not correct. If you get too big for your boots, you become over-confident or arrogant.
d) gave her the shoe – This is not correct. You need a different kind of footwear here.
