Choose the idiom
I really must go and lie down for a while, I’ve got a ………….. headache.
splitting
cutting
ringing
cracking
Stop ………………. about the bush! Just tell me exactly what the problem is.
rushing
hiding
beating
moving
I usually buy my clothes ……….. . It’s cheaper than going to a dress maker.
on the house
off the peg
in public
on the shelf
David’s leaving on Friday. I suggest we all …………… and get him a going away present. R50 each should do it.
dish out
chip in
pass the buck
pay on the nail
The sky got very dark and soon it began to ………… down.
roar
bath
bucket
pouring
My father …………….. when he found out that I’d damaged the car.
hit the roof
saw pink elephants
made my blood boil
brought the house down
If you want a flat in the centre of the city you have to pay through the ……… for it.
teeth
back of your head
nose
arm
I caught the last bus by the skin of my ………. .
mouth
leg
neck
teeth
Because the owner wanted a quick sale, the house went for ……………….. , only R500,000
loose change
a song
a loaf of bread
a smile
You didn’t think I was being serious, did you, Brian? It was a joke! I was just pulling your ……….. , that’s all!
thumb
hair
toe
leg
The accident was caused by a taxi driver ……………… the traffic lights.
rushing
missing
jumping
beating
Lend me R20 please John. I’m ………….. at the moment.
broke
down the drain
stuck up
a bit thick
She would do anything for her youngest son. He was the ………… of her eye.
plum
centre
star
apple
I always get …………………. in my stomach before visiting the dentist.
worms
butterflies
crabs
hedgehogs
Those cheap cell phones are selling like …………….. . If you want one, you’d better buy one now before they’re all gone.
shooting stars
fresh bread
hot cakes
wild oats
More idioms
I’ve got a problem. Please could you ……. me an ear
borrow
lend
share
Do you really think it’s so important? I think you’re making a …….. in a teacup.
fuss
storm
stir
You’re so ungrateful. You get a present and all you do is complain! Don’t look a gift …….. in the mouth.
horse
lamb
cat
After John complained about his tiring day at work, his father turned to him and said, “You didn’t think your new job was going to be a bed of …………, did you?
daffodils
weeds
roses
Look at the rain outside, it’s raining ………………………….
cats and dogs
hail and thunder
rats and mice
He may be shy now, but he’ll soon come out of his ……………. when he meets the right girl.
shoe
shell
shed
hole
It’s true! I got it straight from the …………………. . My brother has a government job and he’s the one who made the decision.
donkey’s head
cat’s whiskers
horse’s mouth
lion’s den
Just look at the way he goes round giving people orders. If you ask me he’s getting a bit too big for his ………..
boots
braces
trousers
brains
Nagging Susan because she smokes too much has no effect on her whatsoever – it’s like water off …………………..
a windmill
a duck’s back
a dripping tap
an umbrella
Why don’t we have potatoes in their ………………… tonight for a change?
sleeves
shells
jackets
coats
Have you seen the new boss? He’s the …………………. image of Prince Charles.
live
true
spitting
same
Writing short e-books is really easy. It’s money for ……………
rags
bread
jam
rubbish
Of course you won’t become more intelligent if you eat a lot of fish – that’s just an old …………. tale..
maids’
ladies’
mothers’
wives’
The day after the office party, Jack had a terrible ………… and couldn’t bear the slightest noise.
hangover
conscience
feeling
anxiety
We looked in every …………………. and cranny for the missing ring, but we couldn’t find it anywhere.
nook
gap
hole
niche
It’s a ……………. shame that so little is done to help the many homeless in the large cities.
sweeping
crying
dying
pitying
My wife is a bit of a wet ……………….. , – she’s always spoiling my fun.
rag
sheep
rat
blanket
She had a soft ………………… for her niece and thoroughly spoilt her.
heart
way
smile
spot
My grandparents spoilt me ………………………. – they gave me everything I wanted.
plenty
rotten
too much
fantastically
Everybody bosses me about at work. I’m nothing but a ……………………………..
lame duck
general dogsbody
blue-eyed boy
marked man
Idioms of comparison
She sneaked into the house, as quiet as ………………………….
Sunday
a worm
death
a mouse
Jim’s feeling a bit under the weather today, but I expect he’ll be as right as …….. by the weekend.
an athlete
sunshine
rain
roses
I’ll never eat and drink so much again! I was as sick as a ………. on the way home.
dog
horse
pig
poodle
Ask David to give you a hand moving the furniture. He’s as strong as ……………..
an elephant
a mountain
a gorilla
an ox
You’re not getting enough to eat, Karen! Look you’re as thin as a ……………….
a stick insect
rake
finger
wire
You shouldn’t have frightened her like that. She went as white as …………………..
a sheet
snow
milk
whitewash
Nothing seems to bother Colin. No matter what happens, he always seems to remain as cool as ………………..
cold feet
ice-cream
a cucumber
an Eskimo
You’ll have to shout. My father’s as deaf as ………………………..
a leaf
a post
a politician
a stone
It’s hard to believe that Mark and John are brothers, isn’t it? They’re like ……… and ……….
Mars and Jupiter
milk and honey
chalk and cheese
margarine and butter
Honestly Peter, ever since I’ve given up smoking I feel as fit as ……………………
a fighter
a fiddle
a frog
an athlete
“Will your dog bite me?” “No, he’s as gentle as ………………… , especially with children.”
a pony
snowflakes
a lamb
washing-up liquid
“I hope the children weren’t naughty”. “No they weren’t, they’ve been as good as …………….. “
religion
gold
God
brass
The suitcase isn’t heavy, it’s as light as ………………….
dust
lightning
a feather
a fish
Kathy was as pleased as ……………….. when she heard she’d passed her exam.
punch
a poppy
a sunflower
pound notes
The man who defended his family from a violent attack was as brave as …………………….
tiger
a lion
a rhino
buffalo
Choose the idiom
I haven’t had an accident yet but I’ve had some ………… shaves.
narrow
near
close
tiny
My father refused to eat meat that had been fried. He had ……………. in his bonnet that it caused cancer.
a bug
a bee
a bull
an ant
You really dropped …………………. the other day when you told Brian you’d seen his wife at the movies. He thought she was at her mother’s.
a brick
a stone
a log
a plank
I can’t stand Mr. Brown. He’s always blowing his own ………. – telling everyone how good he is at everything.
balloon
breath
mind
trumpet
The escaped prisoner fought …………………… before he was finally overpowered.
head over heels
tooth and nail
heart and soul
foot and mouth
I didn’t suspect anything at first, but when I noticed her going through the office drawers I began to smell …………
a rat
a pig
a thief
a culprit
Jane looked ………………. at the shop assistant who had been rude to her.
arrows
needles
poison
daggers
Peter was born and brought up in Fuzhou and he knows it like the ……………………
nose on is face
tip of his tongue
back of his hand
hair on his head
I bought a computer last year, but I’ve had nothing but trouble with it. As far as I’m concerned it was money down the ……………
loo
sink
drain
plughole
John will never buy you a drink – he’s much too ……………….
tight- fisted
pigheaded
highly-strung
easy going
I was already fed up with the job, but when the boss walked into my office and told me he expected me to work overtime that was the ……….. . I quit.
final curtain
last straw
end of the line
last waltz
He has a quick temper and easily ………. off the handle.
leaps
goes
runs
flies
I don’t like turning down work, but I have to. I’ve got far too much ………….. at the moment.
up my sleeve
on my plate
on my mind
in effect
And that …………………. , Brian, is why I can’t marry you.
in a flash
on the dot
off the cuff
in a nutshell